WECI is Earlham College's radio station.

By-Laws of 91.5 FM WECI

Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana

Introduction

WECI began in the mid-1950’s as WVOE (“Voice of Earlham”), a “carrier-current” or campus-limited AM operation that could only be heard in the dormitories. In 1963, the station went FM at 10 watts. This allowed for broadcasts to extend outside the confines of campus, but not much further. During that time the station operated as a student activity. When students left the campus for vacations, the station either cut back its schedule to just a few hours or went off the air all together.

In 1984, with funds raised from the Richmond and surrounding communities, WECI boosted its power to 300 watts and hired a full-time professional Station Director. For the first time, it stayed on the air over December and Summer breaks with a full on-air staff. At this point, the station was given a mandate to raise funds necessary to pay for its increased costs from the community. In the spring of 1985, the staff and the WECI Community Advisory Board conducted its first on-air fundraiser.

In January of 1986, the administration of the college decided to eliminate the Station Director’s position. The station became entirely student-run. Its commitment to serving the needs of the Richmond community was left intact.

Since 1984, WECI’s programming has been undergoing changes to cater to the Richmond community. The programming currently incorporates a wide variety of musical genres, a national news network and selected public affairs programs. WECI broadcasts local artistic programs and produces a news program specifically dealing with issues in Richmond.

WECI aims to remain an educational institution for both the Richmond community and Earlham College. Local support is generally received in two areas: volunteer time and donations. WECI constantly seeks new ideas in an effort to serve its audience in the best ways possible.

Organization and Governance

Governing Board

The Governing Board provides WECI with guidance for daily activities as well as long term planning. All major proposals that effect the station must be passed through this group by consensus. Its member consist of two faculty members from Earlham College, two members of the Community, four students who are involved in the station and the Director of Runyan Center as an ad-hoc member.

Administrative Staff

The Administrative Staff, also known as the Ad-Staff, is the core group of people responsible for the daily running of the station.  The particular positions vary depending on the stations needs at the time and available hours.  Currently the staff consists of

Station Manager

Business and Fundraising Director

Music Director

Sub-Music Directors (including RPM, Loud Rock, Hip-Hop, and a sub Rock director)

Program/Personnel Director

Training Director

CD Librarian

Record Librarian

Production Director

FCC Director

Proposal and Grant writer and researcher

Operations Director

Administrative Assistant

Publicity and web page director

Many members of staff hold more than one of these positions at a time.

Music Directors

Music Directors work in conjunction with the Program Director by focusing on a particular genre or the format of the particular program. They are directly responsible for the continuity within their formats, with giving feedback and recomendations to DJ’s. They are also responsible for all correspondence with record companies, updating mailing lists and general updates of programming.  Lastly, they are responsible for getting new records onto the shelves where DJs can play them.

Music directors may make programming recommendations to the Program Director and to Ad staff concerning announcements or the structure of their program. They will also be involved in the show allocation process.

Music Directors are also directly responsible for the staff development of the programmers in their areas. This includes improving on-air technique and encouraging off-air participation

Management Staff is responsible for the behind the scenes maintenance and running of the station. This group discusses problems with equipment, the budget, sales, continuity and staff development. The following is a short description of their jobs.

Station Manager

The station manager is directly responsible for supervision of the Ad Staff and for coordinating Ad Staff activities. The Station Manager is the liaison between Ad Staff and the Governing Board, and also holds the position of Chief Operator.

The Manager, has the authority to release a member of Ad Staff who does not after fair warning, hold to his/her responsibilities. Such and act may be appealed by the affected person to the Governing Board. It is the manager’s responsibility to give all practical support to an Ad staff member before releasing him/her. This action should be taken in conjunction with the Personnel Director.

Program Director

This position involves the control of all programming and formatting. At WECI the program director is primarily concerned with the quality of what goes out over the air. This begins with controlling what comes into the station (such as syndicated  subscriptions and recorded music.)

The Program Director monitors on-air broadcasting and reports any comments or observations to the programming staff. He/She is also responsible for auditioning potential programs and maintaining service and subscription contracts with record and production companies. The Program Director is also responsible for working with the music director to improve the continuity of their programs, the quality of the programs and for the permanent filling of shows at the beginning of the term.

