[PAA-Discuss] Guess what I did the night before last!

[Paul Myers]

It bounced on first attempt, too many recipients


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Paul Myers<mailto:PaulandCarole at msn.com> 
  To: Brenda Fackler<mailto:bfackler55 at hotmail.com> 
  Cc: Teresa Allen<mailto:teresajallen at sbcglobal.net> ; Hep Ingham<mailto:hingham at igc.org> ; George Reiter<mailto:greiter at uh.edu> ; Dino Marcaccio<mailto:dinomusic at ev1.net> ; Walter Birdwell<mailto:wbbirdwell at yahoo.com> ; Joseph Kaye<mailto:jkccnp at hotmail.com> ; Robert Graham<mailto:rgg-629 at sbcglobal.net> ; C Lee Taylor<mailto:c.lee.taylor at gmail.com> ; Robert Belew<mailto:rbelew2000 at yahoo.com> ; Ken Freeland<mailto:kenfree at swbell.net> ; Michael Woodson<mailto:Michael.Woodson at sjcd.edu> ; richard_uzzell_3 at hotmail.com<mailto:richard_uzzell_3 at hotmail.com> ; jacbat at pdq.net<mailto:jacbat at pdq.net> ; moeg_99 at yahoo.com<mailto:moeg_99 at yahoo.com> ; leighza68 at yahoo.com<mailto:leighza68 at yahoo.com> ; blimycapn at oplink.net<mailto:blimycapn at oplink.net> ; csbourgeois at yahoo.com<mailto:csbourgeois at yahoo.com> ; dbradley at kpft.org<mailto:dbradley at kpft.org> ; syoung at airmail.net<mailto:syoung at airmail.net> ; marquessa at sbcglobal.net<mailto:marquessa at sbcglobal.net> ; massoud1 at alltel.net<mailto:massoud1 at alltel.net> ; mikebourgeois at sbcglobal.net<mailto:mikebourgeois at sbcglobal.net> ; smccutch at flash.net<mailto:smccutch at flash.net> ; drew_daubenspeck at yahoo.com<mailto:drew_daubenspeck at yahoo.com> ; susan at southmainalliance.org<mailto:susan at southmainalliance.org> ; Robert_Waller at hines.com<mailto:Robert_Waller at hines.com> ; JohnChachere at hotmail.com<mailto:JohnChachere at hotmail.com> ; Karmen_Chartier at yahoo.com<mailto:Karmen_Chartier at yahoo.com> ; discuss<mailto:discuss at paa-tx.org> ; Choozpeace at aol.com<mailto:Choozpeace at aol.com> ; Karl Sweet<mailto:karl_sweet at hotmail.com> ; Ted Weisgal<mailto:ted at llu.com> ; Erik Sweet<mailto:esweet at flash.net> ; lsb<mailto:lsb at kpft.org> 
  Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 6:41 PM
  Subject: Re: [PAA-Discuss] Guess what I did the night before last!


  Thank you so much Brenda for your response to my epistles, I appreciate it.

  I was aware of only one LSB member had his/her own show. I thought I implied your concern, but then again, I have not been real good at subtlety.  Please excuse my not investigating further before writing my latest notes.

  I would suggest that some might consider the dilemma you document as a conflict of interest.  

  If I have to evaluate you, or your product, and you have the power to give me something like a radio show, isn't that something like, the then Congressman, Duke Cunningham taking money from contractors in return for the awards of government contacts?

  The following link http://houston.kpft.org/site/PageServer?pagename=code_of_conduct<http://houston.kpft.org/site/PageServer?pagename=code_of_conduct> might help find a possible avenue to resolve this concern. According to the web site, the KPFT Code of Conduct was drafted with input from KPFT staff, LAB members, listeners and the Pacifica National Office.

  While I do not see anything there specifically about ethics,  KPFT can be formally made a aware of a potential conflict of interest and, if disputed, it is to be brought before a neutral independent fact finder, chosen and paid by KPFT, for a final and binding decision.  Complaint forms are available at the reception desk.  But since conflicts of interest are not specifically bared, this route could be a problem unless there is another document or law that would ban conflicts of interest. 

  Alternatively if listeners demand it and let the station and the LSB members know of the concern and keep speaking about it, maybe a resolution can be passed to add an ethics clause to the Code of Conduct, or other clause that would prohibit KPFT members that are programmers from holding  LSB positions or vote or be on a committee at KPFT that deals in any way with programming. This in not unusual, in pension plan work, when an audit of the program is due, it must be done by an outside independent auditor; some truck companies don't allow folks with DWI(s) to have a job as driver; and some organizations prohibit convicted felons from taking certain positions. The latter options would be difficult as KPFT is a station that broadcasts programming.

