Wednesday, July 29, 2009

July 24th Elections Update

On the evening of July 24th, I chaired a special membership (general) meeting of CKLN Radio Incorporated at which were elected community and volunteer staff representatives to the corporation's board of directors.

The new directors elected are Barry Johnson, Ron Nelson, Andrew Lehrer, and Caldwell Taylor. A seat for former core staff went unfilled.

Tom Richmond, station manager of CJAI Amherst Island, coordinated member registration and election processes.

It appeared that there were at least 150 members present. All necessary procedural motions, including motions to establish or validate election processes, were passed with large super-majorities (two-thirds majorities). When balloting for the board positions was complete, I hand-counted all ballots, and the count was verified by separate tallies from four member scrutineers, with several other scrutineers supervising.

In my opinion, this election was held in as fair and democratic a manner as was possible given the circumstances.

John Harris Stevenson
President | CHUO 89.1 FM Ottawa
Advisory Board | National Campus and Community Radio Association

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Important Update - Re. July 24 Elections

Important Update - Re. July 24 Elections at Oakham House (@ 6:30 PM)
For those attending the CKLN meeting at Oakham House (2nd Floor, 63 Gould Street) on July 24 at 6:30 PM, please be advised that there will be a picket action taking place in front of this Ryerson venue organized by the Jewish Defense League protesting a 4 day course on Islamic history being taught at the same building as our meeting. There may be police and security presence.

Special Note: Ryerson Students are welcome to attend and be part of this meeting. However, elections for their seats will not take place during the proceedings of July 24th. Student Rep elections are organized and handled by the Ryerson Student Union, the organizational body that represents and advocates on behalf of the student community at Ryerson.

Registration: There will be a table set up at the meeting dedicated to registering and renewing CKLN community members (NOTE: A donation or pledge to CKLN in the amount of $20 ensures community membership).

Registration will begin at 6PM.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Urgent Reminder - Please Attend Board Elections on July 24, 2009

Dear CKLN Community Members, Volunteers, Students and Friends,

Please attend, participate and spread the word!

A meeting to hold elections to fill seats on the CKLN's board ofdirectors will be held at 6:30 PM of Friday July 24, 2009. MeetingLocation: Oakham Lounge, 2nd Floor, 63 Gould Street (Southwest cornerof Church and Gould).

MAP

ELECTION DETAILS:

1. The positions up for election are: 2 Community Reps, 2 Volunteer Reps, & 1 Former Core Staff

2. Voting will take place at Oakham Lounge, 2nd Floor, 63 Gould Street (Ryerson Campus, South-west corner of Church and Gould) on Friday, July 24 @ 6:30 PM

3. Volunteers and staff members eligible to vote and run for election will have worked at least three hours during at least one six-week period, between February 1st 2008 and June 10th 2009.

4. A former core staff (Eligible positions include: Station Manager, Program Director, News Director, and Music Director) would have worked at CKLN at any time in at least one of those positions and no longer works at CKLN in any position.
(NOTE: Staff members, meaning paid core & part-time staff as well as volunteers, are all eligible to vote to elect the 2 volunteer reps and the former core staff rep)

ALERT! There is a new urgency behind this very short notice but crucial call to action: A week and half ago the working group trying to resolve the impasse that has the station under lockdown received notice from the Ryerson Student Centre building management (the Palin Foundation) that if no election is held by the 24th of July, CKLN's studios and offices at the Centre may be re-allocated.

This new urgency has helped forge an agreement to ensure elections are held promptly. While this short period is less than ideal, we hope that you all will agree that CKLN is still worth the effort to attend and participate in these elections.

In community and solidarity,

TBOR Organizing Committee

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

CKLN Membership Guidelines

Membership Categories Eligible to Vote and/or Run in July 24 Elections are:

Staff Member

CKLN Bylaw Clause 5.2a states: “To be considered as a Staff Member, an individual must have performed work of any kind for the station for a period of at least three hours in any six-week period, unless circumstances warrant such absences as deemed reasonable by the core-staff, subject to Board review." Clause 5.2 states that a staff member includes core staff, part-time staff and volunteer staff.

