Ron D - you are still missing the point. No one is complaining about your sessions in Washington. You are still deluding yourself as you fail to see any point of view other than your own.

When you say that an "RUS sing" drives mentors away, perhaps the problem is with the mentor in not being able to reach people. IF a folk society has become "polluted" with books, perhaps you need to look further than placing the blame on the book. IF a group moves in a certain direction, there is a reason. If you disagree with that reason, you are either deluding yourself by choosing to ignore it, or you by your own admission you are not capable of being the mentor that will institute change as you see fit.

It all boils down to "different strokes for different folks", and if the mentor knows what they are doing they can make change - or they can sit back and complain about the changes that have occured.

Again, if all you are looking for is "good singers", then you are after a certain type of sing that you certainly should participate in. The FSGW sings are not for you.