Re: [Harp-L] Re: SPAH award criteria

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Iceman wrote:
<I only hope SPAH can get back on track with membership..at one time, the vibes were good and membership levels were reaching near <1300. Something changed and members "voted" by dropping out of SPAH. 

An alternative view is that nothing changed, demographics did their work, and much of the membership simply died. That wasn't a vote on SPAH; it was the natural consequence of an increasingly aged membership.  It would be a very interesting research project to take the 1998 membership list and see how many of those people are still alive.

Note also that the peak of membership in 1998 coincided with a big influx of diatonic harp players into SPAH, which at the time, in terms of demographics, meant a generation of 30- and 40-somethings entering the organization.  Most of those 30- and 40-somethings are now 50- and 60-somethings, meaning that the demographic boost SPAH got from that wave is coming to an end. 

Harmonica festivals in general seem to be in rough shape, at least in the USA. Buckeye is gone. The Garden State Festival, based on emails I've seen on this list, may be next.  I don't know what the answer is, but I know that it involves dramatically increasing participation of players in their 20s and 30s.

Thanks, Richard Hunter


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