[grc] National LPFM Org

[Paul Bame]

Whether NFCB is a decent fit is a complicated question and I'm open to 
learning that
my hesitations are out of place.

My concerns are not entirely rational and come as a result of two things

1. I believe that to thrive with a huge if not 100% volunteer base, that 
LPFMs are going to need nontraditional structures even more than 
"normal" grassroots radio station -- that GRC's values[1] in 
organizational structure and programming values are far more important 
to LPFMs than ever.

2. NFCB in the past was anathema to those values, which was a driving 
force for forming GRC. The paper by Marty and Cathy on the genesis of 
GRC is hard to find, but I host a copy on an old web site. It is _full_ 
of amazing and important reading in my opinion: 
http://savegrassrootsradio.org/wiki/GrassrootsRadioMovement

Not clear in that paper is what was going on, and went on, among radio 
stations and networks.
I lost years of happy life, the radio station I co-founded, good 
friends, and personal safety in my home community, due to a struggle 
which mirrored all of those which were ignited by the NFCB/CPB Healthy 
Station Project specifically and the values it promoted more generally; 
and I'm only one of many.

To be fair, NFCB is very different than they used to be, with great 
people in the right places, and have done and are doing some awesome 
things, and understand the previous rift very well.

Still I recommend digesting the paper above, and if you find yourself 
drawn to "grassroots radio" values, to really make sure that NFCB 
embraces (and teaches) those values; or beware that you will have to 
constantly and consciously counterbalance with your own values while 
using NFCB's valuable resources or you may slide into the abyss which 
consumed other radio stations.

[1] To those coming only recently to GRC, the values expressed in the 
paper above may not be apparent if all you've seen is the conferences.