Van Slam Family Meeting
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Britannia Community CentreMINUTES
Attendance: Daniel Patterson, Julie Peters, Chris Gilpin, Kaelyn Stappleton, Warren Fulton, Trevor Spilchen, Sara Randell, Sue Mcintyre, Duncan Shields, Lisa Slater, Sean McGarragle, Jill Binder, Kyle Mallingson, Angus Adair, Sonya Littlejohn, Jonny MacRae, Kevan Cameron, Steve Miller
1. Call to orderA quorum being present, the meeting was called to order at 2:07pm.
2. AgendaThe agenda was reviewed. By consensus, the Proposal for Videorecording was removed.
3. Introduction of Volunteer CoordinatorSonya Littlejohn is Van Slam’s new Volunteer Coordinator. She will schedule volunteers for regular slams, and can assist with alt slams if needed. The Van Slam Family members present welcomed Sonya and thanked her for volunteering to be Volunteer Coordinator.
4. Rule Change – Qualification for PlayoffsThe Rules Committee Moved that the new Points System for Playoff Qualifying be adopted as circulated.
Purpose: Put most excellent AND consistent poets into the playoffs
Under this proposal, effective September 21, 2009 (beginning of the new slam season), points will be awarded to the top scoring poets at each qualifying slam, as follows:
4th – 1 point
3rd – 4 points
2nd – 9 points
1st – 16 points
These point scores reflect the square of the number of people in the second round surpassed by a given poet. (eg 2nd place poet beat 3 other poets in the second round so gets 3x3=9 points).
At the end of the second to last slam of the regular season, the top 14 poets (by cumulative point count) will qualify for playoffs.
The final slam of the season will be a Wild Card Slam. The next 12 poets on the list will be allowed to compete. This means that the last chance slam list will be made of the next most qualified poets by points standing. The top 2 poets from the Wild Card Slam will go to the playoffs.
After discussion, the vote was called and taken by secret ballot, including 2 proxy votes.
11 in favour 7 opposed Adopted
5. CFSW UpdateCFSW will be held November 10-14, 2009, in Victoria. Sean reported that he has booked hotel rooms for Vancouver poets and friends attending CFSW. Get in touch with Sean for details and reservations. Sean also reported that the Poets of Honour at CFSW will be Andrea Thomson and CR Avery.
6. Rule Change – Maximum Number of Slams per Poet in One SeasonThe Rules Committee proposed that the new Maximum Number of Slams per Poet in One Season be adopted as circulated.
Purpose: Promote equal access for poets to competition and performance opportunities.
In one season, there are 13 qualifying slams. Under this proposal, each poet will be limited to participating in a maximum of seven regular season qualifying slams (open mic, sacrifice, alt slams and youth slams don’t count). If the list is not filled by slam time with poets who have fewer than 7 slams, a poet may compete past his/her 7th slam, but any standing in the top 4 at that slam will not result in further points be added to that poet’s cumulative score for standings.
An amendment was proposed by Kevan Cameron: That a poet may compete more than 7 times, if the list has not been filled by other poets with fewer than 7 slams, AND that the points count towards that poet’s standings if he/she is awarded points.
The amendment was defeated in a show of hands.
An amendment was proposed by Daniel Patterson: That a poet’s points be capped if he/she has accumulated 32 points or competed in 7 slams, whichever comes first, and that the poet compete in no further regular slams for the remainder of the season.
The amendment was defeated by in a show of hands.
An amendment was proposed by Johnny MacRae: That the maximum number of slams be 5 (not 7).
A further amendment was proposed by Kevan Cameron that the maximum number of slams be 6.
This amendment was accepted as a friendly amendment was passed in a show of hands.
The question was called and the motion to accept the new Maximum Number of Slams rule as amended (6 slams maximum) was passed.
7. Election of New International Slam MasterLisa Slater stepped down from the position of International Slam Master, after 2 years of service, with thanks from the Slam Family. Angus Adair and Duncan Shields were nominated to the position. Both candidates spoke briefly about their interest and qualifications. A secret ballot was taken with the following results:
Duncan Shields 13 votes
Angus Adair 3 votes
Duncan Shields was declared the new International Slam Master, for a two-year term.
8. Report on the Regular Slam SeasonSean McGarragle reported that earnings and participation have been excellent through the 2008-9 slam season. The Canada Council has once again granted funds to Van Slam via Vancouver Poetry House, for Canadian poets’ performance fees and transportation costs. Sean is looking for input into ways to enhance the slam program through feature poet performances. Anyone with ideas is invited to speak to Sean. Website forum participation has increased to the point where the forum is providing an important arena for exchange of information and ideas. All Van Slam Family members are encouraged to participate.
9. National Poetry Slam UpdateLisa Slater reported that Slam Family and Slam Master meetings were held as usual at NPS. Topics included the approval of performance of repeat poems at NPS Tournaments. This results in reduced requirements for total numbers of poems prepared by teams and individuals at NPS Tournaments. This contrasts with CFSW, where a no repeat rule has been adopted for finalists from one year to the next.
10. Improving Awareness of the Honour Code at SlamsThe group brainstormed ideas for promoting the Honour Code to the Slam Community:
• MC to read out honour code at sign-up time for all poets present
• Put the honour code in writing on a flier at each table
• Give written copy to signed-up poets
• The honour code is not just for poets – also for audience, MC, judges – everyone present
• Include the honour code in the MC spiel – friendly address to the whole audience by host
• Ensure that any read-aloud version of the honour code is not long
• Important to be environmentally responsible – don’t hand out too much paper with fliers
• Have the written honour code on the clipboard for signing-up poets to review
• Post a large sign (double-sided) on the café door for everyone to see
• Project the honour code onto a screen at the front of the café in the leadup time before the slam begins (could include other useful information)
• Put out a white board and attach a laminated copy of the honour code for people to read before the slam
Sean and Duncan will work with the Rules Committee to enact these measures as they see fit.
11. Van Slam Playoffs CDThe 2009 Playoffs CD will be released at Rhizome Café on September 19.
Discussion re: location of the merch table at the café on slam nights.
Suggestion: Although back corner table is preferred spot, merch coordinator and volunteer coordinator must have some leeway to determine location of the merch table. Agreed by consensus.
Warren Fulton volunteered to take on the role of Merch Coordinator. The Slam Family welcomed Warren to his new role, and thanked Chris Gilpin for establishing the role, and for his work as Merch Coordinator.
12. AdjournmentAt 3:55pm Motion: Adjourn the meeting M: Chris Gilpin S: Sean McGarragle Adopted
