This is the time of year when the CBA holds its Board of Directors elections. You’d think, in a tight knit little musical community such as ours, nearly every member would vote in the election, but that’s not the case. Our voter turnout is less than the national average for elections, and I find this puzzling.
It’s easy to think your vote has a miniscule impact when you’re one of 200 million, but one of 2600? Our bylaws require a 10% turnout for an election to be valid, so if you felt strongly about any of the candidates for the Board (positively or negatively), and you convinced 10 or 12 people to agree with you, you could very well have an impact on the election.
But that shouldn’t be your sole motivation, either. If you’re a CBA member, chances are you benefit from the things the CBA offers, and chances are also good you have some ideas about the direction you’d like the Association to go – choose a candidate who seems to have the same vision, and do your part to get that person onto the Board.
It doesn’t stop there, either. After the elections, take note of who won (or retained) seats on the Board, and make it a point to meet some or all of them. The Board members have to base their opinions on what the membership wants by they hear from members, so make sure they hear what YOU want, directly from you.
Just as in local government elections, and statewide and national, not voting is not a statement – it’s the opposite of making a statement. You cannot effect change by being silent or invisible. You create change by being involved. Not everyone has the time, energy or inclination to get deeply involved, but taking the time to vote and then sending an email to the Board, or a Board member is always helpful. So is bending the ear of a Board member when you see them at a festival, jam or concert.
One way to ensure your suggestions are persuasive is to present them in a positive manner. The Board wants to know your thoughts, good and bad, but suggestions on what you’d you like to see are more helpful than just the stuff you don’t like. For example, let’s say you don’t like “newgrass” groups at Grass Valley. It doesn’t help improve the Father’s Day Festival to get rid of the things you don’t like – that would leave a vacuum. If you don’t like “newgrass”, tell us what you DO like.
Everyone wants their opinions to be heard. On a small local level, this is easy and very real – and it starts with the fundamentals. Get out and vote! Let us hear your voice!
