Post date: Mar 13, 2019 6:23:59 PM

From: The Minstrel <mike.agranoff@folkproject.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2019 12:08 PM
To: execboard@FolkProject.orgCc: 'Steven Humphries' <sh50984@gmail.com>
Subject: Name change

Attached is an article I wrote for the April Newsletter concerning the name change of the concert series. I generally don’t do this, but due to the strong feelings among the Board, I will entertain comments and suggestions.

Please note: I’m distributing this to execboard (plus Steve Humphreys, who was in on the discussions with Rev. Alison Miller and is also a member of MUF, not fullboard. Please restrict your distribution similarly.

Mike Agranoff
Program Chair
The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series
Morristown, NJ. USA
www.Minstrel.FolkProject.org

From: Elly Faden <elly.faden@folkproject.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2019 12:44 PM
To: Mike.Agranoff@folkproject.org
Cc: execboard@folkproject.org; Steven Humphries <sh50984@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Name change

Again, I find the word “Friday” to be restrictive.

This is the last time I will say it, after having been on the phone about it for over an hour yesterday.

🌳 Elly

From: Mark Schaffer <markschaffer100@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 7:39 AM
To: The Minstrel <Mike.Agranoff@FolkProject.org>
Cc: <execboard@folkproject.org> <execboard@FolkProject.org>; Steven Humphreys <sh50984@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Name change

Dear Board,

Here are the “comments & suggestions” Mike requested.

It is one thing to announce I’m doing my laundry Wednesday. It is another to hold up your brown-stained BVDs from the stage and announce detail-by-smelly-detail why.

The Folk Project is proactively and wisely changing its signature brand name because of a connection we tried to avoid and can’t. We can be proud of that. The task ahead is hard enough without creating our own negative advertising campaign.

Remember: Alison felt “gaslighted” because instead of burying that song 30 years ago, Michael spread our connection all over the web clearly and presently with a detailed introduction. He’s doing the exact same thing with this article:

When a chairperson creates negative publicity, there is a legitimate board-level oversight issue. We can do nothing - like we did with that song for 30 years - Or perform our oversight function.

We can legitimately and honestly publicize our good intentions. Let’s make the brand change easier - not harder.

Please weigh in.

Thanks,

Mark

From: Todd Dennison <tdennison@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 8:36 AM
To: Mark Schaffer <markschaffer100@gmail.com>
Cc: The Minstrel <Mike.Agranoff@folkproject.org>; <execboard@folkproject.org> <execboard@folkproject.org>; Steven Humphreys <sh50984@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Name change

Dear Board,

I would like to respond to Mark's comments about Mike's prepared announcement.

Well, that certainly painted a picture I hope to be able to soon forget. However, I think Mark made his point and I have to say, rather strongly. eww. I do agree that in this case, less is more. I think Mike's approach hands everyone a lot of ammunition if someone is looking to create an issue for us.

I think an announcement that states - in light of today's awareness around the negative associations of certain words and phrases we think it is time to drop the word Minstrel.

Moving forward, etc etc. Wonderful things, happy to announce, let's all make music together, etc.

Regards, Todd

ps. Let's all make some music...or listen together.

From: Steven Humphreys <sh50984@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 9:12 AM
To: Todd Dennison <tdennison@gmail.com>
Cc: Mark Schaffer <markschaffer100@gmail.com>; The Minstrel <Mike.Agranoff@folkproject.org>; <execboard@folkproject.org> <execboard@folkproject.org>
Subject: Re: Name change

I also concur with Mark, though I, too, regret my inability to unsee the vision he has planted in my brain.

Best,

Steve Humphreys

From: DAVID Heistand <dheistand@comcast.net>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 3:21 PM
To: Mike.Agranoff@FolkProject.org
Cc: Steven Humphries <sh50984@gmail.com>; execboard@FolkProject.org
Subject: Re: Name change

Hello there,

I would like to add my agreement with Mark and Todd about the nature of this letter intended for the FP Newsletter. The letter as written has the sense and feel of a dirge, an elegy lamenting the death of something. Instead, I think any communication should reflect our awareness that the name of our concert series is no longer acceptable, perhaps deeply unacceptable, to people in our audience and community. And, next, we are beginning the process of changing it. Cut away the drama and just give the facts of what we are going to do, getting on, as Todd says, to making and listening to music.

Thanks,

Dave H.

From: Gary Pratt <prattdiv@comcast.net>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 7:54 PM
To: Mike.Agranoff@folkproject.org
Cc: execboard@folkproject.org; Steven Humphries <sh50984@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Name change

I think it is very important to acknowledge the discomfort the use of the word Minstrel has for many people, provide historical context, and describe the action being taken going forward. Doing this in a transparent and straightforward way can greatly reduce the possibility of questions as to any motives past or present.

The primary audience for this article is our membership, who I believe deserve and will appreciate a full explanation of why this name change is occurring.

My suggested edits:

Rewrite the headline and first paragraph using a more formal tone.

End the article on a much more upbeat note (new name, same great music!)

