Read the latest updates of the Save KBCS campaign!
SaveKBCS.org News Updates
3 Comments
#2 by Admin on November 16, 2009 - 1:53 am
We at Save KBCS! would like to thank all of you for your support of
the cause to restore community radio at KBCS. It’s really quite
remarkable what you’ve helped to accomplish thus far:
• KBCS management had originally announced that, after the initial
changes implemented in August 2009, a complete revamping of the
evening and weekend programs would follow this fall and winter. Under
pressure and scrutiny, KBCS management has now postponed these changes
until next year.
• Your strong statement of opposition has also impacted KBCS
financially. The Fall 2009 pledge drive goal was $100,000,
significantly lower than the Spring 2008 pledge drive goal of
$175,000. KBCS management had stated that their expectations for the
pledge drive were lowered because they knew that opposition to the
August changes would result in reduced pledges. In fact, only $77,000
was raised.
In her response to representatives of Save KBCS!, with whom she met
last July, Bellevue College President Jean Floten stated “I believe we
need to proceed with implementing the first phase of the plan and
incorporate a more inclusive process for any further changes.” Since
the August program changes, representatives of Save KBCS! have met
with KBCS management in the hopes of opening communication channels
and having a constructive dialogue. These efforts have been met with
arrogance and indifference. It is clear that KBCS management has no
intention of being “more inclusive,” and simply hopes we will just go
away.
Save KBCS! believes that it is now time to take the next step. That
is, to initiate a letter-writing campaign targeting our legislative
representatives and the members of the Bellevue College Board of
Trustees. Because Bellevue College is part of the Washington state
educational system, the employees at KBCS are all state employees.
Attached to this e-mail is a letter to the BC Board of Trustees from
Save KBCS! giving them a “heads up” that we are initiating this
campaign.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO WRITE YOUR OWN LETTER TO EXPRESS YOUR OPINIONS AND
FEELINGS! The attachment summarizes the Save KBCS! position and
analysis of the facts as we see them. It states what our preferred
future of KBCS is. You are welcome to plagiarize the letter as much
as you like. We do encourage you to be civil and respectful.
The following Washington state government website will help you find
out who your legislators are and how to contact them:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/
Here is a list of the individuals on the Bellevue College Board of Trustees.
Steve Miller – Chair
Vijay Vashee -Vice Chair
Paul Chiles
Vicki Orrico
Lee Kraft
You can send the members e-mail through the President’s secretary,
Lucinda Taylor. She will forward them. Her e-mail address is
Lucinda.Taylor@bellevuecollege.edu.
If you prefer “snail mail,” you could write to the Board of Trustees care of:
Bellevue College, Office A-201
3000 Landerholm Circle SE
Bellevue, WA 98007
Save KBCS! is committed to continuing the fight to get restore
community radio at KBCS. Once again, we appreciate your continued
support and efforts. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Save KBCS!
http://www.savekbcs.org
#3 by Admin on July 29, 2009 - 9:27 pm
July 29, 2009
Save KBCS Update
The “Save KBCS” working group requested a meeting with Bellevue College President Jean Floten. The meeting was held on July 15th. Present at the meeting from “Save KBCS” were representatives Jean Geiger, Dave Long, and Al Barnes. Representing KBCS management was Mike Talbott, Dean of Information Services (General Manager Steve Ramsey’s immediate supervisor), and President Jean Floten. We presented President Floten with 350 printed emails that had been sent to savekbcs@gmail.com in the week prior to the meeting. Since then the number of emails we received is well above 500. We requested that President Floten:
1) Postpone the Phase 1 August 24th changes,
2) Appoint a mediator to facilitate the completion of the Strategic Plan. (This has been in the works for over 3 years),
3) Direct KBCS management to open a dialog with the volunteer and listener community for all future programming changes.
On Monday, July 27th, President Floten sent an email to SaveKBCS stating her support for Phase 1 changes to be implemented as planned and stated she believes a more inclusive process should be incorporated for Phase 2 and 3 changes.
