Veridian

[Alan Vogel]

I'm not against a meeting but meeting with the rep is like meeting with a car salesman to discuss whether it's a good idea to buy his car. I'm curious as to Elliot's concern that the Board did not authorize an agreement with Veridian. Also, I think the threshold question is whether the station should be involved with a pyramid. At the very least it's much an ethical and moral issue as the people which involve themselves and start these things are not the audience or people I can respect or ultimately trust.

So firstly, did the Board authorize or choose to walk away from Veridian? No rep required for that answer. Just the minutes.

[Johanna Halbeisen]

I'm not against a meeting but meeting with the rep is like meeting with a car salesman to discuss whether it's a good idea to buy his car. I'm curious as to Elliot's concern that the Board did not authorize an agreement with Veridian. Also, I think the threshold question is whether the station should be involved with a pyramid. At the very least it's much an ethical and moral issue as the people which involve themselves and start these things are not the audience or people I can respect or ultimately trust.

So firstly, did the Board authorize or choose to walk away from Veridian? No rep required for that answer. Just the minutes.

here is what I can find in the minutes from Aug '12 on

VFR General Meeting - 9/5/12

Roll Call: Stefan Ward-Wheten (co-chair, acting secretary) (SWW), Jacqueline Maidana (JM), Nick Russo (board) (NR), Matt McDonough (MM) (Veridian representative) (guest), Susan Timberlake (board) (ST), Bob Gardner (BG), Doug Reuter (board) (DR)

3) Veridian: Matt McDonough - representative of Veridian
JB: Tax implications of VFR's nonprofit status vis-à-vis FCC advertising and promotional
MM: If partnership fails, no money, no harm done. If very profitable, may be necessary to divide VFR holdings into profit/non-profit organization.
ST: Our goals for this are low enough that annual income threshold is probably not an issue.
MM: Decision before board at present is if/when to go into action as Veridian partner. Before beginning actual sign-ups, legal issues will have to be addressed.
JB: FCC is not concerned with finances as much as technical standards and broadcast standards, they are unlikely to take issue with this deal.
ST: Would feel more comfortable if VFR had legal council for this partnership.
BG: Nonprofit/profit division of income is not an issue for FCC
SWW: How to ensure FCC compliance and still remain within FCC regs, vis-à-vis advertising service and staying within our mission as a not-for-profit org?
MM: Church bulletins, websites, other media depending on type of organization.
JB, NR: Can still remain within guidelines while advertising service effectively (online, through person-to-person, etc.).
JM: Concern seems to be whether sponsorship deal with a private company is part of the original mission of station.
MM: Does this looks like resources for outreach, logistics are worth the potential benefit? It's up to VFR to decide.

MOTION 2 (JB raises): To sign up for those programmers within station area, do person-to-person marketing within station community (programmers, volunteers and other direct participants in VFR). Evaluation will follow next month and if results are favorable, VFR will seek to extend marketing to wider community pending legal advice on tax implications

DISCUSSION: JB: Research showed mixed reviews for Veridian's model of contracting promoters, previous Veridian clients expressed dissatisfaction about returns, which require threshold that may take several months to achieve.
NR: This will impact the motion, as it could likely take more than one month.
SWW: Suggest an amendment motion to reevaluate if and when VFR reaches threshold of returns.
NR: We should still revisit with Veridian reps.

VOTE ON MOTION 2: Motion passes 4-1, ST abstains (ST cites extra strain on human resources of the station and tax implications as cause for abstention).

[Joshua Braska]

First, it is VIRIDIAN not VERIDIAN. Big difference.

I don't remember what month the board approved the program. It was sometime between August and October. I didn't keep the minutes at that time, so I'm not sure who has them. Here is what I remember about the time line. In June or July, a Viridian rep came to a board meeting that I didn't attend. He presented to the board. The next month, Dale Johnston came and presented to the board. There were some questions about funding and tax issues so no decision was made. The next board meeting that we spoke about Viridian, we met at Packard's. After some discussion, the board decided to sign up for the program and get set up, then present it to the programmers and people involved with the station. If it works, we can then begin presenting it to listeners and on the station website as a fundraiser. I handled the paperwork and started the set up. Unfortunately, I got busy and didn't do anything with it until Dale Johnston came to the board meeting. I completed the set up, and that is when I sent out the announcement.

We already have the car, Alan, so it isn't like the rep will be selling us anything. Actually, he gave us the car because we haven't paid anything for it. He will only be there to answer questions about Viridian. I think it is better to have someone there who can answer questions about Viridian. Bring your laptop and double check his answers if you want.

I don't think you understand the difference between a pyramid scheme (which is illegal and unsustainable) and multi-level marketing (which is legal and sustainable as evidence by Tupperware, Avon, Mary Kay, and Nutrilite). You obviously do not know how the station makes money from this program because if you did, you wouldn't be calling it a pyramid. WE HAVE NOT PAID MONEY FOR THIS. A pyramid is when you only make money by signing people up rather than selling any actual product or service. Multi-level marketing pays commissions based on what is sold. If you get people to sign up, you get a commission from what they sell as well. I worked in insurance and that was how I got paid. I made a commission, my boss made a commission, and his boss made a commission. Is Mass Mutual a pyramid scheme too?

I love how everyone comes out of the woodwork with criticism and no new ideas for fundraising, but when there is call for help for an actual event or something that the station is involved in and needs support, no one is around, and everyone is silent. If you were really that interested in what is going on with the station, you would have read the minutes when this program was approved and said something then, not three months later. You would have come to the last fundraiser we did on January 26. You would be sharing the upcoming event on Feb. 23 with your friends on Facebook. The station would be full of people helping out during pledge drive. This Friday, there is a fundraiser committee meeting. How many of you are coming?

The link Dana sent was not a Viridian website. Here is a link to the official company's website.

http://www.viridian.com/

This is the company's mission statement.

Viridian Energy is a socially responsible energy company providing clean energy choices at competitive prices. Viridian was founded with the vision to empower our customers to make a difference in the environment and their personal lives simply by switching energy providers.

Energy deregulation allows you to select an alternative supplier while staying with your current utility. Viridian Energy provides our customers competitive prices for smarter energy choices.

 

Joshua Braska

Go fast, take chances, and for Pete's sake, don't wear a helmet.

---

From: Alan Vogel <agv...@comcast.net>
To: vfr discuss <valleyf...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 12:10 PM
Subject: [valleyfreeradio:7022] Veridian

I'm not against a meeting but meeting with the rep is like meeting with a car salesman to discuss whether it's a good idea to buy his car. I'm curious as to Elliot's concern that the Board did not authorize an agreement with Veridian. Also, I think the threshold question is whether the station should be involved with a pyramid. At the very least it's much an ethical and moral issue as the people which involve themselves and start these things are not the audience or people I can respect or ultimately trust.

So firstly, did the Board authorize or choose to walk away from Veridian? No rep required for that answer. Just the minutes.

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