Q 1.
Q. How is it determined if an individual listener is eligible to vote?

A. An individual must have met the minimum requirements ($25 contribution or three hours of verifiable volunteer work under supervision of station management) during the 12-month period prior to the “record date.” The record date is set in the bylaws as 45 days before the date on which ballots are mailed to members. Based on the election schedule established by the court the record date for this election will be November 21, 2003. A listener member must have made a financial or volunteer labor contribution required between November 21, 2002 to and November 21, 2003.

[top]

Q 2.
Q. What if an individual can't afford the $25 and is unable to offer volunteer help to station?

A. In future elections listeners with financial hardships who cannot make the minimum financial contribution, nor volunteer contribution, will be able to apply for a waiver from the Local Station Board, which may grant a waiver at its discretion. However, since no Local Station Board has yet been elected in accordance with the Bylaws, the Bylaws do not authorize any individual or group to grant waivers to the normal membership requirement for this transition election. We are awaiting a legal opinion from a Pacifica attorney on whether there is a legal way that waivers can be granted in this first transition election before the election of Local Station Boards. Check back later for details about a waiver policy.

[top]

Q 3.
Q. What about multi-person households?

A. If a contribution of more than $25 but less than $50 has been made jointly by two or more members of a household, they are entitled to share a single membership and a single vote. If a joint membership has contributed $50, or more, they are entitled to split the joint membership into individual memberships with one vote for each member up to the multiple of $25 contributed. Members who gave joint contributions in excess of $50 who wish to divide their single membership into separate memberships (each with a separate vote) should contact their station to request this. Volunteer hours may not be shared in this manner, but can only count for the individual performing the volunteer work.

[top]

Q 4.
Q. What is the cutoff date for becoming a member and having voting rights?

A. An individual must a member in good standing on November 21, 2003. To be eligible to vote a listener must have made a minimum contribution of $25, or three hours of verifiable volunteer work between November 21, 2002 and November 21, 2003.

[top]

Q 5.
Q. If someone has made a pledge during or after the October fund drive but not paid it by November 21, will they get a ballot with their bill?

A. No. Mere pledges are not sufficient according to the language in the Bylaws. The payment (by check or credit card charge) must be completed, and received by the station by the cutoff date. Of course, some individuals whose check arrives the day after the cutoff date may still be eligible to vote if they made their last contribution of at least $25 less than a year previously.

[top]

Q 6.
Q. What If a member has contributed to more than one station – can that person vote in more than one station election?

A. No. Such an individual must designate a single station that they wish to be affiliated with for the purposes of voting.

[top]

Q 7.
Q. What sort of volunteering can count towards the minimum three hours per year for listener-membership?

A. The volunteer work must be service to the radio station that is under the general supervision of station management. This includes such things as answering phones during the membership drives, staffing a table at an outreach event, and volunteer work on station committees. It does not include such things as merely attending a station event, or efforts that may help the station but are performed independently of station supervision.

[top]

Q 8.
Q. What if I believe I have performed the necessary three hours of such volunteer work, but the station records don’t include me as a member?

A. First try to resolve this with the station management who supervised the volunteer work you performed. If there is still a dispute, you can appeal to the Local Election Supervisor, who will hear from both sides and issue a decision on whether you are eligible to vote in this election. Remember, that you may also qualify by contributing at least $25 to the station before the record date.

[top]

Q 9.
Q. How can I check to see if I am listed as a voting member with the correct mailing address?

A. The Pacifica webmaster is setting up a way for individuals to check their status on-line. Check back later.

[top]