Carthy for President of EFDSS

Subject: Carthy for President
From: Snuffy
Date: 11 Feb 02 - 07:41 PM

As Dave Bryant pointed out in the Princess Margaret obit thread, her death leaves a vacancy as President of EFDSS.

This was mentioned after Morris practice tonight, and in reply to the question of her successor, several voices immediately said in unison "Martin Carthy". There were no other suggestions.

What do you think?

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Feb 02 - 08:48 PM

He wouldn't be a bad candidate for that matter if Liz and co decided to bow out as head of state.

Though bugger this "president" lark, go the whole hog. They'd make a brilliant royal family...

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 11 Feb 02 - 09:10 PM

Good point.  Generally, the "President" has been somebody aristocratic and influential, and there are certainly good reasons for maintaining that, given that the Establishment in England doesn't have a terribly good record of taking the folk arts seriously.  Essentially, it needs to be a name that nobody can argue too much with, whether or not they actually know anything about the tradition.  I'd certainly go for Martin as a Patron, if he were prepared to do it (Ninette de Valois was one, and died last year), but I think that a -notional- figurehead needs to be someone that everybody has heard of. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Kaleea
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 01:47 AM

President? you want a president, just pay off some judges. But seriously, folks, I have my old collectors T-shirts which state: Kirk & Spock for President & Vice President. A much better sentiment than the T shirt somebody gave me in the 70's that said "Archie Bunker for President." At least Archie was honest, he said "I'm not prejudiced, I hate everybody!"

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: The Shambles
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 03:21 AM

President of a reg charity like this would not be able to actually do much practical good, or indeed be able to say very much (like calling a culture minister a 'prat').

So I feel it would be a bit of a waste of good talent.

George W Bush, would be my choice................

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 04:00 AM

Rolf Harris - everybody's heard of him, prettu well everyone is fond of him, he's gone down well at Sidmouth, and he's willing to turn his hand to anything.

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: The Shambles
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 06:09 AM

He is not English *Smiles*

Just a joke Kevin. I can hear you taking a deep breath....

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: GUEST,serious suggestion
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 06:16 AM

how about Enya?

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 06:18 AM

But then nor are the Royal Family.

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: The Shambles
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 03:25 PM

How about that blond Norweigian vet?

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 04:12 PM

I remember the time she injected some little furry creature and the needle came out the other side... She'd be OK as Queen, but maybe not for the EFDSS.

No, I'll stick with Rolf Harris, if we can't have the Carthy-Watersons.

Too bad Henry Kipper has gone to glory. He'd have been ideal.

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 04:54 PM

Just out of interest, how many people in this thread are members of EFDSS?

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: bobby's girl
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 05:10 PM

While I would go for Carthy as a candidate to represent the "Folk" world, Rolf Harris would carry more clout with Joe Public, and hence might achieve more

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 01:03 AM

Only if he proves he can sing "The Mountain Dew", "Bonnie wee Jeannie McCall" and "Gather up yer Pots and yer ould Tin Cans" along with all the weeeeeeeeeery ballads....

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: The Shambles
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 02:06 AM

Just out of interest, how many people in this thread are members of EFDSS?

Not many of the suggested candidates are, or know anything about Engish folk music and dance and that is probably most telling.

That many comtributors to this thread do know about English music and dance but may or may not be members or considered as candidates for the job, may aslo be telling.

Except Malcolm of course, who gets my vote as he is knowledgeable and cares...........

[Rolf would have to stop singing those Led Zeppelin songs....]

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: GUEST,john in hull
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 03:12 AM

Billy Bragg, he is not afraid to speak his mind.I reckon he would be a good choice.john

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: GUEST,Frank McGrath
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 09:45 AM

how about Enya????????? - That's not a serious suggestion, is it?
She's Irish for God's sake!!!!!!!.

My vote's (if you can vote for a monarch) with Martin C. although Billy B. would be pretty good too. But who am I to comment. I'm only a Paddy, I know nothing about monarchs.

Frank

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: GUEST,Frank McGrath
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 09:52 AM

And Rolf Harris is an Aussie. His ancestors were probably shipped from Ireland as prisoners on a convict ship. - Hey! Maybe that's qualification enough to be a monarch.

Frank

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: GUEST,Frank McGrath
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 09:56 AM

George W. Bush would be excellent except he thinks England is a small county in Utah.

Frank

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Mr Red
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 10:06 AM

I agree with the motion, but (there always is a but) does he?

BTW on the BBC R4 website there is a message board for Desert Island Disks and I posted his name as a suggestion, one reply. Do any 'catters want to flood the beeb with concurring murmers? You have to register to post. I asked Martin & he confirmed he had never done a DID.

"The president is dead, long live the president"

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 05:38 PM

I'm an EFDSS member from across the pond (just one year's worth, though), and a CDSS member and Governing Board member, to boot. I've not studied the bylaws (or the UK equivalent of that term) for EFDSS, but it sounds as though the EFDSS President is a mere figurehead... too bad, though I suppose if that's known to be a figurehead position, then p'raps an equivalent non-figurehead position exists?

Anyway, I've been learning just how useful a good board president can be in my recent experience with CDSS's Tom Seiss. He's transformed the governance processes of CDSS by applying the principles described by John Carver: that is (in extreme condensation, and as I understand it), the Board's job is to set the mission and larger goals (prioritized) for the organization, to describe the desired "ends", and define the limits within which the staff operates. Then the staff knows where to go, and is empowered to develop the "means" necessary to achieve those ends. It sounds obvious, but it makes the Board useful, rather than an annoyance to staff, if they realize their job is to be concerned with big picture issues.

I understand there's is a new EFDSS strategic plan, the question is how to do the job and keep it going... without different parts of the organization tripping over one another.

Another key thought from my CDSS (and local TFTM) experience -- the realization that given the mission and goals, you can further the mission without necessarily doing the job yourself, as long as you offer encouragement and/or support to those who do it.

FWIW. (Sorry, I just came off a whole weekend of discussing this stuff!)

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 05:40 PM

Mind you, the new president would probably have to be a dancer. Lawrence Heath (of BORFOLK fame) used to refer to the Society as DEFAS (rather than EFDUS as we tend to call it) it stood for "Dance Ernestly and Forget all About Song".

Perhaps the powers-that-be at CSH will kick me out - especially as I used to be on the National Executive !

Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 11:38 PM

That's the other great thing about Tom Seiss in CDSS -- he's a singer, first! (Dance musician, too.)

~ B in T