Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Wondering what Boots is up to?
Since Boots Hughston stopped working on Reggae on the River he's shifted his energy to another concert. This press release gives the details.
From: Boots Hughston
Announced Today
World's Long Anticipated
40th Anniversary of the Summer of Love,
San Francisco, Sept. 2, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO, CA. - The Summer of Love 40th will be held Sunday, September 2nd at Speedway Meadows, Golden Gate Park, from 10am to 6pm. ADMISSION IS FREE.
Musicians from across the country will be joining San Francisco at ground zero, where it all began, celebrating ""Summer of Love 40th" Anniversary".
CONFIRMED ACTS INCLUDE: Ray Manzarek (the Doors), Country Joe McDonald (Country Joe and the Fish), Canned Heat, Michael McClure (Beat poet), ruth weiss (Beat Poet), New Riders of the Purple Sage, Nick Gravenites Band with David Laflamme, Alameda All Stars (Gregg Allman), Merl Saunders (supporting the effort), Terry Haggerty (Sons of Champlin), Dan Hicks, The Charlatans, Essra Mohawk (Mothers of Invention), Barry "The Fish" Melton (Country Joe and the Fish), Squid B. Vicious, Jim Post (Friend and Lover, Siegel Schwall Blues Band), Paul "Lobster" Wells (DJ) , Chief Sunny Ray, Fishbone, Iroquois Tribe, Dakota Tribe, Seminole Tribe, Emitt Powell and the Gospel Elites. Additional acts are still confirming. For more information and a complete listing of entertainment, please see: www.2b1records.com/summeroflove40th.
Representatives from hundreds of groups are joining the event in support of the principles of peace, love, and understanding. These include:
- The American Indigenous Peoples
- The Seminole Tribe
- The Iroquois Tribe
- Indigenous People of South America
- Speakers from the peace movement
- Speakers from the Free speech movement
- Speakers from the Anti-war movement
- Poets from the beat generation
Events across the nation and around the world are honoring the "Summer of Love 40th" in support of San Francisco's counter-culture. San Diego, Monterey, Vancouver Canada, England, France, Germany & the Czech Republic are all supporting the principals of the 60's generation, and the birth of the counter-culture.
A webcast of the event will be streamed throughout the day at the Apple QuicktimeTM website. For more information : www.2b1records.com/summeroflove40th.
Pop artist icon, Peter Max said, "I am so happy to see a concert is being held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love. It's important there is a historical legacy to the message this time period represents. We need to always celebrate the universal values of compassion, peace and love."
PRODUCER: Boots Hughston
Background:
THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SUMMER OF LOVE 2007 Proclamation
There are moments in time when a word or thought has such power that it changes history; a generation so involved in the moment that it becomes unstoppable; and a spiritual awaking so profound that its very conception shatters perceptions, halts the world and makes people from
all nations take notice.
It started with a simple four letter word - LOVE! In the 1960's this word became synonymous with a generation and a city called San Francisco. It was a concept, a belief deep in the hearts of all who were there (and those who wished they were). It began with the writers and artists such as Ken Kesey, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and the "Beat Generation".
The epicenter of this movement was in certain neighborhoods of San Francisco such as North Beach and Haight Ashbury and in cities like Palo Alto, Berkeley, Los Angeles and New York. These pockets of anti-social, anti-establishment individuals questioned authority and their
surroundings while searching for the real meanings of life and the deeper truths. These small communities of like-minded individuals and "families" of communal creativity focused on poetry, art, folk music, jazz, and rock'n roll, demanding to be free of societal restrictions, restraints and hang up's.
And then one summer it happened! "We Were Everywhere". The pureness of thought exploded exponentially and there were now millions of us. This event, this historical moment which included most of 1967, became known as the "SUMMER OF LOVE".
During this period the Peace Movement was born with the "Human Be-Ins" in San Francisco and the "Love-Ins" in New York. Anti-war demonstrations occurred everywhere and college campuses erupted with thousands of people refusing the draft. The American Indians took Alcatraz and fought for their rights at Wounded Knee. This startled the government; presidents were impeached, wars were stopped, an entire generation stood up and said "Hell No".
Social change was occurring and continued on multiple levels. Out of this orderly chaos came the "movements": The Free Speech Movement, Free Love Movement, the Farm Workers Movement, the Women's Movement, the Gay Movement, the Environmental Movement, the Ecology Movement, the Animal Rights Movement, the Sexual Revolution, the Spiritual Movement, the Student Movements, the Black Movement and the Anti-War Movement.
The message was clear and the world was uniting behind one principle and one thought - LOVE! and its affirmation of PEACE, COMPASSION, and UNDERSTANDING. The word was brought fourth by musicians such as Donovan, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, the Grateful Dead, and Jefferson Airplane and then carried on by many of the English musicians like Eric Clapton, the
Beatles, and the Rolling Stones.
Because of this free thinking environment a renaissance of gifted genius' occurred with the likes of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Jim Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. Concepts and inventions were coming a mile a minute touching every segment of society and even the
engineering world participated by inventing the computer, the calculator and the transistor.
The Internet, too had it's inceptions in the 1960's as a whole new creative sector of the economy developed within, took hold and became Silicon Valley (later home to Apple Computers). The international community was also in awe of this explosion of creativity as Olympic athletes showed their solidarity by uniting with the winds of change.
All this started with a simple word, a simple thought - LOVE! and a generation willing to stand up and be counted and their willingness to be different.
This period of change is commemorated by celebrating the "SUMMER OF LOVE"
It stands for: Truth and individual freedom.
Freedom of expression.
Freedom for an individual to make a choice - sexually, spiritually and socially.
Our rights to be different and still belong.
Honor in refusing to fight yet honoring those who do.
Creativity, love and respect for all things.
Our right to make a difference.
Our right to think independently. Our willingness to share with others.
In 2007 the 40th Anniversary of the SUMMER OF LOVE will be celebrated with a FREE concert in Golden Gate Park, Speedway Meadows, San Francisco, on September 2nd from 10 am to 6pm. All are welcome.
Boots-2b1
Thursday, May 24, 2007
did you have a question?
This press relaease would seem to be designed to clear up confusion in the marketplace (lots of folks outside Humboldt County are not aware of what's transpired with Reggae), but also to answer a lot of criticism that's showed up in the blogosphere. I'm guessing many of you might come up different answers to these "questions."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
From: The Dimmick Ranch
Date: Thursday, May 24, 2007
REGGAE RISING MUSIC FESTIVAL ADDRESSES YOUR QUESTIONS:
1. What festival will be happening the first weekend in August on the Dimmick Ranch and French’s Camp?
- Reggae Rising Music Festival will be the only show happening on the Dimmick Ranch and French’s Camp in 2007.
