[grc] Grassroots Radio Conference 2024 Directives

[Lloyd Ewing]

I do not see where Sharon Scott has been given the authority to
determine how the next Grassroots Radio Conference is to be chosen.  She
implies that her decisions were made by a group attending a Zoom meeting
that she held on January 23, but I do not see how anyone who was at that
meeting would say that Sharon was given this authority.  I do not see
how anyone who was at the meeting would say that her pronouncements were
endorsed by the people who attended that meeting.

There was no announcement prior to the meeting to indicate that major
decisions about the future of the GRC would be on the agenda.  At the
meeting there was no discussion about what method should be used to
determine how the next GRC should be chosen, and there was almost no
discussion about what criteria should be used to determine when and
where we should have a GRC in 2024.

In mandating that applications from groups that want to host the next
GRC must be submitted to Sharon prior to her next Zoom meeting (February
27) she is ensuring that there will be very few submissions.  Only
people who have already been preparing to host a GRC will be able to
meet that deadline.  At Sharon's meeting Damon Cater mentioned that he
is ready and willing to host a repeat of his 2023 GRC again in 2024.  I
have no quarrel with Damon, and having him serve as host for the next
GRC may be the best choice, but there are a multitude of issues and
concerns that should be considered before that decision is made.

This is just a few considerations off the top or my head that I think we
could discuss:

Is someone interested in hosing a less expensive GRC?  It seems that GRC
2023 may be the most expensive conference in my memory.

Would it not be better to hold GRC conferences in a different city each
year?  Perhaps we could return to the same city on alternate years.

How do people who live on the west coast think about having to traveling
such long distances?

Did anyone find a good alternative to an extended trip in a rental car
from one of the major airports in the area?

Could presentations be recorded for the benefit of those who are not
able to attend?

Damon admitted to pocketing a good profit from the GRC (was it 10k on
35k revenue?)  I do not think that is unreasonable, assuming his own
funds were at risk in preparing for the GRC, but someone else might
offer other uses for the proceeds.

Is the GRC in danger of turning into a professionally managed event like
the NFCB, and what can we do to ensure that it remains an informal
gathering for people who do not have the backing of large institutions
and agencies?

Does the GRC exist for professionals who earn income from promoting
their services to community broadcasters, or does it exist for the small
community broadcasters to share and offer mutual support?

Should decisions within the GRC be mandated by a particular person or a
closed group, or do we want decisions to be made by an open process
where all are invited to participate?

Etc....


As for what went on at the Sharon's January 23 meeting, this would be my
summary:

The meeting drifted on for what seemed like an hour with mostly small
talk and reiteration of things that most of us already knew.  By then
most people had checked out mentally, even if they were still sitting in
front of their computers.  After talking about the GRC conferences in
general, Sharon abruptly announced that anyone who wanted to host the
GRC in 2024 would have to submit proposals to her before the next Zoom
meeting February 27.  There were a couple of weak attempts to address
the issues and to clarify Sharon's pronouncement, but strong leadership
from the chair kept the pace of the meeting from dwelling on any of
those questions, and the meeting ended soon after that.  She said that
her "steering committee" would choose from the proposals that were
submitted, but she did not explain who that would be or how it was to
happen.

The people who attended the final meeting of the GRC in Rochester may
see a pattern here.