Category: Board of Directors

Candidate Statements For 2019-2020 Board Of Directors Election To Be Held August 10

The Members of the Northern California Bluegrass Society will elect the 10-member 2019-2020 Board of Directors on Saturday, August 10, 2019, 10:00am-5:00pm at the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos, and by mail. Mailed ballots must be received by Tuesday, August 6, 2019. Ten candidates have submitted Candidate Statements and will appear on the ballot. They are:

Bruce Bellochio — Hello Bruce here, you may have seen me around over the last 17 years. And thank you for your votes. As a board member with NCBS I look forward to continuing my service in 2019, promoting bluegrass music for our community. Vote for me again and great things will happen!

Eric Burman — Ladies and gentlemen, once again I ask that you support me with your vote, so we can keep making this “Good Ol’ Fashioned Bluegrass Festival” the “party that will never end.” Thank you and good night.

Bruce Edmundson — I have been an active bluegrass music volunteer with NCBS/SCBS (and formerly with Redwood Bluegrass Associates) for many years, and plan to continue to help with the GOF and other activities as well as continuing to serve as the Treasurer and webmaster. I would appreciate your vote so that I can continue to be part of the bluegrass team.

Jesse Fichman — In the past year, we have made progress reaching out to younger generations of bluegrass lovers, and we plan on continuing this effort. It has been a pleasure working with the board, and I look forward to another successful year of supporting traditional bluegrass. See you at GOF!

Mike Fisher – I am once again running for the NCBS Board, where I have served for many years. I ran the gate at the GOF for 20 years. One of my priorities is to encourage younger people to help run our organization. Please volunteer for the Board or the GOF Committee. (over)

Dana Frankel — I have enjoyed serving as the youngest member of the NCBS Board of Directors for the past year. I have worked on the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, which I have gone to since I was a little kid and will organize the Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair beginning next May. I am excited about the future of the Society and look forward to representing Santa Cruz on the board going forward and most importantly, sharing bluegrass with my community!

Michael Hall – My Grass Is Blue! This has been a great year for the Northern California Bluegrass Society, with the successful Bluegrass On Broadway, Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair, and Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival events, plus more fun gatherings all year long! I look forward to working on even more bluegrass music happenings in the coming year. Thanks to all of the volunteers and musicians who make it happen!

AJ Lee — Over the last 16 years, I have been actively participating in various bluegrass events hosted by the NCBS and similar organizations. Drawing from these years of experience, I have contributed ideas and new suggestions to the board. It’s been an honor serving the bluegrass community, and I hope to continue to contribute in the upcoming year.

Karen Reyes — It has been my pleasure to serve on the Board of Directors for the Northern California Bluegrass Society this past year. We have supported many exciting events and have been working hard to celebrate the 26th anniversary for the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival in August. I look forward to continuing my position on the Board and hope you will re-elect me and allow me the privilege of continuing to support bluegrass music in California and beyond. We have a great community of musicians and fans. I enjoy supporting the musicians who keep alive our traditional American music roots as well as our younger musicians who are introducing new sub-genres of bluegrass, attracting a wide ranging audience. Let’s keep bluegrass loud and proud!

Mike Russell — I’ve enjoyed being a part of the NCBS Board of Directors since 2004.  My passion is producing a radio program for the local bluegrass scene which provides an avenue for bands to showcase their talents live on the radio. I look forward to another great year in 2018-2019. Thank you for your support!

Write-in votes are also accepted. Ballots will be included in Bluegrass By The Bay and will be available at the NCBS Booth at the GOF Festival during voting hours.

Candidate Statements For 2019 NCBS Board Of Directors Election Due On June 30

The Annual Election for the Northern California Bluegrass Society Board Of Directors will be held at the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos on Saturday, August 10, 2019, 10:00am-5:00pm, and by mail.

Candidate Statements are due to Michael Hall by June 30, 2019, for publication in the July issue of Bluegrass By The Bay and on the NCBS Website. Statements are limited to 100 words.

NCBS Leaders Attend IBMA World Of Bluegrass Convention In Raleigh North Carolina

The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the International Bluegrass Music Association. Three members of the NCBS Board Of Directors will play a role in organizing and performing at the IBMA World Of Bluegrass national convention September 25-29, 2018 in Raleigh, NC.

NCBS President Michael Hall will help organize the IBMA Leadership Bluegrass opening reception and the LB Masterclass. He will also help with the IBMA Information Booth and emcee two showcases during the week.

Board Members AJ Lee and Jesse Fichman will perform at the Leadership Bluegrass reception and will showcase with their band Blue Summit at various times during the week.

Meanwhile, AJ is up for an important national award — she has been named a finalist in the Vocalist category for the IBMA Momentum Awards.

Many other Californians will be in attendance, bringing national and international prominence to West Coast bluegrass music.

NCBS Board Of Directors Names Dana Frankel As Additional Member For 2018-2019

Dana Frankel

The Northern California Bluegrass Society Board Of Directors has named Dana Frankel as a member for the 2018-2019 year. She temporarily brings the board up to ten members, up from the traditional nine.

Frankel lives in Santa Cruz and is currently a sophomore at UC-Santa Cruz, where she is majoring in Sustainable Agriculture. She is a graduate of Notre Dame High School in Belmont.

Dana, Vicki, & Avram Frankel of the Dim Lights.

She grew up in the NCBS, attending and performing on fiddle at numerous Society events, including the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, Bluegrass On Broadway, the Brown Barn Bluegrass Festival and the Foggy Mountain Bluegrass Festival.  She has been a member of her family band, The Dim Lights, led by her parents Avram & Vicki Frankel of Pacifica, and also plays in Mission Blue with her father. She and Helen Foley are the bandleaders of Pacific Drive. As a youth, she performed with the Kids On Stage at the GOF and other area festivals.

She is interested in creating additional opportunities for younger bluegrass fans at NCBS events and helping to grow existing Society activities.

Jesse Fichman, Helen Foley & Dana Frankel of Pacific Drive.

 

 

Candidates Announced For The August 11, 2018 NCBS Board Of Directors Election

The following candidates will be on the ballot for the 2018-2019 Northern California Bluegrass Society Board Of Directors: Bruce Bellochio, Eric Burman, Bruce Edmundson, Jesse Fichman, Mike Fisher, Michael Hall, AJ Lee, Karen Reyes, & Mike Russell.

The election will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2018, 10:00am-5:00pm at the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival in Tres Pinos, and by mail.