2. What about Reggae on the River?
- Sadly, Reggae on the River has been cancelled for 2007. The Dimmick Ranch terminated their lease agreement with the Mateel Community Center Inc because the Mateel improperly purported to terminate their production contract with People Productions. Since the Mateel’s lease contained a contractual obligation to use People Productions for the term of the agreement, this constituted a material breach of the lease with The Dimmick Ranch. Unfortunately, rather than find an acceptable compromise between the parties to resolve the dispute, the Mateel hired a new producer, 2B1 Multimedia from San Francisco and attempted to produce the event despite having a disputed lease agreement with The Dimmick Ranch, no lease of French’s Camp and no agreement with the Cooks Valley Camping Area. For months they continued to promote a show on property they have no legal right to occupy and sold tickets to a concert advertising many artists with whom they had no contractual agreements.
3. Did the Mateel Community Center pay for all of the infrastructure improvements to the Dimmick Ranch?
- No, Mateel shared the cost of infrastructure improvements with the Dimmick Ranch. Tom Dimmick was obligated to provide a significant construction allowance toward the infrastructure. He paid for most of the municipal grade water system as well as the large electrical upgrades. In addition to this, Tom Dimmick also supplied, at no charge, much of the lumber used to create many of the booths, as well as drain rock for the grey water systems, and heavy equipment operating time on the site. In the spirit of cooperation Tom contributed well over the contractual obligation of the construction allowance.
4. Has the Dimmick Ranch and People Production LLC tried to reach an equitable resolution with the Mateel Community Center Inc.?
- Yes. The Dimmick Ranch and People Productions, LLC, have been trying to resolve this dispute with the Mateel for many months. As far back as April of 2006, when it first became apparent that the cost of building the infrastructure to the county’s requirements would potentially impact the event’s profitability in 2006, People Productions suggested licensing the event so the Mateel would have guaranteed income. The Mateel turned down this offer. Even after the 2006 event, The Dimmick Ranch and People Productions presented the Mateel with a bill deferment plan to preserve the Mateel’s cash flow situation. The Mateel was not interested in this proposal either. Many multi- million dollar offers have been made over the months to provide an equitable solution for all three parties, but, sadly, none have been agreed upon.
5. Is it true that People Productions quit?
- No. People Productions was bound by a written contract and could not quit. We contend their contract was improperly terminated by the Mateel Community Center Inc. on December 28th, 2006. On December 27th People Productions sent an email to the Mateel Community Center Inc. reaffirming their commitment to continue to fulfill their contractual obligations to the MCC as the producer’s of Reggae on the River. The only way the contract between the MCC and People Productions, LLC, could be terminated is by both parties following the negotiated and agreed upon procedure as set forth in the contract between People Productions, LLC, and the MCC.
6. Is this a corporate takeover?
- No, that notion is ridiculous. The Mateel Community Center Inc., People Productions LLC and 2B1 Multimedia are all corporations.
- Carol Bruno was one of the founders and visionaries of Reggae on the River and the Mateel Community Center. She has been the festival’s only constant producer since the very beginning. The first 11 years when she headed the Mateel team and then produced Reggae on the River as primary partner in People Productions for the next 12 years with long time partner and friend, Paul Bassis and their exceptional production team of Reggae Coordinators and dedicated volunteers.
- Carol Bruno has also donated her expertise on a multitude of projects benefiting a broad cross section of the entire Humboldt County community.
- Tom Dimmick is a life long resident of southern Humboldt and his family history here goes back to the 1940’s. He purchased the new Dimmick Ranch site from his family in large part to secure a permanent home for the Reggae on the River festival. The festival staff who work with the Dimmick Ranch in unison with People Productions LLC are the same Reggae Coordinators who have been part of the festival for years, many since the beginning over 20 years ago.
7. What about the local non-profits?
- People Productions LLC and the dedicated staff and volunteers have been working for the past four months, voluntarily, to produce and host a world-class reggae festival with a wonderful lineup of music for our dedicated fans from all over the world.
- The festival will enrich the community and support our nonprofit organizations and local businesses that derive so much economic support from the event.
8. Who else will benefit from Reggae Rising?
- Reggae Rising is in the process of forming a foundation to use a portion of the proceeds of the event to support select local and international non-profit organizations. While the Mateel Community Center may well benefit from the event through this charitable giving arm, Reggae Rising feels that reggae music is international and as such, one of our duties will be to give support to crucial international aid organizations as well. We are very excited at the prospect of being in a position to provide some much needed relief in parts of the world that could really use the help.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
From: The Dimmick Ranch
Date: Thursday, May 24, 2007
REGGAE RISING MUSIC FESTIVAL ADDRESSES YOUR QUESTIONS:
1. What festival will be happening the first weekend in August on the Dimmick Ranch and French’s Camp?
- Reggae Rising Music Festival will be the only show happening on the Dimmick Ranch and French’s Camp in 2007.
2. What about Reggae on the River?
- Sadly, Reggae on the River has been cancelled for 2007. The Dimmick Ranch terminated their lease agreement with the Mateel Community Center Inc because the Mateel improperly purported to terminate their production contract with People Productions. Since the Mateel’s lease contained a contractual obligation to use People Productions for the term of the agreement, this constituted a material breach of the lease with The Dimmick Ranch. Unfortunately, rather than find an acceptable compromise between the parties to resolve the dispute, the Mateel hired a new producer, 2B1 Multimedia from San Francisco and attempted to produce the event despite having a disputed lease agreement with The Dimmick Ranch, no lease of French’s Camp and no agreement with the Cooks Valley Camping Area. For months they continued to promote a show on property they have no legal right to occupy and sold tickets to a concert advertising many artists with whom they had no contractual agreements.
3. Did the Mateel Community Center pay for all of the infrastructure improvements to the Dimmick Ranch?
- No, Mateel shared the cost of infrastructure improvements with the Dimmick Ranch. Tom Dimmick was obligated to provide a significant construction allowance toward the infrastructure. He paid for most of the municipal grade water system as well as the large electrical upgrades. In addition to this, Tom Dimmick also supplied, at no charge, much of the lumber used to create many of the booths, as well as drain rock for the grey water systems, and heavy equipment operating time on the site. In the spirit of cooperation Tom contributed well over the contractual obligation of the construction allowance.
