Folk Democracy

Subject: Folk Democracy
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 22 Jul 98 - 05:27 PM

After mant years of running as an autocracy/dictatorship there are stirrings at the Cairns Folk Club to elect a committe.
In my experience this has been the "Kiss of death" to many a club (folk or othewise).
What has been your experience and/or what are your views Mudcatters?
Regards Ted.

Subject: RE: Folk Democracy
From: harpgirl
Date: 22 Jul 98 - 07:26 PM

Well, let's see Ted...Isn't a zebra a horse designed by a committee? harpgirl

Subject: RE: Folk Democracy
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 22 Jul 98 - 09:54 PM

G'day Ted,

I'm rather astonished to find myself in my 28th consecutive term on the committee of the Bush Music Club, about 2000 km south of you ... and that is after a term 33 years back, before I wandered down to the Tasmanian Hydro and the Snowy Mts Schemes.

There have been good years (as well as a few jointly scripted by Nicolo dei Machiavelli and Grigori Efimovich Rasputin) but the BMC has not vanished in a democratic vortex. Of course, we know you have a slightly different approach to democracy up in the Deep North. Maybe you need some consultancy from Ron Edwards, up the hill in Kuranda, on how he runs his folklore society (unless that WAS the model).

Another local source is Bernard Bolan's hemi-demi-semi-autobiographical song "The Folk Federation" - written after his term as foundation Chairman of the New South Wales Folk Fed. I know how he feels, having spent a few decades myself as Folk Fed. NSW chairman - in 1978/80. Bernard's little ditty was on his 1970s LP "The Liveliness of the Long-distance Bernard Bolan" but I think it is on one or the other of his two new confusingly named CDs "An Eclectic Collection" (Festival Records" or "An Eccentric Collection" (Self published).

Anyway, have fun ... democracy doesn't hurt - even Queenslanders!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Folk Democracy
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 23 Jul 98 - 04:32 AM

Harpirl, No , it was a camel, Bob, Ron E was a founder and the club continued as it was started except for a few failed democratic experiments.
I agree that democracy is good when there are a LOT of people involved but does not work in a "village" situation.
As I am originally a Sydneysider I will ignore the jibes:-)
Regards, Ted

Subject: RE: Folk Democracy
From: Bert
Date: 23 Jul 98 - 11:28 AM

Ted,

Are you the Autocrat or the Stirrer?

Bert.

Subject: RE: Folk Democracy
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Jul 98 - 12:34 PM

have been in folk societies where the same people ran things forever, and in one where bylaws mandate no more than 2 consecutive terms..both have advantages & disadvantages...

There is inevitable griping if just a few do it all, but with regular elections, we are always running out of competent people for some posts...and lets face it, since all this is usually volunteer work, some just get tired.

I favor a system of elections, but with a liberal re-election policy to allow popular, competent, willing folk to provide continuity and predictability..

(size is important..the smaller the group, the easier it is to have the same people...I am currently in a large group...over 2500 members..(though a small [core] group0, and it sort of MUST have democratic rule)...though, I'd like to see that more liberal re-election policy here.

Subject: RE: Folk Democracy
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 24 Jul 98 - 02:06 AM

Bert, I'm the bloke who was a "core member" and who just burnt out over the years and gave up, but is about ready to give it another "autocratic" go

Regards . Ted

Subject: RE: Folk Democracy
From: Bert
Date: 24 Jul 98 - 08:35 AM

Ted, I was in a similar position some years ago in different kind of group. I just chose some people to help. It worked out quite well.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Folk Democracy
From: harpgirl
Date: 26 Jul 98 - 09:31 AM

Ted, Friends of Florida Folk (foff) is our state folk organization...http//foff.org We have committees and an election process but the same people seem to do most of the work...check out the website we have alot of fun and it really brings the folk scene in florida altogether...harpgirl (great newsletter too thanks to Jean Hewitt!)

Subject: RE: Folk Democracy
From: Bert C.
Date: 26 Jul 98 - 07:47 PM

The Bucks County Folk Song Society (in PA) has 80-100 members on the books. We elect a Pres, VP, Scty, & Treas each year. The Pres is limited to 3 consecutive terms. We have a governing board consisting of the four officers, the newsletter editor, and a few volunteers. We've been at it successfully for over 35 years now, so I guess it can work. A lot of it has to do with the fact that (in my humble opinion) these are wonderful people who have the society's (and each other's) best interest at heart.

Bert C.

Subject: RE: Folk Democracy
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 27 Jul 98 - 07:39 PM

G'day again, Ted,

I probably should have mentioned last time (instead of going for cheap shots at bananabenders) that the big driver for the way we run our club these days is the sheer necessity for incorporation. If your group runs any sort of function, these days, you are at immense risk from some rapacious lawyer laying hands on someone who attended and got a splinter or bruise ... tipped a hot cup of the club coffee over themselves ... and suing you for your life's savings (and those of everyone else in your family, yea! unto the third and fourth generations).

Public risk insurance (for a minimum of $10 000 000) is a non-optional requirement but incorporation is also needed to isolate the legal shark-pool from your personal resources. It is JUST possible to incorporate as a non-profit group without following the Corporate Affairs sample constitution, but it's difficult to make it autocratic AND satisfy the bureaucrats.

Unfortunately, you need to take such steps to protect yourself, and the group, from the ambulance chasing brigade.

Regards,

Bob Bolton