BOARD CANDIDATE’S STATEMENT

submitted by

Janet Slagter

Candidate Statement:

I have been a supporter of KFCF since I moved within earshot in 1998. Tuned in daily, I learn through the reporting, analysis, and viewpoints expressed, from the Morning Show through Against the Grain, and on to Valley Black Talk, Street Heat, It’s a Queer Thing, and Down on the Farm. I have experience organizing progressive events in the valley, through CSUF and WILPF, most recently the Runway Peace Project and the Cindy Sheehan event. I’ve appeared on local shows several times, and recruited many new listeners through my classes at CSUF. As a board member I will work to promote the station and increase listener base, to keep Pacifica’s/KPFA’s excellent programming, and at the same time to train more Valley residents in developing programming pertinent to regional issues. Strengths I bring include: strong connections to the academic, peace, and college student communities, analytical, planning, presentation, listening, and writing skills.

 Responses to questions:

1.  As a member since I moved to the Central Valley and found KFCF, I have appeared on KFCF several times, arranged for other speakers to appear, and provided ideas for shows, especially for WILPF, in which I am an officer.  I served on the editorial board of the Community Alliance from 2001 through 2006. I have traveled pretty widely, and lived and worked in Malaysia, Kenya, and Guatemala. I have an abiding interest in politics in all its forms, and have been a committed peace, feminist, and racial justice activist for decades. I teach, among others, courses that focus on globalization and women, on organizing and activism, and am therefore conversant on many of the issues regularly discussed on air. As a WILPF member and officer, I have appeared on the KFCF WILPF show several times as well as on Street Heat.

My skills relevant to this position include:  writing and editing, listening, developing, planning, and organizing events, public speaking, and teaching.  I am employed as a professor and have also worked as a social worker and as a cook, baker, and researcher.

 2.  It is impossible to overestimate the value of KFCF and KPFA to the Central Valley, and I say this as a listener from the time I awake until I go to work, during breaks in my workday, and for at least an hour in the evenings. My radio is tuned to KFCF nearly all weekend.  Not only the political information and news shows, but the cultural programming as well (and the shows that combine the two) provide music, plays, interviews, stories, disquisitions, and discussions unlike any media source available in this region. Given that the region is not particularly progressive and that seemingly few people have been exposed to much information critical of US government and corporate disinformation, KFCF/KPFA provide needed antidotes to media one otherwise encounters. Moreover, they provide ideas for organizing, means to communicate about events of the communities that challenge the status quo, and serve as a highly important tool for building strength in those groups, building alternative analyses as well as actions to counter plutocracy, kleptocracy, privatization, militarism, racism, sexism, homophobia.

 3. Organizations adopt varying board structures and duties. I am not familiar with the structure of FFCF’s board, would need to learn that onsite.  Generally, board members should attend board meetings, be prepared to discuss the agenda items, work with other members of the board, the manager, and the community on maintaining and extending the reach of the station’s programs. The manager keeps the board up to date, with a reciprocal advising relationship between board and manager.  Board, I assume, also is part of hiring decisions and sets station policy.  The board divides tasks between members, reaches out to area residents, plans fundraisers, speakers, banquets, etc. The board, along with staff, is responsible for the proper management of the station; it therefore must be informed about any problems, crises, emergencies, and opportunities in order to consult and make appropriate decisions. No doubt the board has legal responsibilities. The nature of these will become clear to me if and when I am elected.

 4. First, publicity beyond the usual groups who support KFCF.  We could have supporters work through their work, social, and political groups to bring in listeners. Perhaps we could do a training session and send people out informed with talking points on the station.

             Second, develop programming that appeals to a more diverse audience. We have a little programming in Spanish and Cambodian.  Do Hmong people speak the same language as the Cambodian programming?  If not, how about developing a Hmong program, beginning, perhaps, once a month. There are sizable Punjabi, Vietnamese, Thai, Armenian, and Farsi speaking communities. We can study whether the Valley needs more Spanish programming for farm worker communities, as well. We can explore the possibilities of working with their progressive representatives to develop programming.

            Third, youth programming.  Some local programming brings in young people, but KFCF needs to expand programming done by and for youth, including high school, college, and other young people.  Devoya’s show brings in young people, but we need more.  IF such opportunities were made available, if we advertised, for example that we would train young people, I think we could bring in programmers from these groups.

 5. Some of this (working with the KFCF community) is addressed in #3 and #4 above. KFCF has a representative, or perhaps more than one, who works with KPFA.  How well is the present structure functioning?  Does it need redefinition or strengthening? Do we need more representation? Would it be wise to send a board member to train in the workings of KPFA for a few days?

 It is not clear to me what KFCF’s status vis-à-vis Pacifica is. In the discussions on KPFA of Pacifica business, it is apparent that KFCF is not a participant, and I understand that FFCF is a separate entity. Might we be able to attend meetings as observers?  I have the impression of very good relations between KPFA and KFCF.  Is the same true with Pacifica?

Regarding the KFCF community, two ideas come to mind. First, how about a blog about the station that the board, or someone on it monitors?  We might even consider something like myspace as a site to generate interest and conversation and attract younger listeners.  Secondly, hold a periodic, well-advertised open meeting inviting the community to get to know how KFCF functions, to meet the board and some programmers.  If we provide some refreshments, perhaps some music, we could draw many people.

| Mark Hernandez | Janet Slagter | Gerry Bill | Sue Kern | Ali Rezapour |