4. Has the Dimmick Ranch and People Production LLC tried to reach an equitable resolution with the Mateel Community Center Inc.?
- Yes. The Dimmick Ranch and People Productions, LLC, have been trying to resolve this dispute with the Mateel for many months. As far back as April of 2006, when it first became apparent that the cost of building the infrastructure to the county’s requirements would potentially impact the event’s profitability in 2006, People Productions suggested licensing the event so the Mateel would have guaranteed income. The Mateel turned down this offer. Even after the 2006 event, The Dimmick Ranch and People Productions presented the Mateel with a bill deferment plan to preserve the Mateel’s cash flow situation. The Mateel was not interested in this proposal either. Many multi- million dollar offers have been made over the months to provide an equitable solution for all three parties, but, sadly, none have been agreed upon.
5. Is it true that People Productions quit?
- No. People Productions was bound by a written contract and could not quit. We contend their contract was improperly terminated by the Mateel Community Center Inc. on December 28th, 2006. On December 27th People Productions sent an email to the Mateel Community Center Inc. reaffirming their commitment to continue to fulfill their contractual obligations to the MCC as the producer’s of Reggae on the River. The only way the contract between the MCC and People Productions, LLC, could be terminated is by both parties following the negotiated and agreed upon procedure as set forth in the contract between People Productions, LLC, and the MCC.
6. Is this a corporate takeover?
- No, that notion is ridiculous. The Mateel Community Center Inc., People Productions LLC and 2B1 Multimedia are all corporations.
- Carol Bruno was one of the founders and visionaries of Reggae on the River and the Mateel Community Center. She has been the festival’s only constant producer since the very beginning. The first 11 years when she headed the Mateel team and then produced Reggae on the River as primary partner in People Productions for the next 12 years with long time partner and friend, Paul Bassis and their exceptional production team of Reggae Coordinators and dedicated volunteers.
- Carol Bruno has also donated her expertise on a multitude of projects benefiting a broad cross section of the entire Humboldt County community.
- Tom Dimmick is a life long resident of southern Humboldt and his family history here goes back to the 1940’s. He purchased the new Dimmick Ranch site from his family in large part to secure a permanent home for the Reggae on the River festival. The festival staff who work with the Dimmick Ranch in unison with People Productions LLC are the same Reggae Coordinators who have been part of the festival for years, many since the beginning over 20 years ago.
7. What about the local non-profits?
- People Productions LLC and the dedicated staff and volunteers have been working for the past four months, voluntarily, to produce and host a world-class reggae festival with a wonderful lineup of music for our dedicated fans from all over the world.
- The festival will enrich the community and support our nonprofit organizations and local businesses that derive so much economic support from the event.
8. Who else will benefit from Reggae Rising?
- Reggae Rising is in the process of forming a foundation to use a portion of the proceeds of the event to support select local and international non-profit organizations. While the Mateel Community Center may well benefit from the event through this charitable giving arm, Reggae Rising feels that reggae music is international and as such, one of our duties will be to give support to crucial international aid organizations as well. We are very excited at the prospect of being in a position to provide some much needed relief in parts of the world that could really use the help.
Prophet R.I.P.
This sad news, now a month old, came today via a newsletter from the Reggae Festival Guide. (thanks to Kim the archivist for the photo)
A friend of Reggae Festival Guides - Wesley Moore Sr.– known to his friends and family as "Prophet" passed away Saturday, April 7, 2007. His body was to be sent back to Jamaica where he requested to be buried in Irwin above the hills of Montego Bay next to his parents. His wife Holly and daughter Zenzi will accompanied him there.
Sacramento, CA. is celebrated the passing of Prophet by holding a Nyabinghi celebration at Prophet's home on April 21st and 22nd.
Prophet was born on April 22, 1952 in Jamaica. He has seven beautiful children with his wife Holly and two from a previous marriage. He was surrounded by his children as he drew his last breath, with baby daughter Micaela laying on his shoulder and another sibling reading Psalms.
Prophet had struggled with a long bout of lung cancer but he never complained and was sharing words of wisdom and even cracking jokes up to the last minute. On one of the days before his passing, Holly tried to get him to eat something and he told her, "Holly, you don't get everything you want."
The day before that, he told his bredren, "Man is like a green pear tree –today it bears fruit and tomorrow whithers away."
Prophet, known and loved among the reggae and Rasta community was known as an Elder, a chef and a friend to all. He will be sorely missed.
I met Prophet the first time I went to Reggae -- for years he was in charge of the Rasta kitchen backstage -- I found him busy frying batches of fish for early arriving performers, with a pot of callaloo going on the back of the stove. I haven't seen him for a long time and had wondered what became of him.
Anyone out there have memories they'd like to share?
Friday, May 18, 2007
a note from Taunya
Mateel ED Taunya Stapp writes regarding the lawyer's letter below:
The last communication the Board of Directors for the Mateel had as of the time this letter was posted was dated May 14, 2007 and states: "Please inform your client not to respond to these proposed deal terms with a 'counterproposal.'" That would have been normal business practice to allow the negotiations to continue. The Mateel, in fact, was told not to continue. The new communication posted on Bob's blog had not yet been received by the Mateel at the time it posted.
Regardless, the only sticking point for a one year deal in '07 has come down to the use of the name Reggae Rising. The Board significantly changed its demands in order to do whatever it could to get a deal for this year's festival on behalf of the nonprofit community. It stated one point it would not negotiate on and that was the name of the festival.
It is time for the Dimmick Ranch to put their words into action and cease using the argument that "they can't make any money." It is time to show that the community's well being is foremost in their mindset, as they have said many times, and drop their thinly-veiled demands on the name.
Taunya Stapp
Executive Director
Mateel Community Center
The last communication the Board of Directors for the Mateel had as of the time this letter was posted was dated May 14, 2007 and states: "Please inform your client not to respond to these proposed deal terms with a 'counterproposal.'" That would have been normal business practice to allow the negotiations to continue. The Mateel, in fact, was told not to continue. The new communication posted on Bob's blog had not yet been received by the Mateel at the time it posted.
Regardless, the only sticking point for a one year deal in '07 has come down to the use of the name Reggae Rising. The Board significantly changed its demands in order to do whatever it could to get a deal for this year's festival on behalf of the nonprofit community. It stated one point it would not negotiate on and that was the name of the festival.
It is time for the Dimmick Ranch to put their words into action and cease using the argument that "they can't make any money." It is time to show that the community's well being is foremost in their mindset, as they have said many times, and drop their thinly-veiled demands on the name.