  Additionally many organizations have a way to submit conduct violations that ensures confidentiality of the person that reported the incident.  I don't see that option here.

  There could be another KPFT document or category that this could more appropriately fall into.  There may even be some documentation prohibiting LSB members serving on committees that relate to other tasks they do for KPFT.

  The are several points in item eight of Code of Conduct that could be challenged about the responsibility and authority of the station manager and the executive director respectfully. 

  I mentioned oversight at the station in the message below, as related to the requirements in the By-Laws.  As for the executive director, he and his authority is from the Pacifica Board and such authorities cannot be in contradiction to the the By-Laws.  Additionally it is the Pacifica Board that is responsible and has the authority for " Overseeing the conduct, management and control of the Foundation's affairs and activities, including the monitoring of the activities and actions of its radio stations and national staff consistent with applicable law and regulations, the Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws."  The LSB is a representative of the Pacifica Board and four representatives from KPFT are on the national board.

  There may be laws that state requirements for responsibility and authority, however just as the US Coast Guard has rules and regulations that deal with authority and responsibility on merchant vessels, captains and crews are also subject to the authorities, requirements, rules, procedures and reporting requirements of the company that are to be complied with by the captain and crew unless they violate a law.  

  Can compliance with a law be used to ignore By-Laws?  That is unless the action being contemplated, as directed by the By-Laws, is of and by itself illegal.

  Who has a copy of the articles of incorporation?

  As for the next level, I believe, there is no for-sure solution.  I can only write about what I believe works for me.  It is up to you all. That is not abdication -- read on. 

  I have provided some information that might have been missed, in what could have been construed as a lot of words used to criticize and judge, things we have all learned to love and enjoy.  

  However, I tried to be factual and, after review, I have to admit some judgment slipped in there.  

  What I suggested is outlined in an attachment article in the message that I sent Friday night ( actually early hours of Saturday morning). It is attached here again for those that missed it and/or deleted the message.

  The article can be distilled down to personal transformation, giving of the self with others in a constructive program and action.

  WHAT?

  Said another way, before getting to work to organize or reorganize or criticize, I suggest work and connections at the heart level rather than in the head or mind, in conjunction with internal work; i.e., personal transformation.  

  WHAT?

  I came to that conclusion by understanding that the foundation of peace and nonviolence is spiritual in nature, in the sense that the same energy that created you created me, as well my enemies; that we are all connected in ways that Dennis Kucinich spoke of as he accepted the 2001 Gandhi award.

  As part of internal work, perhaps it starts, for me, with my understanding that conflict is good, an acknowledgement that we are not all the same in our thoughts, feeling and needs and an acceptance of the concept that no one can be in 100% error, not even George Bush.  

  Part of what that means, to me, is accepting and respecting the other with the understanding that acceptance is not agreement and to express disagreement, it is best done from the heart, not the head, while trying to understanding the heart of the other.

  This is easier to understand, for me, when I come to the realization that in each moment in time each of us is doing what meets our needs at that point in time, even if we are in our heads and not aware of our feelings or the related needs.

  Part of the heart business is letting go of expectations, preconceptions, prejudices, ideology, theology, solutions, the need to heal, convert, fix, or solve and to open up to be vulnerable. Don't forget the need to control.  And then there is integration of all of this in a way that represents integrity.
  While a lot of folks say they value diversity, how many actual mean it and - in fact celebrate - our individual and cultural differences?

  Before looking to fix or organize KPFT, I suggest to look to see if it is truly inclusive, if the folks there are truly committed, if it is a place of consensus, if it is realistic, if it is contemplative or reactive, if it is a safe place, if it is a laboratory for personal disarmament, can anyone be vulnerable and empathetic there, do the folks there fight gracefully, is it a group of leaders, does it have spirit in the most positive sense?

  Needless to say I did not invent the information above, but it does make sense to me and I have experienced examples of many of these things.

  However, .........if part or the majority of what I described above is not there or not even understood, what do you think the chances are, of the type of change I sense you are looking for, being made, even with the best root cause analysis expert?

  It is not easy.  I have been consciously working on (me) it since 1997 and am not expert at it yet.  I note that I could have worded a few of my questions in yesterday afternoon's message in a less confrontational manner.

  If and when everyone opens ups or rather wakes up, organization and next steps are the easy part that could lead to the constructive program mentioned in the attached article.

