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

Mon Dec 17 06:46:56 PST 2018

Sharon was one of the people who helped stop that 2000’s takeover. That
seems to be one of the reasons the board wants her out. They keep saying
she isn’t “nice.” I’ve worked with Sharon for 5 years and all I’ve seen is
Sharon attempt to force the station to follow its bylaws and basic
fiduciary practices with its funds.

On Mon, Dec 17, 2018 at 8:35 AM Paul Bame via grc <grc at maillist.peak.org>
wrote:

> The more things change...
>
> Until recently, GRC conferences hosted well-attended sessions about
> radio-station takeovers, board illegalities, etc; drawing the
> battle-scared, weary, and currently embattled. Without researching the past
> in detail, the shape of the (current) KKFI struggle fits into a pattern,
> one in which Pacifica (arguably) also participated. Certainly it is
> familiar to me, having been through one of these at KRFC, and I know others
> reading this list have been through similar station difficulties.
>
> Those GRC sessions were as essential as any support group...
>
> KKFI is also a station which is said to have survived one of these
> disagreements. I don't have the details, but here's a bit of info on KKFI
> from the early 2000's
>
> https://www.thepitchkc.com/news/article/20614668/fly-in-the-soup
>
> https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/misc.activism.progressive/PnuNnLZRt1U
>
> Paul (pablito) Bame
> Prometheus Radio Project <http://prometheusradio.org/>, Engineering
> Director
> 215.727.9620 x505
> N0KCL/3
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Dec 15, 2018 at 1:24 PM taproot--- via grc <grc at maillist.peak.org>
> wrote:
>
> > I apologize for my extreme cynicism as displayed in that late-night post.
> > I am glad that some folks are hanging in there to continue to fight the
> > good fight to keep Pacifica together and defend the reforms of democratic
> > community participation that some of us gave many years and heartache
> for.
> > The endless byzantine tactics of some so-called 'progressives' and the
> > current apparent turncoat betrayals of some friends and comrades I worked
> > along side for so long took it's toll on me. I had to remove myself from
> > the struggle for my own emotional health. Thank you for continuing to
> > defend the reforms I and others gave so much to create. All the best,
> Curt
> > Gray
> >
> > https://sites.google.com/site/therealsavekpfa/home
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > There are still a few of us within Pacifica attempting to pull head out
> > of
> > > sand and facilitate the still growing 250 stations infrastructure to
> slow
> > > down fast approaching full fascism.  https://rescuepacifica.net/
> > >
> > > Also way to much top down control at KKFI for a community radio
> station.
> > >
> > > Tom.
> > >
> > >> From: taproot at lmi.net
> > >>
> > >> From whatever I have observed at Pacifica the procedure seems to be:
> > >>
> > >> 1) find sandbox.
> > >>
> > >> 2) stick your head deep enough into the sand until you can't hear or
> see
> > >> whatever problems made you want to stick your head there in the first
> > >> place.
> > >>
> > >> 3) get comfortable in that position. don't even try to imagine an
> > >> alternative. Don't worry, everyone knows that if you ignore anything
> > >> long
> > >> enough it eventually just goes away.
> > >>
> > >>> 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 Ã¢discriminating against
> > >> white
> > >>>> men,Ã¢ 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 Ã¢discriminating against white
> men.Ã¢
> > >>>> 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. LockhartÃ¢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 Ã¢scary and dangerous.Ã¢ 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 Ã¢abusiveÃ¢ and Ã¢vile.Ã¢ KKFI
> > >>>> made
> > >>>> spurious allegations that Ms. Lockhart wanted to Ã¢take the station
> > >>>> downÃ¢
> > >>>> and that she was a Ã¢bully.Ã¢
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>> 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 Ã¢witnessesÃ¢ 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
> Ã¢discriminating
> > >>>> against white menÃ¢ because it rejected the proposed mediator. The
> > >>>> GrievantsÃ¢ 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> .
> > >>>>
> > >>>> _______________________________________________
> > >>>> grc mailing list
> > >>>> grc at maillist.peak.org
> > >>>> http://maillist.peak.org/mailman/listinfo/grc
> > >>>>
> > >>> _______________________________________________
> > >>> grc mailing list
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> > >>>
> > >>
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