CWD28 - Posted - 09/25/2011:  12:37:16

Below is Rhonda's post on the IBMA-L about what happened prior to and after the IBMA Awards Show. I figured some of the posters here would like to see it.

MGK - Posted - 09/25/2011:  13:41:31

Whew!  Let me re-post this after taking out the hypertext marks to make it a bit easier on the eyes, if that's OK?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm submitting a report of my experience with this issue. I am  focusing on a timeline, with specific events noted.  I'd like to say  that I understand that some folks are tired of hearing me be so  vocal about this situation.  I can just say that I have many years  of pent up frustration about this situation, and that it's coming  out here.  I'm sending this report, which I think is a report of  facts.  I hope that this report of my experience will give people an  opportunity to see this situation from a position other than the  official report.   

I am asking for an accountability of the official report, which from  my point of view offers inaccurate information.  This is my experience:   I sang "Till They Came Home" at the executive directors request.  I  first heard about the Patriotic Tribute from Dan Hays.  This is the way the story unfolded.

1. 
   MAY 2006 - Herb Sandker met with Dan Hayes at IBMA office.  Dan told Herb that he had an idea for a patriotic tribute, and would  like me to sing  "Till They Came Home" from our latest CD.   When Herb told me this, my immediate response was WHY?  It's the most non-bluegrass song from the album. And, "All American  Bluegrass Girl"  was on the bluegrass charts.  This didn't make any sense to me.   

2. 
   JUNE 5, 2006 - I received an email congratulations from Dan Hayes  for a  #1 on Billboard "All American Bluegrass Girl".   

3. 
   AUGUST 17, 2006 - I ask Dan Hayes why I was not singing "All  American Bluegrass Girl"  at the Awards Show, that it didn't make sense to sing "Till They  Came Home".  We had never performed the song on our show (another false imprint.)  Dan said they were doing the patriotic tribute, and that was the  song I was to sing.

4. 
   SEPTEMBER 9, 2006 - After our performance in Claremore, OK - I told  Del Davis that I would like to sing "All American Bluegrass Girl" on  the Awards Show.  It's #1 on Billboard for the last 3 months, and it didn't make sense to do "Till They Came Home" in a bluegrass show.  At that point, we hadn't even performed it.  She said that Dan Hayes  dictated to them what goes on the show.  And there was nothing she could do about it.  She was sorry.    

5. 
   SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 - At the direction of Dan Hayes, I sang "Till They Came Home".   

6. 
   OCTOBER, 2006 - I called Dan Hayes a fews days after the awards  show.  Dan told me a press release was going to be issued by IBMA, and that  I shouldn't say anything.   As far as I knew, the entire patriotic tribute was Dan Hayes’ idea.  He clearly knew I didn't want to do the song, and I wasn't  performing it yet.  The show producers clearly knew I didn't want to do the song.  They stated to me that their hands were tied by Dan Hayes, and that  he called the shots.  They were just doing as they were told.  

I discovered the style of Dan Hayes in the activities of IBMA when I served on the Awards Show Guidelines Task Force.  On our first call, we all introduced ourselves. Dan Hayes introduced  himself as the executive director, and stated his participation was merely if we had any questions  about IBMA policy.  By the last call, Dan Hayes was doing all the talking.  It felt to me like he was completely manipulating and steering the direction of  our  entire process. Current board members also served on that committee.  Jon Weisberger was in the office with Dan Hayes.  When the first guidelines were typed up by Jon, they were not the guidelines of which we had agreed. Some of Dan's suggestions, which  I thought had been rejected by the group in conversations, were back  in the report. Thanks to the thorough reading of other people on the task force, it was corrected before we agreed on the final copy.   What was very curious to me was Dan's refusal to print the results of the work in the newsletter or to post our results online.   Dan said he would post to the IBMA-L.  I ask how many people were on  the IBMA-L.  He stated it was less than 5% of the membership.

This  made no sense to me.  I now wonder whether posting it to IBMA-L is a way to make it public in a place that won't be seen by many of the  members.  Next, I spoke with IBMA Board Members.  A few stated that Dan Hayes  is present for every board meeting.  It seems like the board votes  for Dan's plan most of the time.  I have questions about how that  happens.  There's so much more, but I have bluegrass to play today here in Buena Vista, Virginia.

Edited by - MGK on 09/25/2011 13:44:16

CWD28 - Posted - 09/25/2011:  14:23:27

Oops. I didnt realize it posted that way. Thanks! 

