WRFI-Meeting Minutes-January 2024
WRFI Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, January 9th, 2024
In Attendance:
-Peter Bakija
-Corinne Shanahan
-Joseph Haefeli
-Talaya Centeno
-John Young
-Robin Elliott
-Joe Romano
-Carlos Gutierrez
Not in attendance:
-Chantal Thomas
-Fred Balfour
-Amie Herman
Call to Order at 6:05 pm.
Agenda Items:
Consent Agenda:
Move to approve December minutes, second. Vote passes unanimously.
Board Reflections:
John discusses drafting of the Park Grant. The Park grant is our single largest source of funding, and has been for the history of the station. John, Felix, and Corinne finished the grant application successfully. John feels that the process has simplified over the years. Talaya asks if anything in this year’s application was more challenging. John indicates that the current financial situation of the station is challenging, and difficult to articulate in a grant, but not dire. Joe asks if the overall outlook for the station is sustainable. John feels that we are figuring out things we have never figured out before, in regards to fundraising, and that Felix, while stretched thinly, has a solid support structure and backup.
Tower Updates:
The Newfield broadcast facility (89.7) is currently only capable of operating at extremely low power; the FCC has given us dispensation to operate at this low power. If the broadcast facility goes off the air, WRFI will have to cease broadcasting in Ithaca as well. Discussions with the manufacturer and the installation company are ongoing, to various levels of success. We have been in contact with our local pro-bono attorney, and getting advice. It is not out of the realm of possibility that we might have to engage broadcast attorneys. Letters are being written. (Note: This issue has been largely resolved as of February).
On the more local tower in Ithaca, upgrades are underway, and we are slightly held up in needing a new lease and insurance information simultaneously and needing one to get the other. Felix feels that there will be no issues on getting this lease signed, and the location board has approved the new lease. We have until June 15th to complete the various upgrades.
Motion made to pass a revised resolution to make structural upgrades to the Ithaca tower, allowing the upgrades to be made without an existing lease. Seconded. Revised resolution is not contingent upon a new lease. Vote passes 8-0.
Felix discusses the WINO tower as an issue that will need resolving in the near future, but not immediately. Leads on a potential new site for the WINO tower; getting a good new site with good coverage is beneficial for the license, if we want to keep it or not.
Board Specific Issues:
Board Members and Recruitment: Corinne discusses some potential new board members she has been reaching out to, hoping to get up above 11 members; a concern is that we need at least one extra board member who is local (living within broadcast area), to live up to our own guideline of 75% local board members. A suggestion to potentially look at our major donor list is a possible place to locate new board members. Another suggestion to potentially look at our underwriting pool as a potential source of board members.
Committee Reports:
Development and Outreach Committee: Discussion of some end-of-year donor calls by board members. Discussion with supporters, some successful contacts. Amie still has underwriting fliers to distribute on her porch, board members are encouraged to pick them up and pass out at local business. Board members are encouraged to send thank you cards to donors; we have plenty of postcards to send out.
Governance Committee: No updates.
Personnel Committee: No updates.
Finance Committee: Felix shares the Park Grant, including the WRFI Operating Budget, providing the board a great view of expenses (payroll, rent, equipment, etc.) and incomes (donations, memberships, underwriting, grants). John suggests possibly looking into getting electricity from a solar farm, aiming at a net-zero electricity cost, starting with an analysis of our electrical expenditures.
ED Report:
ED Report: Felix asks questions about spending about $11K on repairing the 89.7 tower, hoping that this expenditure will be refunded by either the manufacturer or installation company. General consensus is that it is important to fix the broadcast facility, and hope that we will make that money back through recompense. Motion to approve up to $12,750 (based on manufacturer estimate) to make necessary tower (89.7 in Newfield) repair. Seconded. Vote passes 8-0.
Discussion of some personnel issues ensues.
Strategic Planning:
Strategic Planning: Mission and Values workshop coming up on January 18; short homework assignment sent out by Corinne examining Mission Statements from other similar organizations.
Meeting adjourned at 7:57 pm.