[cma-l] Appeal to all Station Managers / Project Leaders

[Stevensuttie at aol.com]

Hands up if you are sick hearing about the number 10 petition.
 
Crikey... that's a lot of hands!
 
Obviously, the people who are at the forefront of running community radio  
are a bunch of lazy, self serving morons who deserve to be sacked for being 
so  inept that they cannot even manage to get their people to sign a 
flipping  petition on a computer!
 
I know first hand how hard it is to manage a community radio service.  
Theres not enough hours in the day... theres always something that still needs  
doing... and theres always somebody who needs you to do something that  you 
can't justify the time for. I guess lots of you are struggling to find  the 
time for this petition. Indeed, reading this here e-mail.
 
I see that some of our "colleagues" in Scotland don't want to sign the  
petition because they feel aggrieved at Government policy regarding community  
radio, and won't see any benefits. (They weren't moaning when they first got 
 their licenses though?) Some station managers have not bothered e-mailing 
their  volunteers the link. But, they've signed it themselves. Some managers 
haven't  even heard about it?
 
My job involves working 7 days a week. I have volunteers phoning me up "for 
 a chat" at half ten at night! But, despite the long hours, the hard days, 
the  boring meetings... I know I am lucky enough to have the best job in the 
world  and I am eternally grateful to community radio for giving me a 
chance to get out  of the factory. Community radio has provided me a job where no 
two days are the  same, where there is always fun and excitement, and 
massive rewards, every day. 
 
I particularly love the fact that my job offers me the chance to get paid  
for having a great time giving others a great time. I love it that over 120  
people a week have a highlight to look forward to, and that tens of 
listeners  enjoy listening!
 
I'm not too arrogant to realise that the factory still exists and I could  
go back there at anytime.
 
I thought that all station managers in the sector would feel as passionate, 
 and feel fortunate to be in such a bloody great position. But this 
official  government petition episode demonstrates that there is a lot of 
complacent and  lackadaisical people working in, and - more importantly managing 
community  radio.
 
How can any manager not see the benefits in urging their volunteers,  
partners, listeners and supporters to sign a petition that is asking for greater  
support for the sector? Its absolutely bonkers that only 2,170 people can 
be  arsed to sign this petition despite countless reminders, e-mails and 
phone  calls. To me it simply demonstrates that the fortunate people who have 
inherited  the job of running community radio are lazy, self serving and half 
hearted.  And a bit rubbish actually! Its an embarrassment. 
 
Every station manager, volunteer co-ordinator, chairman, cleaner et al has  
a duty to urge EVERY practitioner to sign the damn petition. Keep the PC on 
the  site and drag EVERY volunteer to it if needs be. Just bloody do it... 
or lets  all admit that we are actually quite an embarrassing bunch of bores 
who can't  even get 10% of our people to click a link and press a few keys 
on a  keyboard.
 
If you feel that my outburst is rude, unnecessary, offensive or wide  of 
the mark - please feel free to mock me and tell me why right here on the CMA  
mailing list.
 
But get your bloody finger out and get the petition signed by ALL your team 
 and partners first. XXX
 
Kindest  Regards
Steve Suttie
Station Manager, 94.4FM Salford City  Radio
office 0161 793 2939 
mobile 07772 355 852
WINNERS - Community Award - Salford Business Awards  2009
Visit our Website _www.salfordcityradio.org_ 
(http://www.salfordcityradio.org/listen.asx) 
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