In searching for reasons why the elections have resulted in so many thousands of dollars in legal and other costs, we should look to several items, not the least of which is the failure of the Supervisors and management to follow the directives of the PNB and the former supervisors. If half of the motions passed by the PNB were actually implemented, we would be a lot richer and a lot more democratic in our practices. The question is, who is responsible for not doing what the PNB, following the recommendations of the Elections Committee (national, not local), clearly mandated? Cui bono? Who benefits? And how can the PNB ensure that these motions are not just passed, but implemented?
One such item was the first-class mail required by the PNB, a motion passed after the election prior to the last one resulted in thousands of dollars spent for replacement ballots: the National Elections Supervisor of that election spent, if I recall correctly (you can check his report- Les Radke) $6000 to send voters replacement ballots by Priority Mail: that's how important he thought each voter's ballot was! The next supervisor ignored all that and sent the ballots out bulk rate. It's ten o'clock: do you know where your ballot is?
In searching for the motion regarding first-class mailing of ballots, I have discovered that the following motion, passed 10-1, is omitted from the section of the attached document. Pages 7-11 relating to elections are copied below, f.y.i. I urge members to check the entire List (attached) for other motions that may not have been included, evidently compiled from the audio record. (The motion in question is from the Saturday session of 10/29/2005.) The list is invaluable, but will not be definitive unless every motion is included in it. Meanwhile, please add the following motion to your own personal copy of the list, preferably in the correct location, and send me or the PNB anything else you find that needs editing. Carolyn
Motion brought by the Elections Committee PNB meeting Saturday October 29th, 2005 Houston, TXResolved, that in any election ballots be mailed by first class mail and be mailed with postage paid return envelopes.
PASSES 10-1 Carolyn II. ELECTIONS Counting ballots from committee electionsBe it resolved that each LSB appoint someone who will learn IRV and STV process; those people will count ballots at LSB and national committee member and officer elections. 5/04
Elections Review Committee ITEM 1:That the National Elections Supervisor shall have full independent authority to supervise all aspects of the elections, and to direct national and station management, as necessary, as well as the Local Elections Supervisors, to insure that fair elections are conducted in compliance with the requirements of the bylaws.
ITEM 2:That the National Elections Supervisor shall designate a secure independent audit procedure to verify member database accuracy in compliance with the bylaws, and shall supervise the updating of the subscribers and donors lists, as well as the paid and unpaid staff lists, at each station, to ensure that the membership rolls meet the requirements of the bylaws. The Local Elections Supervisors and local station management and staff shall work under the direction of the National Elections Supervisor to ensure that the membership lists are as accurate and current as possible. In the event that the National Elections Supervisor, EC, and/or CFO have a significant conflict regarding cost or procedures, the matter will be immediately referred to the PNB.
ITEM 3:That we request of each station that at least once a year in any year in which there is an election, no later than July 31st, the station include an official request for address correction in a regular mailing.
ITEM 4:Resolution to establish non-staff volunteer eligibility for membership: That for purposes of establishing non-staff volunteer membership eligibility for volunteers pursuant to Article Three, Section 1.A of the Pacifica Bylaws, such eligibility shall be held by anyone who has volunteered a minimum of three (3) hours of service to any Foundation radio station, which work shall be performed under the supervision of the Foundation radio station management, including volunteer work on committees of the Local Station Board.
That a volunteer coordinator will keep records for each volunteer, giving the date, time and location of the work done, and including the signature of the coordinator attesting to the work completed. These records must be made available to the Elections Supervisor and may be validated by the Elections Supervisor in determining eligibility to vote as a "listener member".
ITEM 5:That the National and Local Elections Supervisors' contracts shall include a requirement that written reports be submitted to the National Board of Directors and Executive Director by the National Elections Supervisor and each Local Elections Supervisor at the conclusion of the elections concerning the conduct of the elections, and that they ship the ballots to the Pacifica national office for safekeeping at the conclusion of the elections.
ITEM 6:That the election supervisors are directed to enforce the Fair Campaign Provisions in a timely manner, determining sanctions within a few days of infractions. When a complaint is filed, the Local Elections Supervisor should promptly notify the candidate, investigate the facts, render a decision, and notify all concerned in writing.
ITEM 7:That the National Elections supervisor shall notify the board of directors and the local board of the station concerned by confidential memorandum of any staff or management disciplinary decisions made, consistent with the remedies described in the bylaws, as well as any difficulties encountered concerning staff or management with regard to enforcement of the fair elections provisions.
ITEM 8:That the ballots shall be mailed to the members with identifying PIN numbers printed on them, as required by the bylaws, and that a secure list showing the PIN number assigned to each member shall be kept by the National Elections Supervisor so that ballots reported lost or missing can be voided and replaced. The list of members' PIN numbers shall be retained for a period of one year in a sealed container in the Archives and released only to Pacifica's attorneys upon the direction of the Pacifica National Board, after which it shall be destroyed.
ITEM 9:That the mailing of the ballots may be accompanied by a request for contributions, and any contributions received from this mailing shall be allocated by the stations to help offset the costs of the elections if not otherwise covered.
