October 2002 Newsletters

RADIO OUTREACH
E-zine published by the Friends of Community Radio in the Blue Mountains
http://bluemtsmedia.tripod.com

Issue 42 - 21 October 2002

THE WAY AHEAD FOR 2BLU

We issued an invitation to our readers to tell us from their perspective what the challenges are facing 2BLU in the future and we a pleased to publish the results.

Some respondents expressed themselves quite forcefully and, at times, with a degree of exasperation. These are people who feel sidelined, without power, or just plain frustrated - and they are often disenfranchised.

The more constructive respondents, those with positive suggestions tended to be those with 'dirty hands' - i.e. 2BLU presenters struggling each week to provide the community with worthwhile programs.

Common to all who responded was a concern about the lack of leadership:

"The most important challenge at present facing 2BLU as a community broadcaster is to stop the bullshit and start acting like a professional organization."

Most said the present management has failed the membership and the community in this regard:

"The current management committee are completely ineffectual in planning and implementing key functions which are critical to the survival of 2BLU. This is evident by the absence of any publicity plan, structured programming or membership recruitment drives. Furthermore, their sheer incompetence is only surpassed by their hostile and vindictive attitude towards anyone that attempts to highlight these issues and/or offers to assist them to bring about the betterment of 2BLU. The overtly rude and supercilious attitude of [some members of the management committee and their supporters were named here - editors] towards other 2BLU members is nothing less than shameful and completely unacceptable behaviour for position holders that are supposedly representing the interests of 2BLU members. It's as though they view 2BLU, a community-owned asset, as their own exclusive domain - a government-funded hobby for them and their friends, rather than serving the needs of the Blue Mountains community."

Some respondents wanted the station to solve its problems internally and not involve the wider community:

"Start acting like a 'professional organization', stop the waring factions, get off your 'high horses' and keep the squabbling to board meetings, behind closed doors, not through the media, shit splatters!! If you don't like the duly elected committee and office bearers elect new ones at the next AGM that's why rules are in place, for us ALL!!"

Others brought up the absence of dispute resolution at the station:

"From my perspective the main challenges for 2BLU is to stop the very weird politics of the place - to do that there needs to lots of new blood, less power play and a flush of all the fruitcakes that seem to see it as their personal kingdom. As a person that is keen to get involved in the organization I am turned off by all the drama - its down right weird what has happened at 2BLU ... it makes for good soap opera material. In fact, some clever soul should adapt events of the past couple of years and produce it as a radio serial."

One respondent saw genuine leadership as a solution to many of 2BLU's problems:

"The first essential is real leadership. Leadership will address the fundamentals. It will improve morale; put an end to senseless conflict; open up communication with members; improve access; ensure accountability; open up decision-making processes; ensure proper planning, budgeting and financial management; recover our blemished image in the community; set goals and targets and performance parameters; encourage new ideas and initiatives; allow inclusiveness in every aspect of the station's operation; make us all part of the same team with the same goals. Leadership would also ensure we utilise to the maximum all the wonderful range of talent with already have in the station as well as attracting the best people in future."

One respondent suggested a solution:

"Employ a Manager and a Studio Assistant these become the public contact figures and 'face' of the station. Salaries obtained by applying for a grant for each."

Another thinks the solution is to revitalise volunteerism:

"We need to make a genuine commitment to the principles of volunteerism. This means, first of all, real respect for volunteer rights and responsibilities; properly negotiated volunteer contracts (especially for presenters) that spell out undertakings and commitments on both sides; a commitment to conflict resolution and due process in resolving differences before they become a problem for the station; better support and facilities for presenters to improving their programs and increasing their audience; well-managed reporting and evaluation procedures; respect for individual differences and levels of ability, skill and education; better identification of volunteers' information and training needs (especially when introducing new technology)."

Programming was a highlighted by a majority of respondents as an area needing attention:

"There is a lack of any logical coordinated programming. 2BLU has a diverse range of program content, however this is not scheduled appropriately to accommodate audience listener patterns. Concepts such as 'drive time' or 'breakfast' are unfamiliar terms to the current Program Coordinator."

Another put it this way:

"Create a program format that attracts listeners, train and educate presenters and studio people, extend the 'shop front' more into the community."

For other respondents, the spotlight fell on the need for better publicity:

"There is a lack of any meaningful publicity to promote 2BLU, its role in the community, its objectives, programs or presenters. You would think that a regular published program guide in the Gazette, flyers in retail outlets, letter box drops, bumper stickers, merchandise (t-shirts, caps etc), cross-promotion and 2BLU fundraising gigs shouldn't be too difficult to organise, but any one of these activities is simply beyond the capabilities of our current management committee."

Another respondent believes good publicity is the key to improving the station's culture:

"The station needs to begin performing in the areas of publicity, public relations and marketing. The station needs to move away from the 'what's in it for me?' culture that has grown here in recent years and start to look outwards and get out into the community utilising all the resources traditionally available to community radio stations - festivals, gigs, radiothons, outside broadcasts; membership drives, open days, on-air giveaways, member discounts, competitions, station sponsoring of cultural, social and sporting events, joint promotions with other media; Internet presence; etc. Everything possible needs to be done to dispel the present perception in the community that 2BLU is nothing more than a group of selfish, egotistical hobbyists."

No publicity equals no listeners was the message from some:

"The lack of any meaningful publicity means that the general public probably don't even know 2BLU exists, and if they do, they have no way of determining when particular programs go to air. There are no official audience figures for 2BLU however anecdotal evidence would suggest the station has no way near the number of listeners it could have with some basic publicity."

One objective of improved publicity should be to recruit new members:

"The current management committee has done nothing to promote membership of 2BLU, denying the station of important community representation and additional revenue. There have been no membership recruitment drives for as far as I can remember. Obviously, the management committee are incapable of organising a membership recruitment drive, or more likely, they simply do not want any new members..."

Improved transmission was a concern also:

"The station needs to improve its transmission. The transmitter probably needs a better location and we need to ensure both it and the studio-transmitter link are operating at their peak. Need to ensure we are doing all that can be done to reach every home in our broadcast footprint and meet the increasing competition for listeners in our community."

Allied to this was criticism about the way 2BLU has introduced new technology:

"The technical resources of the studio need better maintenance and better access to training. Misleading, confusing and incomplete instruction sheets need to be replaced. The telephone interface and Codecs need to be made available for the improvement of programming. We need minidisc recorders and a team of presenters trained in basic audio editing and program production."

Closer links with the local business and the community was something people wanted to see:

"Involve the local business community, schools and organizations in the business and forward marketing plan for the station."

Another put it this way:

"One other challenge is to make the station relevant to the local community - through programming and last but not least it needs to increase its audience."

The image of 2BLU and the need to foster a sense of pride amongst volunteers was highlighted:

"Become a Community Radio Station that the people are proud of, not embarrassed by, that's about it, if you don't it will never work, simple as that, in my opinion."

And, a final note:

"Thank you for this opportunity to have a say about 2BLU without there being 'repercussions'."

Thanks to those who responded. We'll know if there is a change of direction at 2BLU on Saturday.

RADIO OUTREACH
E-zine published by the Friends of Community Radio in the Blue Mountains
http://bluemtsmedia.tripod.com

Issue 41 - 21 October 2002

WHY 2BLU's FINANCIAL AFFAIRS ARE A MATTER OF CONCERN

Several members have been asking about the financial affairs of 2BLU. So, Ken Quinnell decided to put down the facts for all to see and consider.