Taunya Stapp
Executive Director
Mateel Community Center
Thursday, May 17, 2007
What's in a name?
This came from Meeka with the following note:
"As the MCC continues to release their attorney letters, We feel it is important that both sides are represented. Enclosed is the final letter from the weekend negotiations."
a reminder: click on image to enlarge
"As the MCC continues to release their attorney letters, We feel it is important that both sides are represented. Enclosed is the final letter from the weekend negotiations."
a reminder: click on image to enlarge
from the Freedom First! art collective
Below is a portion of Neale Donald Walsch's book "The New Revelations: A Conversation with God". However, the original read a little differently. "Reggae" has replaced "God" and "Community" has replaced "Life".
----------------------------------------------
You can choose to take these steps now if changing your world , and the self-destructive direction in which it is moving is what you wish to achieve. Make this declaration:
The Five Steps to Peace:
1. I acknowledge that some of my old beliefs about Reggae and about the Community are no longer working.
2. I acknowledge that there is something I do not understand about about Reggae and about the Community, the understanding of which could change everything.
3. I am willing for new understandings about Reggae and about the Community, to now be brought forth, understandings that could produce a new way of life on this planet.
4. I am willing to explore and examine these new understandings, and, if they align with my inner truth and knowing, to enlarge my belief system to include them.
5. I am willing to live my life as a demonstration of my beliefs.
These are the Five Steps to Peace, and if you take them, you can shift everything on your planet.
---------------------------
I Rule I Eternally,
- brought to you by Humboldt Friends of the First Amendment
(aka the Freedom First! art collective)
----------------------------------------------
You can choose to take these steps now if changing your world , and the self-destructive direction in which it is moving is what you wish to achieve. Make this declaration:
The Five Steps to Peace:
1. I acknowledge that some of my old beliefs about Reggae and about the Community are no longer working.
2. I acknowledge that there is something I do not understand about about Reggae and about the Community, the understanding of which could change everything.
3. I am willing for new understandings about Reggae and about the Community, to now be brought forth, understandings that could produce a new way of life on this planet.
4. I am willing to explore and examine these new understandings, and, if they align with my inner truth and knowing, to enlarge my belief system to include them.
5. I am willing to live my life as a demonstration of my beliefs.
These are the Five Steps to Peace, and if you take them, you can shift everything on your planet.
---------------------------
I Rule I Eternally,
- brought to you by Humboldt Friends of the First Amendment
(aka the Freedom First! art collective)
hoping healing happens...
I've been getting a slew of comments from one side or another in the last couple of days, most of them from angry folks who want to vent frustration about one thing or another. I've pretty much been ignoring them. This comment on Taunya's letter from the Mateel perspective seemed different. I'm taking the person's word that they are not one of the anons who have been dueling on the blogs for the last few months. This seems to be someone who took some time to think before blasting off a comment. Yes, some of what they say has been said before, and yes, it's just one person's anonymous opinion, and no, I do not necessarily agree with what's said here, but I think it's worth posting.
If you have something to say in response, please do so in a coherent, thoughtful manner. Don't bother throwing mud or writing something where you replace the "s" with $ (very clever - not) -- you are basically wasting your time and mine...
I am a long time volunteer of reggae on the river and this will be my first post to one of these blogs.... I am saddened by the whole situation , but am also amazed by the mateel's stance and position here. It is really amazing to me how the mateel put's all the blame on people productions and tom dimmick and assumes NONE of the responsibility for the current situation they are in.
I read in one of the blogs how people are comparing people productions to republicans, i must say from my perspective it seems as though the mateel folks are the ones acting more like our current administration than the folks over at people productions. George bush continues to stick to his same talking points year after year when most of the country sees right through him. they use god to justify their actions and unfortunately, a good portion of americans buy into the propaganda presented. I see the mateel doing a very similar thing here, using the moral high ground of the non profit community center to justify their means and course of action. Protecting the community from the corporate "hijacking" as they like to "frame" it. this is just ridiculous.
Something else that doesn't seem to get talked about much is the fact that Tom Dimmick has the most to lose here. He signed an agreement/contract with the mateel based on the fact that People prodcutions would produce the show. Seems like a sound business decision to me. I certainly wouldn't want that size of a festival on my property run by folks with ZERO experience in producing a show of this size and magnitude. Am I the only one who really sees it this way?? All you Mateel supporters, would you have the festival on your property with a producer that had never produced the show before??
Please let's try to look at this situation with some clarity and set our emotions aside. Tom and Carol worked very hard to bring resolution to this issue, it was the mateel that wouldn't budge or presented counter offers that were simply over the top. Come on, this is a show that the mateel wanted tom dimmick to basically sign his land over in the event the show didn't produce the income the People folks promised it would.
Now again, let's get real here, let's just assume that everything was beautiful between the warring parties and none of this bs surrounded the event. Is there any guarantee that the event would continue to produce the income it had over the next 9 years. NO, there isn't. Would it be a reasonable thing to expect the land owner to sign over his property to the beneficiary of the event guaranteeing something he had no control over.
Again, the mateel stonewalled all the offers presented and then blame it on tom dimmick for being unreasonable. Everyone needs to step back and try to look at this situation from a business perspective without all the politics and emotions. If you do, I think you'll have no choice but to agree with my point of view. I see poor business decisions and tunnel vision on the part of the board.
I think the folks running the mateel lost sight of what their job as board members really is. Their job is to secure financially the future of the community center. The fact that the folks at the mateel still feel the value of their trademark is worth so much, either says, they really don't have a clue or they are using this concept as a smoke screen to justify their irresponsible actions over the past 6 months.
The fact that using the name reggae rising on the print material is what seems to be the final deal breaker is really amazing to me....Again it makes no sense to me, how or why the mateel would refuse that, based on all the market confusion that currently exists surrounding this event.
I have heard that people productions have already distributed ten's of thousands of brochures regarding reggae rising...the only way to insure a successful show at this point would be to have both names on the flyer. the mateel's position that that just sets up the "take over" for next year is really ludicrous. The name reggae on the river is so damaged at this point, that it's value that the mateel struggles so hard to protect is really irrelevant at this point.
The mateel may own the trademark ROTR, but the folks at people own the spirit, and that issue can be argued all day and my opinion will not change. The fact that the mateel tries to claim that spirit is again ridiculous to me. Yes the mateel has funded the show over the years, but it has been a team effort, and if it were not for the folks at people producing a world class event, the funds would not have been there and the whole arguement about the ten's of thousands of dollars the mateel has invested in this show wouldn't be there and there would be no show and no funds and no problems (am I the only one who sees it like this??). Without Carol Bruno and PB, the event would not be what it has become today (or yesterday).
