Change
comes to KGGV in 2009
2008 was a year of consolidation and
stabilization at KGGV. That was our
third year and we mostly did the things that we had done in years before, but
we did them better. The economic crunch
snuck up on us, but hitting the fundraising panic button in December, brought
us back into the black.
As with other changes, in years past, we
regretted the departures of Helena Giesea, Guy Fox & GAX, Sheila Koren, Ari
Herman and Sharon Wikoff, the teens, Sophie Weiner and Bryce Youngberg, and
Katt off to New Zealand. Since 2006,
KGGV has launched 94 different programs, hosted by 71 different local
people. Our stasis point is 50 shows
with 43 DJs.
As the year wound down, the loss of Beth
Hearn, as head of station, seriously rocked the station volunteers. December was a quiet month.
But spring appears to have come early this
year, and the daffodils blooming in front of the radio station are
inspirational. We look now to the new
people who joined us in 2008 to pick up the tasks of those who have
departed. This new baker’s dozen brings
youth, fresh energy, and passion to KGGV for 2009’s challenges: Bruce Robinson
doing the RR Gardener Sundays at 11am; Linda Jennings on Saturday nights at
8pm; Lois Pearlman and Leslie Warren, community activists, on Thursday at 1pm;
Nancy Jo Wood has a Friday noontime program and is involved in Programming;
Doug Fogel hosts a 1pm Friday Health program; Jerry Louis does a music show Mondays
at 7pm; Laura Mueller interviews locals at 11am on Saturday mornings; Brian
Martens hosts evening reading programs; Maria Viegas is our New Orleans Chef on
Saturdays at noon; Zoe Puckett provides
late night dance music on Thursdays and supports our Underwriting efforts;
Patti Blaylock has recently launched her “Soul Café,” and is also our PSA
contact; and most recent is Meg Krewszewska, who launched, to rave reviews,
Sacred Sounds.
So, the goals for 2009 are to blend the
passion of the newcomers with the wisdom of the old-timers to form some
organizational niches, which can move the station forward along several lines:
1.)
Fundraising
is the paramount issue for 2009.
Specifically, establishing consistent and sustainable sources of
income. To that end, we have opened a
position of Fundraising Coordinator.
Applications are being solicited from the volunteer staff. This would be a two-year position and span
all fundraising events as overseer.
2.)
In
support of the Fundraising Coordinator, we have put in place Zoe Puckett as
Underwriting Manager to handle what could be out largest source of income.
3.)
Programming
is important to all radio stations – achieving audience appeal and providing a
consistent and sustainable programming format is the domain of the group we put
in place last year, the Programming Committee.
This group was achieved through open applications from the volunteer
body. It has been our most successful
venture of last year. This year will see
three replacements on the Programming Committee, again through an application
process open to the volunteer body.
4.)
Events
management spans the third most important set of goals for 2009. Of course, event management overlaps
fundraising, station management and programming; that is why we have defined an
Operational Advisory Committee, at Board level, to deal with more detailed
management of KGGV events. The
centerpiece to this committee is the concept of a Volunteer Coordinator. The Volunteer Coordinator provides a
communications conduit from the volunteer body to the Executive Committee. In an equivalent manner, the Operational
Advisory Committee becomes a management team fully capable of running the
station: Programming, Fundraising, Volunteers, and Station business.
5.)
The
final goal for 2009, strange as it might seem four years on, is to document
this approach to KGGV management, and the relationship between Board oversight
and day-to-day management. Documentation
of policies and procedures will remain the responsibility of the Executive
Committee, as they are the delegates of the Church Council and the Congregation.
6.)
The
keystone to the radio station is the KGGV Executive Board. This year Ed Smith fills the Moderator role
on the Board; supported by Pam Tinnin, our Pastor; Peter Andrews, Treasurer;
and Randy Wells, Chief Engineer.
Final word from Peter
There was a lot of chaos this past year,
as will be true for any organization with volunteers of the 50-99 size such as
our radio station. They aren’t
strangers. They are your neighbors. Some attend Church. Some attend groups that the Church supports. Some would be better friends if we came
together more often. One of my biggest
failures last year was not uniting the two groups for Camp Cazadero. That will happen this year, I hope. It’s a good mission – costs nothing – and provides
few headaches.
The
same can be said of the radio station – good mission – cheap – happy.
