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I’m M. Page Keller. I strongly
support KPFT continuing to use its programming to support the Pacifica
Mission Statement. This encompasses such things as live music, creative
writing, drama, education, news, public affairs, and promoting the
understanding of conflicts.
Women and children are the most oppressed people.
They deserve the support of KPFT. Raising healthy, well-adjusted
children is the most important and least appreciated job that women
and men do. “Whole Mother” is an educational show which
supports the Pacifica Mission by providing parents the facts with
they need to make good decisions and with an on air support group.
This work is vital!
Young people are important. I proposed to the Program
Policy Committee that KPFT provide airtime to showcase the writing
and musical talents of young people during a suitable time for them,
such as after school or on weekends. ...musically talented young
people could be featured once a month on “24 PM.” We
can broaden our listener base when the friends and families of those
we showcase tune in to KPFT.
Live music is exciting. Let’s have more!
Live music draws more listeners and supports our community musicians,
singers and songwriters.
The news and public affairs programming of KPFT
is a vital source of information and of the progressive views needed
to challenge the right-wing bias of the media. I am VERY pleased
that KPFT news, recently named Best Local Radio News by the Houston
Press, is now aired five days a week. This was an issue that I raised
in my last campaign.
The LSB now has the responsibility of approving the KPFT Budget
and reviewing the performances of the General Manager and the Program
Director. As a member of the Finance Committee, I identified problem
areas of the budget, which were corrected before the budget was
presented to the Board. As a member of the Management Review and
Selection Committee, I have spent many hours co-writing the Management
Survey, preparing it for mailing, helping to tabulate it, and then
doing the data entry.
The Finance and Management committees are only
open to LSB members; so, re-election is the only way I can continue
to work on them. I am especially interested in improving the management
review process.
I also have asked to be named to the Governance Committee.
I care deeply about KPFT and Pacifica. I have supported
KPFT since moving here six years ago. I also supported Pacifica
station WBAI for eighteen years prior to that. I am honored to serve
on the LSB.
I am very good at planning and executing projects.
I am levelheaded, fair, a good listener, thoughtful, well organized,
logical and diligent. I am honest, civil, even-tempered and polite,
but firm. These are important qualities for LSB members. I would
like to continue to use my talents to serve KPFT.
Women’s voices are important. I hope to earn your
vote so that they will be heard.
Re-elect M. Page Keller,
the voice of reason.
Candidate Questionnaire
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Why do you want to be on the Local Station
Board ?
I enjoy doing the work. As a current member of the Local
Station Board (LSB), I have been actively involved with the
Finance and the Management Review & Selection Committees. On
the Finance Committee, I identified some areas in the KPFT budget
which needed to be and were corrected. I will be thorough in
reviewing the quarterly report which the Finance Committee must
produce before it is presented to the LSB. On the Management
Review & Selection Committee, I have been working very hard
on developing, preparing and mailing the survey used in the
review process. I take this work very seriously and want to
be on the LSB to improve the process for the coming years. Both
of these committees are comprised solely of LSB members, therefore
I must win re-election in order to continue my work on these
committees.
I have also asked to be made a member of the
Governance Committee. I recently sent three proposals to the
Chair of this committee who replied, “Good thinking, thanks.”
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How do you envision the Local Station
Board working with the Pacifica Foundation,KPFT and the community?
I am respectful, civil and cooperative, but firm in my dealings
with KPFT. I would be the same with the Pacifica foundation.
We need more trust and co-operation between the LSB, KPFT and
Pacifica Management.
I will continue to act in ways to encourage that trust.
The LSB needs to work with the diverse KPFT
volunteers to each reach out to their OWN community. People
are more comfortable when approached by their friends and neighbors.
We need to learn from these contacts how to serve each community
better.
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How could the station better serve
its' listeners?
There are many ways for listeners to contact KPFT and the Board,
including Monday Open Journal shows, e-mail and by attending
the monthly LSB meetings. Once contacted, KPFT and the Board
must respond to the concerns of its listeners whenever possible.
