[Harp-L] SPAH announcements

Sun Apr 7 11:20:17 EDT 2024

SPAH is looking for a few good ideas!

Hey, SPAH Members and Friends, 

SPAH needs your help with three important decisions: Youth Scholarships, SPAH Awards, and selecting the next SPAH President and Vice President. Please read on!

Help us find youth who may deserve a scholarship to attend the 2024 SPAH Convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

Please encourage any young players (21 and under) that you meet to consider applying for a Scholarship to attend the upcoming Convention. Over the last 12 years, even through COVID, SPAH has brought over 60 young people to the Convention, many of whom return each year to enjoy, teach, volunteer and perform, and to spend time with their new-found friends and fans!

If you are  21 or younger yourself and would love to plunge headlong into a pool of harmonica jamming, hanging out, learning, listening, it’s all happening in August at the SPAH convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And it’s free if you apply and receive one of the Youth Scholarships that cover your hotel room, and registration. Your parent or legal guardian can come too, especially if you are under 18. Also, depending on need, the scholarship can help with travel.

You can read more about the William Rosebush Youth Scholarship program here <https://spah.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6ebb059ecb9e9315d7d46c074&id=7d2f76010e&e=560f98f902>, and download the application form here <https://spah.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6ebb059ecb9e9315d7d46c074&id=bc18c4824a&e=560f98f902>. Applications are due no later than June 1. 

Please help us find deserving young players to join in the fun at the upcoming convention. 

It is time to send us your nominees for a SPAH Award, to be presented at the Awards Banquet in Tulsa

Each year, SPAH honors three or more deserving players and active participants with awards. The recipients are selected from nominations made by you, the members of SPAH. The 2024 SPAH AWARD PACKET is included in the recent issue of Harmonica Happenings, and is available online here <https://spah.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6ebb059ecb9e9315d7d46c074&id=d806026192&e=560f98f902>.

Only SPAH members may make nominations for SPAH awards. So, if you are a current SPAH member in good standing, please take a little time and tell us who you would nominate. Note that nominees do not need to be members of SPAH. There are three awards to consider.

Recipients are selected by the SPAH awards committee solely from nominations made that year by members like you. So, your favorite player or contributor can only be considered if you put forward the name! Take a look.
Please send in a nomination of your favorite candidate in each category so that the Committee may consider them for a SPAH Award.

We have an election in progress to pick the new SPAH President and Vice President for the next three years

2024 SPAH Election Procedures
It is time for SPAH members to elect their new President. We currently have just one declared candidate, current SPAH Vice President Jerry Deall, whose campaign statement appears in the recent issue of Harmonica Happenings. As a reminder however, any eligible voter may choose a write-in candidate as their presidential nominee.
SPAH members have two ways of casting their votes: by e-mail (preferred) or postal mail. There is a ballot below for those who would prefer to cast their votes on paper. For those who prefer email, a special address is set up: elections at xxxxx <mailto:elections at xxxxx>. Below are the election rules and procedures.
General Rules (these apply to all votes and voting methods):
Votes will be accepted from April 1st until July 1st.
You must be 16 or older in order to vote.
For those with family memberships, each qualifying member of the family is allowed a vote (e.g., must be 16 or older)
In order for your vote to count, your membership dues must be paid up through July 1st, 2024.
Per the bylaws, only one vote per member. If a member submits more than one vote (e.g., one by mail, one by email) they will be rejected and not counted.
You must supply your personal information (first and last name, address, and telephone number) in order for your vote to be counted.
SPAH may contact you to verify your vote. (This information is for the purpose of verifying eligibility only.) Eligible votes will be recorded but NOT how the individuals voted. Only members of the election committee will see the ballots.
The election committee considers people’s votes privileged information and will not share that information outside the committee.

Procedure for E-mail Ballot (preferred):
Put your first name, last name, address and telephone number, along with your vote (“Jerry Deall” or “Other [fill in name]”) in an email to elections at xxxxx <mailto:elections at xxxxx>.

Procedure for Mail-in Ballots:
Fill out the ballot with your first name, last name, address and telephone number, along with your vote. You may cut the ballot out and mail it, or you may send a photocopy instead. The ballot must be mailed to the address listed on the ballot.

We thank you for your vote. Your participation will help direct SPAH’s future.

SPAH ELECTION BALLOT 2024
❏ Jerry Deall & Steve Watne
❏ Other: ______________________________________________________________
Voting rules:
You must be 16 or older in order to vote.
In order for your vote to count, your membership dues must be paid up through July 1st, 2024.
Only one vote per member.
You must fill in your personal information for your vote to be counted.
SPAH may contact you to verify your vote.
Address: _________________________________________________________________________
Phone number: ___________________________________________________________________
For mail-in ballots please send to:
Croskey Lanni, PC
ATTN: Anthony Andre
345 Diversion Street, Suite 400
Rochester, MI 48307

Stop The Presses!

Oh, and while we have your attention, it is time to register yourself and your guests for the SPAH Convention. Tulsa is always popular location for the Convention, both because of the flexible and friendly Hyatt hotel, and because of the wonderful cultural facilities in town, most within easy reach of the Hotel. We have already seen strong registration in the first 4 weeks, and could be on track to match our best years’ attendance. The 2024 performer list is amazing, with many new and old friends to hear, and some surprises you’ll learn about later – stay tuned!

Read more details about the Upcoming Convention <https://spah.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6ebb059ecb9e9315d7d46c074&id=18efd7c6e5&e=560f98f902>, Registration <https://spah.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6ebb059ecb9e9315d7d46c074&id=6c6cfd7a95&e=560f98f902>, Hotel Rooms and how to get involved <https://spah.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6ebb059ecb9e9315d7d46c074&id=fedace43ce&e=560f98f902> by giving a seminar, volunteering, attending a breakfast gathering, and maybe remembering a SPAH friend lost since 2010 who hasn’t already been recognized at our In Memoriam presentation.
We hope to you in Tulsa!

The SPAH leadership team

Owen P. Evans
3777 Riverside Drive E.-707E
Windsor, Ontario. Canada 
N8Y 4W6

519-984-4376-C

opevans at xxxxx