Report to the Membership from The Kootenay Co-op Radio Board of Directors

Kootenay Coop Radio Report to the Members from the Board of Directors: June 14,  2010.  The Board of Directors for Kootenay Coop Radio wish to inform Members of some of the recent activities of the Board.

As reported at the last AGM, Kootenay Coop Radio has been operating at a deficit for the last 2 fiscal years. This means the monthly expenses of KCR have been more than the monthly income on average for the last 2 years. If this trend continues, there will be no radio station. The Financial Report for the current year will be available at the AGM in the fall. We are pleased to report a tremendously successful membership drive this year.

Your dedicated Directors donated a full weekend of their time when they had the preliminary strategic planning meetings on Saturday April 17th and Sunday April 18th. The purpose of the strategic planning meetings is to allow the Board an opportunity to explore the immediate needs of the radio station and set some immediate goals in the face of the poor financial health of the organization. On Saturday April 17th, all 5 hardworking staff members of Kootenay Coop Radio joined the Directors and the meeting was facilitated by Phil Kolbuc. On Sunday morning April 18, the Board of Directors, two staff members and Phil Kolbuc continued the meeting, and in the afternoon of Sunday April 18th, the Board continued the meeting without any staff or facilitator.

Arising from our special meetings, the Board of Directors have taken some steps toward improving the cash flow management and the financial structure of Kootenay Coop Radio. The Board has recently approved the hiring of a bookkeeper. The Board has implemented a New Membership Fee Schedule and a New Sponsorship Rate Structure. The Board has reduced the number of program seasons from 3 to 2. In addition, the Board has struck an ad hoc restructuring committee. This committee is exploring ways to streamline the use of paid staff hours. For example, office hours may be reduced. Those tasks that KCR cannot afford to pay staff to do would either be done by volunteers or not get done. There are some tough decisions to be made. The Board and staff welcome member input and suggestions as to how to approach these challenges.

Your Board of Directors is continuing to meet more than once each month and will continue to inform you of decisions made.
Yours in service, Susan Kurtz, Co-Chair, Kootenay Coop Radio