Pacifica does not have this 'problem' but then $25 may or may not be a prohibitive amount for 'loons'. The low-average for listener sponsor donations to Pacifica is about $100 per year. Also, the core of the Pacifica listenership is not necessarily as fluid as Doug might have it, most listeners are long-time residents of the given station areas and longtime supporters.:-
http://www.pacifica.org/governance/PacificaBylaws-new.html
ARTICLE THREE MEMBERS OF THE FOUNDATION
SECTION 1. MEMBERS DEFINED
There shall be two classes of members: (A) "Listener-Sponsor Members" and (B) "Staff Members", who shall collectively be referred to as "Members."
A. LISTENER-SPONSOR MEMBERS
"Listener-Sponsor Members" shall be any natural persons who within the preceding 12-month period: (1) have contributed a minimum of $25 to any Foundation radio station, or such minimum amount as the Board of Directors may from time to time decide; or (2) have volunteered a minimum of three (3) hours of service to any Foundation radio station. Said contribution shall be considered non-refundable. Said volunteer work shall be performed under the supervision of the Foundation radio station management, and shall include volunteer work on committees of the Local Station Board. Where a contribution is made jointly by two individuals and the contribution is in an amount equal to or more than the annual membership contribution required for two memberships (as set by the Board from time to time), then each of the joint donors shall be considered an individual and separate Listener-Sponsor Member. (For example, if John and Mary Smith jointly contribute $50.00 or more, then John Smith and Mary Smith will each be Members and will each have individual and separate Membership rights. However, if John and Mary Smith jointly contribute $40.00, then they shall jointly share one membership.)
>From: Wojtek Sokolowski <sokol at jhu.edu>
>Reply-To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
>To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
>Subject: RE: [lbo-talk] KPFA (was MALIK RAHIM: Yesterday's
>RadicalsDevolve....)
>Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 16:06:14 -0400
>
>Greg:
> > This is a very important discussion because many if not most community
> > radio and television stations face this problem. What form of
>governance
>is appropriate to
> > adequately represent the interests of station producers, the viewing or
>listening public, and
> > also ensure the station addresses important community/local/global
>issues?
>How are
> > conflicts among these (sometimes)competing interests resolved fairly?
> > Any examples out there?
>
>I am overposting, but for a good cause. This is a very important
>observation that goes far beyond broadcasting organizations - every
>community organization faces similar problem. The community organization
>of
>which I am a part faces a very similar problem - there is a loon who packs
>meetings a bunch of followers trying to take over the board - so far
>unsuccessfully due to a technicality - but the danger is real. As Doug
>said, the constituency is fluid and it does not take much to take over the
>board and drive away everyone else. There are a lot of self-styled
>activists with control envy out there and these people are very crafty at
>disrupting democratically run organizations.
>
>Some organizations protect themselves by establishing formal membership and
>membership dues - which drives most of the loons out, but many members
>oppose such a solution as undemocratic. So far, the community association
>I
>am a part of resisted that solution, but the board is divided.
>
>However, I see it as a good solution - if you care enough something, you
>should contribute to its upkeep - so the membership due is not necessarily
>undemocratic, but it does raise the cost of loons bringing their goons in
>to
>cause havoc. Another way it have a nominating committee that sees to it
>that all interests are represented and the slate is not packed with loons
>from one camp.
>
>Wojtek
>
>
>___________________________________
>http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk
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