The stark picture is that in 1992 the station's Net Assets were valued at $31,006. Last year, 2001, the station's Net Assets were valued at $19,372. In the nine years since the station was licensed it has shed $11,634 of its value - more than one third.

Let's look at Income and Expenditure beginning, say, five years ago. In 1998 Alison Wilson was President and the operating deficit was $2014. Note that the Net Assets of the station had already fallen by $7475 to $23,531 under previous management.

In 1999 Denis Styles was President. The deficit was $2881. Ros Neimann was President in 2000 and the deficit was slashed to $284. However, this was achieved by a severe run down of the station - even the news was sacrificed (although through mismanagement, the news was still being paid for - we just weren't using it!) During that year, the membership rejected management's proposal to close 2BLU and return its broadcasting licence to the ABA.

Last year the station managed a surplus of $2532 but Net Assets continued to slide by another $994.

I will, of course, be vilified for drawing this sorry state of affair to the attention of members but the fact remains that you don't need to know a great deal about financial matters to realise the station can't continue this way.

This is why there is alarm amongst responsible members about this current management committee's failure to make appropriate financial reports available to the members.

What is the solution to this state of affairs? How can the station be made into a viable and enterprising community organization again?

Well, one thing is to have a comprehensive and properly budgeted station plan. Another is to take the emphasis of bookkeeping and for the Treasurer can engage in financial management and ensure management has reliable and accurate information about the station's on-going financial performance.

2BLU is a highly inefficient organization focused on narrow concerns. It has unworkable procedures and an unhealthy emphasis on management dominance and control. Creativity and innovation are obstructed and members with high levels of skill and experience are forced to stand aside and watch management make the same mistakes over and over again in every area of the station's operations.

The station needs to change. It needs management that can actually deal with financial information and is not afraid of creative ideas in all areas of the station's activities. Most of all it needs management with the ability to foster the talents of everyone in the organization.

The tables send as a MS Word attachment with this issue of Radio Outreach (it is passed the Yahoo! virus check) put the station's financial affairs in some perspective. You will note there is space to add the figures from this year's audit.

We know grants will have increased considerable thanks to the work that Rosie Newling and I, with assistance from James Kilby, Brian Mackellar and Dan Craig, put into making the applications last year (at times in the face of management obstruction).

It is anticipated that actual fundraising will be down. Income from training fees increased last year despite (or perhaps because of) the fee being reduced by $60 (from $88.00 to $22.00).

Notes: The claim made in the 2BLU newsletter bluZine by Bob Foster that there was no deficit in 2000 when he was treasurer is not supported by the audited figures presented at the AGM. The figures published in that same issue from the present treasurer are not added correctly but whether the error is in the arithmetic or the figures themselves it is impossible to determine.

RADIO OUTREACH
E-zine published by the Friends of Community Radio in the Blue Mountains

http://bluemtsmedia.tripod.com

Issue 40 - 19 October 2002

NOMINATIONS FOR 2BLU ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS

Nominations for the election of 2BLU's 2003 committee and sub-committees were announced by the secretary at 2.00 pm today. The following nominations were received - listed alphabetically.

Note: we recommend a vote for the candidate in bold type.

President: Mike Botham; Daniel Soler

Vice president: Louisiana Cash-Morley; Ron Westbrook

Secretary: Francis Dutton; Brian Edmonds

Treasurer: Brian Mackellar; Chilla Miller

Public Officer: no nominations received

Dispute Resolution Officer; Nuala Cavanagh

Membership Officer: Bob Foster

Program Sub-committee (7 positions): 1. Johathon Barnes; 2. Jeanette Carroll; 3. Carl Harrison-Ford; 4. James Kilby 5. Chris Parkin; 6. Ken Quinnell; 7. no nomination

Fundraising Sub-committee (7 positions): 1. Colin Wilcox; 2-7 no nominations

Publicity Sub-committee: 1. Chris Dewhurst; 2. Tom Hollywood; 3. Steve McMeechan 4-7. no nominations.

Remember: Proxy votes must be lodged with the 2BLU secretary, Francis Dutton by 2.00pm on Friday 25 October to be valid for the Censure meeting and AGM. Post them well in well in advance and then chack that Francis has received them or deliver them by hand to the 2BLU office by 2.00pm on Friday.

We will be publishing a special election issue of Radio Outreach later in the week, so watch out for it.

JOTTINGS

In a story in the Gazette on Wednesday council's Emergency Management Officer, Matthew Harper announced that 2BLU will be included in the plan to provide information during emergencies, along with WS-FM, 96.1, the ABC and, possibly, AIR-FM. The news item quotes Matthew Harper as saying: "The response was interesting. We had approximately 70 calls to the call centre and seven e-mail responses. It was less than we had hoped for. From what we can tell, the majority of responses were not regular 2BLU listeners. "We are certainly not looking at 2BLU being the be all and end all, because it simply cannot cover a wide enough area. The idea is to have a range of stations that people know they can tune to in an emergency and if any station cannot provide enough updates, then an alternative selection is available."
After the threats of violence unleased by Daniel Soler towards Mike Botham immediately following the May General Meeting it is great to see the 2BLU President's new found interest in "peace and unity". We could hardly believe our eyes but there he was, posing with the people from the Earth Repair Foundation, advocates of "world harmony and peace". Way to go, Daniel.
Credit where credit is due - the station has excelled itself with publicity for the Celebration of Life outside broadcast. "Publicity" is a codeword at 2BLU for the President's picture appearing in the Gazette. But, then, as several members have pointed out, there is the election of office-bearers for 2003 rapidly approaching and what a shame we don't have an election every month.
Management seems to have developed sensitivity to community concerns, especially with regard to emergencies. They turned up in the studio this morning to field calls from concerned listeners about bushfire in Wentworth Falls and other parts of the mountains while Mike Botham put in a m arathon five hours on air keeping those who tuned to 2BLU updated.
It is really hard to believe this is issue 40 of our humble little newsletter. Our objective has been to keep you informed of what is happening at 2BLU (to the best of our ability) and community radio generally, to keep a degree of pressure on 2BLU management to raise their performance (okay, we failed there) and to try to point the way to the future. We are pleased to report that our subscriber list has increased steeply over the past few months and now exceeds 120. This is without the increasing number of copies forwarded to others by individual subscribers. Our website is also attracting an increasing number of visits each week. At a recent meeting of the Friends of Community Radio, it was decided to continue publishing Radio Outreach. It was the view of those present that the news, information and sense of belonging provided by RO and the Friends' website was too valuable to lose, whatever the outcome of the election next Saturday.

RADIO OUTREACH
E-zine published by the Friends of Community Radio in the Blue Mountains
http://bluemtsmedia.tripod.com

Issue 39 - 15 October 2002

EMERGENCIES COVERAGE - THE WAY AHEAD

It is becoming increasing clear that 2BLU, as presently constituted, has only a minor role to play in providing the community with emergencies information, if any at all. Management continues to deny there is community concern about the lack of locally relevant, up to date, accurate, and regular information on 2BLU during emergencies.

