My name is Fred Blair; I am running in this election to be a Listener Member of the KPFK 2019 Local Station Board (LSB). I have already been an elected twice and served as a Listener Member of the KPFK LSB in 2011 - 2015 and 2016. The reason I am running again and asking you to elect me to the 2019 Board is because, I believe given my experience and skills, I can provide good service in KPFK Governance for another 3 year term.

I am a Professional Computer Technologist, Physicist, and Electronics Engineer; I have attempted to use my skills and knowledge to help Pacifica. You can find out more about me, and the slate of people I am running with at: www.CandidateSlate.org

I have served on a number of important board committees at both the local and national levels within Pacifica Governance. I have experience and made important contributions to both LSB and PNB Committees I served on. My experience has provided me insights and knowledge into Pacifica
s current problems that prospective new board members don
t have yet. I believe my history of service to Pacifica Governance is positive, and has benefited the organization overall.
For the last two years that I have been off the Board; I have been volunteering my time answering the phones during Station Fund Drives, attended meetings of the Station LSB Finance Committee, and done technical work around streaming the Audio of PNB Committee meetings on the Internet. I continue to volunteer my time to make Pacifica an important Radio Media presence in our Community and Nationally. I Am Doing My Part In Promoting Pacifica!

I have served as a member of the KPFK Finance Committee since I've been on the LSB as well a member and Chair of the Pacifica PNB Audit Committee for five years. I see oversight of finances as being a key function of Pacifica Governance, especially now given the financial crisis that both KPFK and the Pacifica Network find themselves in. I know what is going on inside Pacifica, and feel this knowledge is important to good Governance, and finding solutions for the entire Radio Network.

Pacifica has significant debt and is in deep financial trouble because Income has been less than Expenses for too many years now -- at all five Pacifica Radio Stations. For Now, Finances are stable for the Network because of a Loan for $3.2 Million Dollars that was taken out by the Pacifica National Board last year to settle the Empire State Transmitter Court Settlement in New York. But Pacifica most improve its Programming and grow Audience size if it wants to fix its Financial situation into the Future.

I don't necessarily know how to fix Pacifica Programming, but Governance
s job is to find and hirer Managers that do know how to do Great Radio. And then let them do their Jobs. I do know Great Radio when I Hear it. I want to see Pacifica fulfill its Mission Statement, and Do Great Radio Programming into the Future. This is My Platform!

Questionnaire

1)   Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board?

I feel I can be of help and service to KPFK by being on the LSB. I have already served two 3 year terms on the LSB, and I know what Governance does, and I think I have a good record serving from those two terms. I termed-out in 2016, and have been off the local Board for two years now.

2)   How do you envision the Local Station Board working with the Pacifica Foundation, KPFK and the community?

The Job of the Board is oversight of Management and the Financial Budget. The LSB also selects 4 Directors for the Pacifica National Board of Directors. Most of what the LSB does is very boring stuff, But very important to the Organization. The Board mostly listens to Managers and the Public talk about what’s going on in the Radio Station, and then passes Motions on organization policy to effect the situation. Very Boring..

3)   How could the station better serve its listeners?

Develop Programs that talk about those things and subjects that the mainstream media will not. Have discussions about important current issues with multiple points view so that our Radio Listeners are informed enough to make rational decisions about them. Do the Real Pacifica Mission – Peace and Social Justice Education

4)   Describe some actions you would take to increase the influence of the station in underrepresented communities and to increase the diversity of the listening audience?

Programming is everything to our connection with our Listeners. And the Board does NOT do Programming, That’s a Management function..

5)   What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel KPFK should solicit?

KPFK and the other Pacifica Stations raise 90% of their Income from Fund Drives. Our Income has declined because we are not providing Programs that Listeners feel they must support. Therefore, we must develop Programming that people feel they must have. There is no other sources of income that does not stem from our Programming. Therefore, Our Programming must improve.

6)   Please state briefly the skills, experience, educational background, work history, organizational affiliations, areas of community service, areas of interest and expertise that you would bring to the Pacifica network as a member of the Local Station Board.

I have a long history on the KPFK LSB. I come to Pacifica from the Southern California Federation of Scientists when we had a program on KPFK called “The Wizards” (1981-to-1993). I am on the Board of that organization. I have many personal technical skills from my professional background as a Electronics Engineer and Firmware Programmer.

7)   Do you anticipate missing any Local Station Board meetings due to family or job related problems or inadequate transportation?

No

8)   On which Local Station Board committees are you interested in actively serving? If you are a current Local Station Board member, on which committees do you currently serve?

Finance & Audit. Maybe Personnel Search.