Again, the mateel has spent this communities money on a lawsuit that could have been settled months ago, and that settlement would have taken care of the mateel's financial needs for at least the next 9 years... and I may add, that it would have done that in a way where the mateel would have been taking on none of the risk it had assumed in the past, ie; tom dimmick was going to take on the risk of funding the show, not the mateel, big difference.
My understanding is that in the past, the mateel took on the financial risk, but in the new proposals and offers, it would be the producer taking on the risk. doesn't it make sense that the entity bearing the financial risk should get more than an entity not bearing any risk???
It is sad our community can't seem to come together on this issue, and I'm not sure how our community will rebound from this, but I hope somehow some way, healing happens...
If you have something to say in response, please do so in a coherent, thoughtful manner. Don't bother throwing mud or writing something where you replace the "s" with $ (very clever - not) -- you are basically wasting your time and mine...
I am a long time volunteer of reggae on the river and this will be my first post to one of these blogs.... I am saddened by the whole situation , but am also amazed by the mateel's stance and position here. It is really amazing to me how the mateel put's all the blame on people productions and tom dimmick and assumes NONE of the responsibility for the current situation they are in.
I read in one of the blogs how people are comparing people productions to republicans, i must say from my perspective it seems as though the mateel folks are the ones acting more like our current administration than the folks over at people productions. George bush continues to stick to his same talking points year after year when most of the country sees right through him. they use god to justify their actions and unfortunately, a good portion of americans buy into the propaganda presented. I see the mateel doing a very similar thing here, using the moral high ground of the non profit community center to justify their means and course of action. Protecting the community from the corporate "hijacking" as they like to "frame" it. this is just ridiculous.
Something else that doesn't seem to get talked about much is the fact that Tom Dimmick has the most to lose here. He signed an agreement/contract with the mateel based on the fact that People prodcutions would produce the show. Seems like a sound business decision to me. I certainly wouldn't want that size of a festival on my property run by folks with ZERO experience in producing a show of this size and magnitude. Am I the only one who really sees it this way?? All you Mateel supporters, would you have the festival on your property with a producer that had never produced the show before??
Please let's try to look at this situation with some clarity and set our emotions aside. Tom and Carol worked very hard to bring resolution to this issue, it was the mateel that wouldn't budge or presented counter offers that were simply over the top. Come on, this is a show that the mateel wanted tom dimmick to basically sign his land over in the event the show didn't produce the income the People folks promised it would.
Now again, let's get real here, let's just assume that everything was beautiful between the warring parties and none of this bs surrounded the event. Is there any guarantee that the event would continue to produce the income it had over the next 9 years. NO, there isn't. Would it be a reasonable thing to expect the land owner to sign over his property to the beneficiary of the event guaranteeing something he had no control over.
Again, the mateel stonewalled all the offers presented and then blame it on tom dimmick for being unreasonable. Everyone needs to step back and try to look at this situation from a business perspective without all the politics and emotions. If you do, I think you'll have no choice but to agree with my point of view. I see poor business decisions and tunnel vision on the part of the board.
I think the folks running the mateel lost sight of what their job as board members really is. Their job is to secure financially the future of the community center. The fact that the folks at the mateel still feel the value of their trademark is worth so much, either says, they really don't have a clue or they are using this concept as a smoke screen to justify their irresponsible actions over the past 6 months.
The fact that using the name reggae rising on the print material is what seems to be the final deal breaker is really amazing to me....Again it makes no sense to me, how or why the mateel would refuse that, based on all the market confusion that currently exists surrounding this event.
I have heard that people productions have already distributed ten's of thousands of brochures regarding reggae rising...the only way to insure a successful show at this point would be to have both names on the flyer. the mateel's position that that just sets up the "take over" for next year is really ludicrous. The name reggae on the river is so damaged at this point, that it's value that the mateel struggles so hard to protect is really irrelevant at this point.
The mateel may own the trademark ROTR, but the folks at people own the spirit, and that issue can be argued all day and my opinion will not change. The fact that the mateel tries to claim that spirit is again ridiculous to me. Yes the mateel has funded the show over the years, but it has been a team effort, and if it were not for the folks at people producing a world class event, the funds would not have been there and the whole arguement about the ten's of thousands of dollars the mateel has invested in this show wouldn't be there and there would be no show and no funds and no problems (am I the only one who sees it like this??). Without Carol Bruno and PB, the event would not be what it has become today (or yesterday).
Again, the mateel has spent this communities money on a lawsuit that could have been settled months ago, and that settlement would have taken care of the mateel's financial needs for at least the next 9 years... and I may add, that it would have done that in a way where the mateel would have been taking on none of the risk it had assumed in the past, ie; tom dimmick was going to take on the risk of funding the show, not the mateel, big difference.
My understanding is that in the past, the mateel took on the financial risk, but in the new proposals and offers, it would be the producer taking on the risk. doesn't it make sense that the entity bearing the financial risk should get more than an entity not bearing any risk???
It is sad our community can't seem to come together on this issue, and I'm not sure how our community will rebound from this, but I hope somehow some way, healing happens...
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Reggae Rising music festival moving forward
The following was posted as a comment by Primo, former Reggae on the River webmaster, currently Reggae Rising webmaster. It seemed worthy of it's own entry.
May 16, 2007
Reggae Rising music festival is moving forward on August 3rd, 4th, & 5th at the Dimmick Ranch and French's Camp.
Although we are saddened that the talks between the disputing parties were not fruitful, Reggae Rising remains committed to upholding the great Reggae festival tradition that our entire community has come to rely on. The nonprofit food booths are signed on and we are pleased to provide the venue where they can earn the money needed.
We are proud of the lineup that we have been able to put together and look forward to entertaining the Reggae music fans with a superb show. New lineup additions will be announced tomorrow.
We are in unison with Reggae Coordinators that have worked for the past 20 years and are doing what we need to do to make sure a fantastic festival happens this summer.
The Dimmick Ranch and People Productions LLC
May 16, 2007
Reggae Rising music festival is moving forward on August 3rd, 4th, & 5th at the Dimmick Ranch and French's Camp.
Although we are saddened that the talks between the disputing parties were not fruitful, Reggae Rising remains committed to upholding the great Reggae festival tradition that our entire community has come to rely on. The nonprofit food booths are signed on and we are pleased to provide the venue where they can earn the money needed.
