Community Advisory Board
WAER Community Advisory Board
WAER’s Community Advisory Board (C.A.B.) is a volunteer group of interested listeners, University community members, and members of the broader CNY community that meet 2 times per year to make recommendations to the WAER staff and Syracuse University Board of Trustees. All meetings are open to the public. Board members offer reflections on WAER programming and audience engagement, while helping us learn about and connect with our broader community
The board is advisory in nature and is not authorized to exercise any control over WAER’s daily management or operations. While the C.A.B. is a requirement of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, we hope the board members help us reflect and connect with the community, in support of our missions: to enlighten, entertain and engage our audience, and to provide professional development opportunities to student and community volunteers. The board also offers feedback on current programming and other station initiatives. Regular meetings are held during fall and spring at times convenient for the majority of board members and are held at WAER, 795 Ostrom Ave, Syracuse, NY 13244.
We are currently considering new members for 2022-2023. For additional information, contact Chris Bolt - cabolt@syr.edu by Nov 15, 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What does the Community Advisory Board do?
A: The role of the Community Advisory Board is to provide feedback on programming, policies, new initiatives and services. Board members also help WAER connect with and reflect the various people, regions and aspects of our community.
Q: What kind of commitment will members of the Community Advisory Board be agreeing to?
A: The Community Advisory Board meets twice a year at the WAER studios in Syracuse, 795 Ostrom Ave. Community Advisory Board members are asked to serve a two-to-three-year term and are also eligible to serve a second term. Meetings of approximately 90 minutes occur twice a year. Board members will also be asked to provide feedback at times on station initiatives and will get invited to WAER public events from time to time.
Q: What is expected of Board members?
A: Members will establish networks within their various communities in order to provide a variety of perspectives and opinions about topics related to the work of the C.A.B. and the programming and outreach of WAER. Members will be informed individuals who are willing to be visible in their communities and gather comments and ideas about WAER’s programming and services. C.A.B. members will attend and be active participants in meetings. Members will be willing to participate in between meetings when asked for feedback on programming, events, and initiatives. They might also be asked to participate in community events. C.A.B. members who miss two consecutive meetings may be removed/replaced.
Q: How will the Community Advisory Board be chosen?
A: We ask people to submit a letter or email of interest so that we can create an advisory board that represents a broad range of demographics, including age, geography, diversity, and experience. A committee of WAER station staff and (license holder) Syracuse University representatives will choose board members as vacancies arise.
Contact WAER General Manager Chris Bolt for questions or to express interest. 315-443-5242, cabolt@syr.edu
*** Letters & emails of interest are being accepted now through November 7th, though they are welcome at any time.
Corporation for Public Broadcasting Community Advisory Board requirements:
In accordance with the Communications Act Section 396(k)(8), WAER must establish and maintain a Community Advisory Board.
"(A) Funds may not be distributed pursuant to this subpart to any public broadcast station (other than any station which is owned and operated by a State, a political or special purpose subdivision of a State, or a public agency) unless such station establishes a community advisory board. Any such station shall undertake good faith efforts to assure that: (i) its advisory board meets at regular intervals; (ii) the members of its advisory board regularly attend the meetings of the advisory board; and (iii) the composition of its advisory board are reasonably representative of the diverse needs and interests of the communities served by such station.
"(B) The board shall be permitted to review the programming goals established by the station, the service provided by the station, and the significant policy decisions rendered by the station. The board may also be delegated any other responsibilities, as determined by the governing body of the station. The board shall advise the governing body of the station with respect to whether the programming and other policies of such station are meeting the specialized educational and cultural needs of the communities served by the station, and may make such recommendations as it considers appropriate to meet such needs.
"(C) The role of the board shall be solely advisory in nature, except to the extent other responsibilities are delegated to the board by the governing body of the station. In no case shall the board have any authority to exercise any control over the daily management or operation of the station.
"(D) In the case of any public broadcast station (other than any station which is owned and operated by a State, a political or special purpose subdivision of a State, or a public agency) in existence on the effective date of this paragraph, such station shall comply with the requirements of this paragraph with respect to the establishment of a community advisory board not later than 180 days after such effective date.
"(E) The provision of subparagraph (A) prohibiting the distribution of funds to any public broadcast station (other than any station which is owned and operated by a State, a political or special purpose subdivision of a State, or a public agency) unless such station establishes a community advisory board shall be the exclusive remedy for the enforcement of the provisions of this paragraph."