Besides discontinuing “Issues,” what has KFUO-AM management and the BCS done to try to improve the financial situation at the station?
I won’t bore you with the full answer David Strand gave, but it includes the hiring of various consultants and mentions the operational audit that my board ran. David does NOT mention that the recommendations made by the audit committee weren’t activated.
There’s another thing that bothers me about the answer. David Strand keeps saying that he tried everything to make the radio station solvent. That is an absolute lie. In August, Jeff and Todd sent David a 3-page list of development (fundraising) ideas for the radio station. Ideas included improving on-air fundraisers (“The give-away premiums should be specific to the programming,” “specific dollar goal should be set and Sharathon continue until that goal is met,” “Sharathon should take place three times a year”), expanding the day-sponsor donor base (“a minimum goal of 365 day sponsors,” “raising the donation amount for a day sponsorship”), practicing financial transparency (“post the KFUO-AM budget on its website since donors are more cautious than ever before”), getting out from under the LCMS Foundation (Foundation “costs too much money for the dollars raised,” “has a ‘one-size-fits-all’ mentality,” “They have consistently proven their inability to understand and implement radio development”.)
The list included ideas specific to Issues, Etc., such as testing a paid subscriber site for on-demand listeners. Such a site would work since, “Issues, Etc. is the most listened-to program on the web,” “would be a source of new revenue,” and “would allow KFUO AM to compile the names, addresses and important demographic information of its listeners.” Another idea was to host a conference for laypeople to improve public relations and donor relations. Another idea was to market Issues, Etc. on secular radio programs.
Guess how many of these ideas — which in my experience as a former professional fundraiser were solid ideas — were tried by David Strand or the management of KFUO?
That’s right: zero.
But we’re to believe that this was a financial decision. And the only people who should have been fired — indeed, the only people who COULD have been fired, according to Strand — were Jeff and Todd.
Filed under: Updates
Mollie (or anyone), can you tell me if the Mueller who’s name is all over Jesus First, is also on the board that canned the show?
I don’t know her but I kind of doubt it.
What else would you expect from the ‘Ministry of Truth’? Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. Law is Gospel. Is it a violation of the 8th commandment to say this is all doubleplusungood?
(Looks around for agents of the Ministry of Love)
Mollie – Can you tell us who said this?
Candace Mueller is the one on the BCS. Don’t know where she’s from but I don’t think she’s closely related to the Charles Mueller (there are two of ‘em) pastor of a church in River Forest, IL. who has been…still is…a big wheel in the “moderate” (laugh, laugh) camp.
Not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere, but President Kieshnick has released a document entitled “Theological Unity and Division in The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod” dated April 21, 2008. I haven’t read it yet myself, but here are the links:
Reporter Article: http://www.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=13426
Link to the Document: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=13380
HI Mollie,
Could you give details on the operational audit that was done on KFUO? I am unclear on what all was looked at. A full audit should have the records re-verified through the documentation process and the income and expense entries tracked throughout the ledgers. An audit should give an accurate picture of all the components within an organization and how they are connected. Most importantly, who did the audit?
It is my understanding that standard accounting practices should have AM and FM separated into 2 different main accounts and the AM side should have had sub-accounts with each radio program that tracked all the info regarding each program (Hard to explain w/o writing reams). Anyway, none of what KFUO management is saying makes sense.
And you are so right about the fund-raising projects being great ideas that should work. It shows once again that Jeff and Todd were astute, responsible, informed, and hard-working employees and that management dropped the ball big time.
Todd & Jeff understood radio, as well as new technology, & how to manage it. The management of KFUO did not. Apparently, Todd & Jeff were trying to upset a nice cozy apple cart for the KFUO mismanagers & the synodical bureaucracy. So, guess who had to go…
To use another radio analogy, it reminds me of WKRP In Cincinnati, where Andy Travis is trying to turn the station around & starts succeeding only to be stymied at every turn by Momma Carlson who’s only using the station as a tax shelter & doesn’t want it to succeed.
Well, there ya go, it WASN’T political — it was corporate self-preservation!!
I don’t know David Strand, so I’ll comment on the inaction of a person who receives such a memo and does nothing: That inaction indicates to me a lack of vision, insight and courage.
OtOH, sounds like the dynamic duo have pretty decent business sense, and the new incarnation of IE thus will have a good foundation.
BTW, I’m just joking, it was political, too.
Mollie? Thanks so much for keeping the information coming. You are a blessing, lady.
responding to the query about C. Mueller. LCMS has her as living in Ewing, NJ. I googled Candace Mueller and the one in Ewing, NJ, is also on the local school board. Just fyi.
One thing that is very apparent with the cancelation of Issues, Etc and the reasons given is that those who did this are void of any standard of decency. What is needed is a full audit by an independent audit firm. People have a right to know what happened to the money they sent in to Issues, Etc. There is no reason for secrecy in the church. The books should be open for people to see what is going on.
Issues, Etc was an effective teaching program that was teaching sound doctrine and that is why it had to go.
Thank you Mollie for all you have done for the sake of the truth.
Everyone: this name was on the “Jesus First” weblist of supporters…
“Candale Mueller Ewing NJ”
It seems to be a typo… the coincidence is just too great. There is a small chance we could be wrong, but it appears that Ms Mueller is indeed an active Jesus First supporter/follower.
Regarding the theological unity article posted at LCMS.org on 4-21-08, it would appear to me that the leadership and the president are woefully in denial of the situation in the synod and really out of touch with what is being practiced in the various churches. And to end the article with a chastisement of people who disagree with the leadership in public forums, well, that is just strange and unexplainable.
You should all go read President Kieschnick’s self-righteous, self-justifying letter in which he abuses the WORD OF GOD to slander his opponents.
This is absolutely unacceptable. He MUST be held accountable! This letter includes this:
“there is a propensity in the Synod for some
to exercise the freedoms of speech and of the press in expressing their opinions in a manner that
contributes to a spirit of distrust and division in our Synod.”
I have had enough of Synod leaders using weasel-words and the passive voice to accuse their critics of serious sin.
President Kieschnick: Are you accusing Mollie Hemingway (and who else could you be referring to?) of violating the Eighth Commandment? Are you accusing her of unscriptural disrespect of your office and conceited behavior?
If so, say so publically like a man. Stop the weaselling. Now.
To: Jerry Kieschnick
YOU are one whose words and decisions and actions have contributed to a spirit of distrust and division for too many years. Honestly, you and your imperialistic nature scare me.
But I don’t live in fear. I live in confidence. Just fyi, as they say in the corporate world.