One thing is apparent. Just as Blue Mountains City Council, with the local State Emergency Services and Rural Fire Service have recognised this community concern and have gotten together to respond to it, so the local media needs to work in close cooperation to ensure community expectations are satisfied.

This means that if 2BLU is to be a player it needs to work in cooperation not only with council, SES and RFS but with the other media outlets as well. Given the recent attacks they have made on the Gazette and AIR-FM it is difficult to see anything like the degree of cooperation needed from 2BLU while this management committee hold office.

2BLU MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS EMERGENCIES BROADCASTER

We had thought that there was unanimous agreement at 2BLU that the special emergencies broadcast was a well-organised and well-run event. That was until Ron Westbrook informed us otherwise.

Ron, in his capacity as 2BLU vice president, wrote a letter to the Gazette (reprinted in Radio Outreach) attacking the Friends and undermining the broadcast. Ron followed this up with a letter on behalf of the management committee to Mike Botham, questioning his participation in the event.

The letter (in response to Mike's memo criticising managment inaction) demands of Mike how he "came to feel you were authorised, in the first place, to anchor the programme". Mike has replied in detail to Ron.

Suffice to say that it is a real disappointment that having more or less saved the day by agreeing to anchor the broadcast Mike is treated this way. A week out from the broadcast with press material to the Gazette past deadline, the management committee had made no arrangements and council had no choice but to bypass management and liaise directly with Mike - after all it is Mike's timeslot.

2BLU RIGHT - THE COMMUNITY WRONG

Ron Westbrook, in his letter to the Gazette, rather shamelessly attempts to suggest that the Friends of Community Radio are indifferent to the role played by volunteers from the Rural Fire Service and their amazing efforts, both individually and as a group, during the Christmas bushfires.

Indeed, he seems to imply that we are somehow ungrateful to Bob Kemnitz in particular for his efforts as a volunteer fire-fighter during this emergency. Ron, like 2BLU presenter John Tognolini, seems to misunderstand what the community is saying.

So far as we are aware there has been no criticism of 2BLU for not fighting the bushfires last Christmas - the RFS did a splendid job of that. The concern of the community is that they could not get the on-going information they believe they had a right to expect from their local community broadcaster.

Bob Kemnitz alone amongst 2BLU management turned up to the public meeting when Matthew Harper presented council's emergency plan and outlined the role that the local media would play in keeping the community informed. There was enthusiastic support for the proposal from those present at the meeting, including, we thought, Mr Kemnitz.

But, no. 2BLU continues even now to insist that the community is wrong, that the station did a great job and there is no way anything is going to improve while they have a say in it.

DEVELOPING COOL EDIT SKILLS

Following our story on the DDN and the audio editing program Cool Edit which has become the community radio sector standard we have had a couple of enquiries about on-line tutorials.

There are many on-line tutorials for this amazingly popular audio editor. In the absence of any form of training at 2BLU, or for that matter access to their CD-ROM tutorials, these on-line sites are definitely the next best thing. Besides you can use them at home!

We think the easiest is possibly Eric Nuzum's comic book tutorial Guide to Digital Editing presented by WEBZ Chicago's This American Life (using Cool Edit for either PC or Mac) www.thisamericanlife.org/pages/trax/comic/nuzum.html

If comic book tutorials are not your thing, try Capheine's Vocal Editing Process for Cool Edit athttp://capheine0.tripod.com/

The CMGN site has Paul Dunphry's excellent tutorials for Cool Edit 2000. Here you can also download Cool Edit Pro Trial Version 2.0. www.cmgn.cc/Stories/93.html

You will need to download a version of Cool Edit to get the full benefit of these tutorials. The basics are the same on the various versions of the program on offer at various sites. Hope this helps.

US RADIO GOES DIGITAL

On Friday the American Federal Communications Authority decide the future of radio broadcasting in the USA by authorizing the rollout of digital radio.

The decision allows radio stations to immediately install In-Band On-Channel (IBOC)-based transmission equipment and, upon notifying the FCC, begin broadcasting using the new transmission standard.

Stations will initially run a hybrid analogue/digital signal, so as to not make everybody's analogue receivers immediately obsolete. At some undetermined time in the future the FCC will require radio broadcasting to go completely digital - the hope is when that time comes the public will have forked out the hundreds of dollars each for the new "HD Radios" they'll need.

In Europe, the launch of digital radio began years ago, and it failed dismally. As a result, media companies are now openly planning to plunder the broadcast airwaves for wireless computer networking and mobile phone service bandwidth.

In Australia, the lugubrious debate over digital continues but the ABA is bound to feel itself under pressure with this US decision.

As one commentator put it, "... the countdown is now underway on radio's metamorphosis from a unique outlet for mass communication to a pipe for ones and zeroes. Will it still retain its soul?"

For an interesting view on this go to Chris Maxwell's website www.digitaldisaster.org

FORMER 2BLU PRESENTER TALKS ABOUT 2CCC

Last week Ken Quinnell ran into Bruce Azmus who broadcast on 2BLU about five years ago and was for a time a member of the management committee. Ken reports.

Bruce, now in his seventies, lives in Gosford and broadcasts with the local community radio station 2CCC 96.3 FM.

Bruce's Thursday afternoon program on 2CCC includes a segment Sounds from the Past that recaptures the voices from the golden days of Australian radio - old radio serials, special features and singers like Peter Dawson. This is based on his award-winning series for the National Film and Sound Archive, Once Upon a Wireless.

Big Country is a fifteen-minute telephone interview with Tourism NSW and Tourism Australia about what's going on in various parts of the country that will interest tourists. In the Vox Populi section, Bruce regularly interview the Federal and State members, the mayor and councillors and others about issues of concern to the local community.

He includes the Campus Newsline segment, a five-minute phone chat with the PR officer from the University of Newcastle. The final hour is middle of the road nostalgia music.

2CCC is a powerful station with a footprint extending from Charlestown outside Newcastle to Hornsby. It is facing increasing competition for listeners from other community and commercial station that have been licences recently.

The station has several satellite receivers - the ComRadSat service, the races from 2KY, which are broadcast on Saturday afternoons, the NRL from 2GB, which is broadcast on Sunday afternoons, and Sky which is used for their news. The station has been broadcasting for ten years.

Bruce loves to reminisce about his fifty years in broadcasting and one of my favourite anecdotes is this. He was interviewing the wife of a prominent golfing pro. When he asked her what she did to wish him luck before a game she replied, "I kiss his balls."

RADIO OUTREACH

E-zine published by the Friends of Community Radio in the Blue Mountains

http://bluemtsmedia.tripod.com

Issue 38 - 11 October 2002

2BLU CAN BE IMPROVED - PLEASE TELL US HOW?

We are seeking your feedback as a presenter, listener or local resident on the question:

From your point of view what are the most important challenges at present facing 2BLU as a community broadcaster?

We know, where do you stop? Just give us your top five. We will respect you privacy when we compile the results for publication in a forthcoming issue of Radio Outreach - no names or other details of respondents will be revealed.

Be as specific or as generalised as you wish. And, we are interested in every aspect of the station's activities. Send us you list by Wednesday 16 October. Use reply or e-mail bluemtsmedia@yahoo.com

FEAR AND LOATHING

Francis Dutton, secretary of 2BLU, writes:

So ... the editor at the Blue Mountains Gazette has finally achieved what the Management Committee at 2BLU FM (which includes myself as secretary) could not: put a stop to the public airing of differences in the letters pages of the Gazette.

