[Dixielandjazz] IAJE
BruTheDr at aol.com
BruTheDr at aol.com
Thu May 29 10:59:21 PDT 2008
Sent: 4/21/2008 9:03:02 PM
Subject: Re: IAJE files for bankruptcy
well, as sad as this seems, nothing is permanent. as sentimental as this
seems, all things always move in harmony with the whole of the universe.. as
lame as this seems, to define existence through the external world is to search
continuously in vain.
the beauty is, music is still alive, and those whole love it will continue
to do it in all the same capacities as before. nothing can stop the inner
drive of the creative soul. the institution of "jazz educators" is in the souls
of all who love the artform, and not in the external forms of any
association.
it was truly an honor, especially in my younger life, to have the pride of
being a "blue blood" of jazz education. being so proud to be a
betton/stitzel, and almost seeing it as being born into royalty has shifted into the
knowingness that the essence of life and all things that arise in each of our
experiences are only the periphery of the true essence of our being - an essence
that transcends all things in the external world, an essence that is the very
stuff of life itself, and impossible to destroy. (luckily, as artists and
musicians, we have all experienced this truth in beautiful moments of
performing when time stops and the creativity beyond our own mind is allowed to come
through. this of course is not just a "phenomena" of music, but it is the
essential truth to existence).
i say this to you all with a love that goes beyond our definitions of title
and achievement - the one indistructible truth is that life beyond form is
one life and we are all of that life. only time can cause the dissolution of
things in the world of form whereas life, being eternal, is timeless and
always vibrant and inspired.
peace.
rich stitzel
On Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 10:22 AM, Linda Tippett <_linda_tippett at hotmail.com_
(mailto:linda_tippett at hotmail.com) > wrote:
This from openskyjazz _http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=71_
(http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=71) ...
_Chip Tingle_ (http://www.myspace/ChipTingle) Says:
_April 21st, 2008 at 1:13 am_
(http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=71#comment-8125) I come to this forum as a concerned, long time member of IAJE.
When I came upon a link to your blog, Willard, I came with a feeling of,
"Now we can get down to some real facts and solid information", based on my very
positive experience with you over the years in my former capacity as a
booking agent representing many jazz and world music artists whom you booked and
presented in various venues, series, and festivals. I've also dug your writing
for JazzTimes and others for many years. I thank you for facilitating this
important dialog, something I've yet to find anywhere else on the web in any
substantive form (someone please link to others – please!).
I am no financial analyst, and I don't have a wealth of prior business
experience to draw from as I begin sifting and reading, but I am starting with
this link to information for non-profits at
_http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/480/794/2006-480794187-02e374c0-9.pdf,_
(http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/480/794/2006-480794187-02e374c0-9.pdf,) the 2005 IRS form 990.
This is well before this year's ill-fated Toronto convention with easily
foreseeable drops in attendance when compared to NYC (isn't any city-site far
below NYC each year – a report of figures for say the last 10 conventions might
cut to the chase on the subject). Again, I am no heavy on the biz front, and
such an idea brings rolling laughter to my lovely wife by my side as I write
this, especial ly after last week's tax appointment.
Some, but not all, of the items that jump out to me include:
Total revenue $2,468,780
Total expenses $2,633,207
including:
Management & gen. Admin $ 568, 307
including among others:
ED Bill McFarlan $ 110k
Steve Baker $ 84k
Greg Carroll $ 84k
Suzan Jenkins $ 90k (perhaps full disclosure might be helpful)
Travel $ 394,974 (!!!!yowza!!!!)
Printing/publ $ 290,477 (in a web enabled world?)
fundraising $ 141,013 (can't get a hold on this expense yet)
I'm planning on more reading, sifting, and commenting, but look forward to
continued healthy dialog, and real answers about the money – this is indeed
about the money, yes? The esteemed list of contributors to this blog discussion
is what brought me, and I look forward to their continued contributions here
and elsewhere - for the team! (Amen, Sir Shultz)
Out for now on a late Sunday night.
All the Best,
Chip Tingle
_musichub at yahoo.com_ (mailto:musichub at yahoo.com)
____________________________________
Subject: FW: IAJE files for bankruptcy
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:45:05 -0500
From: _Martha.Stitzel at prin.edu_ (mailto:Martha.Stitzel at prin.edu)
To: _linda_tippett at hotmail.com_ (mailto:linda_tippett at hotmail.com) ;
_mbetton at earthlink.net_ (mailto:mbetton at earthlink.net) ; _rich.stitzel at gmail.com_
(mailto:rich.stitzel at gmail.com) ; _erinstitzel at gmail.com_
(mailto:erinstitzel at gmail.com)
____________________________________
From: IAJE [mailto:_info at iaje.org_ (mailto:info at iaje.org) ]
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 5:10 PM
To: Martha Stitzel
Subject: IAJE files for bankruptcy
(http://www.iaje.org/)
(http://www.iaje.org/)
Dear IAJE Family,
It is with a great sense of loss that I inform you that despite drastic
efforts to cut expenses and raise emergency funds, the IAJE Board has voted to
file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the Federal Bankruptcy Law. I want to
thank profusely those who responded with their generous donations and offers
of assistance following my last communication. While over 250 individuals
contributed just over $12,000, this, along with the many other efforts and
contributions of IAJE staff, Board members, and association partners, was simply
not enough to address the accumulated debt of the organization or its urgent
need for cash relief.
In the next few days, a Kansas bankruptcy court will appoint a trustee to
oversee all ongoing aspects of the association. This includes the ability to
examine IAJE's financial records and mount an independent inquiry into the
causes of it's financial downfall as well as disposing of the remaining assets
of the association with proceeds distributed to creditors in accordance with
Kansas and Federal law. The board will no longer be involved in operation of
the organization and will at some point resign. IAJE as it presently stands
will no longer exist.