We are proud of the lineup that we have been able to put together and look forward to entertaining the Reggae music fans with a superb show. New lineup additions will be announced tomorrow.
We are in unison with Reggae Coordinators that have worked for the past 20 years and are doing what we need to do to make sure a fantastic festival happens this summer.
The Dimmick Ranch and People Productions LLC
Mateel Board Statement on Reggae on the River® 2007
Reggae on the River and the Mateel Community Looks Forward to 2008 and Beyond
[Redway, California, May 16, 2007] It is with sadness and heavy hearts that the Mateel’s Board of Directors announces that it has passed a resolution that Reggae on the River® will not be held on the Dimmick Ranch in August 2007.
This resolution comes in response to the economic pressures of going forward with this event in the face of landowner Tom Dimmick’s refusal to honor the ten-year contractual commitment made to this Board in 2005 when the event was forced into moving. Represented by the then very recent ex-partner of People Productions, Paul Bassis, the owner of Dimmick Ranch along with People Productions have been pressuring the board to sell this event since October 2006. Letters delivered from Tom Dimmick stated that People Productions would not work with the Mateel again and the only resolution seen was to sell this event to him for much less than the amounts projected by People Productions as income for the Mateel. Subsequently, Carol Bruno of People Productions stood up at the Mateel’s Annual Meeting on November 17, 2006 and stated “The only way for me to continue is to propose that Tom Dimmick and People Productions license the event from the Mateel”. Our attempts to work out a deal with them in mediation were unsuccessful. The ensuing struggle that People Productions initiated to take over this event has drained both the community center and the emotions of the community as a whole. The Board has repeatedly stated it does not want to sell the community’s event. For over 23 years, Reggae on the River® has been an integral part of both our funding and our programming content to meet our mission goals.
Throughout, the Mateel Board has repeatedly attempted to resolve this matter in good faith. It was the Mateel Board that initiated the call for immediate mediation in October 2006 before the contract ended. Our needs, as a nonprofit organization, have been mostly ignored. The Board cannot just give away the community’s event and source of financing. Yet, our efforts have been met with delays and stonewalling on the real issues.
Now, months later, without any clear access to the property that we were promised, the Board of the Mateel Community Center made a final effort last weekend with one more offer. This offer was crafted to allow the festival to go on this year under the Reggae on the River® name so that the rest of the nonprofit community and other local businesses would not have to face the same shortfall of funds the Mateel is laboring under.
Given that we were working with a for-profit corporation, the Board believed that, by lowering to rock bottom the amount of money to be paid to the Mateel for this year’s festival, it could bring about a settlement that would allow this year’s event to go forward. The dispute would then be resolved through the normal legal course after the conclusion of Reggae on the River® 2007. Since Tom Dimmick has repeatedly stated that it is his desire is to continue this festival for the good of the community, the Board extended to him the means to show that this was more than mere words. The Board gave Tom Dimmick the opportunity to put these words into action and accept a deal for Reggae on the River® 2007 for the sake of the community. The Mateel’s resolve has been met with a cold shoulder and a demand for yet another capitulation on the name of the event.
Allowing Reggae Rising’s name to be used, even in conjunction with the Reggae on the River name, would set the stage for the completion of the very takeover and degradation of our trademark within three or four years that we have been fighting against all along. Checks could be cut with the name Reggae Rising. Business owners could be contacted with the name Reggae Rising and so on. For the past number of years this same tactic was used by People Production’s use of their name in place of the Mateel Community Center’s. This board ended that move with strong trademark language inserted into the 2005 contract. Now we are fighting the same battle all over again. This was the only sticking point in the one year resolution to the battle.
Now, we have come to that dark hour before dawn where we must give up our ardent push for a Reggae on the River® event this summer and move our resources into providing for 2008 and beyond for the benefit of the community.
The degrading of our property rights in the Reggae on the River® trademark by allowing its use in conjunction with Reggae Rising cannot be allowed to take place. It appears there is no place of moderate settlement. While our position has changed dramatically over the course of the last eight months, the other party offers demanding capitulation have not changed substantially except as needed to delay the lawsuit actions and drive the Mateel toward the brink where the hijacking of our property could be completed without paying a dime to the community for this asset. In the Board’s opinion, these are the defining points of a long planned corporate takeover in Southern Humboldt’s own backyard. Our members have told us repeatedly to stand up against such tactics but to try to make this year’s event happen.
We tried.
It is the Mateel Board’s position that we will prevail in the lawsuit and that the community will see a Reggae on the River® event take place in 2008 and beyond. Our community’s signature event will rest for this year while the Board of the Mateel take the steps necessary to protect it for the future. The original intent of this festival was to rebuild and maintain a community center for the benefit of the Southern Humboldt community at large and not the enrichment of a few individuals.
Additionally, we would like to extend our most profound thanks to 2b1 Multimedia Inc. for coming to the Mateel’s defense when other production companies, fearful of the intense competitive backlash of People Productions, would not step up. 2b1 Multimedia had the courage to take on the challenge for our community when many simply sat on the sidelines waiting for the strongest to emerge in a very ruthless industry. Last week’s push by the Reggae Rising event to undermine Reggae on the River® 2007 are indicative of that ruthlessness. 2b1 Multimedia held on until the last moment possible and we commend their actions on behalf of the Mateel.
We also would like to thank the volunteers, the coordinators, and the members of the Mateel who have stood steadfast with us as the battle for this year’s event raged. It has not been easy and we would like to acknowledge their commitment and perseverance to save this event regardless of personal alliances. We look forward to working on the 2008 production together.
The dispute over Reggae on the River® is not over as consideration of the merits of the Mateel’s position have yet to be adjudicated. It has only begun. The first lawsuit over the lease will be heard hopefully within the next few months and then the lawsuits regarding the unfair business practices against People Productions will follow. The Mateel will be reconfiguring its operations and staffing to align itself for the challenges ahead following the Summer Arts and Music Festival the first weekend of June 2007. We will do our best to keep the public informed by posting commentary on the website and through our regular Board meetings.
If you purchased a ticket please go to your place of purchase for a refund. For more info you can contact Ticket Web at Ticketweb.com or call 2b1 Multimedia Inc. 415 861-1520. For more info please see www.reggaeontheriver.com
How the local community can help:
The Summer Arts & Music Festival is looking for more volunteers. Sign up at www.mateel.org. Write, fax, email, or call the Humboldt County Planning Commission to support the Mateel Community Center’s plan for Reggae on the River® 2008 and beyond. Make clear to the Planning Commission that this community will not endorse an event with the name Reggae Rising if it is to supplant the community event Reggae on the River®. This permit must remain in the hands of the Mateel Community Center. Names and information are pasted below. We thank you for your time and efforts on the community’s behalf.