And while I myself am guilty of writing 2BLU-related letters to the Gazette, I feel I should say in my defence that the last two were written either a) after a conversation with treasurer, Chilla Miller, who asked me "are you going to respond to Quinnell's letter in the Gazette?", or b) in response to Ron Westbrook's harangue about the "disappeared" at the station, in which he gratuitously, and inaccurately, mentioned the circumstances of my current temporary suspension from broadcasting.

At a Committee meeting (on 11 September) there was general agreement among all those present that it would be preferable, from now on, for the station's internal affairs to be kept off the air and out of the pages of the Gazette. Whether Ron wrote this letter before or after the 11 September meeting, the fact remains that it was published some three weeks later.

He has since sent off yet another rant, this time about the 2BLU test emergency broadcast. It's full of words like "slanderous" and "crap" and accusations about "jammed emergency faxes" ... I'm sure all the potential sponsors will be devastated to learn that the editor has put a muzzle on it.

In my letter to the Gazette ("Number incorrect", 4/9/02,) I stated that Ken's original number of 20 people who had been "removed from their positions without prior notification or discussion" was exaggerated, and that, in my opinion, the actual number was closer to 11. Ron Westbrook has since stated that "the Committee has not removed anyone from the station!"

Well, that may technically be true (though heavens knows, it's not for lack of trying) but it's not actually what was asserted. Whether these volunteers resigned in frustration or disgust, as many did, or simply found themselves suddenly without a job, is irrelevant. But, having checked Ken's list thoroughly, and spoken with quite a few of those on it, it is my opinion that there are actually considerably more than 11 who should still be happily working with us at 2BLU, and would be but for the actions and behaviour of those entrusted with the running of the station.

Not only were a lot of these people either driven to resign, or had their sub-committee disbanded, or their jobs terminated, or given to someone else (usually to either a supporter of the committee, or in some cases a family member) but rarely was the general membership informed of any change. There are some people on Ken's list whose circumstances I cannot vouch for, but whichever way you look at it, it is not a document that any management committee should be anything but ashamed of.

My own experience as secretary of 2BLU is yet another chapter in this sorry history. Elected to the position at a general meeting (when it was discovered that the previous incumbent had gone awol ... again, without the committee informing the membership) I have been ignored by my fellow committee members, and refused access to the keys to the station's post office box (one of the secretary's main duties being to look after correspondence). When this happened, my first thought was to resign immediately, but it occurred to me that that is probably what they wanted. I felt that a compromised secretary was more effective than no secretary at all.

Yet things could have been so different. Four members need not have been expelled for totally inadequate reasons, only to be reinstated by the membership when the committee was pressured to call a special general meeting (with all the angst that surrounded that event). The programming committee could have been left in place, Mike Botham could have been asked nicely if he wouldn't mind sharing Community Noticeboard with other presenters, Chris Parkin, James Kilby, Brian MacKellar, Colin Wilcox, myself and others might not have suddenly found themselves accused of sabotaging the station's equipment, when, in fact and of course, none of us had. And so on.

2BLU could be a place where the talents of individual members are both utilized and appreciated, a place where people are both consulted and informed, so that every member feels that he or she has a say in the running of the place, and it is not just in the hands of Hunter S. Thompson's old friends Fear and Loathing.

No one should be looking for infallibility as the prime attribute of a committee member. The kind of person I'd want on the executive is one who is capable of showing a little humility, and owning up to his or her mistakes. Let us hope that there are enough people among the 2BLU membership with the talent and vision to take the station out of it's current malaise. From what I've seen, I feel cautiously, very cautiously, optimistic. Thanks - Francis Dutton.

SLIPSHOD 2BLU PROGRAM GUIDE

The Gazette published a 2BLU Program Guild on Wednesday for the first time in a year. The guide supplied by the station is incomplete, inaccurate and out-of-date and there is no contact information with it.

As one presenter said to us: "Remember when we had a big headline and a photograph of one of the presenters? Remember when it corresponded to what was actually going to air? It's the usual half-baked, near-enough-is-good-enough approach we've unhappily come to expect."

MOUSE TO MOUSE

The Digital Delivery Network computer at 2BLU will no doubt come online in the foreseeable future - better late than never. Did we say 'never'?

The audio software program Cool Edit comes bundled with the DDN computer. However, 2BLU's Studio B is running MOTU's AudioDesk on the old iMac. Now, given that presenters will have to learn to use the Maximation software that will run the on-air studio, the prospect of learning two different audio editing programs is rather daunting.

It is all just the usual lack of planning and foresight that has lead to this situation.

The advantage of Cool Edit is that there are a number of interactive tutorials freely available on the Internet that make learning it easy. Some require you to have Cool Edit loaded on your computer while other more basic ones don't. Also, you can download a free trial version onto you home computer to perfect your skills. (Like most good shareware, this has some limitations deliberately built into the free version, which are unlocked when you register.)

Indeed, on some sites Cool Edit 95 (the original shareware program) is available completely free and is quite suitable for mastering the fundamentals. Cool Edit is a powerful and highly stable program. Importantly, it has become a sort of sector standard so skills developed using it are transportable to other community radio stations.

The question of what has happened to Maximation, why only some presenters are using it, why many who attended the training sessions have had no further access to it, and why there is so little new Australian music on it anyway, are questions that remain unanswered.

2BLU management minutes reveal that a new member is working to network the studio computers. Whether this is being done to a plan, or willy-nilly like Studio B is another question that remains unanswered. Progress is certainly slow. There is unease amongst the more computer-literate members about the quality of this volunteer's credentials - educational qualifications, background and work experience - to undertake this work.

But, just as management obviously failed to read the original documentation sent to the studio last year that advised that Cool Edit was to be bundled with the DDN computer, they have probably not read the undertaking in the agreement regarding the installation and maintenance of this valuable new station asset.

COOL COUNTRY RETURNS

We're happy to report that Cool Country is back on air in Katoomba at their original transmission strength. The ACA enquiry continues under a ministerial directive. We'll keep you posted. You can tune to 88.0 FM or go to their Internet broadcast at: www.coolcountry.com.au/

VIRTUAL AIR

As a result of our report on the recent foolish attack on AIR-FM that was broadcast on 2BLU we have had a few enquiries about this station.

You can listen to AIR-FM on the Internet. Their Cyberstudio is on-line daily from 8.00-10.00 pm (if you a listening in the Blue Mountains - the times vary with time zones).

The service goes worldwide via Yahoo's VoiceChat chat club (which is a free membership). If you use a microphone with your PC you can also phone the studio presenters for requests. Calls are free of charge using the NetPhone link. Take a look - have a listen: http://cyberstudio.4t.com/

PERSPECTIVE

In the light of 2BLU's tardiness in getting the DDN on line and the decline in youth participation at the station, we thought this was an hopeful story.

The community station on the Mornington Peninsular in Victoria has involved its young people in a youth technology and computer group to effect the installation, maintenance and operations of the DDN computer and service.

"So many time young people get pushed aside because they want to play modern and alternative music," says 3RPP's Maria McColl. "Yet the youth is the future for all out stations ... After all, they've grown up in the Computer Age, and what seems difficult for some of us oldies, the youth can handle with their eyes closed."

