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Revised constituency model
spliced into proposed Pacifica bylaws
11-9-02


[ The document indicates that key sections are in bold, but in this posting, other sections of key interest have been italicized - ed. ]


WBAI Unity Caucus By-laws Proposal
COMPOSITION OF LOCAL STATION BOARDS (Local Autonomy)
11/8/02

Key sections in bold

Article 8 - Local Station Boards
SECTION 2. COMPOSITION

The Delegates elected as described in Article Three, Section 3 (F) (including the Directors elected as described in Article Four, Section 4, to represent that station on the Board of Directors) in each station area shall comprise the Local Station Board for that radio station. Each Local Station Board shall serve as a standing committee of the Board of Directors for its respective radio station.

The composition of the group of Delegates elected for each station area shall be determined by a two-thirds vote of the Local Station Board (or for the first implementation, the Local Advisory Board), according to the following requirements:

A. The Listener-Sponsor Members [amended to read "Listener Members" - 11-12-02] for each station area shall elect between 18 and 24 Delegates.

B. The Staff Members for each station area shall elect a number of Delegates that is the closest whole number to one quarter of the total number of Delegates to be elected by Listener-Sponsor Members and Staff Members.

C. Each Local Station Board (and for the first implementation, each Local Advisory Board) amy, by a two-thirds vote, request a permanent addition of Delegates (only in multiples of three, up to a grand total of 36) in order to fully represent the diverse needs and concerns of the signal area's Listener-Sponsor Members, providing that the required proportion of Staff Members is maintained. The Board of Directors may approve, alter or reject this request, based on its judgment as to whether such purposes would be served by the addition. Any approved addition of Delegates shall take effect at the start of the next election cycle.

D. The station General Manager shall hold a non-voting, ex officio seat on the Local Station Board.

E. In order to fulfill the Foundation's purposes and principles as set forth in Article 1, Sections 2 and 3, each Local Station Board (and for the first implementation, each Local Advisory Board) shall develop an electoral mechanism designed to achieve the following goals:

1. That the minimum of 50% of the Delegates be people of color and a minimum of 50% of the Delegates shall be women; and

2. That the overall group of Listener-Sponsor Member Delegates include a diversity of those who are disenfranchised based on race, nationality, immigrant status, class, disability, sexual orientation, age, and any similar category for which representation is identified as important to fulfilling the Foundation's mission.

If categories of Delegate seats are established to meet these diversity goals and/or to represent communities of Listener-Sponsor Members based on such goals, the electoral system must conform to the following:

1. All seats representing Listener-Sponsor Members must be elected by Listener-Sponsor Members.

2. The total number of seats established for diversity or community representation shall not constitute more than 50% of the total Listener-Sponsor Member Delegate seats.

3. Each Listener-Sponsor Member must have the opportunity to vote for an equal number of categories, and for all of the At-large seats.

4. The Local Station Board must design a pland for staggering Delegate elections as specified in Article 4, Section 3.

5. The Local Station Board may choose to establish categories of seats based on particular geographic areas within the signal area and/or based on representation of community issues that are important to fulfilling the Foundation's mission.

6. The Local Station Board may choose to require Listener-Sponsor Members to register in the categories of Delegate seats in which they intend to vote.

For the first implementation of this provision, each Local Advisory Board shall design and vote on an electoral mechanism by a two-thirds vote no later than February 1, 2003. The Interim National Board of Pacifica shall review each mechanism for adherence to these bylaws, the Foundation's mission and basic principles of fairness, and then vote to either approve or amend (with a stated reason) each mechanism no later than April 1, 2003.

Beginning in 2004, any Local Station Board may, by a two-thirds vote, propose modification to its existing electoral mechanism. The Board of Directors shall then vote on whether to approve or request amendments to the proposed modifications. The Local Station Board shall then resubmit revised modifications to the Board of Directors, which shall then have the right to approve them or make further amendments, which shall be considered final until at least the end of the next election cycle. If final Board approval occurs less than two months before the next nomination period opens, the change shall not take effect until the election cycle after the upcoming one.

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DIVERSITY MANDATE FOR NATIONAL BOARD

Article 5 - Directors of he Foundation
SECTION 4. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

In order to fulfill the Foundation's purposes and principles as set forth in Article 1, Sections 2 and 3, the delegation elected by each Local Station Board to the Board of Directors shall include at least 50% people of color and at least 50% women. In addition, each Local Station Board, in electing its delegation,shall strive to achieve diversity in terms of disenfranchisment based on race, nationality, immigrant status, class, disability, sexual orientation, and age.


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