Cascade Blues Association Board of Directors Statements by Candidates for Positions on the 2003 Board Elections: December 4, 2002

    This page contains the statements submitted by many of the candidates who will be running for positions on the 2003 Cascade Blues Association Board of Directors. Elections for these positions will be held at December's General Membership Meeting on December 4th at the Melody Ballroom.

Greg Johnson

Candidate for President

    I have been a member of the Cascade Blues Association for around a decade now. I first began writing for the BluesNotes six years ago, with the encouragement of then-President Rick Hall. Over the years since, I have become a regular staff writer and the principal photographer for the paper. I took on a position as an At-Large Board member five years ago and the past two years I was elected as the CBA's Vice President. This last May, with the resignation of Jackson Lee, I became the CBA's Interim President.

    During my tenure with the CBA Board of Directors, I have been involved with many projects. I have worked on the Muddy Awards Committee every year since joining the Board. I was also the instigator of the Willamette Delta Showcase, which I have chaired since its inception and served as talent agent for the event, bringing to town artists such as Hubert Sumlin, Smokey Wilson and Phillip Walker. Among the other projects I have been associated with are the Journey To Memphis unsigned band competition, the Acoustic Roots & Blues Heritage CD production and the CBA Screen Saver. I have also represented the CBA as media liaison twice at the W.C. Handy Awards in Memphis, TN.

    My intentions as President would be the continued promotion of local artists and venues to the best of both the CBA's and my own capabilities. Part of this would be accomplished by exposing musicians who may not have high-profile name recognition at CBA general membership meetings. Though it is always popular to have top-name artists play at the meetings, for the most part they do not need the exposure as much as the up-and-coming performers. I would like to offer them the opportunity to be introduced to the fan base that'll best support them: the CBA membership. You may not always recognize the name of a band scheduled to appear, but I can guarantee that you're going to be surprised by more than just a few of these musicians. And I'll throw your favorites in there every now and then, too.

    I also envision a deeper involvement for the CBA with educational programs, and would like to entertain the idea of being an outlet for high school aged musicians to display their talent. How else will the Blues develop if not given a chance? Let's allow the CBA to be that outlet.

    I have a deep-rooted passion for this music and consider myself to be a student of its history. I want to share this learning process with as many others as I possibly can.

Rose Allen

Candidate for Vice President

    Earlier this year, I was selected by the CBA Board of Directors to hold the office of interim Vice President. My love for the Blues has caused me to become involved in this organization. I would like to continue in that role by requesting to be placed on the ballot as CBA VP. I am asking for your vote in order that I may continue in my role of decision-making on behalf of the betterment of the CBA. Thank you for your confidence in my abilities. Be sure to show up and vote!

Terry Odor

Candidate for Vice President

    My name is Terry L. Odor and I would like to place my name on the ballot for the position of Vice President of the Cascade Blues Association. I have been involved in the music business in various capacities most of my life. I have been on the Board of Directors of the Cascade Blues Association since July 2000, but I have been a member since September 1994, when I first moved to the Pacific Northwest.

    I have also been involved with the Waterfront Blues Festival since that time as a backstage volunteer. For the last four years, I have been Backstage Captain of the South (Main) Stage.

   All through school, elementary through the first year of college, I played trumpet and played professionally for a couple of years until I went into the Navy in 1967. I took a break from the music business in the '70s to establish my career as a Certified Public Accountant in California. From 1982 to 1994, I managed the career of a singer who is now a national act, also serving as sound technician, band manager, announcer and booking agent. I have a consulting business, BluesSlave, doing artist and event promotion and consulting.

    My concerns are to promote and preserve Blues as an art form, expand the awareness and appreciation of all the variations of the Blues across all age groups and to promote and preserve Portland's well earned reputation for its appreciation and acceptance of the Blues and American Roots Music.

Del Seitzinger

Candidate for Treasurer

    For those of you who do not know me, I have been the CBA Treasurer for the past four years; during my tenure in this position, I have:

• Deposited $240,000± from various income sources into CBA accounts; approximately 25% of the total consists of individual $18 membership checks.

• Written more than 1,025 checks for CBA expenditures of approximately the same amount.

• Instituted the change of a former passbook savings account to a risk-free money market account. In the first year, the new account generated ten times the interest of the old account.

• Updated the former "pencil & paper" accounting system to a computer-based system with easy-to-read printed pages, thereby improving the quality and quantity of financial records presented to the Board of Directors.

• Instituted a system of tracking expenditures for all CBA annual events. Additionally, I began applying raffle and net booth income against the costs to more accurately reflect the true expense of events.

