Folk music like no other genre has an amazing heritage to care for and protect and keep alive. We have to guard against using the limited resources at our disposal to promote entirely new music at the expense of the treasures we are obligated to care for and the tradition that we need to keep alive- no just on recordings and in libraries.

We must keep access to the music free and reject any theory that says that quality is more important than the songs.

We must keep the doors open to those of all incomes especially the poor.

We can not give in to the temptation to raise up professionals as heros for worship and adoration.

We must all, no matter what the quality meet at the festivals as one family with access to all.

We should shun the entertainer performer relationship in favor of the teacher and learner.

Conrad