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<DIV>Hi Trevor,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I think that if you feel so strongly about this - then you really must
stand for CMA council.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I once felt that this CMA list was an excellent forum which
enabled like-minded individuals with a common goal to come together, share
ideas, support each other and ultimately - to bolster and reinforce a solid
network of community media practitioners up and down the UK. But my view has
changed.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In the past 12 months, I've read so many passionate and enthusiastic
e-mails and debates here from various members, suggesting fantastic
ideas and initiatives - from setting up a CMA annual awards event, to top
slicing the BBC license fee - and loads of great topics inbetween. Unfortunately
though, in my opinion - these ideas and passionate discussions just end up as
old e-mails in my "old e-mails" folder. It doesn't turn into action. I
really don't think that any of this energy is used for any real purpose and
that's a real shame.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>You said <EM>"Instead of moaning like Minnies, or suggesting we are all
doomed, let's get out there - and support a new government that suggests it
wants greater public participation. It's what we do best - better than anyone
else - and given a modicum of support we can make any government look better
than even the very best sliced bread. Any government must recognise our value,
or face the consequences."</EM> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We are all up to our necks in our work, as we all know - so its
very difficult to form a "united front" really. I think that last years
ill-fated Prime Ministers Petition episode demonstrates this point
very well. The petition did more damage than good.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>On the most recent debate on this forum, (BBC Top Slice) I suggested that
it might be a good idea if we came up with a USP for the sector, and that we
collated all of our information about volunteer numbers and other key
information so that we could present a national "in a nutshell" overview of what
the sector is actually delivering. I recall Jaqui sending an e-mail to this
list that said she was happy to collate the info.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>And then it all goes quiet. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In the time that has elapsed since Jaqui made that offer - I'm sure that we
could have all sent her our info, (not just FM licensed stations, but the entire
community media sector) and that this info could have been calculated and
made public. If that was the case, I'm sure that Jaqui's letter to the in
coming Secretary of State for DCMS could say that "for X pounds per annum, our
sector provides X opportunities for X people, whilst X charities, community
groups and third sector companies benefitting from X in-kind support,
throughout the UK."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I can only guess what each X stands for - and I'm guessing that each X
represents very significant numbers.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Its also true that I can only guess how many responses Jaqui has had to
this initiative too. And I'm guessing that its few.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So Trevor, by all means show your passion and commitment to the sector, and
stand for the CMA council, I will support your endeavour 100%. I think that your
first major job should be to try and enthuse all of the sectors managers and
directors to view any notion of a "united front" with a bit more
enthusiasm. I don't really think that it is the CMA's responsibility to ensure
that all stakeholders are pitching in - and its grossly unfair to lay any blame
at the CMA's door - as some members appear to be doing in recent e-mails.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12"><B>Kindest
Regards<BR>Steve Suttie<BR>Station Manager, 94.4FM Salford City
Radio</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></B><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12"><B>office 0161 793 2939 </FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></B><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12"><B>mobile 07772 355 852</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000080 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12">:</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000080 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"> :::</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#0000ff size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12"><A href="http://www.salfordcityradio.org/">
WWW.SALFORDCITYRADIO.ORG</A></B></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></B> </FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000080 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><B>::: :</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12">WINNERS -
Community Award - Salford Business Awards 2009</FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Times New Roman" color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="12"></B><BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12"><B> <BR></FONT></B></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>