August Van Slam Family Meeting

[Shannon]

Sad to hear that our Slam Master, Lisa, won't be re-running.  I think she did a fantastic job!!!

Is there something that can be done to convince you/her to stay?  Such as dividing up some of your work?  Anything?

Perhaps there is a reason why you/she is leaving that has nothing to do with the work involved.  But, *if* it is related to the amount of work involved, or the stress involved with the work involved, is it possible for this to be discussed officially, to ensure that more people will stay at the position for a longer amount of time?

PS.  I personally think both slam master roles have A LOT of work (unpaid volunteer hours) associated with them, with much stress without a lot of reward in return.  Most organization would never have someone volunteering as many unpaid hours as what our current positions require.  I fear that it will be difficult to retain skilled and enthusiastic slam masters in the future.   

Thoughts?

PS.  Feel free to move this post to the more appropriate place, if need be.

[Sean]

A very good point Shannon. Since Lisa and I took office a couple of years back (and we've being over 55 shows a year) the work load has been immense--it definitely feels some days like more than a part time job. That being said we may be able to do things in the coming years to hopefully retain individuals who volunteer an abundant amount of time to the slam. I have a couple of ideas  that I'll mention in the next couple of meetings but in the short we have to find a new international slammaster and from what I understand we will also need a new volunteer coordinator for September as Sue McIntyre we be seeking a deminished role within the organization in the short so that she may have more time to spend with her family.

The first name that pops into my head that needs to be nominated (though I don't know if he really wants the gig) would be Duncan Shields. Duncan's people and organizational skills are phenomenal; he never loses his cool and is an out of the box thinker whom has been a great mediator on the rules committee these past months. He's financially solid (in that he can book the tickets that need to be purchased) and he's tall...a traditional attribute for Vancouver Poetry SLam International Slammasters.

D-money...any interest?

[ms_spelt]

I have to smile a bit wryly when i see it proclaimed- as if it were news that these jobs are work.
RC and I made it plain that these jobs are a lot of work.
we laid out how much work in detail.
And I faced libellous charges-for which none have aplogized-that I was tyrant bent on clinging to power and that i was lying about the workload and that it was just a ploy to stay in office and that in the name of democracy we ought to have elections etc.
the loudest cries for democracy and the cruelest cries of tyrant were by those who didn't even vote.
and lisa-to her ever lasting credit and honour worked hand in glove with me despite those who told her otherwise.
and together we bent ourselves to building a democracy in a way no other slammasters ever had.
no other slammasters in the history of the van slam ever put so much in place to ensure future generations a functioning democracy.
and given that i had a lot of time on my hands not occupied by slammaster duties and a need to be of use and some strong jeffersonian ideals that I should have bent myself to this task should have come as no surprise to those who understand me, truly.
but that lisa -with all the new duties she faced should work hard with me on the constitution, the implementing of the honour code, the rules committee et al...
is praiseworthy.
the job is ardous at the best of times.and often thankless.
and to on top of that build a democractic process of committees and constitution and honour codes?
a staggering accomplishment.
huge kudos to lisa on this.
what she has accomplished in two years is to ensure that there are another ten.
her contribution cannot be overstated.
nor can it be overstated that we get the community we all build.
the tools that she has laboured to put in place provide leadership and the family to spread the work around.
the family can strike committees at need, the slammaster job is split into national and international duties-in most other slams across the globe it's all one job.
all of it.
no committees.no volunteer co-ordinator.no two slam masters.
just one person doing it all.
we tried that and it pretty much destroyed our 1st slammaster-and thereafter we swore that whatever else van slam would ever be it would be a community run org.
and it has become that.
but for all of it to continue people need to step up regularly.
and when they do...
the leadership needs to let them help.
one of the things I've noticed over this new execs term was they came in with the vim and vigour and ambition of being able to do it all.
and on more than one occassion I have seen voices and contributions delayed and deferred and discouraged. And it's caused me concern.And I've voiced that concern. But I voiced it then not as an attack on the new administration or to devalue or downplay what sean and lisa have and continue to do.
I only ever offered it as a caution for them and I say it again here in the same spirit toall who aspire to these jobs in the future.
you can't do it all yourself-and you shouldn't.
It isolates leadership and increases their burden and it alienate membership and increases their discontent.we are a team.
I said this at the beginning of the van slam. I said this at the beginning of this administration.and I say it now.
If you didn't believe me,believe sean and lisa-it's a lot of work.
don't cripple yourself by taking on too much and don't risk alienating talented help by refusing assistance and other opinions.
i had a stark choice on the eve of taylor malis arrival to inspect the site for IWPS-
be the sole author of a spectacular flameout or share credit for a historic success.
I choose the latter.
I urge all candidates for the slammaster offices to remember that this a job of community service.
And that one of the best ways to do it is empower the community to service themselves.
And it's still gonna be a lot of work-I ran myself hard during the build up to and during IWPS-but it came off.
and that's the thing-you have to work hard in either case-do you want to work hard and have a proud accomplishment to share in or work hard and burn out with little to show for it?
we are all participants in the slam.we make it what it is.
I commend all those who have given their service to this scene and all those who will.
 

