November 2018 Fiddletter

Notice of 2018 Annual Business Meeting
and Slate of Candidates for 2019

The annual business meeting will be held on Friday, December 7th.  The meeting will begin at 7 pm, or as soon as we have a quorum.  Members are encouraged to attend and to bring up any issues they have.  After addressing all of the agenda items, we will hold this year’s elections for the open posts on the FOG Board of Directors.  A regular fiddle music jam session will begin immediately following the meeting.

If any member would like to be considered, please contact any BOD member. Board vacancies may occur during the year and knowing which members have an interest in serving on the board will make it easier to fill such a vacancy quickly. Further, if a member cannot make a one year or two year commitment required of those who sit on the FOG Board of Directors and would like to help out in some other way, they should contact any of the current board members.

Duties of Club Officers, Directors-at-Large and
Critical Function Leaders – 2019:

President:

• The president shall preside at meetings of the membership.
• The president shall be the chairman of the board of directors and as such shall preside at meetings of the board, and shall perform such other duties as the board shall from time to time determine.
• The president shall have general and active management of the corporation, and shall see that orders and resolutions of the board are carried into effect.
• The president shall execute contracts requiring affixing of the seal of the corporation, except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the board of directors to some other officer or agent of the corporation.
• The President’s term is for one year.

Vice-President:

• The vice-president shall, in the absence or disability of the president, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the president, and shall perform such other duties as the board of directors shall prescribe.
• The Vice-President’s term is for one year.

Secretary:

• The secretary shall attend all meetings of the corporation and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required.
• The secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the corporation, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or president.
• The secretary shall keep in safe custody the seal of the corporation and, when authorized by the board, affix the same to any instrument requiring it. When so affixed, it shall be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of the treasurer.
• The secretary shall read the minutes of previous meetings at all formal corporation meetings, process all corporation membership registrations, maintain the list of corporate members, and maintain the list of agents appointed by the board.
• The Secretary’s term is for one year.

Treasurer:

• The treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation and shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the board of directors.
• The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and directors, at the regular meetings of the board or whenever they may require it, an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation.
• The treasurer shall be responsible for the prompt preparation and submission of all financial forms required by governmental agencies.
• The Treasurer’s term is for one year.

Director-at-Large:

• Listen to the opinions and concerns of the membership and bring those viewpoints to the Board meetings.
• Assist in managing various aspects of the club as needed, including Critical Functions listed below.
• Assist any officer, or fill in for an absent officer such as collecting jam donations and obtaining receipt for same.
• The Director-at-Large term is for two years.

Critical Function Leaders:

In addition to FOG Board Officers and Directors-at-Large (9), many other individuals provide leadership to a number of critical functions and activities that keep the organization productively and efficiently humming along. Some members have volunteered for the positions – their names are listed below. The Critical Function areas are:

Newsletter Editor: Susan Cady-White

• Obtain information from members to include in the monthly “Fiddletter”
• Edit the information and produce the newsletter with the software package
• Deliver the final document to the Membership Chairman for distribution to the membership

Website Manager: Jack Metzger

• Update the Website as needed to include new tunes, event schedule, newsletter, etc.

Gig Coordinator: OPEN

• Once the date and location of the gig is set, produce a set list for the members
• Contact the venue for information on audience size, warm-up space, case storage, etc.
• Publicize the event in the newsletter
• Have members sign up form for gig
• Distribute directions to venue to members
• Communicate with Sound System Coordinator as necessary

Gig Contact:  Denny Brunner and Tom Bailey

• Contact venues for possible gig sites
• Coordinate dates, venues and contacts with Board of Directors

Jam Site Procurer: Kathie Brunner

• Set up jam locations

Jam Coordinator: OPEN

• Set up jam leaders
• Insure info to be distributed to members is available
• Have “visitor” music binder available at jam
• Assist in running a jam as necessary

Sound System Coordinator: OPEN

• Know available equipment and how to set it up
• Communicate with Gig Coordinator for gig venues
• Determine system requirements for gigs based on venue size and number of players
• Set up system at gig venues – enlist assistance as needed

Membership Coordinator: OPEN

• Receive new or renewal membership information from the Treasurer;
• Add or update member information in an Excel spreadsheet (roster);
• Add or update member information in an e-mail distribution list;
• Inform the Newsletter Editor of members who do not have e-mail;
• Send a newsletter and associated files via e-mail monthly to all members;
• Send an edited membership roster via e-mail to all members once/year; and,
• Send info from the FOG Board to the general membership via e-mail (e-blast).
• The Coordinator can be a general member of FOG; Board membership is not required

Music Committee: 5 to 7 members – Deb Abell is in “charge”

• Maintain tunes in FOG repertoire – review for corrective updates
• Distribute tune revisions as developed by the committee
• Introduce new tunes on a committee determined basis
• Distribute new tunes as adopted by the committee
• Review repertoire at end of year to determine if any tunes should be removed
• Review FOG “Core Tunes” list to determine if new tunes should be added
• Open to any member interested in the music FOG plays

 Fiddlers of the Genesee
Annual Business Meeting Minutes

12/8/2017
Fairport-Perinton VFW

The meeting was called to order at 7:15 PM with 18 members present. President, Tom Bailey read the FOG Mission Statement.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting: Jane Reetz reported that a copy of the draft minutes from the 12/2/16 Annual Business Meeting had been published in the November Fiddletter. The minutes were approved unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report: Ralph Harstad presented the treasurer’s report for the eight months January 1 – November 30, 2017.  Cash assets – Ending Balance 11/30/17 – $10,441.39.  The report was approved unanimously.

Membership Report – Mike Deniz reported that there are currently 85 active memberships.  20 memberships did not renew for 2017.

