WWOZ Board of Directors Meeting Minutes July 2015 · Members of the Public Present: Eve Abrams,...

Friends of WWOZ, Inc.

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Date: April 6, 2016

Time: 4:30 p.m.

Location: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation 1205 N Rampart, New Orleans, LA 70116

Board Members Present:

C. J. Blache, Belinda Lewis Batiste, Roxy Wright, Marc Barnes, Karen Nabonne Coaxum, Ruth Chouest, Bob Edmundson, Douglas Hammel, Deborah Harkins, James Hutchinson (via telephone), Courtney Slatten Katzenstein, Ronald McClain, Dr. Gabou Mendy, Mary Johnston Norriss, J Pegues, Leonard Smith III (via telephone)

Board Members Absent:

Richard Cortizas, Jay Banks, Gerald Billes, David Kerstein, Peter Laborde, Carol Solomon, Karen Solomon

Foundation Staff Present: Don Marshall

Foundation Past Presidents Present:

David Oestreicher, Arthur Pulitzer, Roxy Wright

WWOZ Staff Present: David Ankers, Carrie Booher, Scott Borne, Arthur Cohen, Blake McGlaun, Melanie Merz, Leslie Molson, Beau Royster, Elaina Thompson, Pamela Wood

Members of the Public Present: Eve Abrams, Dimitri Apessos, David Averbuck, Patti Averbuck, Caryn Rodger Battiste, Sondra Bibb, Chelsea Brasted, Mikayla Braun, Gianna Chachere, Pamela Colbert, Rich Colbert, Joanne Cole, Leslie Cooper, Gaynielle Dumas, Dean Ellis, Bruce Gebhart, Elyse Crawford Hackett, Lou Hill, Louis Holmes, Andy Horstmyer, David Kunian, April Leigh, Alex Massa, Shawn Mayeux, Peter Morris, Bill Murray, Jimi Palacios, Don Paul, Grace Perrine, Bob Rodrigue, Chuck Rogers, Dennis Schaibly, Linda Seabright, Diana Shaw, Danielle Small, John Titsworth, Lily Wasserman, Chris Wells, Lisa Williford


Board of Directors Meeting Minutes April 6, 2016

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1. Call to Order. Mr. Blache called the meeting to order at 4:52 p.m.

2. Quorum. Mr. Blache declared the presence of a quorum, with 14 of 23 Board members

present.

3. Executive Session. Mr. Blache moved for the board to go into executive session. The Board then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters, including reorganization. The board remained in executive session until approximately 5:10 p.m.

4. Committee Reports.

a. Legal Committee. Ms. Harkins reported that while in executive session, the WWOZ Board of Directors passed resolutions resulting in the following reorganization of WWOZ’s management: David Freedman will serve WWOZ as Chief Strategic Officer, a position that will report directly to the Board and focus on strategic planning; Arthur Cohen will serve as Chief Operating Officer, assuming the responsibilities of the General Manager position including the supervision of the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Development Officer. Ms. Harkins stated the Board looks forward to working with Mr. Cohen, and that a press release would be issued directly after the meeting. Mr. Blache added that the position of “General Manager” will remain unfilled through the transition. Mr. McClain moved to accept the Legal Committee report. Mr. Hammel seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

b. Development Committee Report. Mr. Barnes reported that revenue numbers are

ahead of the budgeted amount for FY 2016, except for the Swamp Shop. He stated that he will present a more detailed report at the next meeting. Mr. Barnes reminded the board that Ms. Katzenstein is hosting a donor cultivation event in New York City on April 14 and all are invited. Ms. Harkins reminded the board that, directly after the meeting, there is a cookbook/WWOZ Brass Party, hosted by Virginia Miller. Mr. Hammel moved to accept the Development Committee report. Mr. Pegues seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.



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5. Chief Operating Officer’s Report. Mr. Cohen stated that the Chief Operating Officer’s report was distributed by circulation prior to the meeting. He related that the new WWOZ website is scheduled to launch between May 9 and May 15. Mr. Cohen also reported that WWOZ Program Director Dwayne Breashears will be staying on at least through the conclusion of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which ends on May 1, 2016. Ms. Chouest thanked Dwayne for staying through Piano Night. Ms. Harkins moved to accept the Chief Operating Officer’s report. Ms. Batiste seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

6. Public Commentary. Mr. Blache invited public commentary. He advised that a total of 20 minutes would be allotted for public commentary, with that time to be divided equally among those who wish to comment.

a. Don Paul. Mr. Paul introduced himself as having worked with Common Ground Relief, with WWOZ as an underwriting sales representative in 2013, and with WWOZ’s participation in the Crescent City Classic. Mr. Paul presented the board with a petition for its consideration, which is attached to these minutes as Appendix A. He stated that he was pleased to hear of the board’s taking action, and expressed his hope that WWOZ return to its mission. Mr. Paul stated the one of the recommendations included on the petition is that the board selects an African-American from New Orleans as its next general manager.