Approximately a week after filing, all potential creditors of the
association will receive notice of the association's filing from the court. Members
who desire additional information regarding the petition, including a complete
listing of association assets and liabilities, may retrieve this, as it is a
public document, through normal court procedures. Undoubtedly, however, you
will have more immediate questions deserving of responses I hope to address
in this report.
Since the first communication to the membership ou tlining this crisis,
there has been considerable public speculation as to its causes. As noted in
that communication, years of dependence upon the conference as a primary (but
unreliable) revenue stream and the launch of a well-intentioned capital
campaign (the Campaign for Jazz), which generated a meager response but required
considerable expenditures in advance of contributions, drove the association
into insolvency. Sadly, the attendance at the conference in Toronto (the
lowest in 10 years) exacerbated an already critical situation, depriving the
association of the cash-flow needed to continue daily operations as well as the
time needed to seek alternative resources.
While ultimately not able to skirt the financial land mines placed in its
path, I want to assure you the IAJE Board has acted responsibly, ethically,
and with a sense of urgency ever since it was blindsided last fall with the
discovery of the extent of the accumulated association debt. Since that time,
the board slashed spending, set specific performance targets for the Executive
Director, sought outside consultations, and enlisted the services of
several past-presidents and strategic association partners in attempts to raise
funds - sadly, with minimal success.
It goes without saying, the board you elected is comprised of very
accomplished, intelligent, and dedicated educators and professionals who have given
generously of their time in service to this association and care about it
passionately. Likewise, our entire professional staff, led by Associate Executive
Director, Vivian Orndorff, and Executive Producer, Steve Baker, has worked
heroically in the face of declining resources to meet the needs of the
association and its members. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank both the
board and staff for their service. I have been privileged and honored to serve
with them. While there may be those who question specific decisions or
strategies in efforts to meet this crisis, the dedication and integrity of these
individuals should n ever be in doubt.
As we move forward, one of the most pressing questions is how the
operations of individual chapters and affiliated associations will be affected by this
filing. Since our chapters are either separate corporate entitles or
voluntary associations with their own boards, constitutions and bylaws; IAJE views
them as completely independent entities. Ultimately, however, the trustee and
the court will make this determination and it is anticipated that the
trustee may request certain information from the chapters in this regard.
Sadly, the 2009 IAJE International Conference in Seattle has been cancelled.
However, there has been some discussion of mounting a regional conference
in its place. At the moment, Lou Fischer, U.S. Board Representative is
fielding inquiries: _ljazzmanf at yahoo.com_ (mailto:ljazzmanf at yahoo.com) .
For the time being, the IAJE website will remain up. However, the
international offices of IAJE will close their doors at the end of the day on Friday,
April 18th. Should there be additional questions you may submit them to
_info at iaje.org_ (mailto:info at iaje.org) and every attempt will be made to respond
to these as staffing allows.
Today, we, the members of IAJE and the global jazz community, face an
extremely important task. For, as we all recognize, the opportunities, impact, and
work of this association are too vital to simply disappear. Whether you
were first drawn to IAJE for its conference, its magazine or research
publications, its student scholarship programs such as Sisters in Jazz or the Clifford
Brown/Stan Getz All-Stars, its Teacher Training Institutes, the resources
provided through its website or Resource Team, or any one of a number of other
offerings; it is clear the mission of IAJE still resonates and its advocacy
is needed today more than ever. We must, therefore, look at this as an
opportunity to refocus the mission, scope, programs, and vision of IAJE (or
whatever succeeds it) to better meet the needs of our members and the jazz community
not only today but looking toward the future.
I am, in no way, suggesting the membership turn a blind eye towards the
need for an independent inquiry into causes and ultimately assigning
responsibility for this situation. I ask you recognize the court appointed trustee, who
will have access to all necessary documents and facts, is charged with that
task. Our efforts and our passion, should be to collectively rally the
community to recognize the importance IAJE has had and continues to have in the
life and development of jazz and jazz education - seeking new strategic
partnerships, new government structures, and a revitalized mission that embraces
current needs.
Already there are efforts to do just that. I know that Mary Jo Papich, who
would have begun serving her term as President of IAJE beginning this July, is
dedicated to recreating such an association. As many know, Mary Jo has been
a tireless advocate for IAJE, serving it long and well. You will,
undoubtedly, be hearing from her in the near future. When she does contact you, I urge
you to join me in offering her every support and assistance. Of course,
others may also seek to fill this void by promoting alternative visions for
empowering, serving, and gathering the jazz community. While I generally believe
such diversity is quite healthy, I would strongly encourage all such efforts
and leaders to attempt to collaborate and seek ways to unite us in spirit and
strength.
Finally, I would encourage you to recognize and remember IAJE for all the
tremendous good it has done in the past 40 years. Many individuals have
contributed along the way, often at considerable personal sacrifice of their time
and resources, to establish and advance the work of this association.. Much
has been achieved that can never be taken away! Therefore, the vision, effort,
and shared passion that have fueled the growth of IAJE and its programs
should not be forgotten or considered in vain. Rather, the spirit that is IAJE
must be rekindled into a new vision for the future.
Sincerely,
The IAJE Board - Chuck Owen, President
____________________________________
This message has been sent to you by the International Association for Jazz
Education, PO Box 724, Manhattan KS 66502, USA • _info at iaje.org_
(mailto:info at iaje.org) • (785) 776-8744
____________________________________
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--
rich stitzel
_www.myspace.com/richstitzel_ (http://www.myspace.com/richstitzel)
_rich.stitzel at gmail.com_ (mailto:rich.stitzel at gmail.com)
chicago,il
630-776-3174
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