Press Release About CKLN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VOLUNTEERS LOCKED OUT OF CKLN WITHOUT EXPLANATION

Dismissed Staff Members Disregarding Democratic Process

TORONTO, ON, May 8, 2008 --- At least a dozen CKLN volunteer programmers received letters from Mike Phillips this week, discharging them from the station.

"Please be advised that your volunteer services at CKLN Radio Inc are no longer required [sic] effective immediately," read the form letter. Phillips gave no explanation in the letter.

When longtime CKLN volunteer Verilia Stephens went to the studio Tuesday morning (this was in fact Wednesday bb), she was escorted out by Ryerson security.

Stephens hosts Limin' in De African Diaspora every Tuesday (wed) from 11 AM to 2 PM. Stephens says  Tony Barnes responded, "It is complicated," when asked why security was booting her out and how the appeal process works.  "The security guards were really uncomfortable because they knew I had every right to ask," says Stephens.

Barnes, the former interim program director, along with former interim station manager Phillips, and former board members Josie Miner, Doug Barrett and Heather Morgan were dismissed by a membership vote on February 23, 2008. Over 140 community, volunteer and student members attended the emergency meeting in February. More than 90 per cent voted to dismiss the interim station manager and interim program director and impeach the non-student members of the board.

More recently, Morgan tendered her resignation. The other members in question, will not, however, recognize the vote. They refuse to step down from their positions. Phillips and Barnes continue to control CKLN radio station and its funds illegally.

Other volunteers who have received letters include: Omme Rahemtullah (Saturday Morning Live), David Barnard (Lowdown to Uptown), Sharron Mcleod (Dat Dere), Chloe Onari (Dat Dere), Dale Whitmore (Word of Mouth), Don Weitz (Anti-Psychiatry Radio), Susy Alvarez (Word of Mouth), Usheak Koroma (Word of Mouth and Sounds of Africa), Heather Douglas (Frameline), Farid Omar (Saturday Morning Live), Barbara Goslawski (Frameline) and Carmelle Wolfson (Radio Cliteracy).

More volunteers are expecting letters in their inbox later this week. Phillips has also told members that if they did not sign the new volunteer contract within the one-week period given them, their access cards to the station would be de-activated. Many of those who received letters have signed this contract.

Phillips called a volunteer meeting last Tuesday to hold annual elections. Volunteer Usheak Koroma took over chairing duties after Phillips would not recognize the flood of comments from the floor. Elections were held. Heather Douglas and Ron Nelson (Reggaemania) were elected the new volunteer representatives and former station manager Conrad Collaco was elected to the former core staff post.

A committee of volunteers organized elections last Saturday, May 3 to vote in new community representatives. Community members voted unanimously to elect Arnold Minors and Geoffery MacDonald to the two posts. Phillips and Barnes say they will not recognize the newly elected board members.

Contacts:

Susy Alvarez
Phone: 416-996-5540
Email: susy.pocasangre@gmail.com

Somebody or something had better ride to the rescue of this before Ryerson University decides that it no longer needs this ridiculousness and pulls the plug on the whole station.

Update: Verlia posted this on her FB Status Update about 8pm Friday night

.......cannot believe what is happening at CKLN right now! Cops are there......Dead air.......The madness needs to STOP!!

Update: Commenter Michel Zender wrote this at FB at 9pm friday

I was listening to Ventana al Barrio tonight on CKLN and Maria Elena Escobar started a phone interview with Susy Alvarez. Maria Elena made a comment saying something like maybe she too was putting herself at risk by doing the interview. Anyway, there were some technical problems from the start of the interview, and shortly after it started, there was silence for a long, long time (at least half an hour - I lost track). I left the radio on and eventually music started playing (mostly from one CD for the rest of the show), with no commentary for the remainder of the show. Crazy!!! What country are we living in??