Humboldt County Website:
http://co.humboldt.ca.us/planning/planning/
Voice: (707) 445-7541
Fax: (707) 445-7446
Email: kgirard@co.humboldt.ca.us (Kirk Girard)
MRichardson@co.humboldt.ca.us (Michael Richardson)
Please cc a copy to office@mateel.org
Reggae on the River is the Registered Trademark of the Mateel Community Center
[Redway, California, May 16, 2007] It is with sadness and heavy hearts that the Mateel’s Board of Directors announces that it has passed a resolution that Reggae on the River® will not be held on the Dimmick Ranch in August 2007.
This resolution comes in response to the economic pressures of going forward with this event in the face of landowner Tom Dimmick’s refusal to honor the ten-year contractual commitment made to this Board in 2005 when the event was forced into moving. Represented by the then very recent ex-partner of People Productions, Paul Bassis, the owner of Dimmick Ranch along with People Productions have been pressuring the board to sell this event since October 2006. Letters delivered from Tom Dimmick stated that People Productions would not work with the Mateel again and the only resolution seen was to sell this event to him for much less than the amounts projected by People Productions as income for the Mateel. Subsequently, Carol Bruno of People Productions stood up at the Mateel’s Annual Meeting on November 17, 2006 and stated “The only way for me to continue is to propose that Tom Dimmick and People Productions license the event from the Mateel”. Our attempts to work out a deal with them in mediation were unsuccessful. The ensuing struggle that People Productions initiated to take over this event has drained both the community center and the emotions of the community as a whole. The Board has repeatedly stated it does not want to sell the community’s event. For over 23 years, Reggae on the River® has been an integral part of both our funding and our programming content to meet our mission goals.
Throughout, the Mateel Board has repeatedly attempted to resolve this matter in good faith. It was the Mateel Board that initiated the call for immediate mediation in October 2006 before the contract ended. Our needs, as a nonprofit organization, have been mostly ignored. The Board cannot just give away the community’s event and source of financing. Yet, our efforts have been met with delays and stonewalling on the real issues.
Now, months later, without any clear access to the property that we were promised, the Board of the Mateel Community Center made a final effort last weekend with one more offer. This offer was crafted to allow the festival to go on this year under the Reggae on the River® name so that the rest of the nonprofit community and other local businesses would not have to face the same shortfall of funds the Mateel is laboring under.
Given that we were working with a for-profit corporation, the Board believed that, by lowering to rock bottom the amount of money to be paid to the Mateel for this year’s festival, it could bring about a settlement that would allow this year’s event to go forward. The dispute would then be resolved through the normal legal course after the conclusion of Reggae on the River® 2007. Since Tom Dimmick has repeatedly stated that it is his desire is to continue this festival for the good of the community, the Board extended to him the means to show that this was more than mere words. The Board gave Tom Dimmick the opportunity to put these words into action and accept a deal for Reggae on the River® 2007 for the sake of the community. The Mateel’s resolve has been met with a cold shoulder and a demand for yet another capitulation on the name of the event.
Allowing Reggae Rising’s name to be used, even in conjunction with the Reggae on the River name, would set the stage for the completion of the very takeover and degradation of our trademark within three or four years that we have been fighting against all along. Checks could be cut with the name Reggae Rising. Business owners could be contacted with the name Reggae Rising and so on. For the past number of years this same tactic was used by People Production’s use of their name in place of the Mateel Community Center’s. This board ended that move with strong trademark language inserted into the 2005 contract. Now we are fighting the same battle all over again. This was the only sticking point in the one year resolution to the battle.
Now, we have come to that dark hour before dawn where we must give up our ardent push for a Reggae on the River® event this summer and move our resources into providing for 2008 and beyond for the benefit of the community.
The degrading of our property rights in the Reggae on the River® trademark by allowing its use in conjunction with Reggae Rising cannot be allowed to take place. It appears there is no place of moderate settlement. While our position has changed dramatically over the course of the last eight months, the other party offers demanding capitulation have not changed substantially except as needed to delay the lawsuit actions and drive the Mateel toward the brink where the hijacking of our property could be completed without paying a dime to the community for this asset. In the Board’s opinion, these are the defining points of a long planned corporate takeover in Southern Humboldt’s own backyard. Our members have told us repeatedly to stand up against such tactics but to try to make this year’s event happen.
We tried.
It is the Mateel Board’s position that we will prevail in the lawsuit and that the community will see a Reggae on the River® event take place in 2008 and beyond. Our community’s signature event will rest for this year while the Board of the Mateel take the steps necessary to protect it for the future. The original intent of this festival was to rebuild and maintain a community center for the benefit of the Southern Humboldt community at large and not the enrichment of a few individuals.
Additionally, we would like to extend our most profound thanks to 2b1 Multimedia Inc. for coming to the Mateel’s defense when other production companies, fearful of the intense competitive backlash of People Productions, would not step up. 2b1 Multimedia had the courage to take on the challenge for our community when many simply sat on the sidelines waiting for the strongest to emerge in a very ruthless industry. Last week’s push by the Reggae Rising event to undermine Reggae on the River® 2007 are indicative of that ruthlessness. 2b1 Multimedia held on until the last moment possible and we commend their actions on behalf of the Mateel.
We also would like to thank the volunteers, the coordinators, and the members of the Mateel who have stood steadfast with us as the battle for this year’s event raged. It has not been easy and we would like to acknowledge their commitment and perseverance to save this event regardless of personal alliances. We look forward to working on the 2008 production together.
The dispute over Reggae on the River® is not over as consideration of the merits of the Mateel’s position have yet to be adjudicated. It has only begun. The first lawsuit over the lease will be heard hopefully within the next few months and then the lawsuits regarding the unfair business practices against People Productions will follow. The Mateel will be reconfiguring its operations and staffing to align itself for the challenges ahead following the Summer Arts and Music Festival the first weekend of June 2007. We will do our best to keep the public informed by posting commentary on the website and through our regular Board meetings.
If you purchased a ticket please go to your place of purchase for a refund. For more info you can contact Ticket Web at Ticketweb.com or call 2b1 Multimedia Inc. 415 861-1520. For more info please see www.reggaeontheriver.com
How the local community can help:
The Summer Arts & Music Festival is looking for more volunteers. Sign up at www.mateel.org. Write, fax, email, or call the Humboldt County Planning Commission to support the Mateel Community Center’s plan for Reggae on the River® 2008 and beyond. Make clear to the Planning Commission that this community will not endorse an event with the name Reggae Rising if it is to supplant the community event Reggae on the River®. This permit must remain in the hands of the Mateel Community Center. Names and information are pasted below. We thank you for your time and efforts on the community’s behalf.