DaddyJ - Posted - 09/25/2011:  16:09:12

Some context would be nice...

slowhand - Posted - 09/25/2011:  17:23:29

quote:

---

Originally posted by CWD28

Below is Rhonda's post on the IBMA-L about what happened prior to and after the IBMA Awards Show.

---

That was five years ago.

CWD28 - Posted - 09/25/2011:  17:55:42

quote:

---

Originally posted by slowhand

quote:

---

Originally posted by CWD28

Below is Rhonda's post on the IBMA-L about what happened prior to and after the IBMA Awards Show.

---

That was five years ago.

---

Yes, it was. A bunch of folks have had a few questions about a lot of things lately, this being one of them. Now, things are starting to come out and everyone is questioning the leadership of the organization.

omdave - Posted - 09/27/2011:  18:49:38

i think you might have to elaborate . whats up?

CWD28 - Posted - 09/28/2011:  13:28:41

quote:

---

Originally posted by omdave

i think you might have to elaborate . whats up?

---

If you will Google IBMA-L Archives and read through the month of September, you will see all of the questions that folks are asking about. There are way too many post here.

AllenShadd - Posted - 09/28/2011:  15:27:13

Then why post it here???? I mean, if you don't want the discussion, why bring it up?

CWD28 - Posted - 09/28/2011:  21:52:57

quote:

---

Originally posted by AllenShadd

Then why post it here???? I mean, if you don't want the discussion, why bring it up?

---

Well for starters, if you would read the first post, it seems that the leadership of the organization put out one story of what they say happened. It also looks like Rhonda chose to stay quiet on the matter until now. In the archives, there are a lot of questions that have popped up in the past month. One being that the IBMA has said that the WOB event this week is for the professionals and not the regular folks that support the artists and bluegrass music.  People have asked for minutes of the meetings and are not being provided the info and are starting to question the leaders and the direction of the IBMA. The original post was posted to the archives and also has not been responded to as of yet. I came across the info because I started looking for some info about the things I had heard about them before I joined and I figured some people who are members or ones that are considering membership, may have not seen this info and would like to see it.

What I meant by suggesting to go to the archives and read is there are probably 50 different complaints that people are discussing and a majority of those is one week.

ccravens - Posted - 09/29/2011:  06:05:12

quote:

---

Originally posted by CWD28

quote:

---

Originally posted by AllenShadd

Then why post it here???? I mean, if you don't want the discussion, why bring it up?

---

Well for starters, if you would read the first post, it seems that the leadership of the organization put out one story of what they say happened. It also looks like Rhonda chose to stay quiet on the matter until now. In the archives, there are a lot of questions that have popped up in the past month. One being that the IBMA has said that the WOB event this week is for the professionals and not the regular folks that support the artists and bluegrass music.  People have asked for minutes of the meetings and are not being provided the info and are starting to question the leaders and the direction of the IBMA. The original post was posted to the archives and also has not been responded to as of yet. I came across the info because I started looking for some info about the things I had heard about them before I joined and I figured some people who are members or ones that are considering membership, may have not seen this info and would like to see it.

What I meant by suggesting to go to the archives and read is there are probably 50 different complaints that people are discussing and a majority of those is one week.

---

I think that's some of the background info that the previous posters were referring to. It helps to put things in context.

Thanks.

AllenShadd - Posted - 09/29/2011:  17:00:44

quote:

---

Originally posted by CWD28

---

Well for starters, if you would read the first post, it seems that the leadership of the organization put out one story of what they say happened. It also looks like Rhonda chose to stay quiet on the matter until now. In the archives, there are a lot of questions that have popped up in the past month. One being that the IBMA has said that the WOB event this week is for the professionals and not the regular folks that support the artists and bluegrass music.  People have asked for minutes of the meetings and are not being provided the info and are starting to question the leaders and the direction of the IBMA. The original post was posted to the archives and also has not been responded to as of yet. I came across the info because I started looking for some info about the things I had heard about them before I joined and I figured some people who are members or ones that are considering membership, may have not seen this info and would like to see it.

What I meant by suggesting to go to the archives and read is there are probably 50 different complaints that people are discussing and a majority of those is one week.

---

                Ok.

A-I *did* read your original post on the thread, did you not read the several posts following asking you for more info to put the post into a context?

B- I am not a member of Bluegrass-l, when I google that it wants a password from me. I have no intentions of signing up for another forum or list to follow a thread you started here.

C- Still not sure why this is posted here, the sub forum is flatpicking related topics, Would it not be under off topic?