hey duncan i'll be at friday night words tonight.
as for the rest.....
to my mind one of the most important things we can do is to provide a level playing field where all other advantage/s have been nullified so that the only advantage to be gained is artistic innovation.
and yes....this is going to be inherently a matter that is imperfect.
but we must do the best we can to preserve the integrity of the selection process.
and i want o focus on that phrase to answer your question rc.
the selection process-to my mind-is the entire season.I have heard it said that it is the playoffs alone but i disagree with that. the season is where we selct the people in playoffs so it had to be just as tightly run as the playoffs.
which is where your point comes in.we allowed you and sean to preside over part of that selection process.
so why the outcry now?
fair question.in fact it's an excellent question.
I have some qualms about allowing anyone being selected to preside over any aspect of the selection process.That's not to say that you and sean and lisa and trevor -all of whom have been selected by the process and presided over it throughout haven't done a fair and equitable job when hosting-you have.And it is certainly not to suggest that any of you haven't earned your slot in playoffs-you have.
But I think our selction process-both regular season and playoffs could use some thoughtful revision.
and i'd like to emphasize that it be thoughtful revision arrived at through the steerage of the rules commitee and voted upon by the slam family.
we've grown to the point where ad hoc decisions about format ofr and the execution of the selection process are no longer,imo,viable.
hence we have passed a constituion and rules committee and an honour code.
we need the codified structure-to prevent spurious protests and to properly officiate the valid ones.
so here's what i suggest.
A)We go ahead as we have planned. With the hosts and the competitors as drawn(poets) and appointed(hosts).
B)We agree that there is a need to have the rules committee go over the entire selection process-and empower them to do so- in the gap between now and the beginning of next season.
C)That the rules committee report back their recommendations for a revised and tightened selection process and protocols and steer discussion at a slam family mtg where we ratify these things-and then abide by them until such time that any chnages need to be made.
D)That in keeping with our constitution we only ever make changes to the selection process-in whole or in part-after those changes have been referred to a mtg of the rules committee.
Both slammasters are on that rules committee so any suggestion to flow forth from such a mtg will naturally reflect giving them the latitude they require to carry out their offices-but there are other voices democratically elected on that body as well to ensure that all voices and concerns are weighed and balanced-not just that of the executive.
I think this is more than fair.Making this cat walk backwards may not be in the cards but that is no reason not to move forwards productively using the bylaws,protocols,constitution and committees we worked hard to build.
And should there for any reason be a need to swap a host out of the playoffs-I wish to make it clear that I am willing and able to do this duty. And if ,dearly hope,as a member of the rules committee, with a rather thick CV on bout managing to be bout managing some of these events.If we are serious about personnel resources lets put our money where our mouth is and not sideline someone like myself-with lots of experience and a willingness to help.
laments about lack of qualified personnel ring hollow when someone with my expereince isn't even considered as a candidate for mcing or bout managing.
