Good morning from Whiskey Creek, where one by one once verdant, lush and perky blades of lawn have begun their oh-so-quiet death cry. You’d have to be an insect living among them to hear, and, really, it’s best you don’t because the sound of a perfectly healthy, well-cared for and mature lawn dying for lack of sustenance is something you can never in your life un-hear. Or so I’m told.
There was a time when on a fairly regular basis, certainly once each month, I would devote a morning’s Welcome to some variation on the question, so, what’s-up-with-the-Association. Think I’ll go with that one this morning.
One of the greats joins the team…
I’d have to say that the newsiest little bit I have, one that just popped up last evening, is that legendary bluegrass singer and, as it turns out, awfully sharp and articulate guy, Don Rigsby, has signed on to become a regular Welcome columnist. He did a guest run the day before yesterday and posted a very compelling piece about what one man foresees as the future of bluegrass music. Watch for Don on third Tuesdays.
Two for the price of one…
One of those bad news/good news deals: Roger Siminoff, our Central CA area vice-president is vacating his post, but he’s delivered co-replacements. Amy Sullivan and
Kali Nowakowski will take over Roger’s VP duties, and that feels just damned appropriate since the two, both Roger’s daughters just took over their pop’s Siminoff Banjo and Mandolin Parts business. I’ve had the chance to hang out with Amy and Kali some over the past three years and I’ll tell you what…these women have some refreshing new ideas about this Association of ours.
A brave new world…
Well, you wouldn’t know it by anything happening around here, but work on the new CBA web site is humming at a fever pitch as I stroke these words. And me, I’m totally out of it. Well, I’m not, of course: I’ve been in bi-weekly talks with the designers, Bev and Steve Tracey, but that’s been more about explaining the current site, reacting to look and feel concepts, confirming what we want and don’t want in the way of content, and getting assignments for preparing material for the new Internet page. But in terms of design decisions…which is to say HOW THE PAGE WILL LOOK…that’s been in the very trusted hands of the husband and wife team and, less directly, those of the programmer, a world-class one, by the way, name Johnny Argueles. I’m told the three will have a roughly completed finished product for me to peruse before the end of the month. How much time will elapse between my first look at the new site and its official launch will depend on several factors, not the least of which how quickly this rapidly aging brain of mine can wrap itself around an entirely new way of doing things. And, if it can’t? Well, I’m still a damned effective recruiter.
By the numbers…
I remember fifteen years ago when I presented the current web site to the board, one of the members asked if I “really wanted to advertise” membership and web traffic stats to the world. My response was that I wasn’t totally sure but that there was not doubt about one thing. Reporting at the top of the page how many people belonged to the Association and how many people had enough interest in the CBA to visit our web site each day would keep us honest, and boy has it. When membership slipped a good deal three or four years ago, people noticed. And when activity on the web site waned, they saw that too. And, of course, the reverse was true. So why bring it up in my little report? You know why, don’t you. Membership stands at 2,714, the highest number since the data base was purged of several hundred duplicate and defunct records, and average traffic this week has been in the 8,000 hit’s per day range. Yesterday it was 10,772. So, yes, the California Bluegrass Association is healthy as it inches towards its fortieth anniversary festival in less than a month.
Lifers…
Most years the Association’s board of directors selects one or two, and sometimes three, men and women whose contributions to California bluegrass and old-time music deserve special recognition. Board chairman Tim Edes has announced the 2015 Lifetime Member appointments. They are John Reischman, Dianna Donnelly and Montie Elston. You’ll read all about each in the June Breakdown/Festival Program. Please, if you get a chance, toss each of them an attaboy/girl. These three are most assuredly deserving of this immense bluegrass honor.
48 news in May?
Well, a little. Larry Phagley and Slim Sims spent an interesting morning with the folks down at the Doubletree Hotel on Monday exchanging proposals for a 2016 Great 48 Jam contract. We’re not exactly close at this point, but the two are working on it and our Association…and the seven others who participate in the annual extravaganza…are well represented.
40 years of t-art
As she has for our last two anniversary years, Deb Livermore will display the CBA’s archive of Fathers Day T-Shirts at Vern’s. The shirts taken in total paint a fascinating picture of the Association’s evolution from a handful of people getting together to celebrate a great man’s musical invention played by a handful of bands, mostly local except for the legendary Vern and Ray, to the largest bluegrass Association in the world. What will be a little different this year is that festivalgoers who are especially taken by this design or that design will actually be able to take it home. We’ve created matted and high resolution prints of all the t-shirts; each is displayed on 8.5 X 11 high-gloss photo paper and includes the list of bands that playd in that particular year. Click here to have a look at a sample.
We love you Gary Mansperger…
Knowing about state of the art technology and USING it are two different things. Take the use of barcoding in managing event tickets. The modern way to go…efficient, cost saving and way easier on the volunteers responsible for life at the main gate at Grass Valley. However, to use all the new stuff you have to have somebody who 1) understands it; 2) is smart enough to take the knowledge and turn it into action; and 3) actually DOES IT. You probably won’t even see the fruits of Gary’s labor next month, but please believe me when I tell you that he has performed miracles in bringing this new system to our bluegrass community. Thank you Gary Mansperger
And we’re pretty fond of you, Ted…
No, we haven’t forgotten about the huge effort last year to raise money for the JD Rhynes cook book. Far from it. With the extraordinary, almost superhuman tenacity of one Ted Kuster, AKA “Dog-with-a-bone”, the BOOK IS DONE! Copies at Grass Valley. Very, very beautiful piece of work. Pieces, actually…the book AND the CD. Be sure to get yours.
One year a pilot…two years, a TRADITION…
2014 marked the first year the California Bluegrass Association finally achieved one of its longest held and most elusive goals—the establishment of a music camp just for kids. Called the Youth Academy, the program was launched on a wing and a prayer last year. This year, however, the Youth Academy came together much more easily and filled up with enrollees quicker than anyone expected. Darby Brandli, you are an amazing woman.
Election time…
It is, of course, board election time, and what better place to make the point of how critically important that body of men and women are than after a recitation of several of the “wins” we’ve recently enjoyed. This year Chairman Edes tapped me to write up an article for the Breakdown encouraging people to consider serving on our leadership team. I’ll end with what I wrote…
Serving on the board of directors
A perspective from
Rick Cornish
Since retiring from the CBA board of directors a few years ago I’ve heard many different stories for why I quit. It just got to be too much; my wife finally put her foot down; it just wasn’t fun anymore; I didn’t quit, I was forced out; I left the job for health reasons.
You didn’t ask but I’ll tell you the real reason anyway–I quit the board and gave up my job as chairperson because I’d outlived my usefullness. I found I was no longer able to accomplish what needed accomplishing because I’d simply used up that critical mass of support and trust and forgiveness that any leader needs from those he’s tasked to lead.
It happens. We just run out of the special juice that causes people to rally aroun us and get excited and step forward to help. Truth be told, walking away from the role I played in the California Bluegrass Association was one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do in my life. I didn’t run out of energy or good ideas or my love of being smack in the middle of things; I ran out of the always-finite amount of time that any leader can inspire. And when that time comes, either you go or you begin to whittle away at the things you were able to accomplish over the years.
Our Association, the one Carl and Jake and Jack birthed forty years ago, needs some new leaders…some new board members. Not a lot, but a few. Please ask yourself if it’s time for you to make your contribution to the organization you love. It can be a tough job at times, but the rewards last a lifetime.