Gary

From: Allan Kugel <kugel@connect.rutgers.edu>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 9:41 AM
To: <execboard@folkproject.org> <execboard@FolkProject.org>
Cc: Steven Humphreys <sh50984@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Name change

*sigh* I suppose it would be better if South Africa had a "sweep-it-under-the carpet and reconciliation" commission?

Maybe Mike's explanation could be shorter. But I don't think giving a truthful story about why we had the name in the first place, explaining why its history within the folk project isn't particularly shameful (the problem is from meaning contagion), and why we're changing it now, is a bad idea.

Members and others are going to want to know why we changed such a long-standing well-branded name. I think it's far better to explain this up front and honestly, rather than treat it like the dirty secret it isn't.

And if a lack of bad history and a lack of bad intention won't protect us, I don't know what would.

-Allan

From: jcriemer@gmail.com <jcriemer@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 10:07 AM
To: '<execboard@folkproject.org>' <execboard@FolkProject.org>
Cc: 'Steven Humphreys' <sh50984@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: Name change

I agree. I don't know how many people will read a long article like that, but I think the historical context is both interesting and helpful. I don't see how it provides "ammunition" for people who'd want to make a fuss. We're acknowledging that times change, and that we're changing with them. What's there to fuss about?

Chris

From: Paul Fisher <paul.folk.fisher@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 8:53 PM
To: Allan Kugel <kugel@connect.rutgers.edu>
Cc: <execboard@folkproject.org> <execboard@folkproject.org>; Steven Humphreys <sh50984@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Name change

Hi Allan,

Truth and Reconciliation efforts are aimed at giving immunity to the criminals in order to find out where the bodies are buried so families can get closure. This is not what is happening here.

The article is announcing the change in name. Enough history is needed to put it into context but our reasons are really current, not so much in the past. We need to say why it came up now and why we think it needs a complete change. A web page with the full history would be great. But this is an article in the Newsletter. A link to the history page could be included for those who want to know more.

Nobody is trying to whitewash anything, but we do want the Newsletter readers to come away with a clear understanding of why the change is being made and why it is happening now.

The people who we would lose with "Minstrel" are not the ones that know our history or intentions. We are safe with them. it is the people who will never get past the association of the name with blackface minstrelsy and will not ask for our history that we will lose. New audience. Newsletter readers are primarily members and know who we are and what we mean. Give them our reasoning and ask for their support.

Paul

From: Mike Agranoff <mike@mikeagranoff.com>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 9:30 AM
To: execboard@FolkProject.org
Subject: FW: Name change

I consider it a matter of integrity that when I makes a mistake, I should acknowledge the mistake, explain why I made it, and then fix it. If the Board does not like that approach, then someone else should write the article.

Mike Agranoff
www.MikeAgranoff.com

From: Andrew Koenig <ark@acm.org>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 9:37 AM
To: 'Mike Agranoff' <mike@mikeagranoff.com>; execboard@FolkProject.org
Subject: RE: Name change

“When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

From: The Minstrel <mike.agranoff@folkproject.org>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 9:48 AM
To: execboard@FolkProject.org
Subject: RE: Name change

Nicely put, Tom.

Not an exact parallel, but it does reflect my thinking.

Mike Agranoff
Program Chair
The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series
Morristown, NJ. USA
www.Minstrel.FolkProject.org

From: bluesq5555 <bluesq55@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 10:23 AM
To: Chris Riemer <jcriemer@gmail.com>
Cc: <execboard@folkproject.org> <execboard@folkproject.org>; Steven Humphreys <sh50984@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Name change

Friends:

I don't know whether Michael's comment that perhaps "someone else should write the article" was meant seriously. But, I have a bit of time this weekend, I used to write for a living, and my approach would be radically different from Mike's.

With Prez Paul's approval, I would be willing to write a draft article that could be the basis for a final article signed by someone else, or preferably by the Board as a whole. I won't spend significant time defending it, but rather would put it out as a basis for discussion.

As much as I support giving as much discretion as possible to venue chairs, this issue impacts on the Project as a whole and, I think, goes to the heart of what we are about as an organization.

Jay

From: Mike Agranoff <mike@mikeagranoff.com>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 11:03 AM
To: execboard@folkproject.org
Cc: 'Steven Humphreys' <sh50984@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: Name change

I would think that the article should come from either the President or myself. If Paul is willing to let Jay ghost-write it for him, I’m OK with that.

Mike Agranoff
www.MikeAgranoff.com

From: Paul Fisher <paul.folk.fisher@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 8:55 PM
To: Mike Agranoff <mike@mikeagranoff.com>
Cc: <execboard@folkproject.org> <execboard@folkproject.org>; Steven Humphreys <sh50984@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Name change

Or from the whole Board. But basically, Mike is right on this. Let Jay take a whack at it and see if we can reach a consensus that it does the job.

paul

From: Paul Fisher <paul.folk.fisher@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2019 11:15 AM
To: Jay Wilensky <bluesq55@gmail.com>
Cc: Chris Riemer <jcriemer@gmail.com>; execboard@folkproject.org; Steven Humphreys <sh50984@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Name change

Jay,

Draft away!

Newsletter deadline is next Friday.

Paul