  Thanks again for you message,
  Paul


    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Brenda Fackler<mailto:bfackler55 at hotmail.com> 
    To: Paul Myers<mailto:PaulandCarole at msn.com> 
    Cc: Teresa Allen<mailto:teresajallen at sbcglobal.net> ; Hep Ingham<mailto:hingham at igc.org> ; George Reiter<mailto:greiter at uh.edu> ; Dino Marcaccio<mailto:dinomusic at ev1.net> ; Walter Birdwell<mailto:wbbirdwell at yahoo.com> ; Joseph Kaye<mailto:jkccnp at hotmail.com> ; Robert Graham<mailto:rgg-629 at sbcglobal.net> ; C Lee Taylor<mailto:c.lee.taylor at gmail.com> ; Robert Belew<mailto:rbelew2000 at yahoo.com> ; Ken Freeland<mailto:kenfree at swbell.net> ; Michael Woodson<mailto:Michael.Woodson at sjcd.edu> ; richard_uzzell_3 at hotmail.com<mailto:richard_uzzell_3 at hotmail.com> ; jacbat at pdq.net<mailto:jacbat at pdq.net> ; lsb<mailto:lsb at kpft.org> ; moeg_99 at yahoo.com<mailto:moeg_99 at yahoo.com> ; leighza68 at yahoo.com<mailto:leighza68 at yahoo.com> ; blimycapn at oplink.net<mailto:blimycapn at oplink.net> ; csbourgeois at yahoo.com<mailto:csbourgeois at yahoo.com> ; dbradley at kpft.org<mailto:dbradley at kpft.org> ; syoung at airmail.net<mailto:syoung at airmail.net> ; marquessa at sbcglobal.net<mailto:marquessa at sbcglobal.net> ; massoud1 at alltel.net<mailto:massoud1 at alltel.net> ; mikebourgeois at sbcglobal.net<mailto:mikebourgeois at sbcglobal.net> ; smccutch at flash.net<mailto:smccutch at flash.net> ; drew_daubenspeck at yahoo.com<mailto:drew_daubenspeck at yahoo.com> ; susan at southmainalliance.org<mailto:susan at southmainalliance.org> ; Robert_Waller at hines.com<mailto:Robert_Waller at hines.com> ; JohnChachere at hotmail.com<mailto:JohnChachere at hotmail.com> ; Karmen_Chartier at yahoo.com<mailto:Karmen_Chartier at yahoo.com> ; discuss<mailto:discuss at paa-tx.org> ; Choozpeace at aol.com<mailto:Choozpeace at aol.com> ; Karl Sweet<mailto:karl_sweet at hotmail.com> ; Ted Weisgal<mailto:ted at llu.com> ; Erik Sweet<mailto:esweet at flash.net> 
    Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 11:42 AM
    Subject: Re: [PAA-Discuss] Guess what I did the night before last!


    Hi Paul, 

    Thank you for the recap and research into the issues surrounding the programming decisions, PC, PD, GM, and LSB of KPFT. There is, however, one critical component to the dynamics at KPFT that I haven't read about in this thread and I wanted to add it to this discussion. 

    A portion of the LSB is comprised of programmers that actually produce on air programs at KPFT. Since programs are selected and days and time slots are recommended by the PC with (as best as I can tell) final decision by the GM (no reason to mention the PD here since he reports to the GM), it's pretty easy to close the loop and see that if programmer members of the LSB want to maintain their on air programs (and, of course, they do) they have to align with the wishes of those that control the programming. 

    So, if the LSB is supposed to have Review and Oversight of the GM, but the GM has final control of an LSB programmer's ability to maintain their program either in a desirable time slot or on air at all, it sheds light on why it seems almost impossible to get the LSB to take action on some of the issues that the listeners feel are important. 

    As long as the GM is in control of programming, and the LSB is partially comprised of folks with on air programs, and the LSB is the only body that has any direct input over the Review and Oversight of the GM, it doesn't really matter if listeners talk to their LSB members or, decide to run for the board themselves, etc.... The dynamics of this structure will continue to render the listeners powerless to make any change at KPFT.

    Paul, you appreciate root cause analysis so perhaps you can take this to the next level and help us determine where the break down in structure originates and show us an example of how we might climb out of the quagmire that exists at KPFT.

    On another note, in your previous emails I particularly appreciated the analogy of the power structure of KPFT to the power structure of the US government. Just as many of us US citizens suspect/believe that one of the root problems with the US government can be traced back to the government's ruthless and vicious practice of transferring of money and resources from the poor to the rich, we KPFT listeners must also wonder if that is not one of the root problems at KPFT as well. But, I toss that out only as food for thought since I'd really like this thread to focus on the accountability to the listener members of the KPFT programming decisions.

    For Peace and Harmony,
    Brenda

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