Shortly after the July 15th meeting with President Floten, KBCS management held 3 meetings for all active volunteers for questions and the presentation of statistics to support their decision to drop 20 hours of distinct Jazz/Folk/World music and close to 20 non-paid DJ volunteers Monday-Friday. The replacement for this dropped programming will be syndicated, purchased public affairs and news programs and a paid DJ for a blended Jazz/World/Americana show in the 9am-12noon slot. Originally management wanted a paid DJ for the 12noon-3pm slot. Due to a lack of funds the afternoon paid DJ has been put on hold. However, the existing afternoon DJs are summarily dismissed and will be replaced by other volunteers of the Program Director’s choosing based on new applications.
In the meeting with volunteers, Steve Ramsey and Peter Graff apologized for the lack of engagement with the volunteer community and stated that Phase 2 & 3 would be more transparent. They stated that Phase 1 changes for August 24th will go forward without delay. According to KBCS management the decision was made because the Arbitron numbers are very low and the professional opinion of KBCS management and an outside consultant believe the changes would attract more listeners.
The license for KBCS is owned by Bellevue College. The General Manger and Program Director are hired by Bellevue College and are State of Washington employees. That being said, we believe that KBCS is a unique community resource that requires community involvement. We believe that music on community radio is in jeopardy of going away.
If you believe that KBCS change discussions should be transparent, and if you believe that KBCS is a unique resource in the Seattle/Bellevue area that you want to be a part of, we urge you contact KBCS management and Bellevue College administration with your comments.
Bellevue College President: Jean Floten
jean.floten@bellevuecollege.edu
Bellevue College Information Resources Dean: Mike Talbott
mike.talbott@bellevuecollege.edu
KBCS Station Manager: Steve Ramsey
sramsey@bellevuecollege.edu
KBCS Program Director: Peter Graff
pgraff@bellevuecollege.edu
KBCS Comment line:
listenercomment@kbcs.fm or 425-564-2000
SaveKBCS is a group of long-time volunteers and financial supporters who love KBCS and want to save what we value most about our community radio station.
SaveKBCS is not affiliated with KBCS Radio.
SaveKBCS is not affiliated with Bellevue College.
Contact us: SaveKBCS@gmail.com
#1 by Admin on November 24, 2009 - 1:12 am
To the supporters of SaveKBCS and the campaign to return KBCS to the
community radio station we knew and loved,
Join us Friday evening, November 27th, 5:30-7pm, outside Town Hall
Seattle for a demonstration against the radical program changes at
KBCS and the arbitrary dismissal of 15 longtime, volunteer music
programmers.
We will gather on the sidewalk in front of Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th
Ave at Seneca Street,
(http://www.townhallseattle.org/directionsAndParking.cfm) about 5:30pm
before the speech by Amy Goodman, founder and executive producer of
Democracy Now, scheduled for 7-9pm.
Bring a protest sign of your own choosing announcing your
displeasure/anger/indignation about the changes at KBCS. Or print out
one from http://www.Savekbcs.org – go to the “Downloads” tab.
SaveKBCS will provide information handouts for people to educate
themselves about the summer of 2009 coup d’etat at KBCS.
Isn’t it ironic that KBCS’s flagship public affairs program “Democracy
Now” advocates democracy as a form of government, but KBCS management
goes to great lengths to avoid the democratic process when making
widespread programming changes? Bring back the democracy to our
community!
Amy Goodman has appeared in Seattle many times over the years in
fundraising efforts for KBCS. Her show is also carried on KBCS. What
better place to demonstrate than in front of Seattle’s historic Town
Hall, a nonprofit organization with deep roots in Seattle’s civic
life. Town Hall is Seattle’s community culture center located in the
historic First Hill neighborhood on the edge of downtown. Town Hall
showcases the community’s cultural energy with diverse music, arts and
humanities, civic discourse, and world culture programming.
(Please note that this is NOT a protest against Amy Goodman, her
speaking event, or the”Democracy Now” show. It is a protest against
KBCS management’s decision to cut music programming, add syndicated
talk shows and dismiss 15 local volunteer programmers).
Democracy Now in our Community Radio Now!
Thank you!
from the Steering Committee of Save KBCS
http://www.savekbcs.org
http://www.facebook.com
http://www.Twitter.com/savekbcs