Bakersfield 2017!! What more can be said about this year’s Great 48 Hour Jam at the Marriott Hotel? It was a fabulous and successful event, attended by hundreds. The “new” venue (the old site of the two year SuperGrass Bluegrass Festival and LoarFestWest gatherings) offered more rooms and an opportunity to expand the event. There was even a bluegrass train journey from the Bay Area organized by CBA member and San Francisco resident Ted Kuster. The Amtrak station is next door to the Marriott.
Speaking of Ted Kuster, the SF Area Activities VP and new Statewide Area VP (stay tuned for a new title that isn’t such a mouthful) is very busy spreading the word about the CBA. The Area Activities VPs are our “representatives on the ground’ in areas throughout the State. Ted is working to help define the role, to write up policies to assist these reps work with their local communities and to understand the importance of the role. The elected Board of Directors is in charge of policy, budget, direction for the entire Association. The geographic reps are in place to spread the CBA word to their communities. The reps help produce and publicize concerts and jams. CBA membership development is a priority. The representatives attend community activities on behalf of the CBA and are in place to support the music and the Association in their specific locales. They are essential to CBA outreach efforts.
Ted, in his current San Francisco Area Activities VP role, “models” the expectation of the representative role. This large urban area has lots of new and prospective fans of the music. San Francisco is definitely unique to the entire state. Its large population, including many GenXers and Millennials. There are multiple venues for bluegrass and the area provides a unique opportunity for outreach to a new demographic of bluegrass fan. Ted is preceded by David Zimmerman and Chuck Poling in providing outreach to San Franciscans. (Chuck still hosts jams and events and a bluegrass BBQ in Golden Gate Park.) Ted has identified many FREE opportunities in SF to present the CBA and our music. The CBA has always had a presence at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival since its inception more than 15 years ago. HSB attracts close to a million people over the weekend. Ted has brought bluegrass to the Sunday Streets SF events (free street closures on weekends in various SF neighborhoods). This year the CBA will participate with a float in the SF Pride Parade. Last year an estimated 1.25 million people watched the parade . If you want to volunteer to help with any of these events contact Ted@tedtedted.com .
Ted is our representative in the biggest population area we serve and our other reps reside in YOUR neighborhood. We have VPs in the Monterey, Chico, Grass Valley, Shingle Springs areas sponsoring concerts. Mark Hogan produces many events in Sonoma County. We even have a Riverside/San Bernadino rep who actively represents us in that area. Our Bakersfield rep coordinated the Great 48. A list of the current Area Activities Vps and their contact info can be found on page A3 of the Bluegrass Breakdown.
Ted is currently recruiting new reps (all need BOD approval) to bring new energy and ideas to the CBA. We need to be present at community events and other festivals. We need to interface with schools. We meed to partner with venues and other organizations and to introduce our music to a new audience and demographic. Our mission is to promote the music and the Area Reps are key to our mission. Contact your local and offer to assist them. The CBA belongs to the membership-YOU.
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