[grc] FW: NEWS RELEASE: KKFI, Kansas City In Violation of By-Laws

[Frieda Werden]

Does NFCB have any procedures for conflict resolution at member stations?

Frieda Werden, Series Producer
WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service www.wings.org


On Tue, Dec 11, 2018 at 11:36 AM Sharon Lockhart via grc <
grc at maillist.peak.org> wrote:

> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From:  KKFIFour <kkfifour at gmail.com <mailto:kkfifour at gmail.com> >
> Date: Thu, Nov 22, 2018 at 8:07 PM
> Subject: NEWS  RELEASE: KKFI Refuses to Follow By Laws
> To: <jbhargava at shawneedispatch.com <mailto:jbhargava at shawneedispatch.com>
> >
>
>
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> Kansas City, MO
>
> November 20, 2018
>
>
>
>                                                                   CONTACT:
> Amy Bell
>
>
>
>                                          PHONE: 913 908 7914
>
>
>
>                                         EMAIL:  <mailto:KKFIFour at gmail.com>
> KKFIFour at gmail.com
>
>
>
> KKFI Refuses To Follow By-Laws
>
>
>
> Since January 23, 2018, Sharon Lockhart and three others have been trying
> to get KKFI to follow its due process rules.  Rather than follow its own
> rules, KKFI (Mid-Coast Radio Project, Inc.)  has resorted to allegations
> that Sharon Lockhart and the others were “discriminating against white
> men,” a call seemingly borrowed from the alt right.  KKFI then scrambled to
> revise its By-laws and again failed to follow proper procedure in that
> endeavor.
>
>
>
> The KKFI grievance committee refused to hear the grievance of the group of
> four people regarding station process and policy.   As an alternative, Ms.
> Lockhart and the three other volunteer members offered to submit to an
> objective process with an outside mediator.   Instead of agreeing to a
> reasonable process or engaging in civil discourse, KKFI accused Ms.
> Lockhart and the other three of “discriminating against white men.”  This
> tactic, which also included a campaign of personal destruction against Ms.
> Lockhart, is a strong-arm course of conduct that should not be tolerated in
> a so- called community radio station.
>
>
>
> Ms. Lockhart is a producer and host of the Every Woman show.  She has a
> KKFI volunteer track record of 23 years.   With no violation of any
> standard or rule, she was suspended from her show and all volunteer
> committee work.  Ms. Lockhart is no ordinary volunteer, she has single
> handedly saved KKFI thousands of dollars over the years while serving on
> the board and various committees.
>
>
>
> Ms. Lockhart’s ouster occurred without any due process and with no one
> hearing her side of a disagreement that occurred or the course of events.
> KKFI will not provide due process or even acknowledge that the other two
> women that worked on the show also have a grievance because of certain
> actors at KKFI.
>
>
>
> Also joined in the grievance is a black man who was suspended because KKFI
> management allegedly found him “scary and dangerous.”  Indeed, KKFI
> management threatened to call police if the man of color entered the
> station again and he has been expelled from the station completely.   His
> expulsion, without due process, was based upon an overheard conversation.
> Not one ounce of investigation has been put into the expulsion and the two
> parties to the conversation have been in each other company many times
> since the racist overreaction of KKFI.
>
>
>
> In the past, it has been a usual practice for the Grievance Committee, the
> KKFI Board, and management to refuse to hear grievances filed by members.
> This is apparently the first time they have been challenged.  Most members
> recognize the cost of standing up and speaking out is to lose their spot on
> the air.  In this way many past board and committee members have had to
> keep their heads down to keep their show.  The four grievants are now
> paying the price and the community should rally behind them to prevent this
> injustice.
>
>
>
> KKFI decided that rather than follow the process outlined in its By-laws,
> it first stonewalled for weeks.  Then it denied the grievance outright, and
> then determined that it got to pick and choose what grievance it would hear
> rather than the one that was put forward.  A campaign of personal attacks
> were also lodged against Ms. Lockhart.  She has been insulted publicly in a
> number of different ways that are commonly used to keep older women in
> their place, including, being called “abusive” and “vile.” KKFI made
> spurious allegations that Ms. Lockhart wanted to “take the station down”
> and that she was a “bully.”
>
>
>
> After an appeal to the board, KKFI has given Ms. Lockhart an ultimatum
> that it will only hear her grievance but not the grievance of the other
> three people in the group as a whole grievance.  KKFI has no reasoning for
> separating the group and failing to provide due process to the other three
> individuals.   It has said that it will allow the other three to
> participate as “witnesses” but they can only address the committee for 5
> minutes and cannot be in the room for the whole presentation.
>
>
>
> Prior to this latest twist, KKFI had agreed to go to an outside mediation
> but backed out of that promise because KKFI would not agree to the outside
> mediators the Grievants proposed (including two white men and a white
> woman). KKFI insisted on a single mediator it proposed.  However, he lacked
> corporate experience and KKFI would not propose another mediator.  KKFI
> then made horrible allegation that the grievants were “discriminating
> against white men” because it rejected the proposed mediator.    The
> Grievants’ lawyer demanded a retraction of such a statement and,
> recognizing that it had crossed a line, KKFI withdrew the statement.
>
>
>
> KKFI claims to be a community radio station dedicated to giving a platform
> to diverse voices across the Kansas City area.  It appears that this does
> not include the voices and opinions of strong women and black men.   KKFI
> pretends that it operates fairly but apparently not when it is intent upon
> ridding itself of those who ask questions, and those who insist on fair
> play, ethical actions, and accountability.  The public and other members
> should expect more of a publicly funded and donor supported non-profit
> radio station and tax- free institution.
>
>
>
> To request that KKFI hear the Grievance of the KKFI Four, as written,   in
> a fair, transparent, and open setting, Call KKFI at 816 931-3122.
> Non-Profits owe accountability to public donors.
>
>
>
> ###
>
>
>
> If you would like more information about this topic, please call Amy Bell
> 913 908 7914
>
>  or Email: KKFIFour at gmail.com <mailto:KKFIFour at gmail.com> .
>
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