Greetings:

Even though I came to FMW late in the game -- my first year was 2002 and my last was 2007 -- I understand exactly what Allen Hopkins describes. Even over that short period of time, the amount of informal music making declined precipitously, especially after hours. The camp office, for example, which had once been packed with people jamming nearly to dawn, was comparatively empty by 2007. Perhaps half a dozen people would show up after the evening dance, and in an hour or so they would be gone.

I agree with the factors that Allen cites for the decline of FMW -- time, changing preferences and the availability of alternatives -- but I suspect their are others as well. Some are obvious, such as the cost of attendance, which can become a serious issue for people with fixed or declining incomes. I know at least one woman who told me she was happy that CDSS let people attend for part of FMW this year, because that was all she could afford. However, I am sure there are other people who could not afford even that.

Let me just state that my wife Marilyn went to FMW this year and I would have liked to do the same, but I was unable to do so for reasons of health. I would count health and medical issues under "time" in Allen's list of factors.

--- Steve