[grc] Some thoughts about the GRC Conference

Sat Dec 19 22:15:19 PST 2015

I think this is an important discussion and I definitely support making
some concrete processes for the planning and implementation of the
conference.

I do have to strenuously take issue with the suggestion that the city of
Detroit, or any other majority African-American city, should be avoided. If
anything, a city like Detroit with a vibrant independent media culture and
an exciting new LPFM project should be a top contender. Many GRC
participants have also participated in the Allied Media Conference, a media
conference held successfully every year in Detroit.

Best,
Will

On Sat, Dec 19, 2015 at 9:27 PM, Michelle Bradley <mae at recnet.com> wrote:

> Organizing a GRC needs to be project managed, like any other big project.
>
> As I had told Donna awhile back, for this process to work right, we should
> know the dates and location of the next GRC prior to the ending of the
> current one.
>
> The locations chosen should be fairly inexpensive, have access to
> sufficient amenities (not everyone will want to camp), be in a community
> that is safe, accessible to nearby air transportation and in an area
> inviting to minorities (including non-Christian religions, sexual
> orientation and gender identity)..
>
> For example, I would not attend a GRC in certain high-crime areas such as
> Detroit.  I will also be less likely to attend a conference in the deep
> south or in Texas outside of the Austin or Dallas area.   I am personally
> economically boycotting the Houston area due to the outcome of the HERO
> vote.
>
> When I went to Palenville, I fell in love with the Catskills area.. Eva
> and I will be possibly going back there for a vacation in the spring.
>
> I will be more than happy to serve on a GRC steering committee as I do
> have process and project management experience.
>
> =m
>
>
>
>
> On 12/19/2015 9:10 PM, Frieda Werden wrote:
>
>> What about asking organizers of previous conferences to write informally
>> to
>> this list about what they did and what resources were most important to
>> them, and then setting up a wiki or a simple page where these can reside
>> for later reading.  I think many of the previous conferences have had some
>> kind of web page, and we could add links to those.
>>
>> I'm supposed to take a one-day Wordpress class in January, so hopefully
>> I'll be able to help with that if nobody more experienced steps forward.
>>
>> On Sat, Dec 19, 2015 at 5:58 PM, Ursula Ruedenberg <ursula at pacifica.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> The GRC was established as a tradition, not a corporate entity and does
>>> not
>>> exist as part of any other group. Many have supported and furthered the
>>> tradition. The tradition is passed from autonomous group to autonomous
>>> group. What I am suggesting is that we pass on a bit more formalized
>>> information based on past experience, and resources along with the
>>> tradition.
>>>
>>> GRC is not part of NFCB. Pacifica has had affinity to the GRC for many
>>> years and stepped up in 2014 - when it looked like two years might go by
>>> without a conference - by allocating staff time to organizing the
>>> conference in Ames. Within my capacity as Pacifica's affiliate network
>>> manager, I continue to allocate time to contribute, as many station
>>> staff,
>>> volunteers, and other individuals have done, but the nature of the
>>> conference is such that each conference is autonomous.
>>>
>>> Do we see a future for such an experiment in collaboration and is it
>>> possible to build a body of resources to facilitate such a tradition?
>>> Could
>>> be fun.
>>>
>>> Ursula
>>>
>>> On Sat, Dec 19, 2015 at 5:16 PM, Michael White <michael.white at gemair.com
>>> >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Is the GRC separate and distinct from the other entities?  I don't think
>>>> of it as being supported by Pacifica, for example.  What about NFCB?
>>>>
>>>> My reason for bringing that up is that a corporate memory can be helpful
>>>> for these kinds of processes.  Also, if an enduring structure exists,
>>>> and
>>>> is not too onerous, then there is the potential for creating a funding
>>>>
>>> body
>>>
>>>> / mechanism.  E.g. the GRC fund you mention.
>>>>
>>>> Michael
>>>>
>>>> Quoting Ursula Ruedenberg <ursula at pacifica.org>:
>>>>
>>>> I'd be interested in hearing from folks who would find it worthwhile to
>>>>
>>>>> take a look at how to support the GRC conference process.  It is such a
>>>>> valuable thing - that conference. Conversation snippets of this have
>>>>>
>>>> been
>>>
>>>> occurring at recent conferences between various people. I see a number
>>>>>
>>>> of
>>>
>>>> things that warrant some thought:
>>>>>
>>>>>   - body of resources that can be gathered & passed on to the next host
>>>>> (such as boilerplate docs, sample budget, GRC fund, sponsor contacts,
>>>>>
>>>> best
>>>
>>>> practices & sample task lists, etc.)
>>>>>
>>>>> - check list of things to consider when stations thinking about hosting
>>>>>
>>>>> - some best practices for the decision-making process for where the
>>>>> conference goes next (such as communication, courtesy & inclusion shown
>>>>> towards new stations and minority groups, clear public articulation of
>>>>>
>>>> the
>>>
>>>> decision process, etc.)
>>>>>
>>>>> Maybe there are some considerations I haven't thought of; this is just
>>>>> what
>>>>> I have noticed in my recent involvement.
>>>>>
>>>>> I  feel the value of us and the conference deeply -  means so much to
>>>>>
>>>> me.
>>>
>>>> So I am looking to stimulate this step towards supporting the
>>>>>
>>>> conference.
>>>
>>>> I have a conference call line and can offer this as a place to meet. I
>>>>> would ask you to post here if you can see your self contributing to
>>>>>
>>>> such a
>>>
>>>> building conversation or just if you think it is a good idea.
>>>>>
>>>>> Best wishes,
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Ursula Ruedenberg
>>>>> Pacifica Affiliate Network Manager
>>>>> 510-812-7989
>>>>> pacificanetwork.org
>>>>>
>>>>> <http://www.facebook.com/PacificaRadioNetwork>
>>>>> <https://twitter.com/RadioPacifica>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> grc mailing list
>>>>> grc at maillist.peak.org
>>>>> http://maillist.peak.org/mailman/listinfo/grc
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> grc mailing list
>>>> grc at maillist.peak.org
>>>> http://maillist.peak.org/mailman/listinfo/grc
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Ursula Ruedenberg
>>> Pacifica Affiliate Network Manager
>>> 510-812-7989
>>> pacificanetwork.org
>>>
>>> <http://www.facebook.com/PacificaRadioNetwork>
>>> <https://twitter.com/RadioPacifica>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> grc mailing list
>>> grc at maillist.peak.org
>>> http://maillist.peak.org/mailman/listinfo/grc
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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-- 
Will Floyd
Technical Director | Prometheus Radio Project
will at prometheusradio.org | 215.727.9620 x524