To be considered a Staff Member for the purposes of this meeting, you must have worked or volunteered at CKLN for at least 3 hours in any 6-week period between February 1st 2008 and March 31st 2009.

Community Member

CKLN Bylaw Clause 5.3 states: “To qualify as a Community Member, an individual shall not be Student, core or part-time Staff member and must make a minimum contribution to CKLN each year as established by the Board from time to time.”

For the purpose of this meeting, to be considered a Community Member, you must have made a receipted donation in 2008-09 in the amount of at least $20, or make a donation of at least $20 at the meeting.

Staff Member

CKLN Bylaw Clause 5.2a states: “To be considered as a Staff Member, an individual must have performed work of any kind for the station for a period of at least three hours in any six-week period, unless circumstances warrant such absences as deemed reasonable by the core-staff, subject to Board review." Clause 5.2 states that a staff member includes core staff, part-time staff and volunteer staff.

To be considered a Staff Member for the purposes of this meeting, you must have worked or volunteered at CKLN for at least 3 hours in any 6-week period between February 1st 2008 and March 31st 2009.

Former Core Staff

CKLN Bylaw Clause 5.3a: “The Core Staff shall be in the employment of the Board of Directors and will be comprised of a Station Manager, a Program Director, a News Director and a Music Director.”

To be Former Core Staff, you must have been previously employed at CKLN as one of: Station Manager, Program Director, News Director or Music Director. Further, you must not be employed presently at CKLN in any capacity.

Context for CKLN July 24 Board Elections '09

IMPORTANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION
July 21, 2009

1.0 Over the last 12-14 months, there have been numerous occasions where disputes at or about CKLN have ended in the police being called to the Ryerson Student Centre at 55 Gould St. and at
the CKLN offices. This has been well publicized in various media.

1.1 Approximately four months ago, there was a break in at CKLN. It is alleged that the break in was perpetrated by a person who purports to be a CKLN Board member (Paulette Hamilton) and a former paid staff member (David James Cooper). The police were called. It is reported that police responded in at least seven cars. Paulette Hamilton and David James Cooper were arrested and led away in handcuffs.

A short time after that incident, the “Palin Foundation” operating as “The Ryerson Student Centre” chose to lock out CKLN staff and management for security and safety reasons.

On or about July 9, 2009, a written notice - dated July 6, 2009 - was posted at the entrance of the CKLN offices at 55 Gould St. (“The Space”).

In its notice, the Palin Foundation stated that there must be an election no later than July 24, 2009 to elect directors to the Board of CKLN or “The Space” (CKLN offices) would be “reallocated” to a different group or purpose at their discretion. The notice included a statement that the governance dispute has gone on for over a year.

The ultimatum by the Palin Foundation clearly threatens the continued existence of CKLN Inc – 88.1 FM.

There must be an election on July 24, 2009 to meet the Palin Foundation ultimatum and provide an opportunity for CKLN to reoccupy “The Space” at 55 Gould St.

All individuals purporting to act as boards of CKLN have been apprised of the Palin Foundation ultimatum via the email (ALL LIST).

A short term committee has formed to implement the election process. The committee’s membership as of July 12, 2009 is: Conrad Collaco, Michael Harnett, Arnold Minors, Ron Nelson, and PeterToh.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING & AGENDA

Re. July 24 CKLN Board Elections

This is a notice of a Special Meeting called for the purpose of electing five non-student members to the Board of Directors of CKLN.

Date of Meeting: July 24 2009
Time of Meeting: 6:30 pm
Place of Meeting: Ryerson Student Centre, 55 Gould St. – Oakham Lounge


Agenda

1. Welcome
2. Presentation - Context/Rationale for Election and Financial Condition of CKLN
3. Call for Nominations
4. Presentation by Candidates
5. Questions of and Responses by Candidates
6. Election
7. Break (during which votes will be counted)
8. Reporting of Votes and Ratification of Votes
9. Adjournment

Election Process

Votes will be for two Community Members representatives; two Volunteer representatives and one former core staff member representative.

All qualified persons are eligible to vote at this election. (See the appendix for eligibility criteria and process to ensure that you are registered to vote.)

