[grc] Grassroots Radio Conference 2024 Directives

[kenya lewis]

I’ve seen Sharon lean in to fill gaps and make sure GRC happens. Out of a sincere love for the conference. 

Pointing fingers at someone making an effort rather than volunteering to take on the tasks yourself or offering solutions is not helpful. Esp at 1:40 am.

As I recollect a deadline is needed to confirm hosts so all the event can be announced, people can travel, we can lose and find and freak about the quilt a few times, etc. 

Every year, travel is burdensome to some people. It’s been on both East and West coasts. Volunteering to host is a big lift. Unless there are other volunteers it makes sense to agree and get things underway.

> On Feb 12, 2024, at 1:40 AM, Lloyd Ewing via grc <grc at maillist.peak.org> wrote:
> 
> 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.
> 
> 
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