[NFCB] Fw: help on volunteer policy on former felons

[Edy Cassell]

The convicted felon question is a difficult one. At KVMR we do not run 
formal background checks, and we don't have any official policy that I 
know of preventing convicted felons from volunteering. Ours is a small 
community and most of the folks who volunteer are pretty known 
quantities. We do use a lot of court appointed community service 
volunteers who are working off fines for minor traffic violations etc., 
and we do have a couple of broadcasters that I know of with prior 
convictions (drugs/alcohol, one sexual offender) who do a fabulous job 
and contribute in all kinds of positive ways. I concur with Jayne that 
the bigger challenge for us is definitely volunteers/broadcasters with 
unaddressed behavioral or mental health issues ...occasionally someone 
comes along who does make the staff and other volunteers uncomfortable. 
I operate from the philosophy that everyone deserves a chance (how else 
do we "rehabilitate")  and  try to deal with these issues by encouraging 
compassion and understanding all around, and placing the volunteer in a 
job appropriate to their abilities. This includes the obvious...don't 
give a known alcoholic a job tending bar at an event, or someone 
convicted of fraud a job in the accounting dept!

Direct honesty with the volunteer about concerns and expectations is a 
MUST! (plus it tends to weed out the less reliable contenders)

Edy



Edy Cassell
Volunteer Director, KVMR FM
401` Spring Street
Nevada City, CA 95959
(530) 265-9073 ext 213
volunteer at kvmr.org


Mick Fiocchi wrote:
> We check out all volunteers prior to their induction to WXPR.  I would
>  suggest dragging my feet on someone with a lot of priors.  3rd degree
>  manslaughter is something like forgetting to lock the window and a toddler
>  falls out (bad example) but it's the negligence (not intentional) which
>  causes a death.  Tragic but not (in my opinion) the description of a 
> chronic
>  criminal.  If he's already on "staff" as a volunteer, deal with it. 
> there's
>  two cents.
>
> Jeff Dabel
> Volunteer Coordinator
> WXPR Public Radio
>
>   
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Mick Fiocchi" <mick at wxpr.org>
>> To: "Cara Kulhanek" <cara at wxpr.org>; "Becky Tegen" <becky at wxpr.org>; "Jeff
>> Dabel" <jeff at wxpr.org>; "Jessie Dick" <jessie at wxpr.org>; "Ken Krall"
>> <ken at wxpr.org>; "Walt Gander" <walt at wxpr.org>
>> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 5:37 PM
>> Subject: Fw: [NFCB] help on volunteer policy on former felons
>>
>>
>>     
>>> Um, anybody got advice for Bruce?
>>>
>>> M
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>>>> Hi folks,
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps you have dealt with this before, but we've got a new
>>>> volunteer who's still on parole from his 3rd degree manslaughter
>>>> felony. He's actually a really nice older guy, but some of our staff
>>>> are understandably concerned.
>>>>
>>>> Can any of you share your policy on how you treat volunteers who are
>>>> former felons.
>>>>
>>>> Also, what about background checks? Do you do those as a matter of
>>>> course?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks.
>>>>
>>>> Peace,
>>>> Bruce Wirth
>>>>
>>>> General Manager,
>>>> 90.7 KSER Independent Public Radio
>>>> 2623 Wetmore Ave
>>>> Everett, WA 98201
>>>>
>>>> 425-303-9070
>>>> www.kser.org
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> NFCB mailing list
>>>> NFCB at mailman.lmi.net
>>>> http://mailman.lmi.net/mailman/listinfo/nfcb
>>>>
>>>>         
>
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