• Researched the historical records of the Musicians Relief Fund, updating historical loan/payment information to the current timeframe. This permitted better analysis of the Fund's performance and usefulness which was conducive to a better analysis of current loan requests.

• Developed methods to account for new programs, such as: The Muddy Hall of Fame Tribute CD, Saturday Market Acoustic Roots & Blues Festival & CD, the Blues In Schools program, the 3^rd Sunday Clinic program, and the 15^th Anniversary Celebration.

• Worked diligently as the Waterfront Blues Festival liaison to improve the relationship between the CBA and the Festival. As a result of my efforts, I was invited to management meetings prior to the 2002 Festival as the CBA representative; this had not previously occurred for several years.

• Been a member of the Journey to Memphis Committee since its inception.

• Been a member of the Musicians' Relief Fund Committee.

• Chaired the committee currently attempting to re-institute the Acoustic Blues Festival.

• Been a member of the Willamette Delta Showcase Committee. After Greg completes his talent search, I negotiate the terms of agreements with artists, agents and managers, write the performance contracts, am responsible for developing contractual agreements with the venue including the timeline and lineup schedule, arrange air transportation, arrange radio interviews with the artists, maintain contact with artists and the venue prior to the show, and oversee all activities on the day of the show. In addition, I am responsible for the financial analysis of the show, and procured a $5,000 grant for the 2001 presentation.

• Worked hand-in-hand with LynnAnn Hyde and ETHOS Inc. on the Blues-In-Schools program, developed a successful business relationship with the ETHOS organization, and procured a $600 grant that will cover the CBA's financial obligation for all of calendar year 2003.

• Finally, I have expanded the duties of this position beyond merely making deposits and writing checks, to include responsibility for matters involving: local government, state government, federal government, the landlord, and professional service providers such as Internet, insurance and music/video production companies, and the CBA's attorney.

Marshall King

Candidate for Treasurer

    Professional Qualifications - Marshall graduated from Portland State University in 1985 after which he joined the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche. During four years with the firm, Marshall worked as an auditor of corporate financial statements and earned his CPA license (currently inactive). After leaving Deloitte & Touche he was corporate controller for Pacific Seafoods and then Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for the Ray F. Becker Company. Since assisting in the sale of the Becker Company, Marshall has been a partner in his own consulting firm, Hutchison & King.

    Marshall's practice consists of outsourced controller and chief financial officer services, accounting systems review, planning and implementation, and special financial projects. The firm is hired primarily by owners, presidents, CFOs and investment bankers.

    Musical Interests - A guitar player since the age of 10, Marshall is the founder of King Brothers Circus featuring JC Rico, a six-piece Blues band that performed at the 2001 Waterfront Blues Festival, 2002 Untapped Blues & Brews Festival, and for four years on the Portland Spirit. Earlier in life, Marshall worked in a record store for five years and played in a variety of Blues, Rock and Jazz bands.

    What Can Marshall Bring to the Cascade Blues Association? - Marshall brings an understanding of the challenges in the music world along with his skills as an accounting and finance professional. Marshall can provide the organization a fresh look at the CBA's finances and accounting processes. As the organization celebrates its 15^th year, it is important that basic controls and financial reporting are in place to help assure that the CBA will continue to grow and flourish for many more years.

    Marshall is excited about the opportunity to serve the CBA and the board and looks forward to the next year.

LeEtta Clark

Candidate for Membership Secretary

    I became a CBA member in August 2000, just one year after arriving in the Portland Metro area from California. I spent about 6 months prior to becoming a member visiting many of the CBA functions and events as a volunteer, just to get to know the people. In August 2002, I was asked by the Board to become the Interim Membership Secretary and then in January 2002 I was voted in as the 2002 Membership Secretary.

    During my term as Membership Secretary, in addition to processing memberships and sending out renewal notices, I have performed as the Volunteer Coordinator; BIS Liaison for LynnAnn Hyde; Chairperson for the monthly BluesNotes mailing committee; Hospitality Chairperson for the Waterfront Blues Festival; Co-Chair for this year's Annual Membership Picnic; and the Chairperson for the Annual Holiday Party.

    Because I am still new to the Blues scene and learning every day, I have been more of a "Behind-The-Scenes" person during many of the events, soliciting sponsors; furnishing volunteers; purchasing office and event supplies; etc., and if I am re-elected this year as Membership Secretary, I plan to be more visible and attend more of the local and Co-Sponsored events, in addition to continuing my efforts to expand the Vancouver, WA area participation in the CBA.

© 2002 Cascade Blues Association