Re: [Harp-L] Undiscovered Talent Grant

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Part of a sentence got cut out somehow. Should have read:
 You've demonstrated a desire for leadership and here it is on a silver platter, you can make something positive happen. SPAH management's willingness to do or not do things is relevant. Just send the kid

David Payne
www.elkriverharmonicas.com


Elk River Harmonicas Forum now available via Iphone app, www.elkriverharmonicas.com/forum


________________________________
 From: David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Harp L Harp L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Wednesday, October 3, 2012 2:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Undiscovered Talent Grant
 
I'm glad you took it in the spirit I intended. Don't get me wrong. I wasn't talking about leaving SPAH out of it entirely. If you come up with some thing that makes it possible for some kid to get a free ride to SPAH, the SPAH officers aren't going to turn this kid away at the door. I might say you could work to change SPAH, but you already did run for president and lost. For that, you are already not living in that grey world of twilight, neither in victory or defeat that T.R. spoke of. For us, it was good to have two people who wanted the job competing, as opposed to having to find somebody who will take the job. Keep in mind, it's not a lifetime appointment, either. 
You've demonstrated a desire for leadership and here it is on a silver platter, you can make something positive happen to do or not do things is relevant. Just send the kid. 
SPAH is where the things are happening and that's where the kid needs to go. As the leader, your job would be to focus the energies of those who want to help you. 
 First thing, is something Brad Harrison used to talk about at HH "put the aces in their places." There is a group you can work with on this and they are doing some great things. They sound like they should have their own comic book series - they call themselves  Young Harmonica All Stars International - but are active, young and doing great things. They can be of great help with this, including helping pick your kid. Get in touch with Brandon Bailey or  Connor Frontera. They are young, energetic, love the harmonica and are looking for positive ways to focus their boundless energies. But, I don't think SPAH is necessarily out of it participation-wise. Once you guys get the ball rolling on this and it takes shape you can put another ace in his/her place, somebody designated to work with SPAH to try to get support of some form, regardless of how small, even if it's just "OK, we'll buy the kid a sandwich on Friday." In perfect honesty, this would need
to be somebody who had not just engaged in a heated election with the current leadership because it's very hard to establish a positive rapport for negotiation when relationships have been formed that way.  
It's OK to have the kid work for it. Maybe he/she could do a presentation at a school. Maybe other stuff, I don't know. Things are more valuable to you when you have to work a little for them. 

 
David Payne
www.elkriverharmonicas.com


Elk River Harmonicas Forum now available via Iphone app, www.elkriverharmonicas.com/forum


________________________________
From: Bob Cohen <bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx L" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Wednesday, October 3, 2012 11:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Undiscovered Talent Grant

On Oct 3, 2012, at 1:03 AM, David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I believe, that for every situation in life, there is an applicable Theodore Roosevelt quote. 
> This one applies now:
> "Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster." 

David,

What an inspiring post! I'm a big TR fan myself. (We could use a leader like that right about now.) I'm tired but not an oyster. Thank for the kick in the tuchas. 

Don't get me wrong, the SPAH convention is amazing and the attendees wonderful. However, SPAH, both management and culturally, seems unwilling or unable to engage in meaningful self-reflection and adjust to the times.

Perhaps you are right. It's time for me to to leave SPAH to its self-prescribed niche and to create a new harmonica organization that is, in my opinion (and perhaps others) more reflective of the larger harmonica community and that more fully embraces the preserve and advance mission.

You are good man and a generous soul David Payne. I'd roll with you any time! Maybe others will as well?

Bob Cohen
Writer, Internet Consultant, Teacher
w: bobjcohen.com
t: #itsabobworld