Minutes
Western State Public Radio Board of Directors
Conference Call
July 23, 2008

In attendance: Jon Schwartz , Karen Holp, and Paul Stankavich. 

I.  WSPR IRS Status
Karen Holp has been investigating WSPR’s IRS status.  The issue arose when she discovered the Federal ID Number WPSR has been using actually belongs to RMCPB.  Historically, RMPR began as a division of RMCPB, and it was assumed that RMPR had obtained a separate incorporation and IRS status.  When RMPR and WSPR merged, a new set of bylaws was submitted to the State of Nevada , but she suspects, no corresponding articles of incorporation.  She will work to obtain relevant documents from the State of Nevada and recommend the next steps to the board.

II.  WSPR Financial Review
The board reviewed financial information prepared by Treasurer Holp, including the FY08 final report, and a proposed FY09 budget.  TFY08 Financial Report is:

            The FY09 Budget, as approved is:

Budget discussion:
FY09 memberships of $6300, added with the $3700 collected in FY08, brings to a total membership income of $10,000.  Philosophically the board agreed that membership income should pay for representative travel, legal fees and other administrative costs.  We also estimate that early payments of FY10 memberships will happen in May/June of 09.

In that vein, conference registrations should pay for the conference.  The board voted to set conference registrations at $200 for members and $250 for non-members.  The conference costs are estimated at $23,000, including $17,000 for meals, $4,000 for the opening event, and $2,000 for miscellaneous.  Income is estimated at 50 members at $200; 10 non-members at $250, $5,000 from Harris, and $2,000 from NPR for their luncheon.

Other expenses are estimated at 4 trips to NPR meetings at $1,000 each; $5500 legal fee for a recent filing, and $500 for the WSPR share of the PRRO award and other administrative expenses.

The board may revisit the membership levels of $300 for members and $100 for associate members for the FY10 year.  The board also reviewed the current membership list and those who have not renewed. 

President Stankavich will draft a “welcome” letter for FY09 members and circulate it among board members for possible distribution that discussed benefits (including how to subscribe to the list-serve) and values of WSPR membership, FY09 budget assumptions and the conference.

III.  NPR issues.

            A.  NPR Governance Proposals:  the board discussed in broad terms the two bylaws amendments NPR will be issuing for a vote by the system.  Jon Schwartz will draft a possible discussion paper for circulation to the board members and possibly the WSPR membership.

            B.  NPR Fundraising Ideas:  the board also discussed the several fundraising ideas presented by NPR at the PRDMC that included mobile service subscriptions, direct mail for stations’ lapsed members, and a tab on the NPR web page that lead to stations’ individual on-line pledge pages.  The board expressed concern about these issues, particularly as they open the door to direct fundraising to listeners for NPR and expect that station managers will have concerns, however, the board looks forward to more discussion with NPR and for formal communication with members by NPR.

            C.  NPR Program Pricing:  the board discussed NPR’s plans to revise program pricing to members because the current model will be out of date as PPM is fully rolled out - but came to no conclusions, again looking forward to more discussions with NPR and members.

IV.  WSPR Web Initiative
Briefly board members reviewed the current status of this project, concluding at least two more conference calls were necessary before being able to establish some firm ideas.

V.  WSPR Conference planning
The agenda above consumed sufficient time that there was little discussion of the conference, but the board believes that things are very well organized.  More will be taken up at the next board meeting.

IV. Next meetings
The board did not set the next conference call board meeting but will do so in subsequent emails.          

Respectfully submitted: Karen Holp, - Temporary Secretary, WSPR