b. Peter Morris. Mr. Morris introduced himself as a WWOZ show host, a WWOZ member, and a drummer who has played with Mardi Gras Indians. He described WWOZ as a lynchpin of New Orleans culture. Mr. Morris remarked that he wasn’t sure what the issues are, but it was important to work them out.

c. Joanne Cole. Ms. Cole introduced herself as a volunteer and show host with a

background in community radio. Ms. Cole urged the board to be as transparent as possible, as WWOZ means a lot to the community and the world. Ms. Cole urged the board no to squander the goodwill WWOZ has earned.

d. Leslie Cooper. Ms. Cooper reminded the board that she commented at the March

2016 meeting. She thanked the board for listening to her, and thanked the board



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members who came to the station during the last month. Ms. Cooper thanked the board for making changes, and urged the board to recognize WWOZ’s problems.

e. Dennis Schaibly. Mr. Schaibly introduced himself as a volunteer since 1992, and

as having co-produced seven WWOZ fund drives in the past. Mr. Schaibly expressed the opinion that WWOZ’s number-one job is to be a radio station and to put its music out there. He remarked that the technology at small, less-funded stations is better than that at WWOZ.

f. Linda Seabright. Ms. Seabright introduced herself as a substitute show host at WWOZ and a radio show host in Los Angeles. Ms. Seabright expressed a sense of goodwill rather than unhappiness, and stated that she was not sure of the politics involved. She stated that she was happy with the programming and that WWOZ is putting out the music. She also remarked that change is evitable.

g. Gaynielle Dumas. Ms. Dumas introduced herself as a volunteer for two years.

She observed that staff morale is lower than when she began, citing staff turnover.

h. Chuck Rogers. Mr. Rogers introduced himself as having formerly worked with WWOZ to fulfill membership gifts, and as the current owner of Buffa’s. He related that he bought Buffa’s because he wanted a place for New Orleans culture to thrive. Mr. Rogers stated the opinion that WWOZ has drifted away from its original sound, and urged WWOZ to remain special and focus on New Orleans musicians and music.

i. Danielle Small. Ms. Small introduced herself as the host of the New Orleans

Music Show each Tuesday. She commented that WWOZ doesn’t encompass all of New Orleans music, and that WWOZ should be able to play any musician performing in New Orleans. Ms. Smalls stated that she likes to bring new people to the station and feels resistance.

j. Grace Perrine. Ms. Perrine asked the board if David Freedman would be

answerable to the board, and remarked that he should have been answerable to the board. Mr. Blache remarked that David Freedman will not be managing the station.



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k. Chris Wells. Mr. Wells introduced himself as WWOZ’s volunteer food donation

coordinator. He commented that he worked extremely closely with former WWOZ employees in the development department, and stated that in his opinion those same former employees were forced out. Mr. Wells invited the board to contact him, and added that the old development team had been sabotaged.

l. Lou Hill. Mr. Hill introduced himself as a new member of the WWOZ

Community Advisory Board [CAB]. Mr. Hill stated that the CAB would like to invite the board to the next CAB meeting. He added that the members of the CAB are purely advisory and urged the board to come and hear.

m. Lisa Williford. Ms. Williford introduced herself as a substitute show host and

volunteer at WWOZ. She urged the board to remember that WWOZ is a membership association that needs not only to recruit but also to retain members—who are not just listeners, but also members. Ms. Williford commented that from a show host standpoint, programming by committee is not practical.

n. Elyse Crawford Hackett. Ms. Hackett introduced herself as a huge supporter of

WWOZ and Jazz Fest who has worked for non-profits and radio stations. She stated that she was horribly saddened by the goings-on at WWOZ. Ms. Hackett commented that WWOZ needs love, oversight, and honor.

o. Missy Bowen. Ms. Bowen introduced herself as a WWOZ show host, and a

former community radio station manager. She asked that the board please improve WWOZ’s public policies and be transparent. Ms. Bowen commented that the WWOZ community wants to have a say, and to be a part of a community. She commented that people are present at the meeting to go forward with positive change.

7. Minutes. Mr. Hammel moved to accept the minutes of the March 9, 2016 meeting. Mr.

Barnes seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

8. President’s Report. There was no President’s Report.



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9. Operations Presentation. There was no Operations Presentation.

10. Ongoing Business. The Board did not discuss any ongoing business.

11. New Business. The Board did not discuss any new business.

12. Set Next Meeting Date. The WWOZ Board set the next meeting for June 8, 2016, at

4:30 p.m.

13. Adjournment. Mr. Hammel moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Pegues seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 5:43 p.m.

APPENDIX A

WWOZ Board of Directors Meeting Minutes July 2015 · Members of the Public Present: Eve Abrams,...

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Transcript of WWOZ Board of Directors Meeting Minutes July 2015 · Members of the Public Present: Eve Abrams,...