Title: Re: [NewPacifica] What's the
Rush?
The problem I see with this donation is that it is anonymous:
management knows who it is, but the rest of us do not. We need a
policy on donations.
First, they may not be completely anonymous in that management,
and the boards, should know the names of all large donors (defined as
anything over $500).
Second, they may not be accepted from programmers, producers,
staff paid or unpaid, or their relatives, or from anyone who would
appear on the Foundation's air within a very, very large time frame
around the donation, perhaps a year on either side of the donation at
the least.
Members need to be assured that this listener-sponsored radio
station remains just that. Is anyone able to assure WBAI's board
and listeners that the above conditions were met before this money was
accepted?
Carolyn
Hi folks,
Let's be clear:
There is A PLEDGE of $100,000 that has been made towards the purchase
or leasing of a building for WBAI, to be paid in installments of
$20,000 per year.
In exchange, the anonymous person making the pledge stipulates that
the $20,000 per year be held separate from WBAI's operating budget,
and be placed in a "locked box" that could only be used for
the purchase or leasing of new office space for the station. This is a
very reasonable condition.
The last move, to Wall Street, cost around $700,000, if I remember
correctly, perhaps more. So advance planning certainly is needed.
However, it is rather stunning that the tail is being allowed to wag
the dog -- that is, that some generous person is pledging some money
that can be used only under certain conditions, and then the station
scrambles to meet those conditions in order to get those funds.
The station should first decide: We need a longterm capital plan,
here's how we're going to do it, here's how we're going to ensure the
sanctity of those funds we receive, here's how decisions will be made
around using those funds, here's the process for doing so, etc. THEN
we solicit funds for that plan.
I think a longterm capital fund is a necessary step, IF it is run
honestly and not tampered with, and if the process for which it is
assigned -- the procurement of space for the station -- is also an
honest process. Does anyone really believe, however, that in the
current climate such faith in the integrity of such an approach is
possible?
The pressure suddenly placed on everyone and everything to GET THIS
DONE THIS WEEK OR WE'LL LOSE IT, is strange and it makes me quite
suspicious of why that is the case. What's the emergency? The $20,000
pledge is very generous, but it is just a small portion of what we'll
need to raise, so why not take the time to carefully plan it out, to
ensure the Fund's security?
I write this as someone who believes that, in principle and done
correctly, such a fund is necessary.
So why the rush? The $20,000 pledged to start this Fund are not
allowed to be applied to the budget's shortfalls anyway. Let's take
more time and do it right.
Mitchel Cohen
New Pacifica Working Group
http://www.egroups.com/group/NewPacifica
'Save Our Stations!'
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New Pacifica Working Group
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