KXCI DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE
P.O. BOX 2012 TUCSON, AZ. 85702
Phone: 520 620-6353
Website: http://savekxci.tripod.com
Dear KXCI Member:
An unsigned letter inserted
in your December issue of the KXCI "Segue" newsletter attacking the KXCI Democracy Initiative is a classic example of misstatement,
distortion and scare tactics. The letter refers to "people not associated with KXCI" who want to "radically change" .KXCI.
We want to set the record straight on who is doing what, and why.
Who is behind the KXCI
Democracy Initiative?
KXCI is composed of members
who own the station. When you join KXCI you become a member of the Foundation for Creative Broadcasting, Inc. All members
have the same rights. One right is the right to join with others when proposing changes in the By-laws. The many KXCI members
who support the KXCI Democracy Initiative are current and former members, programmers, founders and volunteers as well as
former members of the Board of Directors;. The staff sent you a letter saying that the KXCI Democracy Initiative supporters
are "individuals not associated with KXCI. " You should ask yourself why they would lie to you about that simple matter.
Who can obtain the membership
list?
The KXCI staff letter
said "a court order, contested by KXCI lawyers, required us to provide them with your name and address. We take your privacy very seriously." So do we. But a membership initiative is a right under the KXCI By-laws,
a, right that can only be exercised with access to the membership list. It is a right guaranteed by Arizona law. KXCI staff violated their own By-laws and state law when they refused to allow Bill Risner, a KXCI
lifetime member, access to the membership list on behalf of KXCI Democracy Initiative supporters. He was forced to sue in
Superior Court in order to enforce a clear legal right. That lawsuit, which he won, cost KXCI around five thousand dollars
because the court directed them to pay both his lawyers and the station's lawyers. It was your $5.000 in membership money
that the KXCI administration used to fight this losing and unworthy fight. The court even admonished KXCI for its refusal
to turn over the list. Who then was the station management protecting ~ the rights of its members or the anti-democratic policies
of an entrenched self-appointed Board?
How many members are
on the current Board of Directors?
The current By-laws provide
for a board of directors of up to twenty members, only six of whom may be elected, (with only three elected in one year) and
up to fourteen appointed. The KXCI staff letter states: "our twelve-member board includes five people who were elected by
the membership and seven who were appointed." Their letter neglected to inform you that they can stack the desk even further
by appointing up to eight additional members to the board under the existing By-laws. You, as a member, have no say with regards
to any of those appointed members who make up the overwhelming majority of the board.
Has that always been
the situation?
No it has not. The station
was founded with and has always had a majority elected Board. The Democracy Initiative will not "radically change " the station
as the KXCI staff letter says but will restore the Board to its former balance, with a majority elected board. Instead of
giving back the membership our rightful authority, now the present board wants to hire an out-of-state consultant for up to
$5,000 (again. with your membership money) to "facilitate" communication. This is from a board that refuses to allow the public
to speak at a call to the audience in their meetings.
Why was the change made?
The change was intended
to defeat membership control. As explained by then Foundation President Rick Bacal: " ...the members may not be acting, benefiting
the community. In fact, they may not remember who the community is at times..." Who is to say what is the best direction of
the station? We -- the supporters of the KXCI Democracy Initiative - say that it is the members. The present KXCI Administration
says that it is a self-perpetuating board of appointed members. They say only such an appointed Board can prevent thousands
of stooges for "religious broadcasters" from joining KXCI and getting elected to the Board. Their answer is an appointed Board
that is outside membership control - a board that actually would be easier to manipulate by special interests. The real issue
is democracy. We are not afraid of our fellow members. But we cannot succeed with our attempts at restoring a majority elected
board unless two-thirds of those voting support the changes we propose. And we need your help.
The KXCI Democracy Initiative
has three basic goals:
1. To restore a democratically elected majority on to the KXCI Board of Directors.
2. To include one representative of the programmers/volunteers on the KXCI Board.
3. To institute a grievance policy and procedure for KXCI programmers/volunteers.
What can you do? First,
as a member of KXCI you can sign the petition we sent you (contact us if you need another one). Secondly, send us a donation
to help defray the costs of these mailings. KXCI is using your membership dues to fight us, while we are taking money out
of our own pockets to fight what we think is a worthy struggle and could use your financial help. (Please remember your contribution
is NOT tax deductible and does not go to KXCI). And finally, get educated on what the real issues are. You can do that by
visiting our website at http://savekxci.tripod.com_, join the kxcibulletinboard listserve at www.vahoogroups.com. and/or check
the archives of the Tucson Weekly about us. Please join us in helping bring back democracy to our KXCI "Community" Radio.
Don Copler
Scott D. Egan
Member
Former Programmer
Jason LeValley John
Murphy
Former Programmer Former Programmer
Michael Haggerty Kali
Holtschlag
Long-term Underwriter Member
Bill Risner
Jim Swope
Former Board Member Former Programmer
Nick Van Kleeck David
Yerkey
Member
Current Programmer
The KXCI Democracy Initiative
is in no way affiliated with the management of KXCI or the Foundation for Creative Broadcasting. Contributions to the KXCI
Democracy Initiative are not tax deductible, nor do they go to KXCI.