Public Speakers at Board Meetings

In order to best accommodate a request to address the Board, it is preferable that a member of the public make his or her request known to a member of the WHYY staff in advance of the Board meeting. Once staff is aware of the request, staff can convey the request to the Board Chairman, so that the Chairman can reserve time at the meeting for the member of the public to speak.

The following guidelines will apply with regard to the speaker’s request:

For security purposes, the speaker must give his or her name and affiliation.

If the speaker wishes to do so, he or she may tell the staff member the topic on which he or she wishes to speak. This is not a requirement, however.

If the topic relates to an agenda item before the Board, the Chairman of the Board will do his or her best to have the speaker address the Board prior to the Board’s consideration of that item.

If the topic does not relate to an agenda item, or if the speaker does not wish to tell staff in advance the topic on which he or she wishes to speak, then the speaker will be given time to speak after the conclusion of the Board’s business and prior to the adjournment of the meeting.

The speaker will be given 3 minutes to address the Board. At the conclusion of the speaker’s comments, the Board may ask the speaker questions or request further information.

This policy applies to meetings of the full Board, and to open meetings of the board committees.

February 2010