"If 'folk' now means something different, what ARE we who want to cling to some older styles to do? What shall we call it? "

You do not have to explain it to anyone. It is traditional folk music. How do you explain jazz or rock or rock and roll?

More importantly, if you take contemporary out of the mix - how WOULD you explain folk?   How do you explain that a childrens play song is folk music and so is a chantey? How can you simply explain a cowboy song and a Child Ballad are both folk songs? What about an English folk song and a Spanish folk song? How about songs sung by slaves centuries ago and a song sung by loggers? It is IMPOSSIBLE to create a LABEL that can fully describe the distinction among each of these types, and we get by simply calling it "folk music". The umbrella CAN incorporate contemporary music that fits some basic similiarities.

Barry pointed out the feeling of community. In 2007 with all of our advances, our regional communities have expanded. Is there not a feeling of community among those who frequent modern venues and support contemporary folk music? Besides ethnic and regional groups, communities can be labor unions, field workers, sea farers, prisoners or others that share common characteristics.

As for the "I" songs, it is a matter of perspective.   You can't lump all the singer-songwriters together as being self-absorbed.

"THESE are the songs we narrow-minded pedants make exceptions for! *grin*"

And well you should! I am the first to admit that there is an academic definition of "folk music", but we should not let that stand in the way of a good time.

You like what you like. Charley brought up the National Folk Festival - and that is a perfect example of how many different traditions make up "folk" and how the word cannot have a simple defintion.

"Do WE have to write a 2 paragraph explanation when WE have a concert or festival, similar to that Maryrff has done for her Richmond group?"
Naturally!!!   How is anyone to know what kind of folk music are you referring to? Will their be Greek folk songs? Would I be disapointed to discover that you do not have a single performer that sings folk songs of the cowboys?