[cma-l] I say you passionate blighters

Thu Sep 3 14:06:22 BST 2009

And from the shadows the battle scarred veteran, a surprisingly upbeat handsome Mr. Miyagi like figure -  sorry that's meant to be me - emerges to make an observation.

Passion very good - martyred disposition (probably essential for long term stamina) -
Eccentric almost certainly - ability to be challenged, argue, understand and then expand

Oh you special communtiy media types - the strength and weakness, the broadest of churches - love each other you deserve it - it is unlikely that anyone else will (joke don't be sensitive) oh yeah sensitivity (not irony on this occassion).

The point is do what you can, don't presume others are not - although that's up to them.
As appropriately observed elsewhere in thread many people come from a place real or imagined that does not easily allow them to sign up to government lists. 

Anecdote alert!
My Kurdish friends raised 4,000 hand written signatures to deliver to me! - in their plea for longer hours on Sound Radio - I think it is safe to say many of them would not have been so ready to sign a "government" petition. 

Only you will know your contributors and audience that well - maybe there is actually something else they can do or will motivate them in raising the cause profile - here I am talking of the carrot shaped stick (I learned to fashion this mystic motivational form from the ether, or more accuratley the airwaves). You would like people to be as bonkers as you but some sometimes they need a little encouragement - I know! but we are pragmatists as well - slightly idealistic all be it - but problem solving little tigers. Grrrr 

I think it's safe to say I can relate to the frustrations - don't get me started! - but you must be patient, supportive, forgiving, understanding of each other - and focus attention on those who must be persuaded to attach real value to the real value of what you all do. The list clearly presents a therapy opportunity to vent some spleen - and why not - you all deserve some kind of punch bag (hey I could be face of the month after this)

But recognise the complex dynamics of the communitry media sector - at least to the extent that it is not simple and that my friends has always been part of its beauty. 

Anyway who suggests they are not in anyway eccentric and passionately frustrated to some extent, and are involved in the full time running of a community radio station are to be regarded with suspicion. I certainly didn't break the mould.

Keep up the good work, you are all doing something really rather special - and as the sarge used to say - Be careful out there - 

now where do I sign the petition - 

all the very best
Lol

--- On Thu, 3/9/09, Office - ccr-fm <office at ccr-fm.co.uk> wrote:

From: Office - ccr-fm <office at ccr-fm.co.uk>
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Appeal to all Station Managers / Project Leaders
To: "'Phil Gibbons'" <phil at bcfm.org.uk>, "'CMA-L'" <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>, cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk, cma-l-request at mailman.commedia.org.uk, jaqui.devereux at commedia.org.uk, phil at radioregen.org, phil at radio-regen.myzen.co.uk, "'Bill Best'" <bill.best at commedia.org.uk>
Date: Thursday, 3 September, 2009, 12:16 PM

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 

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