Re: [Harp-L] diatonic vs chromatic - what can be done?

[icemanle@xxxxxxx]

Ken's original posting seemed to be a combination general posting along with a "public" private posting/invitation. I've asked him to keep the private postings between us and off the "L", but I'm sure Ken wouldn't mind if I shared a little of our private discussion on-list, as it pertains to his "public" comment directed towards me.
 
In a message dated 10/9/2005 2:18:35 PM Eastern Standard Time, harplicks@xxxxxxxxx writes:
I suggest you attend the next SPAH, right
here in beautiful Denver Colo., and perhaps get a
fresh perspective on the current attitudes and
trends at harmonica conventions.
 
I responded to Ken off-list that I had attended SPAH '03 in Dallas and had experienced on site the current attitudes and trends at a harmonica convention.
 
Ken replied:
<<I guess I wasn't aware that you attended the Dallas
convention, I wasn't there myself and so can't
comment on what went down. I assumed (mistakenly)
that since your rift with SPAH (with Doug Tate?)
that you had bowed out and had not been back since.>>
 
In regards to my reporting about a widening rift, I 
responded to Ken:
 
"Not only did I witness firsthand the deterioration between groups and the cliquishness amongst the diatonics, but I was inundated the whole time by the older loyal members (many, many of them) who came up to me asking what was going on, why the convention had gone downhill, why were they being pushed out of "their" convention by the blues guys, where had the magic gone, etc etc etc you get the idea.
 
We're not talking about one or two curmudgeons. You have to remember that I had a great relationship built over years with the most literate and talented of the members and their spouses/families. You have no idea the feedback that came to me personally - from all camps."

 
to which Ken replied:
 
<I was never
in a leadership position in SPAH (and god forbid I
have no desire to be put in that position), so no
one has ever bothered to tell me they were feeling
left out or dissatisfied with how the conventions
were being run. I'm sorry you were targeted at
Dallas. I can understand why you feel the way you
do.>

 
The rest of our private conversation will remain off the list, as it should. Suffice to say that Ken and I have different views of the conventions based on our own experiences and the number of conventions attended, the earliest conventions attended, our position and/or responsibilities to and within the conventions attended, etc. 
 
We have a lot of disagreements, but Ken does have a heart invested in his positions and is more optimistic as to the current general health of SPAH and its future outlook than I.
 
The Iceman