[grc] Grassroots Radio Conference 2024 Directives

[Joseph Orozco]

Sorry all, I hadn’t had coffee when I first read the thread. I have Dr. appt this hour.

Sent with Peace and Balance

> On Feb 12, 2024, at 7:20 AM, kenya lewis via grc <grc at maillist.peak.org> wrote:
> 
> 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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