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Help provide input to HPPR by serving as a member of our Community Advisory Council

Since 1980, High Plains Public Radio has been on the air, striving to bring you the news and music that informs and enriches our lives.

Now, we're looking for folks who'd be interested in being part of a group that provides input and suggestions to HPPR's staff and Board of Directors, to help us be sure we're serving your needs in the best ways possible.

The HPPR Community Advisory Council will meet quarterly, primarily via Zoom, but with occasional in-person options as well.

At its meeting September 21st, 2024, the HPPR Board of Directors approved and adopted the following charter:

High Plains Public Radio 
Community Advisory Council Charter

Purpose

The High Plains Public Radio Community Advisory Council (CAC) furthers HPPR’s mission by providing direct feedback and advice on its delivery of public media services to residents of the High Plains Region in several regards, including:

  • reviewing and providing feedback on HPPR’s programming goals and services; 
  • advising on whether HPPR’s programming and operations are meeting the needs and interests of the various communities that HPPR currently serves across the High Plains region
  • helping to identify unmet and emerging needs across the region and making recommendations on how such needs might be served;
  • reporting on the technical reliability and quality of HPPR’s broadcast and digital services;
  • advising on other aspects of HPPR’s operations as needed, such as community relations, fundraising approaches, policy development and general organizational issues.

The CAC’s feedback, advice and recommendations are provided directly to HPPR’s staff and Board of Directors to assist them in their management and governance of HPPR. Its roles are solely advisory in nature, and in no case does the Council have any authority to exercise any control over the daily management or operation of the station.

Membership and terms

  • Number of members. The council’s target membership is between 20 and 40 individuals. In no case shall it be less than 10.
  • Terms of membership. Members serve for two year terms with the possibility, through reappointment, of serving a second such term. After one year following the expiration of the second term, a member may be reappointed to the board.
  • Qualifications for membership. Members need to be supportive of HPPR’s overall mission, regular users of its services, and willing to actively participate in the Council’s various means of involvement (see below). 
  • Selection of members. Members will be appointed at any time by the HPPR Board of Directors or the Board’s Executive Committee. In selecting the members of the Council, the HPPR Board will work to ensure that its collective membership is reasonably representative of HPPR’s service area, including consideration of geography, gender, age, ethnicity, economic circumstances, occupation, life experiences, and political perspectives.

Means of participation

To ensure wide and timely involvement in advising the HPPR board and staff and a range of matters, the CAC uses multiple modes of participation, including:

  • Hybrid meetings. Regular meetings of the full CAC are held quarterly. Given HPPR’s wide geography, all such meetings are to be convened via video/audio tele-conferencing (e.g. Zoom) for ease of access. For these meetings members are encouraged to gather at either of HPPR’s studio locations in Garden City, KS and Amarllo, TX or at other locations as members may choose at their convenience to add some face-to face contact with other CAC members and HPPR staff.
  • Tracking surveys.  On-line surveys are sent periodically to all CAC members to gauge and track overall satisfaction and evaluation of HPPR’s services. 
  • Topic specific polls. Short on-line polls may be sent to CAC members from time to time to gather thoughts and opinions on particular subjects that arise for which focused and timely advice is needed. 
  • Spot advising. HPPR staff may call on individual CAC members based on their local community, experience, expertise or connections for information, thoughts and advice on particular topics that may come up from time to time.

Expectations of members

Members are expected to:

  • Actively participate in the multiple modes of involvement (see above), including timely response to surveys and polls;
  • Be considerate of the views expressed by other CAC members; 
  • Be mindful of soliciting, considering and sharing the views of other individuals in the communities they know, in addition to giving their personal opinions and preferences.

If you'd be interested in serving on the HPPR Community Advisory Council, please click here to submit your contact information and reason for applying. Thank you for your interest, and for listening!