[Dixielandjazz] RE: Story in Sacramento Bee

[Burt Wilson]

Dear Listmates--

There was a message on the list today pointing to the story in today's
Sacramento Bee relating to the Jazz Jubilee (www.sacbee.com)

I would like to point out to you four--count 'em--four errors in the story.
I have contacted the Bee asking them to set the record straight.

The errors are:

Bee Error 1: "A private organization that operates the Sacramento Jazz
Jubilee.

Correction 1: Well it may sometimes appear that way, but the Jazz Jubilee
is operated by the Board of Directors of the STJS.

Bee Error 2: "If a loan is given, the Jazz Society will commit to keeping
the Jubilee in Sacramento through 2015."

Correction 2: The reality is that there will be no commitment unless the
board VOTES one. I see no problem with this, but it hurts to see arbitrary
statements without full knowledge of the facts.

Bee Error 3: "Traditionally, the Jazz Jubilee makes about $2 million and
pays for itself."

Correction 3: The Jubilee TAKES IN more than $2 million. It has not made
enough in 5 of the last 7 years to meet expenses and has therefore used up
a $1/2 million reserve. Our first completely outside audit is winding up as
this is written. By tomorrow we will know our true position.

Bee Error 4: "The Jazz Society's problems worsened in 2002..."

Correction 4: The problems have been bad for the past seven years, they got
worse last year when the 2002 board voted to put on the Mardi Gras Jubilee
event in February of this year. That event lost over $100,000. This did not
help the situation much at all!

The bottom line is that everyone on the board is working to have a Jazz
Jubilee this year. If we get the loan, then we will have a Jubilee. If we
do not, then we will go elsewhere for funding. This is an event which is
helpful to Sacramento and none in City Government want to see it end. It
brings in too much business for the city. In the meantime, some of us on
the board are working hard to eliminate past problems and come up with new
solutions.

BURT WILSON
Member of the Board, Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society