Report from the first public meeting April 9/02
by Ken Zakreski

I have always liked meetings.
The first public meeting, held April 9th 7pm, of the stakeholders of Gabriola Co-op Radio was in my experience a first class start for a new community station. The venue was Gabriola's ArtWorks, our premiere venue and central location for all that is art on Gabriola Island. The Chocolate Bar was open and staffed by gallery owner Kathy Ramsey. The participants of the meeting settled into comfortable chairs and couches, latté, tea or coffee in hand. In typical Gabriola style we started about twenty minutes late; no need to rush some may be late.

The meeting opened with an introduction of the stakeholders and a warm round of applause for those attending. Many reasons for attending were spoken, but all had a common goal, "Gabriola should have a community radio station to effectively share its unique culture in Canada".

Presentation
Discussion was lively and after about 30 minutes into the meeting it was decided to go on with the planned agenda. The presentation included:
• identification of potential tx (transmitter) sites
• terms offered by tx tower operators (no rent, must pay for power and leasehold improvements)
• statement of coverage objectives
• zoning requirements (studio allowed everywhere but not in a zoned park or reserve)
• permission to have the CRTC application in the Gabriola Branch Library for public viewing
• offer by the Gabriola Emergency Coordinator to use their proposed 5 watt tx
• email Report from Industry Canada Spectrum Management Officer
• handwritten Report from CRTC Senior Regional Officer

It was agreed that the CRTC Senior Regional Director should be invited to attend a meeting.

Coverage Objectives
Coverage objectives stated are, "to establish an ongoing community radio station that can broadcast during an extended period of declared emergency to the region under the authority of the Gabriola Provincial Emergency Coordinator and additionally Cedar, Yellowpoint and Nanaimo. This region would include the Islands in the immediate vicinity of - Valdes, Gabriola, Mudge, Link, DeCourcey, Pylades, Ruxton, Tugboat and the communities of Cedar, Yellowpoint and Nanaimo."

Action Plan - Internal Activity
The following action plan was presented:
• Design and construct Studio One - centrally located on Gabriola providing live and recorded programming for broadcast on CHLY and other non-commercial radio stations.
• Complete Application for a new FM undertaking with broadcasting facilities on Gabriola Island. Gabriola Co-op Radio will be presented, to the CRTC, as part of a larger co-op radio initiative that includes new community radio stations with studios and FM transmitter facilities located throughout the southern islands, the sunshine coast and the easterly portion of southern Vancouver Island.
• Attend CRTC hearing, if required.
• Construct transmitter facilities on Gabriola Island and broadcast.
• Construct Studio Two - to provide broadcast support for Studio One and the FM undertaking.
• Participate under station agreements to provide and share programming with interested operating stations across the Georgia Straight region. This will possibly include citr,cfuv, chly, cfro and the proposed stations to be founded throughout the Georgia Straight region including the southern islands, the sunshine coast and the easterly portion of southern Vancouver Island.
The gay and lesbian action plan was well received by the assembled group.

Affiliation
The group will operate as a club with no affiliation at this time. It was agreed that we should seek partnerships with other local society's to assist with our development.

Membership Fees/Voting/Directors
It was agreed that membership fees will be waived until a society is formed. Fund raising will include personal inquiries to known community supporters. Membership forms were distributed and completed. Gabriola Co-op Radio has 16 members in good standing. Voting and Director positions were discussed. No member may vote for a director unless they are a station volunteer in good standing with six months experience. No member may run for a director position unless they are a volunteer in good standing for atleast twelve months.

Mailing Address
Kathy Ramsey offered a mailing address for the Radio Co-op. Our current mailing address is #9 - 575 North Road, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0. We are now seeking donations of a cool mail box to locate in the ArtWorks.

Fund Raising
The discussion that followed was primarily concerned with fund raising. It was agreed, by consensus, that the funding drive should include the entire budgeted amount for start up of the community station which is currently estimated at $50,000. A funding committee was struck and will be meet Friday, April 12th at 2pm.
Our immediate goal is to raise $1,500 for an Industry Canada brief for our intended coverage area.
Donations from the meeting totalled $192.00. A chequing account will be established at our local Credit Union. Signing authorities will be Ken Zakreski (applicant’s agent), Douglas Enquist (secretary) and Kathy Ramsey (signing authority), any two must sign, as set by executive meeting held, Friday April 12, 2002.

Meeting Schedule
Public meetings are scheduled for the first Tuesday of the month. The next public meeting for the Gabriola Co-op Radio will be May 7th at 7pm at the Gabriola ArtWorks. Proposed items for the agenda should be emailed to Ken Zakreski c/o gabriolaradio@shaw.ca before noon May 4th, 2002.

For additional information please contact:
Ken Zakreski
250-247-9891
gabriolaradio@shaw.ca