We all need to take our listeners seriously, addressing the
issues that we can effect. For instance, many listeners have
asked that “Democracy Now” be aired at 7 and 9 AM. Although
the LSB voted in support of that measure, it is a Management
decision, not an LSB decision to make.
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Describe some actions you would
take to increase the influence of the station in underrepresented
communities and to increase the diversity of the listening audience?
I will continue to support Board activities that reach out to
the community. The Chocolate Bayou Festival, which I attended,
is an excellent example.
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What sources of funding, other than
listener donations, do you feel KPFT should solicit?
Lew Hill wanted Pacifica funded by listeners so that the listeners
would be served and not corporate advertisers. We must cautiously
review fundraising opportunities on a case-by-case basis. The
Development Committee is doing an excellent job of identifying
and utilizing those fundraising options that do not compromise
the integrity of the Pacifica Mission. More of the popular KPFT
backyard and other fundraising events would help, too.
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Please state briefly the skills,
experience, educational background, work history, organizational
affiliations, areas of community service, areas of interest
and expertise that you would bring to the Pacifica network as
a member of the Local Station Board?
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE
I am very good at planning and executing projects.
- My organizational skills and diligence resulted in successful
and happy weddings for both of our daughters.
- I planned a garden club project last year that was approved,
implemented promptly, came in under budget and is still
getting complements.
- I designed and built a house. I designed remodeling jobs
including one for the Ridgefield Guild of Artists.
I have an analytical mind and I enjoy creating spreadsheets
to organize projects for analysis.
- For Finance committee work, I created a spreadsheet of
the 2003, 2004 actuals & 2005 budget in order to analyze
the 2005 budget. I identified several problems that were
corrected before the budget was presented.
- For the Management Review & Selection Committee I created
the Management Survey with a spreadsheet.
Personal characteristics which are useful in Board work:
- I am a diligent, thoughtful, thorough, well-organized,
polite and fair woman who will approach the problems of
KPFT, the LSB and Pacifica in a constructive and civil manner.
EDUCATION
I earned a BA in Anthropology from Syracuse University. My appreciation
of and respect for many cultures was nurtured by studying Anthropology.
MY DIVERSE WORK HISTORY
I supported myself in the summers as a maid and as a retail
clerk. I've been cashier, worked for temporary job agencies
in various office jobs, done light factory work, pricing for
a trucking company and been a caseworker for the Welfare Department.
I was determined to support myself however I could. This breadth
of job experience makes me appreciate the work of all people,
paid and unpaid.
ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS & ACTIVITIES
Pacifica Radio is my lifeline. I have supported KPFT since moving
here six years ago and Pacifica station, WBAI for eighteen years
prior to that. I also help with the mailings during fund drives.
I support the ACLU, Common Cause, The American Indian College
fund and GreenPeace.
I am a Democrat who votes independently.
I am currently Corresponding Secretary of the Houston Tuesday
Musical Club and Civic Projects Chair of the Piney Point Garden
Club.
AREAS OF INTEREST
Women's rights, gay & lesbian rights
Organic farming, clean air and water
Against genetically modifying crops and irradiating food
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Do you anticipate missing any Local
Station Board meetings due to family or job related problems
or inadequate transportation?
I will make a good faith effort to attend all LSB meetings.
I have neither job nor transportation problems.
Family related problems are totally unpredictable. Family weddings,
funerals and other such occasions are important. I don't think
it is reasonable to expect people to miss such things in order
to serve on the Board.
Predictability of when LSB meetings will occur is improving,
making it easier to plan travel around meetings.
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On which Local Station Board committees
are you interested in actively serving? If you are a current
Local Station Board member, on which committees do you currently
serve?
I currently serve on the Finance and the Management Review and
Selection Committees and have asked to be made a member of the
Governance Committee. I think that my interests and skills are
a good match for these three committees. I hope to be re-elected
so that I can continue to serve on them. I'm M. Page Keller.
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