>From: "Carol Spooner" <wildrose at pon.net>
>To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
>Subject: Pacifica "Mission Commission"
>Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002 12:09:07 -0800
>X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400
>
>PACIFICA "MISSION COMMISSION"
>by Robbie Osman, Coordinator
>
>Pacifica is emerging from several years of intense internal struggle.
>In the course of the conflict the very purpose and direction of the
>foundation and the effectiveness and appropriateness of its
>decision-making structures and practices were central issues. While we
>were embattled we promised ourselves and each other that upon regaining
>control of the network we would set aside an interim period during which
>we would organize and encourage widespread discussion and debate about
>Pacifica's process, structure, direction, and purpose.
>
>Now is the time for that discussion. Certainly much discussion and debate
>is already happening formally and informally among members of the Pacifica
>board, LAB members, station staff, listeners and other supporters. Much of
>it has been cogent and valuable but our analysis and evaluation may be
>enriched by an effort to broaden the discussion by inviting input from
>friends who have been largely apart from the struggle.
>
>The national office will contribute to and support this ongoing discussion
>by creating a Mission Commission. The Commission will encourage and
>facilitate the participation of our discussions of people who are rooted in
>progressive social movements and people with long experience in community
>radio whose ideas may help encourage, focus, inform and strengthen the
>general debate on Pacifica's future and inform the decisions of the Board,
>the LABs, the Executive Director, the listener electorate, and the entire
>Pacifica community.
>
>The Commission will not be empowered to make policy. Policy decisions will
>come from the national board, the LABs, the stations and the listeners. It
>will simply contribute to the network-wide discussion.
>
>The Commission will establish panels of respected progressive organizers and
>activists to work with the LABs, the National Board, the station staff, and
>listeners and national office to identify and address the issues facing
>Pacifica. I've been asked by Acting Executive Director Dan Coughlin to
>coordinate this effort.
>
>There will be a national committee and also one committee for each of the
>five stations. The committee will be asked to identify the issues before us
>(consulting whichever organizations and individuals the panelists think
>appropriate),
>identify who might best shed some light on these questions, and arrange
>(with the help of 'staff') some method/methods for making the discussion
>available/useful to
>the various decision making bodies within Pacifica (the national and local
>boards, the station staffs, the activist organizations, and the
>listener/sponsors). We can imagine position papers, radio forums,
>internet based discussion, large or small public meetings, or whatever
>seems effective and appropriate.
>
>Here are some thoughts about which issues could be covered. The list is
>open to additions or deletions.
>
>CPB money or not/ other potentially compromising funding strategies
>local/national balance
> role of national in keeping stations on mission
> role of stations in keeping national on mission
> national role in hiring station managers
> must carry rule/gag rule
> money distribution between stations and national
> how do we choose national programming
> relationship with affiliates
> hiring
> job stability and continuity vs openness to change and accountability
>And last but not nearly least, what are the impediments to our being open to
>change in the demographic (class, race, age, gender) make-up of Pacifica?
>Nationally? Station by station? What might be the strategies for change?
>
>We hope that out of this period of crisis and upheaval within Pacifica we
>will be able to salvage a unique opportunity to take a careful look at how
>our institutional culture and our decision-making structure affect how
>successfully our process and programming serves the network's mission.
>
>It won't be boring.
>Robbie Osman
>
>##
>This bulletin comes from the Committee to Remove the [Former!] Pacifica
>Board
>Web Page: http://home.pon.net
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