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Dear IAJE Family,
It
is with a great sense of loss that I inform you that despite
drastic efforts to cut expenses and raise emergency funds,
the IAJE Board has voted to file for bankruptcy under
Chapter 7 of the Federal Bankruptcy Law. I want to thank
profusely those who responded with their generous donations
and offers of assistance following my last communication.
While over 250 individuals contributed just over $12,000,
this, along with the many other efforts and contributions of
IAJE staff, Board members, and association partners, was
simply not enough to address the accumulated debt of the
organization or its urgent need for cash relief.
In
the next few days, a Kansas bankruptcy court will appoint a
trustee to oversee all ongoing aspects of the association.
This includes the ability to examine IAJE's financial
records and mount an independent inquiry into the causes of
it's financial downfall as well as disposing of the
remaining assets of the association with proceeds
distributed to creditors in accordance with Kansas and
Federal law. The board will no longer be involved in
operation of the organization and will at some point resign.
IAJE as it presently stands will no longer exist.
Approximately a week after filing, all potential creditors
of the association will receive notice of the association's
filing from the court. Members who desire additional
information regarding the petition, including a complete
listing of association assets and liabilities, may retrieve
this, as it is a public document, through normal court
procedures. Undoubtedly, however, you will have more
immediate questions deserving of responses I hope to address
in this report.
Since the first communication to the membership outlining
this crisis, there has been considerable public speculation
as to its causes. As noted in that communication, years of
dependence upon the conference as a primary (but unreliable)
revenue stream and the launch of a well-intentioned capital
campaign (the Campaign for Jazz), which generated a meager
response but required considerable expenditures in advance
of contributions, drove the association into insolvency.
Sadly, the attendance at the conference in Toronto (the
lowest in 10 years) exacerbated an already critical
situation, depriving the association of the cash-flow needed
to continue daily operations as well as the time needed to
seek alternative resources.
While ultimately not able to skirt the financial land mines
placed in its path, I want to assure you the IAJE Board has
acted responsibly, ethically, and with a sense of urgency
ever since it was blindsided last fall with the discovery of
the extent of the accumulated association debt. Since that
time, the board slashed spending, set specific performance
targets for the Executive Director, sought outside
consultations, and enlisted the services of several
past-presidents and strategic association partners in
attempts to raise funds - sadly, with minimal success.
It
goes without saying, the board you elected is comprised of
very accomplished, intelligent, and dedicated educators and
professionals who have given generously of their time in
service to this association and care about it passionately.
Likewise, our entire professional staff, led by Associate
Executive Director, Vivian Orndorff, and Executive Producer,
Steve Baker, has worked heroically in the face of declining
resources to meet the needs of the association and its
members. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank both the
board and staff for their service. I have been privileged
and honored to serve with them. While there may be those who
question specific decisions or strategies in efforts to meet
this crisis, the dedication and integrity of these
individuals should never be in doubt.
As
we move forward, one of the most pressing questions is how
the operations of individual chapters and affiliated
associations will be affected by this filing. Since our
chapters are either separate corporate entitles or voluntary
associations with their own boards, constitutions and
bylaws; IAJE views them as completely independent entities.
Ultimately, however, the trustee and the court will make
this determination and it is anticipated that the trustee
may request certain information from the chapters in this
regard.
Sadly, the 2009 IAJE International Conference in Seattle has
been cancelled. However, there has been some discussion of
mounting a regional conference in its place. At the moment,
Lou Fischer, U.S. Board Representative is fielding
inquiries:
ljazzmanf@yahoo.com.
For
the time being, the IAJE website will remain up. However,
the international offices of IAJE will close their doors at
the end of the day on Friday, April 18th. Should there be
additional questions you may submit them to
info@iaje.org
and every attempt will be made to respond to these as
staffing allows.
Today, we, the members of IAJE and the global jazz
community, face an extremely important task. For, as we all
recognize, the opportunities, impact, and work of this
association are too vital to simply disappear. Whether you
were first drawn to IAJE for its conference, its magazine or
research publications, its student scholarship programs such
as Sisters in Jazz or the Clifford Brown/Stan Getz
All-Stars, its Teacher Training Institutes, the resources
provided through its website or Resource Team, or any one of
a number of other offerings; it is clear the mission of IAJE
still resonates and its advocacy is needed today more than
ever. We must, therefore, look at this as an opportunity to
refocus the mission, scope, programs, and vision of IAJE (or
whatever succeeds it) to better meet the needs of our
members and the jazz community not only today but looking
toward the future.
I am, in no way, suggesting the membership turn a blind eye
towards the need for an independent inquiry into causes and
ultimately assigning responsibility for this situation. I
ask you recognize the court appointed trustee, who will have
access to all necessary documents and facts, is charged with
that task. Our efforts and our passion, should be to
collectively rally the community to recognize the importance
IAJE has had and continues to have in the life and
development of jazz and jazz education - seeking new
strategic partnerships, new government structures, and a
revitalized mission that embraces current needs.
Already there are efforts to do just that. I know that Mary
Jo Papich, who would have begun serving her term as
President of IAJE beginning this July, is dedicated to
recreating such an association. As many know, Mary Jo has
been a tireless advocate for IAJE, serving it long and well.
You will, undoubtedly, be hearing from her in the near
future. When she does contact you, I urge you to join me in
offering her every support and assistance. Of course, others
may also seek to fill this void by promoting alternative
visions for empowering, serving, and gathering the jazz
community. While I generally believe such diversity is quite
healthy, I would strongly encourage all such efforts and
leaders to attempt to collaborate and seek ways to unite us
in spirit and strength.
Finally, I would encourage you to recognize and remember
IAJE for all the tremendous good it has done in the past 40
years. Many individuals have contributed along the way,
often at considerable personal sacrifice of their time and
resources, to establish and advance the work of this
association. Much has been achieved that can never be taken
away! Therefore, the vision, effort, and shared passion that
have fueled the growth of IAJE and its programs should not
be forgotten or considered in vain. Rather, the spirit that
is IAJE must be rekindled into a new vision for the future.
Sincerely,
The IAJE Board - Chuck Owen, PresidentThis message has
been sent to you by the International Association for Jazz
Education, PO Box 724, Manhattan KS 66502, USA •
info@iaje.org • (785)
776-8744 |
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