STRUCTURE OF NEAR FM

Community Radio Stations:

seek to have their ownership representative of local geographically recognizable communities or of communities of interest.
Community Radio Charter for Europe, Point 3.

Here is a brief outline of the ownership and management structure of this community radio station.

The broadcast licence is vested in a legally registered co-operative, Comharchumann Cumarsaide Pobal Bhaile Atha Cliath Thoir-Thuaidh Teoranta or, Dublin North-East Community Communications Co-operative Society Limited.

The Committee of Management of the co-op is elected at the Annual General Meeting. This Committee meets and elects its executive officers and various other sub-committees to run the project.

* Committee of Management of Co-op, meets each month.
* Station Chairs committee, meets each month.
* Station Sub-Committees meet at least once each month.
* If you would like to get involved in any area that interests you, talk to the Station Manager.

Trustees: At the 1995 AGM, Jack Byrne, Yvonne Hannon and Brendan Teeling were appointed as Trustees of the Co-op and of NEAR fm

In general programming terms we can experiment with alternative formats and treatments to ensure that we have a beneficial effect on our community, for example, community radio should encourage all within its hearing to live democratically, to respect other opinions, to develop a living spirit of community. We could introduce new realities, alternative model of society, tell different stories, experiment with dialogue techniques, facilitate personal growth and community development.

We are developing a model for Community Radio which will build on the following components:

Finance:
We are a not-for-profit project. We will secure our income from:
* Publicly funded community development initiatives, including training.
* A form of commercial Sponsorship based on a Canadian model, and
* A range of community / listener supported fundraisers.

Programming:
We are based on the criteria of community development programming. This will be underpinned by regular qualitative research, and we will respond to this information with appropriate training and programme developments.

Ownership / Management:
We are based on an accountable, democratic, co-operative model. We will be as decentralised as possible and will seek equality in all management and decision making structures.
The affairs of the radio station and of the Co-operative Society are conducted by the Committee of Management. The members of the committee are elected at the Co-op’s A.G.M. One third of the Committee shall retire each year, but are eligible for re-election. Only members of the Co-op can stand for election, or vote. And each member has only one vote. The Committee of Management meets quarterly and regular sub-committee meetings are held in between.

Membership of the society is open to individuals and organisations, within the licence area, they can apply for admittance to the Committee of Management and upon subscription of £5 in shares by an individual or £25 for an organisation, may be admitted into membership.
The accounts of the Society are audited each year by a Public Auditor and copies of the annual accounts are available in the office, as are full Co-operative rules.