WFIU-WTIU Community Advisory Board Meeting
In the Kelley Dining Room, DeVault Alumni Center, and via Zoom
Thursday, August 3, 2023, 12:00 p.m.
John Bailey calls the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.
Welcome & Introductions
Attending: Sharon Sung Andrews, Tom Bunger, Joan Curts, Pamela Davidson, Samantha Johnson-Helms, Cullen McCarty, Martha Nice, Lynn Schwartzberg, Adrian Starnes, Judy Stewart, Nathan Watson. Staff: Laura Baich, John Bailey, Eric Bolstridge, Amy O’Shaughnessy, Joan Padawan, Sara Wittmeyer.
Absent: Lauren Dexter-Burns, Michele Bergonzi, Karen Gahl-Mills, Sally Gaskill, Abby Henkel.
Eric Bolstridge discusses the realignment of the Content Group in the wake of Brent Molnar’s departure: a Broadcast Operations leader (John Bailey), a Director of Production (Mark Chilla), a Digital Director (Eoban Binder), and a newly created Director of Engagement position (yet to be posted).
Approval of May minutes
Public Comment
No members of public are present to comment.
Conference on Aging Update
Joan Padawan previews the WTIU Conference on Aging, which will begin September 30 and span eight Saturdays. Topics to include Social Security and Medicare. She is working to secure the full set of presenters. Marketing has occurred statewide, including at the IPBS Conference in Carmel.
CAB Working Groups: Recruitment Update
Of the seven ad hoc working groups within the CAB, the only active one has been the Recruitment group, which has been considering candidates to replace Mark Edwards, who has stepped away, and Karen Gahl-Mills and Abby Henkel, who plan to leave this year. John Bailey notes that the new joint CAB bylaws provide for a third, non-consecutive board term following at least a year’s absence – and proposes a vote that the bylaws be adjusted to waive the one-year gap. Without that, all but one member will be due to step away by 2026. Motion and second issued; bylaw change passes. The Recruitment group will continue to entertain suggestions for candidates who may fill demographic and geographic gaps in the board composition.
WFIU Terrestrial Footprint Strategy
John Bailey discusses an upcoming feasibility study about using Single-Frequency Network technology to enhance the 103.7 signal reach in Bartholomew and Vigo counties, which could free up the existing translators to be flipped to WFIU2. That would allow some 87% of our members to receive either WFIU channel on terrestrial analog receivers, and could set the stage for a realignment of WFIU’s programming across the two channels by format. The station also is exploring the possibility of acquiring and strategically placing a Low Power FM frequency.
Other business
Amy O’Shaughnessy previews the campus visit by NPR TV critic Eric Deggans, and the possibility of a CAB match in the September radio drive.
Adjourn
1:15 p.m.