The WEVL board of directors said in a statement that while they agree with some of the ideas put forth by the new Friends of WEVL group, the committee that spawned that new group moved too fast.
Friends of WEVL went public last week with a series of Facebook posts and a website, which now lists more than 150 “friends of WEVL” and outlines some of the changes they’d like to see at the volunteer radio station.
Those changes include adding more volunteer programmers, diversifying the list of programmers and board members, shooting for a 24-hour schedule, and either renovating the station’s South Main headquarters or finding a new home.
The founding members of the Friends of WEVL group came from a WEVL-board-approved committee called the Development Exploratory Committee. It was tasked with exploring “growth options,” according to Timothy Taylor, WEVL board chairman and host of the Swing Shift Shuffle show. But the board, ultimately, dissolved the committee.
WEVL/Facebook
Marcella & Her Lovers play this year’s Blues on the Bluff, WEVL’s largest annual fundraiser.
“We agree with many of the suggestions and are already actively pursuing several, including the development of an actionable strategic plan, improved station facilities, and increasing diverse voices and programming,” Taylor said in a statement. “After reviewing and approving initial recommendations, WEVL’s board felt it necessary to dissolve the Development Exploratory Committee.
[pullquote-1] “There was concern that possible efforts and projects discussed by the committee with third parties could be mistaken for efforts already approved by the board. This decision was made because the pace of activity was accelerating beyond what was responsibly manageable and outpacing thorough vetting and discussion.”
Taylor said dissolving the committee “doesn’t mean the board doesn’t share the goals or visions being discussed. The board simply decided it needed to take a direct role, rather than a supervisory one.
Look for a comprehensive version of this story in this week’s print issue of the Flyer. Check back here for more details on this story as it develops.
