Guest post from “L”
Posted by Mike Sylvester - 1/12/10 @ 8:43 pm - Filed Under Local Politics
Executive Board Destroying the Three Rivers Festival
Dear Editor,
I am writing this in hopes that the title sponsor of Fort Wayne’s premier summer event will step in and help with a growing problem that a select few of us on the board are seeing. Our fear is that if measures aren’t taken to radically change the structure of the board, irreparable damage will ensue.
There is a divide on the board on how we should operate and those few that see it the same as I do feel that certain individuals believe that it has to be their way or the highway. This is why we weren’t able to keep staff long term. The executive director, who didn’t even get the opportunity to run a festival, was just fired today.
I genuinely feel sorry for any staff there as they work very hard and only get criticized by those who have no vision. I honestly believe that there are members of our executive board who literally want to see this festival fail. For several years, the festival has lost money. This is common knowledge. What isn’t publically known is that the executive board and finance committee allowed it to happen by not curtailing the former Executive director when he spent enormous amounts of money on unnecessary items, thus putting us in the red.
They did hire a new E.D. last year, but in the midst allowed the sponsorship position to sit vacant thus forcing all of the work onto the E.D. and they cuffed her ability to make changes. So, the answer is naturally to fire her?
The real problem is that these same individuals that allowed us to go into the red are still on the board, and are not helping to bring in funds and are now pointing fingers at others.
There are now discussions of canceling this year’s festival. The problem I see with this is that when/if it does resume in 2011, the same individuals will be back and nothing will have changed.
I hope the Fort Wayne Newspapers will see that a few bad apples are spoiling the bunch. I wonder if those on the Executive board that have the loudest voice understand that they are the problem and if they don’t put their ego aside or step down, the will ruin it for the rest of us.
I write this anonymously as often anyone who goes against the grain is ostracized/attacked.
Regards,
L
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9 Responses to “Guest post from “L””
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I’m sorry to see Mayumi go. She wasn’t even given a fair chance to plan/oversee even ONE 3 Rivers Festival.
If the 3 Rivers festival is to take on a different feel/look and ultimately be successful/profitable then having a person with a creative and fresh vision at the helm is absolutely necessary.
In my eyes, the 3 Rivers Festival could be so much more. It seems the festival has been stuck in a ‘rut’ the last several years, relying on junk food alley and outdated musical acts to headline Friday and Saturday night shows.
Comparing 3 Rivers to Germanfest - I feel Germanfest is a success because not only does it bring out the masses, but when you walk into the main festival tent, there is somewhat of a sense of momentarily being transported to a huge, lively beer garden somewhere in Germany. Authentic German music playing, dancers dressed up in traditional German attire, German beer on tap - it all adds to the festival’s atmosphere.
And then you have 3 Rivers of the past 2 decades.
If you want to get transported back in time to 1987, then by all means, head down to Three Rivers Festival on a Friday night.
If you bring back the raft race, they will come.
My opinion…TRF has to stop trying to be ALL things to ALL people. What is the purpose of the festival? Is it a “celebration”? Is its main goal to bring more money into the city? Is its main goal to have the citizens of the city to spend more of its money? Once you know what the purpose/objectives are, then…maybe…you can set about designing a festival that kicks ass. But again - FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS.
I participated in the very first WLYV Raft race. It was fun on a hot day. I think the river was probably worse then than it is now.
There were lots of rafts, but I am not sure how many vendors there were. I am sure the older crowd when done went and had a good lunch somewhere.
Kinda makes you wonder if the board does a really bad job of interviewing directors, or if the board is really difficult for the directors they hire to work with. I think I’m seeing a pattern…
According to their website: 26 officers and board members at the 3RF. Wow, that’s got to be an unwieldy mess. It’s also an indication that the board is bloated with status seeking do-gooders who wield power but have no vision or guts. The Festival needs to clean house and start with fresh faces, fresh ideas and fresh leadership. In a city full of creative people in promotions, advertising, marketing, are these 26 the best we can do? The Festival and it’s leadership need to do what they did in 1969….capture our imagination, entertain us and involve us. 26 people patting themselves on the back in an ivory tower is not a recipe for success.
We need an alternative: The Three Henrys Festival!
If you have any complaints, please send your opinions to Becky Butler, the President of the Three Rivers Festival Board and works for Allen County and Jane Surbeck, Treasurer of the Board.
Both of them orchestrated the death of the festival. No funnel cakes this year kiddies, dominos are falling one by one. The Festival will die.
It’s funny Jerry White, the former President of the Board, is now an intrim director. He was the president for the period that the Festival lost a total of $250,000.
Both of the people you mention have resigned, along with a third, Crystal Jones. So that leaves, what, 20 board members? Surely that’s enough people to pull this thing together. Unless all that are left is “talkers” as opposed to “doers”.