OLD TIME NEWS - Foaotmad

6 Old Time News Spring Issue 45
A letter from Colm Daly
(Membership No. 026)
As you know, I have been an active member of
FOAOTMAD since its foundation. I shared
origination and editorship of the Old Time News;
have been a committee member; originated
Sacrewell Online and been an enthusiastic
supporter of the camps. For the last ten years I
have been a consistent critic of FOAOTMAD’s
direction.
My position is that FOAOTMAD is not run for the
benefit of all of its members and that the emphasis on
promoting visiting American artists is at the expense of
neglecting the grassroots of old time music in this
country. Irrespective of these differences, I have
always endeavoured to keep the issues separate from
my personal associations and friendships with
everyone, and will continue to do so.
As one who is prepared to speak up, I have become
accustomed to being outnumbered in our committees
or at our AGMs. The views I support have been
dismissed without any proper engagement with them,
simply on the grounds that I was outnumbered by
those present.
I believe as an association, we have an obligation to
reach further out to all our fee-paying members and I
believe we fail to do this. The organization of the
AGM can and should be done in such a way as to
encourage broad grass roots participation. The timing,
location and time limits of our recent AGM could
scarcely have done more to achieve the opposite
effect.
A recent incident may serve to illustrate my concerns.
In the last few months FOAOTMAD members were in
contact with distinguished American musicians (The
Gathering) about to tour the country. The musicians
were amenable to the possibility of coming to join us
at our Pickin’ lunchtime session last Sunday in Reading.
The only openly dissenting voice to adding an extra 50
miles of motorway journey was that of our chairman
who was their driver.
As to whether the musicians changed their mind at the
last moment only an eyewitness can say, but I am left
with the strong belief that the musicians would have
received no encouragement from our chairman to join
our members in Reading for the afternoon. A golden
opportunity was thus missed to counter my persistent
criticism that the fee-paying silent majority are
ignored. Instead, it seemed to me to validate all I have
being saying.
I have spoken directly with our Chairman, and despite
disagreeing with the views I support, he has agreed to
allow me to have my say in the OTN.
To re-iterate to those who don’t know the views I
support, I would say a five year plan is needed to
achieve the following points whose aims are to shift
our focus more to the fee-paying many rather than the
few. I am putting forward the following four proposals
to be addressed by the whole membership through
FOAOTMAD’s mailing list and the OTN. I ask that those
in favour of a change in this direction be given the
opportunity to be heard, or in the absence of which
reply to me in writing or by email (see below for
details).
• That FOAOTMAD washes its hands of directly
promoting imported luminaries and performers, but
instead indirectly encourages private enterprises to
take up the slack with the expectation of better ticket
sales.
• That FOAOTMAD untangles itself from the
diversionary commitments of its own festival and
events to the disadvantage of the wider fee-paying
members who get little benefit from them. To explore
instead the opportunities of growth in local and
regional events that may offer better value for money
to our full membership and win new members, if not
win back disillusioned lost members.
• That the AGM be held annually at the Summer
Camp at Sacrewell Country Farm at a time that
ensures maximum attendance and with no restrictive
limit on it’s duration.
• That an extraordinary AGM be convened at the
forthcoming Spring Camp to elect or re-elect the
chairperson and committee composed solely of
befitting regional representatives doubling up on the
other necessary functions.
REMEMBER, DEAD BUMS IN SEATS
DON'T KEEP OLD TIME LIVE.
Colm Daly
184 Liverpool Road
Reading RG1 3PH
Email: colmdaly@ntlworld.com
Alternatively, call me on 0118 9677408
All Foaotmad or Old Time News Correspondence
relating to this issue must be sent by post only (not
email) to The Secretary, FOAOTMAD, c/o Ray Banks,
57 Auckland Road, Doncaster, DN2 4AF- ed.