Bryan,
Think I might have responded to the wrong posting:
The only thing I can see that I haven't covered from the one you mention is:
re organisers:
"They have just as much right to decide whether they are ready to perform in public as we do."
The responsibility of those running a folk club has to be to the music and to the audience - if it is the decision of a club to present bad singing, it is insulting to the people who take the trouble to turn up and pay their pennies and it is damaging to the point of destruction to the music.
This does not just apply to folk clubs, but to any group involved in the performing arts. What should an amateur dramatic society do with an aspiring actor who can't move on stage, can't project and can't remember and interpret lines - give them apart because they want to act? - now that would be stupid.
"No, I meant people who, at the very least meet your minimum requirements but are, perhaps, a little uninspired."
No problem with that - it is not these who are under discussion.
"Have you paused to consider why we don't get non-singers turning up?"
Yes I have - I was hoping you might enlighten us on this one - is it because there are no bad aspiring singers in your area? - have you been lucky in them not visiting your club and asking them to sing? - is there something about the aura of your club that puts them off? you tell us - perhaps some of the clubs that have the problem might be able to use the information.
"Dave (he who you have chosen to ignore - I wonder why?) asked the 64,000 dollar question "So, I'll try again, Just what would you do with a poor performer who failed to improve?"
I have suggested, and nobody has challenged the idea, that virtually anybody can sing - if they put in the work and conquer the basics, no problem, you have a new singer, if they refuse to do the work and the offer of help and can't sing, they haven't shown any willingness to be a singer and therefore should not be regarded as one. In the unlikely event of somebody physically being unable to sing - there are plenty of other things to be done in the music - you listed some of them Bryan.
I used occasionally to go to a club in the Midlands which was run by an extremely efficient young woman who organised the club superbly. I asked her once if she'd ever wanted to sing - she said she had, but had never managed it, despite the work done with her by club residents.
I turned up one Sunday night to find she had become one of the best storytellers I had ever heard; horses for courses (and courses for horses)!

Now, I've answered your questions to the best of my ability - how about you answering mine - should I risk holding my breath?
Jim Carroll
PS Bryan, as much as you may claim otherwise, this discussion is about standards, not the Lewes Arms Folk Club.
Sorry Vic - I keep using Lewes as a shorthand, particularly as you are not involved in this discussion - would very much be interested in your opinion should you choose to offer it.