RADIO OUTREACH

E-zine published by the Friends of Community Radio in the Blue Mountains

http://bluemtsmedia.tripod.com

Issue 37 - 9 October 2002

2BLU'S WEBSITE BLUES

Thanks to the intervention of Steve McMeechan at the committee meeting on 11 September, 2BLU management ended months of apathy, neglect and procrastination over the station's website.

Web designers Stralia Web of Springwood put it together and the result suggests they did it rather in a hurry. When the company contacted 2BLU some months ago offering its services the committee did not respond. They were propelled into action when Steve offered to build a site for the station.

It is at long last up and running. But, what do presenters think of it?

Steve McMeechan writes:

"It's great to finally see the somewhat long overdue launch of an official web site for our humble little station. The sad thing is that this is really just a relaunch of content from Tom Oriti's original site dropped into a new template with a modicum of new material.

"Given that 2 BLU has been without a web site for 12 months, and with the heartfelt assurances from both Chilla Miller and Daniel Soler that they were working on a new site during this time - I've been anticipating something along the lines of the Nine MSN portal! Sadly, but not surprisingly, what we have is something that appears to be slapped together at the last minute as some sort of makeshift offering.

"Of course it would too much to expect that members would be provided with the opportunity to contribute suggestions or ideas for the web site content prior to it being launched. Instead the management committee has created this effort without any involvement from the membership, which they supposedly represent. The question yet to be answered with some intelligible response, is why did the management committee proceed to work with an external company to create what is a fairly average site when there are a number of members that could have created a similar if not better site sooner and with the involvement and participation of other members?

"Stralia Web are a fine company with recognised skills in web design and e-commerce. I can imagine that 2BLU would perhaps not be the easiest customer to deal with (perhaps this explains the delay)."

Tom Oriti designed and developed the previous 2BLU website. Update information for this site ceased in October last year and his site was shut down altogether by management in March. Tom writes:

"Aside from having a new, easier to use address, 2BLU's latest online venture has no new features - the only change being the visual layout which is now harder to navigate and less attractive, making it not so user-friendly.

"When comparing both sites there doesn't seem to be any reason why they replaced the old design - they haven't added or removed anything as far as I know. At least most of the information is still there and we have an official website online now, let's hope it stays that way."

Mike Botham writes:

"Quite disappointing - home page of earlier versions much more appealing. This is quite ordinary.

"A few grammar and punctuation errors, eg, committee's for committees (plural, not ownership). Links to individual presenter's e-mails have been removed from the guide even though there is a note telling me I can contact specific presenters in this fashion - the usual bodgie job."

Chris Parkin writes:

"I've seen better websites designed with the geocities sitebuilder (god forbid!) and significantly better websites designed by 2BLU members prepared to build and maintain it for nothing. I know I'll be asking the management committee why they picked this option at the next opportunity."

James Kilby who was publicity officer for a brief period last year writes:

"Thank goodness for Radio Outreach. How else would I know that 2BLU has finally built a new web page? Oh, hang on a sec; did I say 2BLU? I meant to say - finally the management committee had organized a web page to be built.

"As all 2BLU did was organize for it to be built, even though the station has many fine and capable web page builders. The management committee 'outsourced' it to a Springwood company who offered to do it for free, which was very nice of them.

"Imagine what sort of web page we could have had if a skilled member had built it. I would think one that would have insight, creativity and knowledge of the stations programs and presenters but all we got was a generic looking web page.

"Now this wouldn't be such a big deal if it wasn't for the fact that Tom Oriti had done such an excellent job on the original web page and you would think, be asked to participate again - even thanked for doing a fine job on the last web page, but instead he was treated atrociously, having been ignored and then accused of all and sundry."

Ken Quinnell was Publicity Coordinator when the previous site was established and he worked with Tom Oriti in developing a rather ambitious strategic plan for the site. Ken writes:

"What struck me first was that there is no mention of the station's sponsors, no details of the members discount scheme, nothing about the Skankin' CD, and, surprise, surprise, the volunteer rights and responsibilities have been removed. The other casualty is presenter's e-mail links and external website links.

"The strategic plan for the site was to provide a link to either an internal web page or an external website for every program. We had in production a virtual tour of the 2BLU studio in collaboration with photographer Ross Stevenson.

"Other initiatives in the planning stage were to set up a youth page, a page dedicated to Blue Mountians music and musicians, a presenters' discussion group within the site, similar to that those on the CBAA website, and we were exploring ways of developing digital audio packages for transmission on the net to reach more listeners.

"It seems to me that with professional designers on board to construct and improve the site, what is needed is a proactive group within the station to get it in shape - cut through the confusion and logicality of the content and come up with a winning site."

If you would like to see the sort of web site Tom and Ken were aiming for and using as a yardstick take a look at the site of Macarthur Community Radio in Campbelltown - 2MCR. www.2mcr.org.au 2BLU's new site is at: www.2blu.org.au There is a link to it on the Friends web site.

UNITY & PEACE AT 2BLU?

On 25 September the Earth Repair Foundation announced that discussions with 2BLU for an outside broadcast from their Celebration of Life event at the Katoomba Civic Centre were advancing. The event to promote world unity and peace is on Sunday 27 October, 10am-3pm.

An announcement that the arrangement is in place for this OB was made in a media release issued from the Foundation early Friday morning, 4 October. (A brief story about this event in the Gazette two days before does not mention the outside broadcast.) The press release says that the OB van (presumably the van from Hawkesbury Radio) will be positioned in the Civic Centre entrance driveway "a welcoming lighthouse, broadcasting 'live' ..."

No announcement or information about this proposed OB has been available from 2BLU - no notices about it in the studio, nothing on the noticeboards or whiteboard, nothing on the 2BLU website, and no mention in committee minutes. Steve McMeechan tells us he has not been informed or consulted even thpough it appears to occupy his timeslot.

NO 2BLU ACTION ON TOGNOLINI

John Tognolini's Katoomba Surf Club program is still on air, confirming the impression that there is one set of rules for management's supporters and another set altogether for those who question management. In refusing to take action, management has tacitly supported the threats and abusive remarks made on this program on 29 September.

While management and their supporters gripe about the Gazette publishing letters to the editor about 2BLU, they are prepared to condone an ill-informed, and unfounded attack on another radio station and its personnel.

STRANGE ALLEGATIONS

It has been reported to us that 2BLU management and their supporters are approaching prominent people in the community and telling them "the Friends of Community Radio is run by homosexuals".

This reminded us that 2BLU management has a strong homophobic tendency, as anyone who has ever listened to Vice-president Ron Westbrook's program will know. Last year, as President, Daniel Soler ordered the removal of the Gay Waves program, which came in on the satellite service, because he was offended by it.

However, we were interested enough in their comments to do a little research and have discovered that the Friends have the same per cent of gays as the Liberal Party, the Labor Party and the armed forces.

LETTERS TO THE GAZETTE

These three letters (from Ron Wetbrook, Colin Wilcox and Francis Dutton) appeared in today's Gazette. Below these is the following:

Editor's note: We can't wait fro the annual general meeting where the committee members should be able to sort out their differences at last. No more letters please. The subject is closed.

