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

Thu Sep 3 12:16:28 BST 2009

Dear All

I do have a comment to make ....... this (steve's e-mail) is a clear cry for
help ....... the problem is that frustration is starting to creep and set in
.... in a league table of frustration with this Bill and these rules I am
most definitely top by a clear 11 point lead with 3 games in hand !

You mention constructive debate ......... Here lies the problem in my
opinion ........ The constructive debate and requests have been milked dry
..... I am wiery, tired, and bored of all of it .... ..... people in the CMA
and Ofcom are likewise bored of my whinging ....

OK ... let's agree that we do it this way and hope and pray that things are
changed ..... I'm not hopeful, I have given my reasons on so many occasions.
We are being laughed at and treated with contempt !

I will say it again ...... there has to be a plan B       a contingency plan
......... It would unfortunately mean action and conflict. It seems rather
bizarre that I am writing this e-mail on the 70th anniversary of 1939 !

Neville Chamberlain you may recall pleaded with Herr Hitler to refrain from
nonsense .......... he didn't, and nothing changed ....... the only way left
was action and to take up arms or of course .... Get ones butts kicked
...... Certainly not one of my options.

I pray that this doesn't happen ...... But, we are dealing with ridiculous
legislation, black and white rules with no allowance for grey areas,
bureaucracy and people with blinkers on .............. Need I say anymore
....... all of this together is making our job at Canalside almost
unbearable.

I'm not a happy bunny at the moment. But I'm a fighter and I'll plod on.
Sadly, that's all we are doing ...... Plodding.

Regards to all

Nick

  _____  

From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Phil Gibbons
Sent: 02 September 2009 22:56
To: Stevensuttie at aol.com; cma-l at commedia.org.uk
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Appeal to all Station Managers / Project Leaders

Steven,

I'm all for open debate and fully support this forum, petition and the call
for signatures. I do however (as you fully expected - 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), feel
the need to reply to your post, some comments of which are totally
outrageous - unless of course I have missed the 'irony' in your comments:

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! Highly abusive, unnecessary and downright insulting
to the many hardworking and committed project and station managers who work
tirelessly with and for the community. Their people??

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. For the record I have been
facilitating a community radio project in Bristol for six years now and am
certainly not lazy, self serving or half hearted, and neither am I a bit
rubbish. Sweeping statements like this do nothing to create a good cohesive
sector. If we embarrass you so much, the factory is calling you!

But get your bloody finger out and get the petition signed by ALL your team
and partners first. XXX. Doesn't even warrant a response.

If this is the sort of post that is going to be on this forum then I don't
hold much hope for the continuation of constructive debate. If we can't have
decent posts, then I shall simply unsubscribe from the list.

Please think very seriously before posting damaging and insulting garbage
like this again Steven.

With slightly fewer regards,

Phil

Phil Gibbons - Station Manager
phil at bcfm.org.uk

Bristol's Community radio station - Your voice - Your choice!
93.2fm in Bristol
Online at: www.bcfm.org.uk

WINNERS - Most innovative project in Bristol Award - VOSCUR Awards 2009

0560 1126659 - Office
0117 9553721 - Studio

www.bcfm.org.uk

The Beacon Centre
City Academy Bristol
Russell Town Avenue
Bristol
BS5 9JH

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Stevensuttie at aol.com 

To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk 

Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 9:56 PM

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

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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