NCPR Executive Council Meeting Minutes 4/29/15

i.      Three by Next Generation Reporters: two for Sarah Harris and one for Natasha Haverty.

ii.      David Sommerstein and Brian Mann won as well.

b.      Two Catholic Academy Gabriel Awards won by Sarah Harris

i.      The Gabriel Awards are given to stories that “uplift and nourish the human spirit.”

b.      Be “Simple, but a lot of work.”

c.       Include Ellen’s goal for this fund to be between $250k – $450k

i.      $150k from EC and other more generous donors

ii.      “Best source of new money is from major donors ($5,000 gifts and above)”

iii.      Ellen would like to meet with some EC members to discuss methods of managing this fund.

1.      Need a “one page snappy case statement,” for the fund.

2)      Ellen identified that there is a need for more income to pay for emerging expenses.

a.      Digital Team Expanding

b.      “Next Generation” of talent

3)      This fund needs to be liquid, so NCPR is not frequently dipping into reserves.

4)      Though typically we are conservative spenders and end in the black. This year we will most likely have to dip into reserve funds because year to date we are slightly at a deficit. This could be due to:

a.      Timing

b.      Unexpected projects using up to $250k in reserves this fiscal year.

5)      The only money we are guaranteed each year comes from CBP, SLU and NY Education fund.

a.      Health concerns due to current space.

b.      History of damaged equipment and a potential for more damage.

c.       Running out of space.

3)      President Fox and the SLU VP of Finance, Joe Manory, are looking into alternate funding methods, potentially a floating bond.

a.      The July 9^th annual EC meeting in Canton will include a brainstorm session with select EC members to discuss possibilities for funding.

2)      Meeting included:

a.      Overview of awards won from 2010 – 2014 (3 dense pages).

b.      Ellen answering questions, but not program specific.

c.       Case building to give a sense of ownership of NCPR for SLU and SLU alum.

d.      Explaining internship possibilities and history for SLU students with NCPR.

e.       A push for more news literacy at SLU, from a quality news team, right here on campus.

3)      Following day, a recap was brought to the SLU board by Marion.

4)      June Peoples provided benchmarks to SLU Associate VP of Finance Carol Gable & Board of Trustees.

a.      Ellen believes the best crop yet.

b.      One of the four turned down a job opportunity to take on internship with NCPR.

c.       Sophie McKibben, daughter of well-known activist and long-time friend of the station, Bill McKibben, among the batch.

i.      Sophie will focus on the “This Must Be The Place,” series.

d.      NCPR will tentatively also have a European exchange student interning in the fall.

3)      An in-house NCPR committee will work on continuing to improve the new model.

4)      We need to find the right balance of compressing the silent drive with the on-air drive, still allowing new donors to jump on board.

5)      We improved on obtaining new donors, but we need to share our appeal without “beating them over the head.”

6)      The most money we have ever made in the fall or spring was made in these first two “Warp Drives.”

7)      First time in several years that we made our spring goal.

i.      Initially there was discouragement which slowed the process.

ii.      After the New Year, quality candidates emerged including our own, Sarah Harris.

b.      Position greatly overhauled / re-created to become a three track position:

i.      Expanding on-air news reports for web.

ii.      True reporting and collaborating with news team, working on story from start to finish.

iii.      Digital first storytelling – very visual.

c.       A few other stations are doing similar work, but this approach is not the norm.

2)      Underwriting sales representative was hired for the Champlain Valley.

a.      Most stations have full teams, we had just Sandy Demarest.

b.      Xian Chiang-Waren hired, lives in and will work out of Burlington.

i.      Focus on Burlington / Plattsburgh.

ii.      Local, knows the businesses well.

c.       Will be working on three month contracts, with sales goals, before potentially becoming a permanent position.

i.      Goal to net $50k in first year.

d.      If successful, potential to do same thing in Watertown and Glens Falls.

i.      The entire meeting could be open to public.

b.      Ellen, John Ernst and Chris Robinson will do their call-in show.

c.       How do we make the public meeting attractive to the public?

i.      We do what is required, but it’s not exciting.

2)      October 3^rd, in Plattsburgh at the Strand Theatre, NCPR is hosting an evening with Ira Glass.

a.      This is his one man show, “Reinventing Radio.”

b.      There will also be a private, limited-space reception with Mr. Glass prior to the show.

3)      Potential events include:

a.      The mother of a friend of David Greene from Morning Edition has contacted Ellen about getting David up here this summer.

i.      The mother’s brother owns Nicola’s On Main in Lake Placid; this space could potentially host the event.

ii.      Looking at August for a potential date.

b.      Ellen is trying to get Jarl Mohn, current CEO of NPR, to visit the North Country.

c.       Indian Lake live broadcast.

d.      A summer event in Massena – snowbirds would miss out other times of year.

b.      New management in Plattsburgh, no plans in the immediate future to partner with.