Director of Operations

The Director of Operations is in charge of the logs, (writing them and checking them,) the Community Calendar, PSA’s and Promos, (both live and on cart.)

The Director of Operations should notify the Personnel Director of any problems regarding the staff’s treatment of the logs. The Program Director should be consulted on the production of the program log and if there has been any deviation from it.

Business Manager

The Business Manager is responsible for all of the station’s finances on a daily basis. This includes paying bills, recording receipts of contributions, gifts or grants, and keeping all financial records well organized. It is also the Business Manager’s responsibility to act as a liaison between the station and the Accounting Office.

A Weekly financial status report should be presented to Management Staff each week and a general report should be prepared for each Governing Board meeting to be presented there by the Station Manager. It is also the job of the Business Manager to work with the Governing board and Ad staff in preparing the annual budget request. This needs to be done a year in advance.

Sales Director

The Sales Director is responsible for getting underwriters, donors and grants. He/She should also help with fundraisers in conjunction with the Publicity Director.

Personnel Director

The Personnel Director is directly in charge of the station’s general staff in all areas of staff work. He/She is responsible for implementing a training program, staff development, maintaining staff lists and enforcing station and the FCC policies.

The Personnel Director convenes All-staff meetings and the show allocation meetings at the end of every term. The Personnel Director is also responsible for filling temporarily empty slots. All coordination of substitutes and problems of no-shows are handled through the Personnel Director

Production Director

The Production Director is in charge of all production work done in house. This includes recordings of local productions and supervision of the use of the production studio.

The Production Director must be familiar with all the equipment to the Ad Staff and Governing Board. The Production Director should also work with the Chief Engineer when necessary.

Publicity Director

The Publicity Director is in charge of producing the quarterly Program Guide, working with the Program director. The Publicity director is also in charge of ads or bulletins, distributing information about WECI to the Richmond community.

General Staff

The general staff is made up of student and community volunteers who devote time each week to work both on and off-air at the station. Anyone can become WECI staff member is he/she successfully completes the training program and receives and FCC license. Staff members are expected to attend All-Staff meetings and any show meetings in any genre for which they might want to substitute for.

Hiring Policy

As of 1/23/06

For ALL Administrative Staff jobs there must be applications, meaning positions will be open every year to Earlham students only. Should there have to be an exception made to the student-only rule, then this will be made by the current Station Manager, in concurrence with the business office of Earlham College. Administrative staff includes Music Directors for the individual genres and all Management Staff positions.

The Application should have two parts: a general section and a job related section. The general section should include questions related to the radio station, history of employment both at the station on and off campus and questions relating to personal strengths and weaknesses. The job-related section should include questions about the specific area, as well as why the person feels he or she is particularly suited for the job.

The person must be given alternatives to apply for should he or she not get their first choice job.

ALL jobs must be open to all WECI staff. Being trained is NOT a requirement in applying for a job.  Job openings will be posted at the station for at least a week before application deadline.

ALL job applications for Administrative Staff positions must include a peer reference.

Considerations for Hiring

-                      How the person will interact with other members of the Ad Staff

-                      Whether work-study will be available or not

-                      Personal and Job-related qualifications

-                      Experience in radio, specifically at WECI

-                      Experience in the area the applicant is interest in working in

Process for hiring Ad Staff Members:

1.                  Written application

2.                  All applications for a given position should be reviewed and critiqued by the person currently holding that position

3.                  The Personnel Director should review the application and provide necessary information from the staff files on each candidate

4.                  The current station manager and the station manager should conduct one on one interview for the following academic year.

5.                  The incoming station manager makes the decision on who will be hired for each individual position

6.                  Approval must be given by the current Ad-staff (any ad-staff member applying for a position may not attend this session.)

Process for hiring Station Manager:

1.                  Written application to Governing Board

2.                  Interviews by Governing Board and Ad Staff

3.                  Governing Board Makes decision

Process for Hiring Break Staff

1.                  Written application

2.                  The current Ad Staff reviews applications and makes the recommendations. Any Ad Staff who are applying for a position may not participate in the hiring process.

3.                  The final decision is made by the person who will be station manager over that break

4.                  The current station manager, following a recommendation for that position by ad staff, determines the station manager for that break.

Once hired as an Ad Staff member, the Ad-Staff member must be trained as a DJ.