Authorization for Process

This meeting has been called as a result of collaboration of people who have acted as members of groups purporting to be Board members of CKLN. In order for student fees to be transferred to CKLN, there must be a transparent, democratic voting process that creates an agreed-upon Board of Directors for CKLN. Such a democratic voting process will allow CKLN to again move forward with its programming and service to the community. In addition, the Ryerson Student Centre Board issued an ultimatum that there must be an election by July 24. (see attached document putting this notice in context.)

Issued by: Conrad Collaco, Michael Harnett, Arnold Minors, Ron Nelson, Peter Toh
21 July 2009

Appendix 1: Voter Eligibility Criteria and Registration Process

Voter Eligibility Criteria

CKLN has three classes of membership: Student, Staff and Community. All CKLN members are entitled to attend this Special Meeting. Community members vote for Community representatives to the Board. Staff members vote for Staff representatives (Volunteer and Former Core Staff) to the Board.

STAFF MEMBER - A Staff member includes core staff, part-time staff and volunteer staff of CKLN. To be considered a Staff Member and to be able to vote at the meeting on June 23rd, an individual must have performed work of any kind for the station for a period of at least three hours in any six-week period at any time between February 1, 2008 and July 24, 2009.

COMMUNITY MEMBER - To qualify as a Community Member, an individual shall not be Student, core or part-time Staff member. In addition, s/he must have contributed at least $20 to CKLN between February 1, 2008 and July 24, 2009, providing s/he can show a receipt from CKLN for the donation. If an individual has a receipt for less than $20 contributed to the station, s/he can make up the difference between his/her payment and $20 and become a member.

Registration Process

People will be able to register to vote as of 6 pm at the Oakham Lounge at 55 Gould St. (Ryerson Student Centre) on Friday, July 24th. Registration documents are attached, for your information. It will be helpful to complete the appropriate document and bring it with you on Friday.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Urgent Update Re. Elections re-schedule

Dear CKLN Community Members, Volunteers and Friends,

A meeting to hold elections to CKLN's board of directors will be held on the evening of Friday July 24, 2009.

During the last few weeks since our last efforts to hold an election were unsuccessful, many of us have been working to bring about a solution that would return CKLN to air as the valuable and accessible community broadcaster we have loved.

Tonight (July 10) we came to an agreement that elections would be held on July 24, 2009. Notice of the meeting has been posted at 55 Gould Street on the Ryerson Campus.

CAMPUS CENTRE

There is a new urgency that has helped compel our working group to choose the 24th as an election date. Earlier this week we received notice from the group that manages the space that CKLN inhabits. We have been informed that if no election is held by the 24th of July, CKLN's studios and offices in the Campus Centre may be re allocated. This new urgency has helped forge an agreement to ensure elections are held promptly.

This election date is two weeks away. While this short period is less than ideal and the long journey we have taken to get here has exhausted much energy and enthusiasm, I hope you will agree that CKLN is still worth the effort to attend and participate in these elections.

ELECTION DETAILS:

- Who: The positions for which there will be an election include Community Representatives (2), Volunteer Representatives (2) and Former Core Staff Representative(1).
- Where: 55 Gould Street - Ryerson Campus - Room TBA.
- When: July 24, 2009. Exact time is TBA but likely 6:30 or 7 pm.

We will provide more detail as soon as possible, but expectations are that some conditions for the election will be:

1. Volunteers and staff members eligible to vote and run for election will have worked at least three hours in at least one six week period , between 1 February 2008 and 10 June 2009.
2. A former core staff (Station Manager, Program Director, News Director, or Music Director) would have worked at CKLN at any time in at least one of those positions and no longer works at CKLN in any position. (Staff members - core staff, part-time staff and volunteers are eligible to vote for volunteer representatives and former core staff representative.)


ABOUT THIS EMAIL:

I do not issue this email on behalf of the other members of this working group, merely as an individual present at the meeting where these details were discussed, who has chosen to report the results.

What CKLN now becomes will depend on the commitment of you in the communities to whom CKLN has given voice for 25 years. Please make your voice heard on CKLN's behalf at the July 24, 2009 election. This may be our last chance.

In Solidarity
Conrad Collaco
(Former Core Staff Board Rep.)