From: IcarusPup-AT-aol.com
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 1999 20:35:19 EDT
Subject: Re: PUPT: Re: Dig-it-all Age


In a message dated 6/19/99 0:55:16 AM EST, heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com writes:

<< Oh, and lest we forget, The PofA is, and I quote, "a national non-profit
 organization devoted to the improvement of the art of puppetry".  It is not
 a "professional" organization and therefore the fests should reach out to
 all levels of attendees.  >>

While I can't say I appreciate the sarcastic tone of your post, I would like 
to respond to some of your comments.

First, these two things, a "national non-profit" and "professional 
organization" are not mutually exclusive.  Many organizations are both.  
Often, people misunderstand a non-profit and believe it can only be 
volunteers, etc.  This is not so.  Consider that many, many professional 
organizations, large and small are non-profits.  

I am somewhat bemused by the suggestion that if a festival doesn't have some  
workshops you want to see, you should "submit one yourself". The point is, I 
don't need workshops I could lead myself!   

You say yourself festivals should reach out to all levels of attendees.  I 
couldn't agree more.  No one is suggesting beginning workshops be eliminated. 
 Why should workshops which appeal more to professionals be seen as a threat? 
 

For the record, I never claimed workshops were not "up to par"!  I suggested 
sessions dealing with emerging technologies would be a worthwhile addition.  
I also believe more sessions given by people *outside* the PofA, such as 
business and marketing experts, would be extremely worthwhile - so deal with 
*that*.

I am continually dismayed by the you-are-either-for-us-or-against-us attitude 
that seems to permeate the culture of the PofA.  If you dare make a 
suggestion, people respond defensively, you open yourself up for all sorts of 
criticism, and your loyalty and support of the organization is called into 
question.  Often, it feels like you are told you somehow have not earned the 
right to make a suggestion.  No one has to agree with all suggestions, but 
shouldn't new ideas be encouraged, rather than discouraged?  (I guess I 
should just learn to keep my mouth shut.)

Additionally, if you suggest a new direction, you are accussed of being 
somehow unappreciative of all the work done by others.  Nothing could be 
further from the truth, where I am concerned.  I think highly of the PofA and 
the dedicated volunteers who give so generously of their time to keep it 
going.  They are phenomenal in what they accomplish with the resources they 
have.  I have had marvelous experiences at festivals, and know from running 
my own events, what a tremendous lot of work they are.  In no way I am 
implying that somehow these good people got it "wrong".  

However, isn't there room in this forum for discourse?  Why isn't it okay to 
suggest new ways we might further the organization's mission?  

It seems to be a paradox that the organization's mission is to "improve" but 
so many members seem to want things to stay forever the same.  You can't have 
it both ways.  Improve implies change.  It doesn't, as so many seem to 
believe, imply "bad before".  It just means better and better all the time.  

Isn't that the whole point?

Regards,
Rosemary 
Icarus Puppet Company


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