Offended by report

Your article 25/9/02 concerning 2BLU becoming an emergency broadcaster has greatly offended me because:

1. I was misquoted by your journalist.

2. He has encased what he wants in quotation marks as though I had written it.

3. He has allowed the so-called "friends" of 2BLU (in reality the station's greatest enemy since inception) to freely have slanderous sway, and

4. In doing this he has allowed them to somewhat usurp the credit for something Daniel Soler (President 2BLU), Bob Kemnitz (technical officer) and myself (vice president) has recently organised with Matthew Harper.

Now unless this journalist has done the same with the "Friend's spokesperson Jeanette Carroll" as he has done to me, her statements are typical of everything else coming from that childish group; that is, full to overflowing with falsehood.

She claims 2BLU "let down the community during the Christmas bushfires". The truth: the so-called "friends" of 2BLU jammed emergency faxes from getting through by continuously faxing in their crap.

She claims "we have been pressuring 2BLU for the past five months to take the initiative". The truth: no such pressuring took place.

She claims she is relieved we have finally "grasped the importance" of getting out emergency messages in a crisis. The truth: we have always been aware having discussed the matter with more than one firefighting member of the station. One of those individuals being bob Kemnitz who was willing to put his life on the line last Christmas while the "friends" thought it good sport to jam our faxes.

RON WESTBROOK, Vice president, 2BLU.

Also suspended

I could not help but reply to Ron Westbrook's (vice president, 2BLU) letter published 2.10.02, as I too am guilty of "what the committee feels is the use of inappropriate and repeated vulgar language on air" (BMG 2.20.02). Accordingly I too have been suspended for three months from broadcasting; and I too, therefore, deserve to have my name dragged through the mud - after all, why should Francis Dutton have all the fun?

Without playing the martyr card too heavily, and without attempting to justify myself, there are a couple of points that I feel should be put on the public record.

I have never had any opportunity to defend myself. I was dismissed without prior discussion or notification, receiving my suspension letter in the mail 11½ weeks after the event; as far as I am aware no complaints have been lodged about the incident; and committee and ordinary members of the society without my consent, notification, or attendance listened to the logging tape of my show.

All small beer I know, but the point is - just who is under attack here? The first draft of my final paragraph contained a totally gratuitous revelation concerning the private life on one of the committee members, but then I thought - someone has to show some restraint. So, keep listening on Monday nights to Random Gro(o)ve and Strangers in the Night (8-10 and 10-midnight respectively) on 2BLU, because though the presenters may have (been temporarily) ended - the show lingers on.

COLIN WILCOX, Katoomba.

Keep it in-house

Reply to Ron Westbrook. At a recent meeting of the Management Committee of 2BLU FM, the President pleaded for the internal affairs of the station to be kept off the air and out of the pages of the Gazette.

There was general agreement amongst both the Committee and supporters of the Friends of Community Radio that this was preferable. So I guess vice president Ron Westbrook must have forgotten this discussion, as he was back in action "Numbers Exaggerated", BMG 2.10.02.

I imagine that, important as our local community radio should be, it's internal affairs would come as something of a big yawn to most people. Nevertheless, it is a Blue Mountains community-owned asset. If there are people who are concerned about the running of it, and who feel they cannot get satisfaction from the management committee, then there are public forums (such as the Gazette) where local issues can and should be discussed. We live in a free society, or so I'm told.

Mr Westbrook's misapprehension that by saying I welcome public discussion I am about to "hold public meetings on behalf of 2BLU", not to mention his (rather tacky, I thought, and irrelevant) mentioning of my currently being suspended from broadcasting, which I do not propose to discuss here.

I will, as previously promised, be relying in detail to his and other letters via the Radio Outreach newsletter, at http://bluemtsmedia.tripod.com, where those with an interest in 2BLU can ponder the issues at their leisure.

FRANCIS DUTTON, Katoomba.

Issue 36 - 8 October 2002

CENSURE OF 2BLU MANAGEMENT

The letter from the Director-General of the Department of Fair Trading that was the catalyst for the censure motion against the management committee at 2BLU was addressed to Ken Quinnell. We asked Ken to explain how this censure motion came about.

Ken Quinnell writes:

The notice sent to members for the meetings held on 2 February 2002 stated that proxy votes would not be permitted. This is in clear breach of the provisions of the station's constitution (and the Department of Fair Trading's Model Rules), as well as the law and procedure of meetings.

The argument used to justify this was that since members would not be present to hear the arguments for the expulsion of members, they could not make a decision on the matter. This was curious to say the least. While you may, if you choose, direct your proxy vote to be cast in a predetermined way you can also use it as an expression of your confidence in a member present at the meeting to decide for you and cast your vote accordingly.

At the general meetings, the management committee circulated a document that is to say the least confused. It appeared to argue that their reasons for disallowing proxy votes were two-fold: 1. they wanted to ensure people turned up to the meeting to hear allegation, so that 2. they could defame individual members. As I said, it is confused reasoning but hardly a justification for lying to the members. (This advice is reproduced below)

They claimed the committee had advice from "a prominent barrister, Fair Trading and the CBAA" that proxy votes be disallowed. I read it in some astonishment. In my experience, it was highly improbable that such advice came from either a barrister (prominent or otherwise) or the Department of Fair Trading.

During the meeting, James Kilby asked the Chair to table this legal advice. The President, Daniel Soler, responded that it was "not written advice but something a friend of a friend who knows someone told us" (or words to that effect - I'm relying on my notes). Yet the document describes it as "strong and reliable" advice.

So, naturally, I contacted the Department of Fair Trading. After all, if this advice were from the Department it would change the rules for every incorporated association in the state. There is not one rule for 2BLU and a different rule for other associations and so I felt it would be important to know about it

According to my notes, the Departmental officer I spoke to said: "The Department does not give advice and it certainly does not give incorrect advice. My opinion is that this document is intended to deceive your members. During our conversation he described the argument in the document as "ludicrous".

Following his advice, I wrote to the Department about the matter and received a response from the Director General of the Department on 22 March (which is also reproduced below). The letter speaks for itself and shows that the document about proxy voting was deliberately intended to mislead the members. In other words, the document is a fabrication. A lie.

Now, some members of 2BLU seem to enjoy being deceived and lied to; nothing offends them quite as much as an inconvenient truth. However, others dislike being lied to and I tend to be amongst them. So, I circulated the letter to those whom I believed would not be too enraged to read it.

I was intending, more or less, to leave it at that.

However, a 2BLU presenter, John Tognolini, who identified himself as a staunch supporter of the management committee, telephoned me. I had written to John in response to a letter of his published in the April issue of the station's newsletter bluZine in which he made a number of incorrect, misguided, ill-informed and biased statements.

Anyway, John abused me for about half an hour, not making a great deal of sense from what I could actually understand. One thing was clear, however. He was upset that I had contacted the Department of Fair Trading. I pointed out that it was the management committee who had contacted the Department; I had merely requested that the Department clarify its advice, which turned out to be fraudulent.

John then made a number of threats concerning his intention to ensure that considerable physical harm befell me in the near future. (I was concerned that John may be losing his celebrated sense of humour. But, no, as he hung up he screamed: "You'll regret the day you ever heard the name John Tognolini!")

