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Carthy for President of EFDSS

11 Feb 02 - 07:41 PM (#647693)
Subject: Carthy for President
From: Snuffy

As Dave Bryant pointed out in the Princess Margaret obit thread, her death leaves a vacancy as President of EFDSS.

This was mentioned after Morris practice tonight, and in reply to the question of her successor, several voices immediately said in unison "Martin Carthy". There were no other suggestions.

What do you think?

WassaiL! V


11 Feb 02 - 08:48 PM (#647742)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: McGrath of Harlow

He wouldn't be a bad candidate for that matter if Liz and co decided to bow out as head of state.

Though bugger this "president" lark, go the whole hog. They'd make a brilliant royal family...


11 Feb 02 - 09:10 PM (#647755)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Malcolm Douglas

Good point.  Generally, the "President" has been somebody aristocratic and influential, and there are certainly good reasons for maintaining that, given that the Establishment in England doesn't have a terribly good record of taking the folk arts seriously.  Essentially, it needs to be a name that nobody can argue too much with, whether or not they actually know anything about the tradition.  I'd certainly go for Martin as a Patron, if he were prepared to do it (Ninette de Valois was one, and died last year), but I think that a -notional- figurehead needs to be someone that everybody has heard of. It'll be interesting to see what happens.


12 Feb 02 - 01:47 AM (#647868)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Kaleea

President? you want a president, just pay off some judges. But seriously, folks, I have my old collectors T-shirts which state: Kirk & Spock for President & Vice President. A much better sentiment than the T shirt somebody gave me in the 70's that said "Archie Bunker for President." At least Archie was honest, he said "I'm not prejudiced, I hate everybody!"


12 Feb 02 - 03:21 AM (#647891)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: The Shambles

President of a reg charity like this would not be able to actually do much practical good, or indeed be able to say very much (like calling a culture minister a 'prat').

So I feel it would be a bit of a waste of good talent.

George W Bush, would be my choice................


12 Feb 02 - 04:00 AM (#647902)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: McGrath of Harlow

Rolf Harris - everybody's heard of him, prettu well everyone is fond of him, he's gone down well at Sidmouth, and he's willing to turn his hand to anything.


12 Feb 02 - 06:09 AM (#647951)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: The Shambles

He is not English *Smiles*

Just a joke Kevin. I can hear you taking a deep breath....


12 Feb 02 - 06:16 AM (#647957)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: GUEST,serious suggestion

how about Enya?


12 Feb 02 - 06:18 AM (#647959)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: McGrath of Harlow

But then nor are the Royal Family.


12 Feb 02 - 03:25 PM (#648394)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: The Shambles

How about that blond Norweigian vet?


12 Feb 02 - 04:12 PM (#648427)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: McGrath of Harlow

I remember the time she injected some little furry creature and the needle came out the other side... She'd be OK as Queen, but maybe not for the EFDSS.

No, I'll stick with Rolf Harris, if we can't have the Carthy-Watersons.

Too bad Henry Kipper has gone to glory. He'd have been ideal.


12 Feb 02 - 04:54 PM (#648468)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Malcolm Douglas

Just out of interest, how many people in this thread are members of EFDSS?


12 Feb 02 - 05:10 PM (#648482)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: bobby's girl

While I would go for Carthy as a candidate to represent the "Folk" world, Rolf Harris would carry more clout with Joe Public, and hence might achieve more


13 Feb 02 - 01:03 AM (#648879)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: GUEST,Boab

Only if he proves he can sing "The Mountain Dew", "Bonnie wee Jeannie McCall" and "Gather up yer Pots and yer ould Tin Cans" along with all the weeeeeeeeeery ballads....


13 Feb 02 - 02:06 AM (#648899)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: The Shambles

Just out of interest, how many people in this thread are members of EFDSS?

Not many of the suggested candidates are, or know anything about Engish folk music and dance and that is probably most telling.

That many comtributors to this thread do know about English music and dance but may or may not be members or considered as candidates for the job, may aslo be telling.

Except Malcolm of course, who gets my vote as he is knowledgeable and cares...........

[Rolf would have to stop singing those Led Zeppelin songs....]


13 Feb 02 - 03:12 AM (#648910)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: GUEST,john in hull

Billy Bragg, he is not afraid to speak his mind.I reckon he would be a good choice.john


13 Feb 02 - 09:45 AM (#649080)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: GUEST,Frank McGrath

how about Enya????????? - That's not a serious suggestion, is it?
She's Irish for God's sake!!!!!!!.

My vote's (if you can vote for a monarch) with Martin C. although Billy B. would be pretty good too. But who am I to comment. I'm only a Paddy, I know nothing about monarchs.

Frank


13 Feb 02 - 09:52 AM (#649086)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: GUEST,Frank McGrath

And Rolf Harris is an Aussie. His ancestors were probably shipped from Ireland as prisoners on a convict ship. - Hey! Maybe that's qualification enough to be a monarch.

Frank


13 Feb 02 - 09:56 AM (#649089)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: GUEST,Frank McGrath

George W. Bush would be excellent except he thinks England is a small county in Utah.

Frank


13 Feb 02 - 10:06 AM (#649097)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Mr Red

I agree with the motion, but (there always is a but) does he?

BTW on the BBC R4 website there is a message board for Desert Island Disks and I posted his name as a suggestion, one reply. Do any 'catters want to flood the beeb with concurring murmers? You have to register to post. I asked Martin & he confirmed he had never done a DID.

"The president is dead, long live the president"


13 Feb 02 - 05:38 PM (#649425)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Desert Dancer

I'm an EFDSS member from across the pond (just one year's worth, though), and a CDSS member and Governing Board member, to boot. I've not studied the bylaws (or the UK equivalent of that term) for EFDSS, but it sounds as though the EFDSS President is a mere figurehead... too bad, though I suppose if that's known to be a figurehead position, then p'raps an equivalent non-figurehead position exists?

Anyway, I've been learning just how useful a good board president can be in my recent experience with CDSS's Tom Seiss. He's transformed the governance processes of CDSS by applying the principles described by John Carver: that is (in extreme condensation, and as I understand it), the Board's job is to set the mission and larger goals (prioritized) for the organization, to describe the desired "ends", and define the limits within which the staff operates. Then the staff knows where to go, and is empowered to develop the "means" necessary to achieve those ends. It sounds obvious, but it makes the Board useful, rather than an annoyance to staff, if they realize their job is to be concerned with big picture issues.

I understand there's is a new EFDSS strategic plan, the question is how to do the job and keep it going... without different parts of the organization tripping over one another.

Another key thought from my CDSS (and local TFTM) experience -- the realization that given the mission and goals, you can further the mission without necessarily doing the job yourself, as long as you offer encouragement and/or support to those who do it.

FWIW. (Sorry, I just came off a whole weekend of discussing this stuff!)

~ Becky in Tucson


13 Feb 02 - 05:40 PM (#649427)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Dave Bryant

Mind you, the new president would probably have to be a dancer. Lawrence Heath (of BORFOLK fame) used to refer to the Society as DEFAS (rather than EFDUS as we tend to call it) it stood for "Dance Ernestly and Forget all About Song".

Perhaps the powers-that-be at CSH will kick me out - especially as I used to be on the National Executive !


13 Feb 02 - 11:38 PM (#649687)
Subject: RE: Carthy for President
From: Desert Dancer

That's the other great thing about Tom Seiss in CDSS -- he's a singer, first! (Dance musician, too.)

~ B in T