FROM THE PUBLISHER
Connie Blumhardt
OVER THE COURSE OF HISTORY, popular literature has
co-opted the term “art” and used it
in conjunction with the perfection of a particular
pursuit. The Art of War, Zen
and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and The
Art of the Deal, are examples.
To this illustrious list, I am considering a book
to catalog the achievement of perfection of some
of the SCAA membership: The
Art of the Complaint.
The artistry of the complaint comes in many shapes
and colors; snide whispers, table-pounding rhetoric,
anonymous web board postings and, of course, opinion
pages in written publications. The past year and a
half, the SCAA has done its part to provide plenty
of raw material for the artists. However, the grumbles,
moans and grievances manufactured from these raw materials
have done nothing to move the association forward.
How can the membership have a positive influence over
its association? Perhaps by trying something new:
voting. In the last round of board elections, I believe
10 percent of the membership voted. Ten percent! A
higher percentage of nursing home residents voted
in the last MTV People’s Choice Awards, and
a higher percentage of teenagers tuned in to 60
Minutes.
Why was SCAA voter participation so low? Lack of knowledge
about the candidates? Frustration and apathy resulting
from the association’s financial difficulties?
Perhaps people are generally pleased with the organization
and the complaints are no more than minor niggling,
and not the sign of overall unhappiness. But, somehow,
I doubt that’s the case.
I have sat on the SCAA Allied Resources committee
for almost eight years, and after all the hard work
that I and many, many other volunteers have put into
the association, I can’t help but take this
negativity personally. I believe that the next two
years will be critical to the survival and growth
of the SCAA. A new year brings new leadership for
the SCAA with the recent hire of executive director,
Dawn Jantsch. Toting a proven track record of education
and experience as a professional association executive,
Jantsch has the opportunity to grow the association
both in quantity of membership and quality of service.
However, she will need the intelligence of an equally
dedicated board of directors and members.
Instead of 10 percent voting and 90 percent complaining,
I would like to challenge the membership to at least
equalize the ratio at 50/50 (baby steps). To achieve
this goal, the candidates must be challenged to present
their views on the current issues facing the organization
as well as their view of the future of the organization.
In addition, the SCAA and the industry trade publications
must meet the challenge of providing a forum for the
candidates and the challenge of providing the membership
information on how and when to vote.
Candidates include Ric Rhinehart for Office of 2nd
Vice President, Tracy Allen for Secretary Treasurer,
Ellie Hudson-Matuszak, Price Peterson, Jeff Vojta,
Mireya Asturias Jones, Jeff Taylor for Director Seats.
Information on the voting process can be found on
the SCAA website (www.scaa.org). Ballots will be mailed
on February 25 and must be returned by March 15.
Although we all appreciate fine art, I look forward
to seeing the creative energy of our industry being
applied in ways that have a higher potential of growing
a quality industry and moving all of specialty coffee
forward.
Warmest Wishes,
Connie
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