So, as a consequence, I agreed to support a motion censuring the management committee (at that time, Daniel Soler, Ron Westbrook, Paul Grigg who has since resigned, Chilla Miller and Bob Kemnitz; Francis Dutton was not a member of the committee at that time). James Kilby tabled the letter and moved the following motion (seconded by Mike Botham) at the May general meeting:

THAT the membership of the Blue Mountains Public Broadcasting Society censures the management committee for deliberately misleading the members about advice from the Department of Fair Trading with regard to proxy voting at the general meeting on 2 February and considers it unfit to hold office.

On a decision of the chair (Helen Campbell) the motion was deferred so all members could be advised of the motion and provided with a copy of the supporting documentation as tabled.

Since the May meeting, the management committee has made no attempt to explain their actions or apologise to the membership. The explanation given in the document that the action was intended to permit the committee to make defamatory allegations against members (which they certainly did) is nonsense.

So, as a result, members will debate the motion at the general meeting on Saturday, 26 October.

DEPARTMENT OF FAIR TRADING LETTER & 2BLU MANAGEMENT ADVICE RE PROXY VOTES

[please wait for images to load - the letter is 2 pages; the advice is 1 page]

Issue 35 - 4 October 2002

2BLU BROADCASTING LICENCE RENEWED

The Australian Broadcasting Authority has announced the renewal of 2BU-FM's broadcasting licence for five years.

The announcement was made at midday today and the licence renewal certificate will be posted to the station next week.

These licence renewals are automatic - in other words the station doesn't have to actually do anything unless requested to by the ABA.. This is despite the management committee's assertions at the last AGM. They spoke as if the renewal would consume their every waking moment for the next twelve months!

Community licence renewals are open to a degree of challenge by the local communities the stations serve but such challenges are rare. 2BLU was one of the 399 stations renewed today. The next renewal for 2BLU will be 3 October 2007.

INCONGRUOUS CHARGES SET FOR 2BLU's STUDIO B

The announced charges for use of Studio B at 2BLU have caused a few raised eyebrows.

The charges set for uses that are "non-show specific (own use) recording" appear to be excessive. We thought we'd do a comparison.

The A# Sharp Studio is generally agreed to be one of the finest recording facilities for independent musicians in Sydney. It offers 32 track digital / 24 track analogue recording, three separate recording rooms, classic automated analogue desk, TC Electronics Intonator - vocal pitch correction device, 1947 RCA Ribbon microphone, world's best valve gear, Neumann mic's ... etc. - and studio rate includes a producer/engineer who has worked with the best indie bands on CDs that have topped the AIR music charts.

A# Sharp charges $60 per hour and $50 per hour for recording demos.

In comparison 2BLU's studio B offers a poorly planned and laid-out muddle of digital and 6-track analogue equipment, second-hand bits and pieces picked up at auction and the old iMac that can barely run MOTU's AudioDesk software - supervised by someone who has little or no experience in music production.

2BLU charges $40 per hour for members and $60 per hour for non-members.

You don't have to take our word for this, check it out at: www.asharp.com.au
There are photographs of the A# Sharp facilities.

Then again, we've possibly missed the point. Perhaps the charges are not irrational at all - they are deliberately intended to ensure it is not used. Instead of facility for local musicians it becomes yet another valuable community asset funded by the taxpayer and kept under lock and key at 2BLU while is slides into total obsolescence.

GAZETTE LETTER FROM MIKE BOTHAM

The following letter to the editor from Mike Botham to the Gazette has not found its way into the Gazette as yet.

It was with great interest that I read the letter of Ron Westbrook (BMG 4/9/02) in which he attacks the call for an ethics committee to be established at 2BLU by life-member Ken Quinnell.

Mr Westbrook categorically denies that the current management committee has summarily removed a number of members from their various positions within the station without prior notification or discussion. However, as Mr Westbrook well knows as an active member of said committee, a number of station members have been summarily sidelined without any communication whatsoever.

I am confident that this is so as I am one such member!!!

For the past three to four years I had produced and presented the Community Noticeboard (CNB) programme, a 5 minute programme recorded weekly that was broadcast 4 - 5 times a day. I chose to take on this extra responsibility, above and beyond my regular programme commitments, as one way of contributing to the greater life of the station. Earlier this year I received a phone call from the then Programme Co-ordinator, Al Goodie, who has since resigned both this position and his membership, informing me that some new members were going to be trained to present CNB. When I asked if I was being replaced he replied that it was merely to provide back up should I not be available in the future. Two weeks later Mr Goodie again phoned me to ensure that I continued to produce and present CNB as the proposed training had not occurred. On both occasions I was thanked for the fine job I had been doing.

Imagine my surprise when I arrived at the studio to record CNB to discover that the DAT tape and CNB folder were locked in the Office and a new edition of the programme had been recorded and was in place in the studio! To this date I have not been given the courtesy of an explanation from any member of the Management Committee, let alone any expression of gratitude for my faithful dedication to this task.

I know that I am not the only member to have been treated in this manner. The current management regime has systematically removed, or attempted to remove, those presenters who have dared to question decisions that have been made or actions that have been taken by the Management Committee. It must be noted that many of these actions and decisions have been in total disregard to the station's Constitution and/or the wishes of the membership. When Mr Westbrook was asked why I had been removed in the manner that occurred he finally responded that it was because the Committee simply no longer liked me.

When Mr Westbrook speaks of "spitting out vitriol" and "spewing forth more of his special brand of sickening fiction" it is he who is in fact projecting the actions of the current management committee upon those committed, hardworking members who work against the odds in trying to ensure 2BLU remains a vital community organization which is managed with competence, transparency and integrity. Sadly this is not the current modus operandi.

MIKE BOTHAM
Sustaining Member, 2BLU-FM

PENRITH LPON LICENCE AUCTIONED

An additional 400 watts open narrowcasting licence for Penrith was awarded to the highest bidder at auction by the ABA last week. The winning bid was for $54,000 and is subject to spectrum fees of $96,000 per year. It may be used only for ethic language or racing broadcasts.

Issue 34 - 2 October 2002

EMERGENCIES BROADCAST SUCCESSFUL - BUT SOBERING Saturday's special emergencies broadcast on 2BLU was a success and a credit to all who planned it so carefully and worked so hard to make it happen.

The morning broadcast ran like clockwork and was exceptionally well presented by Matthew Harper and Mike Botham with a range of guests from the Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Services and Blue Mountains City Council who acquitted themselves very well indeed.

The response was reasonable with 57 telephone calls and six e-mails received from listeners. In normal times this would be considered a disaster but, with 2BLU in the shape it's in, it is quite an achievement.

The failure of the cassette player used for recorded interviews (still functioning on only one channel after all these months) was a nuisance. It underlines the need for the station to invest in a minidisk recorder as a matter of priority.

Saturday started with one of those incidents that provide a lesson for everyone. At about 1.00 am there was a brief power failure in Katoomba. As a result 2BLU was off air until 8.20 am. This is because the station does not go back on air automatically after such an event.

So, those of us who checked the station in the morning found dead air until Rob Quadling (presenter of the Rotary Club program) came to the studio at 8.20 am and turned the satellite feed back on. Good on you, Rob.

This incident highlights the need for a back-up power supply at 2BLU. At other stations such an event would ring alarm bells, but at 2BLU this is just accepted with an indifferent shrug.

Mike reports that 2BLU Vice-president Ron Westbrook complimented him and also conveyed similar sentiments from Daniel Soler, "who conceded that I was a good choice to anchor the special after all".