[sue]

Three thoughts

1) I agree with Angus that Slam Mastering is a complicated and huge job, that can't be done solo. I join Angus in commending our current slam masters for the significant progress they have made in bringing the slam community into the work and decision-making in a truly meaningful way.

2) I agree with Sean that Duncan is an outstanding candidate for PSI Slam Master.

3) I think we should break out a new thread (and possibly move a couple of messages from this one) to discuss election of our new PSI Slam Master.

Onward!

sue

[Lisa]

Chris - as Sue suggests, can you create a new thread called "August Slam Family meeting" and move these threads there?

[Chris Gilpin]

Done, and done.

For more background on this discussion, read the thread on June's Van Slam Family Meeting, found here:

http://vancouverpoetryhouse.com/forum/smf/index.php/topic,530.0.html

[Duncan Shields]

Word. 

Of all of the extra-curricular things I have going at the moment (Spectral Theater plays, Burlesque, Photography, Writing, and Poetry Slams), I think the one that interests me the most is the Poetry Slams. 

I know I've got a cool head when talking to people.  However, the sheer amount of work involved in being Slam Master is something I find daunting considering my day job.

If I accepted the nomination, it would be with the complete proviso that I'd need LOTS of help and that I'd delegate power a lot.  I would not be able to be the one man with all the answers.  I don't have the time to roll like that and I don't have the personality for it.  I like helping but I'm uncomfortable with being "in charge". 

From what I'm hearing here, though, that's pretty much what you're looking for.  I don't mind carrying the title and the responsibility as long as we all know that I want this to be community driven.

I have the best interests of the slam at heart.  It is of the utmost importance to me that things are fair and balanced.  I want Vancouver to continue it's respected reputation for full houses and audience appreciation.  I'd also like to make sure that the teams and individuals that go to the international stage to represent Vancouver are better prepared to do so. 

I can see where we need to be tighter.  I can see where we need to be more professional.  We've got a pretty good thing here so we won't be re-inventing the wheel but I'm sure we all agree that there's still room for improvement.

I'll need to be dealt with fairly and I'll deal with everyone fairly in return.

What I'm saying is that I'll only be able to be slam master with your help.  With that in mind, I can accept the nomination.

[ms_spelt]

Duncan-
I've got reams of experience ,contacts and knowledge of the past personal and political history of all the major players in the PSI arena. I've also amassed a healthy dose of accomplishments in that field as well.
I may not be everyone's favorite person at home, but I'm well regarded abroad.
I may have only technically held the post for the time it took to direct the IWPS but I was Graham's proxy in all those affairs for the better part of a decade.
Which is to say I doubt I'd win an election for the job but I likely the highest qualified candidate that can't win. And you-despite being relatively new to the slam have shown yourself to be a banner that all the various parties within the family-regardless of whatever partisan differences they hold at any moment-will unite under in a heartbeat.
And I love you and believe in delegation.
So I'd happily be your aide de camp and bring all my skills and such to bear on the priorities you set and the challenges that you may find yourself facing.
I am a warrior-I find purpose and meaning and honour in service.
You have my sword if you but ask for it sire.

[Duncan Shields]

Awesome.  That's great news, Angus.  Thank you.  Together, we'll all make this a sweet year.

[Sean]

Agenda for the August meeting...

So far we have
1) A Rules Committee suggestion for a change in how poets sign up in the regular season
2) A Rules Committee suggestion for a change in how poets qulaify for the playoffs
3) A presentation and proposal from Warren Dean Fulton re:recording all the slams during the year and a cost analysis therein
4) A report on NPS and CFSW from Lisa Slater, Sean McGarragle and RC Weslowski
5) The election of a new international slammaster: so far Duncan Shields is the only individual who has put his name forward for the position
6) A state of the slam report from Sean (financials, challenges this season for the show, etc.)

and...

your thoughts

[Shannon]

Can we add 'waving cover charge for competing poets'?

Or shall we talk about this first?

[Sean]

I don't think we'll have time to talk about it at the next meeting but if its really important than I suggest you start a new thread on the forum and talk to people after the next meeting. Maybe just bring it up right after the meeting and ask people to think about it till the following meeting.

[ms_spelt]

The date of the august mtg will be?

[Duncan Shields]

I believe it's August 23rd and we're still looking for a venue.

[ms_spelt]

Thanks for the update-hate to miss it after all the work the rules committee has done.