ITEM 10:That election booklets include voluntarily-provided information about the ethnic/racial/gender identity, sexual orientation and disability status of candidates.
ITEM 11:That the final ballot database of the last elections, and all future elections, be made available to the public for inspection and analysis.
ITEM 12:That the Local and National Elections Supervisors shall develop policies, in consultation with the Executive Director and station managers, for approval by the National Board at the September Board meeting, setting forth detailed expectations of staff and management behavior with regard to the elections and setting forth disciplinary procedures that may be utilized by the elections supervisors to enforce the fair campaign provisions of the bylaws. This policy shall require staff and management to maintain a "hands-off" attitude towards the listener elections, including not mentioning the names of any candidates (or slates of candidates) except in a neutral manner as part of an election supervisor approved candidate program, and shall also prohibit any listener candidate from appearing or being mentioned on the air on any program at any station where s/he is a candidate following the close of nominations, except as part of an election supervisor approved candidate program.
All passed 6-7/04 Fair elections coverageBe it resolved: That the PNB highly encourage the five sister stations of Pacifica and it's affiliates to ensure fair and thorough coverage of all ballot accessed candidates, leaving the judgement to the program director to implement this.
10/04 Ad hoc Election Review CommitteeResolved: That an ad hoc Election Review Committee report on problems and successes in the recent LSB election at all five stations in compliance with and effect of PNB policies passed in June 2004 and recommend improvements. Areas covered in the report will include but not necessarily be limited to voter education, allocation of airtime, ballot distribution and membership lists. The committee shall consist of five members of the PNB, one from each signal area, elected by the PNB; two LSB members from each signal area elected by the LSB. The report shall be handed to the PNB by June, 2005.
1/05 Complaints relating to improper conductRequest that Elections Review Committee consider complaints relating to improper conduct of elections from any signal area; consider use of an independent auditor to investigate the complaints; and bring a motion to the PNB at its next meeting considering how to deal with these complaints. 1/05 Referred to Elections Review Committee
Unpaid Staff RosterPart A: That the General Managers of each Pacifica station shall maintain a roster, updated monthly and retained for 12 months, of the individuals who qualify as staff members under the bylaws criteria for stations with no Unpaid Staff organization or Unpaid Staff Collective Bargaining Unit. Authority over sections of this unpaid staff roster may be delegated, but primary responsibility rests with the General Manager and the IED will be asked to implement a standardized procedure.
Part B. That the General Managers of each Pacifica station with a recognized Unpaid Staff Organization or Unpaid Staff Collective Bargaining Unit shall maintain a roster, updated monthly and retained for 12 months, of the individuals who have been qualified as staff members by that Organization or Unit and the basis of the qualification in each case. Primary responsibility for the maintenance of this roster shall be assigned to an individual designated by the Unpaid Staff Organization or Unpaid Staff Collective Bargaining Unit, but the General Manager may exercise authority to insure its accuracy.
11/05 Election ComplianceWhereas all signal areas need the maximum on-air promotion and explanation of their delegate elections, and
Whereas all Pacifica signal areas are challenged in meeting the by-laws mandated quorum for the delegate elections, and
Whereas most listener-sponsors receive their primary information from on-air promotion and education regarding the elections, and
Whereas many delegate candidates are relatively new to the governance process and need maximum processes for introducing themselves to the voters,
Therefore be it Resolved: That the PNB Elections Committee recommend to the Foundation Executive Director and the Pacifica National Board that they direct all station management to air "candidates' cart statements" as in the 2003/2004 elections.
9/06During Delegate election periods (between September 25 and November 15), each station shall play:
* each candidate's cart at least 10 times, and* at least one candidate forum including all available candidates no later than October 31.
Within these requirements, the Local Election Supervisor shall work together with each station's Program Director and General Manager to create a cart rotation schedule that is not disruptive to any fund drive underway, and that allows each candidate to be heard the same number of times, distributed in different parts of the day including drive time and different parts of the election period. Each station shall also make audios of the carts and forums available on its website.
The station shall maintain logs of actual playing times, which shall be provided to the Local Election Supervisor. Nothing in this resolution prohibits a station from doing more election coverage. Should the election times change, these requirements shall be adjusted accordingly. 9/06
Management PerformanceBe it resolve: That the Executive Director proceed with applicable progressive discipline measures of station management for failing to implement election directives by the Pacifica Election Supervisor of the PNB. At the close of the elections, summaries of the performance and cooperation of each station's management and the ED shall be prepared by the local and national elections supervisor, after consultation with the respective managers, if possible. These summaries shall be transmitted to the respective manager and the ED. These evaluations, along with any written response by the respective manager or ED, shall be placed in the personnel file of the manager or ED, and shall be incorporated into their annual personnel evaluation.
9/06 -- -- ----------------------- Carolyn M. Birden 212 932 2422 917 520 1268 ----------------------- -- ----------------------- Carolyn M. Birden 212 932 2422 917 520 1268 -----------------------
Attachment:
BoardMotionsList0406.doc
Description: MS-Word document