The glow lasted until Monday afternoon when Mike delivered a memo to the committee that was critical of their lack of initiative and meaningful support for the broadcast. At no stage did the program coordinator or any member of management speak to Mike about the broadcast.

Matthew, Mike and their guests deserve congratulations. Also, Nuala Cavanagh from BMCC - who also presents Nulala's Night Out on alternate Tuesdays on 2BLU at 7.30 pm. Nuala worked hard to help make this broadcast happen, bringing to bear her unquestionable skills in planning and organization.

Good one, Nuala. Thanks to your efforts 2BLU actually came alive for three hours, sounding like a radio station, acting like a radio station and even attracting listeners like a radio station.

GONE TROPPO?

A matter of concern was the broadcast by management supporter John Tognolini last Sunday on his program the Katoomba Surf Club Show (2BLU, 8.00 pm).

John, saying he was speaking as a Deputy Captain of the Rural Fire Service, attacked the Friends of Community Radio, AIR-FM and Brian Wilson and issued a veiled threat to the Friends and AIR-FM that fire fighters from the RFS would be "taking you to shreds and make a mess of you".

This is a serious matter and we believe the relevant authorities are now looking into the incident.

2BLU VICE-PRESIDENT LETS OFF STEAM

Ron Westbrook, 2BLU's Vice-President, has been so active in the last week or so we thought about producing a special Ron Westbrook issue. Here instead are a few items concerning Ron and including his letter to the Gazette this week.

Ron has a go at Mike: Ron Westbrook was annoyed by the reference to the Friends Mike Botham made in his introduction on Saturday morning.

Mike reports: "I explained to Ron that it was important to put last year's failure on the table upfront so we could turn this initiative into a positive response to our earlier failings. The fact that a similar line was taken by the Gazette seemed to smooth the waters a bit. Ron assumed that I had just quoted from the article."

Ron contributes to RO: We have had a brief contribution to our humble little newsletter from the Vice President of 2BLU, Ron Westbrook. It came to us via Ken Quinnell who places it in context.

While I was at the studio on Saturday Ron Westbrook ran amuck in the foyer with a barrage of accusation against me, Mike, Nuala, Jeanette (who he claimed doesn't exist!), James, the Friends, other members of 2BLU, the Gazette and so on. It was inappropriate behaviour in front of guests from the BMCC, SES and RFS, I would have thought.

One thing Ron was annoyed about was Radio Outreach, which he repeatedly said was "lies and crap". I told him if he wished to set the record straight his contributions to RO would be welcome, especially if they shed some light on what is happening at 2BLU.

He said Radio Outreach would cut his contribution and censor him.

I said that he should try to write without abuse and defamatory statements. I pointed out that I had contributed to the station's newsletter but the letter had not been published - that was censorship.

Ron said he didn't need to write he'd give me a quote to publish immediately:

"Who wants to print your lies and crap in the newsletter and who wants to bloody well read it?"

I'll see if I can get a further contribution from Ron for next time.

Ron plays detective with a surprising outcome: Ron, like the rest of management, is very fond of amateur detective work. So convinced was he that Jeanette Carrol didn't exist, that the Friends "make her up" that he conducted a full investigation.

First, he established that Jeanette is a member of 2BLU. This came as a surprise but, it could still be a trick, couldn't it?

So Ron tracked Jeanette down via her business and tackled her over the phone demanding to know why she believes "all the lies and crap" the Friends say about the management committee.

It was a long conversation but as Jeanette is pleased to report it had a happy ending. Turned out Ron remembered Jeanette's bother John when he was a presenter some year's ago.

Now, it would be going a bit far to say Ron is a friend of the family, but he did invite Jeanette to be a guest on his program.

Jeanette says she politely declined.

Ron writes to the Gazette:

Numbers exaggerated

Francis Dutton's letter published 4.9.02 concerning Ken Quinnell's claim, 21.8.02, the management committee of 2BLU had been responsible for "...the removal of 20 volunteers from their positions without prior notification or discussion" is also incorrect when he says it was only 11 we removed and that the rest resigned.

The management committee has not removed anyone from the station!

We tried to expel some (Ken Quinnell being one of them) but were unsuccessful.

These individuals definitely had full opportunity to defend themselves.

Only one person has resigned from 2BLU, during our term, (she moved out of the area) and two resigned from their positions only. All three notified us in writing.

There have been no other written or verbal resignations.

Francis Dutton supported Ken Quinnell in his drive against the present management before he was secretary.

The free advert where he mentioned the web address of Quinnell's slanderous publication shows he is still with him!

The thing that annoys this lot is that we, as a committee, are not buckling under to their constant attack.

Finally let me point out when Francis Dutton says, As Secretary, let me say that I welcome constructive discussion of 2BLU's affairs, and that includes public discussion", he has no authorisation to hold public meeting on behalf of 2BLU.

He is presently suspended for three months, from broadcasting, because of what the committee feels is the use of inappropriate and repeated vular language on air.

RON WESTBROOK, (Vice-president 2BLU), Blackheath

(Ken Quinnell had a letter in the same issue responding to Ron and Francis's original letters. The substance of this letter has previously appeared in RO.)

CRIME OF THE CENTURY

Management at 2BLU, never noted for their sense of humour, have reported Steve McMeechan's "unauthorised" website to "the fraud squad and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission". Weird.

Seems the site was promoting sponsorship of the station and giving an e-mail address that was not the station's. The sponsorship representative complained to the President. It is believed they are quite close.

A REAY OF SUNSHINE

Reay Andersson appealed against his conviction for shocking traffic offences and is out of the slammer.

2BLU management arranged a hero's welcome with "Rae (sic) Andersson is back! Long live Rae (sic)!" scrawled across the station whiteboard.

Brian Edmonds has stepped aside as Training Coordinator and Reay has taken the position again.

UNWELCOME CALLS

It wouldn't be 2BLU without a supporter of the management committee making nuisance calls during an important broadcast and last Saturday was no exception - no prizes for guessing who; and no clues either. The matter was reported to management - but nobody expects any action to be taken.

MONTY PYTHON?

One member of management at 2BLU stormed out before the meeting even started on Monday. Seems half the committee was waiting in one room for it to start while the others were waiting in another room.

NEW STARTING TIME FOR 2BLU CENSURE MEETING AND AGM

The starting times of the 2BLU AGM and Censure Meeting have been brought forward by an hour. The Censure Motion meeting will begin now at 2.00 pm and the AGM 3.00 pm. The date remains Saturday, 26 October despite the requirements of the station's constitution.

GETTING EMOTIONAL

Paul Kelly has just release a new song he wrote in response to the situation of refugees locked up in Woomera and other detention centres around Australia. You can download the song for free from www.paulkelly.com.au

PROTEST SONG NIGHT RESCHEDULED

Louisiana tells us that the night of protest songs she is organising has been rescheduled due to prior engagements by several of the musicians. We'll let you know as soon as we have a firm date.

NATIONAL ETHNIC BROADCASTERS CONFERENCE

The 2002 conference, in Adelaide 15-17 November has the theme Access and Generational Change and will focus on issues such as the participation of young people and emerging cultures; training and funding for broadcasters; and skills development in areas like broadcast law, outside broadcasts, training, funding sources, station operation and lobbying.

The conference is organised by the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters' Council and futher details are available at: www.nembc.org.au