Pacifica's Dire Dumps

The NES-certified nominal 2018 "pseudo election results" and the complete list as published today:

Victorious WBAI listeners: Mitchel Cohen, Randy Credico (perhaps subject to jury decision), Errol Maitland, Alex Steinberg, Hazel Pinder, Carolyn McIntyre, Ralph Poynter, Michael D D White, King Downing, Marilyn Vogt-Downey (well-known Trotskyist writer in her day), Dacio A Quintana, Jim Dingeman, Maxine Harrison-Gallmon. (13 elected, so presumably there were four other vacant seats.)

Victorious WBAI staff: Max Schmid, R Paul Martin, Shawn Rhodes, Basir Mchawi. (Some will be saddened by John Kane's defeat.)

14 incumbents were unsuccessful . . . KPFA: William Campisi (his litigation against the Foundation has been ongoing for a year now). KPFK: Steve Kaiser, Rob Macon, Reza Pour (of car park fame); & staffers Myla Reson & Fernando Velazquez (guardian of Spanish-language programming). KPFT: Wesley Bethune, Anisa Faruqi, Susie Moreno, Ben Perodeau, Ted Weisgal (strangely not listed; until today the Chair); & staffer Mike Lewis. WPFW: staffer Don Williams. WBAI: staffer John Kane.

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Here is the full election report: 

These were the listings for "abstain" which I assume means people sent in blank ballots because they were told to do so to help make quorum - but they didn't want to vote for anyone. 

KPFA 3 or 2.4%
KPFK 141 or 8.9%
KPFT 7 or 5.8%
WBAI 71 o4 7.9%
WPFW couldn't even be bothered to have an election for listeners because there weren't enough candidates. 

These elections are ridiculous and any claims that they represent any kind of "democracy" are demented. Game's over. 

Kim 

Is it cricket?

The Arts & Pacifica & Crickets

A proposal was offered at the Pacifica National Board Programming Committee Meeting, Tuesday 26 February 2019.

This is the proposal and the response, in full.

~ 'indigopirate'

Is Mo' Maxie Less?

Maxie Fails to Grasp, Fails to Grasp that He Fails to Grasp Absent Thought, Insight, or Ideas

Settles for a few Weasley & Condescending Insults of Affiliates Director

In the past I've pointed out that Maxie III's aptitudes and skill sets are those of a low-level apparatchik – a 'tool' in management argot.

Minimal management competence in other words.

In Monday's PNB Strategic Planning Committee Meeting, the latter portion dealing with Ursula Ruedenberg and the Pacifica Affiliates Program, I came to the realization that I'd been wrong. That I'd seriously overestimated the man's competence, as opposed to his enthusiasm for buzzword and his mindless rote embrace of 'best practices', which in his usage simply means mindless commonplace thinking.

The audio [above link] here is fairly lengthy, I'm afraid, but it makes clear that Maxie is incapable of grasping a simple management situation and addressing it. That task should take, I'd say, no more than five or ten minutes. A number of simple, clear, and likely effective approaches are immediately apparent.

Though they aren't to Maxie, Pacifica's Executive Director.

Here's the story: Ursula Ruedenberg has built and directed what is widely seen as a successful Affiliates Program for Pacifica. Pacifica frequently points to the Affiliates Program as successful and of real importance. She has done so with meager financial means and marginal support in many respects.

Of late, nearing retirement considerations and accompanying questions as to succession, she's raised the need for the Affiliates Program being a separate unit.

It's clear that the Affiliates Program, as an operation, is a small, low-cost, flexible and adaptive operation which has an impact benefitting Pacifica far far more than its relatively modest financial dimensions.

Maxie literally can't grasp this, clear though it is, obvious though it is.

Can't think of any approach other than his little tool kit of standardized 'best practice' approaches.

As they aren't readily applicable here, he has nothing to offer but a few kind and ultimately dismissive words.

Ms Ruedenberg is rightly frustrated and even more rightly offended.

She clearly has a very clear grasp of what works in her operation, and which has resulted in a very successful operation.

Maxie simply doesn't get it, can't hear it, can't comprehend it, and dismisses her while denying that he's dismissing her.

—'indigopirate'

Response from Kim Kaufman

This is an uploadible PDF file that duplicates Kim's comment.

Mimi's arias—they're flat

WBAI today: Hypocrisy, mindless propaganda and shameless marketing.

I received the following note this afternoon, February 26, from an obviously concerned Pacifica
devotee who does not wish to be named [We have a number of Pacifica insiders who contribute to this blog anonymously].  I know very well what this person is talking about—Mimi Rosenberg continues to be an embarrassment and I find her ongoing presence on WBAI’s air inexcusable—it is this sort of failure to take essential action that gives me decreasing hope for the station’s resurrection in the current PD’s hands.

Meaning well, as I believe Linda Perry does, is not enough—the entire program content and those who throw it on the air must come under professional scrutiny. One serious mistake is, as I see it, to put in charge people who have past affiliation or friendship with the producers and hosts.

I hope this note kicks off a serious discussion of WBAI’s programming, which is something the many useless boards and committees seem loath to do. —Chris

Diga Diga Doo Doo

Pacifica National Board Programming Committee

19 February 2019

Maxie III Explains It All For You

In this report from Pacifica's Executive Director, Maxie III, we have further insight into the approach, thoughts, and insights of the Executive Director.

He finds that Pacifica's people lack his professional education, experience, credentials, perspective, and insights, and seeks to educate and evaluate them accordingly and appropriately.

He finds them to be appreciative of his efforts and eager to learn.

His focus is on market identification and focus.

There is no consideration of talent or the recruitment of potential talent.

It's all analytics, you see... 'Best Practices'....

Listen...! Learn...!

As Pacifica sails Onward.

Toot Toot!

~ 'indigopirate'

Maxie's radio recipe