Good news on KPFA’s budget, shorter pledge drives

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KPFA on the Air posterPreliminary financial statements distributed by KPFA Local Station Board treasurer Barbara Whipperman during the board’s meeting on March 8 show KPFA outperforming its budget over the first four months of this fiscal year. The station’s budget anticipated a loss of $28,465 over that period — instead, the station reported positive net income of $56,532 — $85,000 better than budget.

KPFA wrapped up its February fund drive in just 18 days — nearly a week shorter than last years’ major fund drives. Credit goes to the hard work of KPFA’s staff, the generosity of its listeners, and a fortuitous estate gift that made it possible to KPFA to reduce its on-air goal by $100,000.

KPFA interim GM Richard Pirodsky sent out the following: “Now comes the follow-up, the diversification of fundraising efforts to ensure that KPFA need not be overly dependent upon on-air fund drives. To open new revenue streams, to generate more off-air monies, it will take planning, hard work, and yes, dollars.”

Mark your calendars: KPFA’s 65th anniversary

KPFA is currently planning a one-day fundraising blitz to mark the 65th anniversary of the day it went on the air as the world’s first listener-supported radio station. The date: Tuesday, April 15th. And don’t forget to support KPFA by paying your pledge, and/or attending some of the many terrific fundraising events coming up soon.

SaveKPFA’s Margy Wilkinson elected PNB chair, Tracy Rosenberg finally off the board

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margywilkinsonThe Pacifica National Board (PNB) met February 7-10 in Washington, DC. After a close election, Margy Wilkinson, a member of SaveKPFA and former chair of KPFA‘s local board, became Pacifica’s new chair.

Margy is a long-time union activist who is also involved with Grandmothers Against War and is an active volunteer in the Berkeley public schools. Over her two years as chair of KPFA’s local board, she demonstrated a real knack for bringing calm and civility to an often acrimonious setting. Here’s hoping she can keep it up at the PNB!

In related news, this year’s PNB no longer includes Tracy Rosenberg, the board member who engineered the destruction of KPFA’s Morning Show in 2010. She reached the end of her term limit. Filling her seat on Pacifica’s Finance Committee will be worker representative Brian Edwards-Tiekert — one of the Morning Show hosts she encouraged Pacifica to lay off (he was re-instated with full back pay and now hosts UpFront).

The PNB elected Tony Norman as its vice chair. He is an attorney who has previously served as chair of the local board of Pacifica station WPFW in Washington, DC. As secretary, the PNB elected Cerene Roberts, a delegate from New York City’s WBAI, and as assistant secretary, Adriana Casanave from Houston station KPFT. | LISTEN to the PNB meeting: agenda, part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4