[grc] Grassroots Radio Conference 2024 Directives

[David Devereaux-Weber]

Lloyd,

I recommend to your listening pleasure: Utah Phillips' story *Moose Turd
Pie*.
Here's a recording on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Q1ajLnuw2oo?si=sGXNMqgzWeelrdWN

In the story, anyone who complained about the cooking became the next cook.

One of the things volunteering teaches us is humility and respect for
others who volunteer. That is the greatest gift of community media.

Sharon volunteers because it is the right thing to do. She always asks for
others who may want to volunteer.

Sounds like you are stepping up to volunteer.



Dave


David Devereaux-Weber
ddweber at wortfm.org <President at wortfm.org>
(608)576-2599


On Mon, Feb 12, 2024 at 3:40 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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