On the Board

It's been a busy few months since the last newsletter and the last update on the doings of the Board. As many of you know, a topic of considerable debate, amongst the Board and the membership, has been the possibility of changing the SJFAC's name to one more adequately reflecting our provincial mandate. Discussion of the first name proposed--The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival Inc.--raised enough concerns that more possibilities are being considered. Our revered presidente, Dave Penny, will bring one or two possible names to the membership at this fall's AGM; be sure to attend and to join in the lively discussion that will, no doubt, ensue.

We also spent considerable time debating and investigating the viability of buying a sound system for folk club. Thanks to Stan Pickett for the initial push to purchase, and to Debbie Hanlon for the financial support that has helped make it possible to do so. Rob Brown, with advice from various sound equipment specialists, did the legwork to find just what we need and can afford. A special thanks to Wallace Hammond for years of sound support; he and Denise contribute an incredible amount to the musical community in the city, and we do genuinely appreciate all their efforts for the SJFAC and value our long association with them.

Of course, the Folk Festival and Come Home Year have come and gone. We were pleased to be part of the City of St. John's Umbrella Festival, and to join forces with several other events this summer to promote the city's diverse cultural activities. Many thanks to Jean Hewson, the Festival's Artistic Director, for her many efforts putting together the Festival's 30th Anniversary celebrations. Nine hundred and eighty-nine accordions playing at once: that's definitely a hard act to follow, but this year's Festival was wonderful - so wonderful, in fact, that it spilled over and filled the whole week preceding with sessions, recitations and concerts. And all of that was only a prelude to a fabulous Festival with musicians from Ireland, England, Scotland (via Ontario), Quebec and Alaska, as well as folks from home. We were delighted to welcome such old friends as Seamus Creagh, Rob Murphy, David Francey, Tickle Harbour and the NSGs back to the festival stage, and to fete Ron Hynes, recipient of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award. And we were equally delighted to forge new friendships with the likes of Paul Pike (originally from NL, but now living in Alaska) and James Fagan & Nancy Kerr. With its emphasis on the founding cultures of the province and its regional focus on Labrador, the Festival truly embraced our province's complex musical heritage and rich musical future.

Come November, when you've finally eased out of the exhilaration of the summer festival, we'll be ready to lift you up all over again with our 3rd annual storytelling festival; planning is well underway for our best storytelling festival yet, with tellers from the island, the mainland, Ireland and Scotland.

During the next few months, the Board will change significantly. Many members who have served for several years are taking some time away from the Board, and no doubt many new and eager folks will emerge to take on the job of running the daily affairs and the special events of the Council. We'll welcome their fresh ideas and perspectives. The Board will be making a concerted effort in the year ahead to fundraise, and would like, eventually, to gain charitable status.

We'll also be looking for a new Festival Coordinator/Office Manager soon, since Erin McArthur has informed us that she won't be back in that role next year. Erin has been an incredible asset to the SFJAC--her tireless efforts, her calm and lovely manner, her generosity, inventiveness and unflabbable common sense have made her indispensable. We are deeply sorry that she is leaving us, having decided she needs time to focus on her own creative efforts--if you haven't seen her wonderful raku pottery, it's time you did--but we are happy that she is taking this time for herself and wish her every good thing.

Marnie Parsons has been Secretary to the Board for the past two years; she'll be leaving the Board as well, in the hope of spending more time getting inky in her basement.

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	On The Board by Marnie Parsons The Broadside Vol 10. No. 2 October 2006

	It's been a busy few months since the last newsletter and the last update on the doings of the Board. As many of you know, a topic of considerable debate, amongst the Board and the membership, has been the possibility of changing the SJFAC's name to one more adequately reflecting our provincial mandate. Discussion of the first name proposed--The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival Inc.--raised enough concerns that more possibilities are being considered. Our revered presidente, Dave Penny, will bring one or two possible names to the membership at this fall's AGM; be sure to attend and to join in the lively discussion that will, no doubt, ensue. We also spent considerable time debating and investigating the viability of buying a sound system for folk club. Thanks to Stan Pickett for the initial push to purchase, and to Debbie Hanlon for the financial support that has helped make it possible to do so. Rob Brown, with advice from various sound equipment specialists, did the legwork to find just what we need and can afford. A special thanks to Wallace Hammond for years of sound support; he and Denise contribute an incredible amount to the musical community in the city, and we do genuinely appreciate all their efforts for the SJFAC and value our long association with them. Of course, the Folk Festival and Come Home Year have come and gone. We were pleased to be part of the City of St. John's Umbrella Festival, and to join forces with several other events this summer to promote the city's diverse cultural activities. Many thanks to Jean Hewson, the Festival's Artistic Director, for her many efforts putting together the Festival's 30th Anniversary celebrations. Nine hundred and eighty-nine accordions playing at once: that's definitely a hard act to follow, but this year's Festival was wonderful - so wonderful, in fact, that it spilled over and filled the whole week preceding with sessions, recitations and concerts. And all of that was only a prelude to a fabulous Festival with musicians from Ireland, England, Scotland (via Ontario), Quebec and Alaska, as well as folks from home. We were delighted to welcome such old friends as Seamus Creagh, Rob Murphy, David Francey, Tickle Harbour and the NSGs back to the festival stage, and to fete Ron Hynes, recipient of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award. And we were equally delighted to forge new friendships with the likes of Paul Pike (originally from NL, but now living in Alaska) and James Fagan & Nancy Kerr. With its emphasis on the founding cultures of the province and its regional focus on Labrador, the Festival truly embraced our province's complex musical heritage and rich musical future. Come November, when you've finally eased out of the exhilaration of the summer festival, we'll be ready to lift you up all over again with our 3rd annual storytelling festival; planning is well underway for our best storytelling festival yet, with tellers from the island, the mainland, Ireland and Scotland. During the next few months, the Board will change significantly. Many members who have served for several years are taking some time away from the Board, and no doubt many new and eager folks will emerge to take on the job of running the daily affairs and the special events of the Council. We'll welcome their fresh ideas and perspectives. The Board will be making a concerted effort in the year ahead to fundraise, and would like, eventually, to gain charitable status. We'll also be looking for a new Festival Coordinator/Office Manager soon, since Erin McArthur has informed us that she won't be back in that role next year. Erin has been an incredible asset to the SFJAC--her tireless efforts, her calm and lovely manner, her generosity, inventiveness and unflabbable common sense have made her indispensable. We are deeply sorry that she is leaving us, having decided she needs time to focus on her own creative efforts--if you haven't seen her wonderful raku pottery, it's time you did--but we are happy that she is taking this time for herself and wish her every good thing. Marnie Parsons has been Secretary to the Board for the past two years; she'll be leaving the Board as well, in the hope of spending more time getting inky in her basement. (back to table of contents)