Missive to the massive – March 1st 09

Hi Phonic Massive,

Here’s the latest news on the Phonic FM front, there’s a lot going on and it’s my job to try and keep you informed…

STEERING GROUP MESSAGE AFTER LAST MONDAY’S MEMBERS MEETING
Jules Walker and Laura Newton did an excellent job in facilitating discussion at the Members meeting on Monday 23 February, here’s a message from Jules on behalf of the Steering Group…

A big thank you to all those that attended the Phonic FM Members meeting last Monday. The evening provided a much-needed and enjoyable chance to share our thoughts and ideas about Phonic so far and it’s development as we move into our second year of operation. During the evening we discussed programming development, scheduling, training and volunteer roles that will help us achieve everything we set out to do. All the information from the meeting will be combined with the info from the public meeting and used by the Steering Group to make recommendations to the Board and to develop a Phonic organisational structure. Please can you ensure that you join the everyone@phonic.fm mailing list by sending an email to everyone-join@phonic.fm. This is how we will be able to keep everyone informed of progress and opportunities to become more involved in the Phonic community.

Best wishes, Phonic FM Steering Group.

FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD MEETING
Whilst Jules and Laura were facilitating discussions in the Members Meeting, the Phonic FM Board of Directors was also meeting – with the Directors then joining the Members later that night to hear headline feedback from the Members Meeting and to give feedback from the Board meeting.

The main messages from the Board were:

Finances – having refurbished the basement and equipped the main studio and training studio we currently have about £1,700 in the bank.

Organisation structure, volunteer roles and Board membership – a participatory organisational structure has been drafted by Patrick which is being discussed by the Steering Group who will then meet with the Board to hone it up so clear volunteer roles can be advertised; Frank Goddard has resigned from the Board so leaving two Director vacancies, one with a ‘business liaison’ brief and one with a ‘volunteer co-ordination’ brief, and these will be advertised to the Massive – see below!

Marketing, publicity and communication – a £500 marketing budget has been agreed for the next six months with priority spending on flyers covering the next April-October schedule, plus accompanying posters and car stickers. All Members were urged to join the new ‘everyone@phonic.fm’ email list for networking.

Education & training – we need to purchase ‘Adobe Audition’ software for the training studio and will be putting peer support in place for our own presenters.

Programming – the next schedule will run from 1 April to 1 October, where possible similar shows are being grouped together in the same time slot for ease of marketing and there will be an emphasis on increasing show quality via peer support.

Equipment - a new mixer is a priority for investment and we need to replace one of the vinyl decks as it was lent to the station by Aaron.

Subscriptions & shirts – annual membership fees are now due and everyone who pays up gets an ultra-cool Phonic FM t-shirt!

BOARD MEMBER VACANCIES
We have vacant seats on the Phonic FM Board of Directors. As well as being responsible for the overall running of a limited company, there are two specific briefs we want these new Directors to fulfil…

Business Liaison Director:
To initiate and track links from within the Exeter business community.
To oversee and work closely with with the Business Development Manager (when appointed).
To oversee – in conjunction with other Directors – relevant of volunteer roles as agreed.
To help develop links with statutory and non-statutory bodies as deemed appropriate.
To attend company Board meetings as required.

Volunteer Co-ordination Director
To oversee and co-ordinate volunteers undertaking work for and on behalf of Phonic FM.
To instigate, organise and manage work placements in conjunction with the Education Development Manager (when appointed).
To liaise – in conjunction with the Director responsible for training – with schools, colleges and other educational establishments to set up appropriate arrangements for the use of students and others in work placements.
To have a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check by Exeter Community Radio Ltd.
To attend company Board meetings as required.

Please make it clear which of the two Directorships you are interested in, and declare such interest to pete@phonic.fm. (copied in). For further details or other enquiries please contact david@phonic.fm (copied in). Please express interest in writing by Monday 9 March – and a big thank you to the three Members who’ve already expressed interest in these positions.

NEWS GETS SHORTENED TO TWO MINUTES
At 2pm on Tuesday 3 March the news bulletins we put out will be shortened from 3 minutes to 2 minutes, so please note that there’s a third less time in for presenters to switch over from one show to another!

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY REMINDER
Sunday 8 March is International Women’s Day and our usual schedule of shows will be changed so that Phonic FM is presented by female broadcasters that day. Show hosts have been contacted about these arrangements but if you have a show scheduled for that day and have any questions about what’s going on then please contact Dave or Aaron (both copied in) ASAP…

HAGGIS HORNS TRACKS IN STUDIO, VIBRAPHONIC TRACKS ON MYRIAD
Those of you who’ve subscribed to the ‘everyone@phonic.fm’ email list will know that there is now a Vibraphonic folder on Myriad with tracks by some festival acts in it. We also now have a great funky CD by The Haggis Horns stuck to the desk in the studio, to help you big-up our fantastic fundraising night this Friday 6 March – play it!

IS EVERYONE GETTING MY EMAILS?
At the Members meeting it became apparent that not all presenters have been getting these emails. I collected about six new email addresses that night and some presenters have been forwarding these notes to other Members not on my list. Please continue to do so and urge anyone not getting this note to contact me – and please note that Jenna will now be posting these Missives to the Massive on our website too, so you can look them up there if ever need a reminder of what’s been communicated…

That’s all for now, can’t wait to party with you on Friday!

Best Wishes, PAUL
Director, Phonic FM