Annual Election for 2016:  The Slate of Candidates had been presented in the November Fiddletter:  President-Tom Bailey, VP-Kathy Schwar, Treasurer-Greg Roat, and Secretary-Jane Reetz.  Directors-At-Large 2018/19: #1-Ray Eddington, #2-Elaine Chandler.  Mike Deniz, Pat Fink and Diana Green will be serving the second years of their DAL terms. There being no other nominations from the floor, the 2017 FOG secretary, Jane Reetz, cast one vote on behalf of the membership and the slate was elected.

Music Committee Report:  Deb Abell distributed copies of the repertoire so that members could give their input on which twelve tunes they would like to see retired from the list.  Core Tunes and recently introduced tunes cannot be voted off.  The committee will make the final decision on removing tunes and updating the list.

Old Business: None

New Business:

• Newsletter Editor Replacement – Joanne Ackerman has given notice that she is retiring from the Fiddletter Editor position.  A replacement will need to be found.  It was questioned whether an editor is still necessary if the FOG Facebook page is upgraded and much of the information could be incorporated there.  Also, e-blasts could be used to get information out.  It would be a savings of $600/year. Further discussion will take place.
• New CD – EOR Sound (Bruce Dunn) had been hired to provide sound equipment and to make a recording of our performance at the Bristol Valley Theater on 10/8/17.  Editing and mixing will need to take place in order to produce a new CD.  This would be at an addition cost.  Tunes that are “public domain” can be used.  Permission will need to be obtained for any tunes that are not.  A cover photo or graphics will also need to be worked out.
• Upcoming COPs Gigs –
  • 1/27/18 ­ – Friendly Home – a paid gig – two 45 minute sets will be performed for $200.
  • 2/17/18 – The Highlands of Pittsford – 2:00-3:00
  • 3/3/18 – Village Wood (next to Grande Vie in Penfield) – 2:00 p.m.
  • 3/11/18 (Sunday) – Bay Wind – 2:00 p.m. – Date might Change

A set list will be distributed after the holidays.

• FOG Caps – 12 FOG embroidered denim baseball caps have been sold to date.  These will be worn at outdoor gigs.  A motion was made and approved to place an order for an additional 12 hats to sell for $10 each.
• December Jams – 12/22 & 12/29 – A discussion took place to obtain input on whether to hold the jams on 12/22 and 12/29.  These are the two Fridays before the upcoming holidays of Christmas and New Year’s. It was decided to cancel the jam scheduled for 12/22.  Kathie will change the message on the Fiddlephone.  The jam to be held on 12/29 will still take place.
• Arrangement of Fiddlers and Rhythm Section on stage – It was suggested to try a different arrangement of fiddle players and guitar players on stage.  The fiddles need to be able to “hear” each other – bridge them across the front (it is not good to split them up.)  The guitars need to “see” each other – keeping them in back will also help to unify their strumming pattern.  Different musician arrangements will be tried at the upcoming COPs.  It was suggested to try jamming in “a gig formation.”
• Rehearsing Set Lists at Jams ­– It was suggested to try to reduce the amount of time spent at jams for practicing for upcoming gigs.  Perhaps keeping more of the “Core Tunes” on the set lists would help to remedy this.
• Inventory of Sound Equipment – The inventory of items that are stored in Denny’s barn should be updated.  2005 was that date of the last inventory completed.  Someone will need to assist Denny with this.  Sale of the old equipment will take place after the inventory if taken.

Adjournment:

There being no further business, the meeting was officially adjourned at 8:32 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Jane Reetz.

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2018 Officers

President: Tom Bailey Vice-President: Kathy Schwar Secretary: Jane Reetz Treasurer: Greg Roat Directors-at-Large: Mike Deniz Ray Ettington Pat Fink Diana Green Newsletter Editor: Mike Deniz (temp) Webmaster: Jack Metzger

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FOG Contact Info

It’s EASY to Contact & Connect with FOG

	Call the Fiddle Fone! (585) 234-3582 Hear the latest FOG announcements. Leave voice mail messages. Check for last-minute changes in jam locations or gig schedules
	Surf the World Wide Web! Visit the FOG website at www.fiddlersofthegenesee.org See schedules & locations for jams & gigs. Leave e-mail messages. Current FOG members (password required) can download FOG music sheets, midi files and past issues of the FOG Fiddletter.
	Mailing Address: Yes! “Snail mail” still works reliably! It’s just a little slower than the internet…. Fiddlers of the Genesee Post Office Box 631 Fairport, NY 14450-0631

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Friday Night Jams (7-9 pm)

Perinton-Fairport VFW Hall – Rte 31F
(also known as the Macedon Ctr. Rd.)

• November 2
• November 9
• November 16
• November 23
• November 30

Penfield American Legion Hall
1797 Old Penfield Road

• None

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2018 Gig Schedule

• None scheduled for November

Reminder: Participation at all FOG Gigs is limited to current FOG members!!

You must sign up in the “FOG Gig Book” and attend at least one jam / rehearsal to perform at a FOG gig.

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About FOG

“Fiddlers of the Genesee” (FOG) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing together people for the purpose of stimulating, preserving and promoting the tradition of “Old-Time Fiddling” in the Genesee River area of New York State and to play a variety of Fiddle Music with emphasis on the following:

• • 1. Musical participation
    2. Encouragement of musical development
    3. Non-competitive fellowship
    4. Acoustic instrumentation
    5. Education of members and the public about old-time fiddling

For more information call the “Fiddle Fone” (585) 234-3582; write to us at P.O. Box 631, Fairport, NY 14450-0631; or visit our website at:

www.fiddlersofthegenesee.org