Humboldt County Website:
http://co.humboldt.ca.us/planning/planning/
Voice: (707) 445-7541
Fax: (707) 445-7446
Email: kgirard@co.humboldt.ca.us (Kirk Girard)
MRichardson@co.humboldt.ca.us (Michael Richardson)
Please cc a copy to office@mateel.org
Reggae on the River is the Registered Trademark of the Mateel Community Center
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
It looks like the battle is over (maybe)
from the Mateel website:May 12, 2007 Via Facsimile & U.S. Mail Re: Mateel Community Center, Inc. v. People Productions, LLC et. al. Dear Mr. Knowles, I am writing in response to your letter to Bill Bragg of May 8, 2007, regarding the offer from Mr. Dimmick for a partial resolution of the ongoing dispute between our clients. Bill is out of town this weekend and asked that I forward this response to you. This correspondence is pursuant to settlement discussions and is inadmissable under Evidence Code section 1152. The offer is acceptable to the Mateel with the following revisions. Item 1: The $200,000.00 payment shall be based upon the attendance level set by the planning commission at its last meeting. The payment will be increased by $20.00 per person increase in attendance level that may be approved by the Planning Commission for the 2007 event. Miscellaneous equipment needed for Summer Arts Faire will be returned to the Mateel upon execution of this agreement. Mateel will provide a list of the items prior to execution of the agreement. Item 2: Acceptable without revision. Item 3: The 2007 event shall be produced under the name “Reggae on the River.” No other name or trademark shall be associated with its production. In particular, “Reggae Rising” will not be associated with this event. Item 4: Acceptable, however it needs to be clarified that the present action does not constitute an impediment to Mr. Dimmick’s promotion efforts. Suggested language: “Mateel will refrain from initiating any new legal proceedings that would impede Mr. Dimmick’s festival.” Item 5: Acceptable without revision. Item 6: Acceptable, but in addition your client will not assert any claims against Boots Hughston or 2B1 Productions and will indemnify them from any claims made by People Productions, relating to the 2007 event. Item 7: The only matters relative to the litigation that will be stayed is the scheduling of the hearing before the referee which will not be scheduled to occur within 45 days after the conclusion of the 2007 event but, in no event, shall be scheduled later than 90 days after the 2007 event. Item 8: Mateel will agree to pay the outstanding billing from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department upon verification that there has not been double payment. Agreement to pay any other outstanding debts depends upon their specific identification with supporting documentation concerning the circumstances under which they were incurred. It is understood that Mr. Dimmick requires the signed version of the 2B1 production agreement to be provided along with certification from the ticket agency of the amount of tickets sold and the amount in the advanced ticket sales account. The Mateel would also like to put forth the following proposals for a global settlement of the dispute between all of the parties. The main terms of the offer are as follows: Multi-year/Global Settlement
Alternate Long-Term Settlement The Mateel is paid $200,000.00 per year for nine years (eight years if there is a separate agreement for 2007) for a release/assignment of rights under the existing lease, all rights under the existing permit, all claims for infrastructure and equipment. All other terms of the previous offer concerning archives, financial record guarantees, security for payment and resolution of litigation. Mateel retains the Reggae on the River trademark. Please be aware that an agreement for at least the short-term solution must be reached by this coming Monday, or the transfer of Reggae on the River tickets and proceeds will no longer be possible. I look forward to hearing from you. You can reach me this weekend at my home phone number or by e-mail at Very truly yours James J. Aste |
May 14, 2007Email letter received from Mr. Dimmick’s Attorney. Dear Jim: I write in response to your email yesterday, attaching a letter dated May 12, 2007. Mr. Dimmick believes that pursuit of partial resolution is the best course at the point in the process, given the time constraints set forth in your letter and the likely difficulty of resolving some of the parties' differences in connection with a global settlement. Mr. Dimmick is prepared to enter into an agreement to resolve the dispute in part along the lines set forth in my letter of May 8, 2007, with modifications as follows: Item 1: Payment. Mr. Dimmick will pay to Mateel Community Center, Inc. ("MCC") the sum of $200,000, plus $20.00 per person to the extent the attendance limit is raised from it's current level, with all amounts in excess of $200,000 allocated to a purchase of any interest MCC may have in infrastructure on the Dimmick property or, in the event it should be determined by Mr. Dimmick or by binding third-party decision that Mr. Dimmick owes any other monetary obligation to MCC, toward any such obligation. The choice of how to allocate as between the infrastructure interest or other obligation shall be Mr. Dimmick's. Depending on the equipment MCC seeks for its Summer Arts Fair, Mr. Dimmick may agree to this term as provided in your letter. Item 2: Rescission of 2B1/MCC agreement: Agreed Item 3: License/Use of name. Mr. Dimmick cannot agree to refrain from using the name "Reggae Rising" in connection with the event. At this point, there is so much confusion in the market place, Mr. Dimmmick cannot reasonably expect to sell out the event without using that name, especially given the increasing public reports that "Reggae on the River" may not occur regardless of the outcome of the legal dispute. He will, however, agree to place the "Reggae Rising" name in more a of supporting position, such as using the phrase "Reggae Rising presents Reggae on the River." Item 4. Non-interference. Mr. Dimmick agrees that the pendency of litigation alone shall not be considered an impediment under this term, but believes, as explained below, that the term should make clear that no steps will taken in the litigation at all, except as required by a court or to effectuate a stay, until after the 2007 festival takes place. Item 5: Transfer of ticket proceeds/control: Agreed, but it should be clear that this includes a transfer of proceeds relating to camping and a list of vendors detailing the status of those arrangements. Mr. Dimmick would not be obligated to vendors, but would consider them on a case-by-case basis. Item 6: Indemnity/Covenant Not To Sue: The original rationale for requesting indemnity against claims by 2B1 was to protect against a circumstance in which 2B1 objected to the rescission of the agreement with MCC and the license to Mr. Dimmick. Mr. Bragg, however, has indicated that 2B1 will agree to the rescission/license to Mr. Dimmick. We suggest that he sign off on this agreement, and that no one will provide ang indemnity or other commitment regarding refraining from making claims. I doubt we have time to negotiation anything more complicated and, as written, the modifications suggested in your letter are problematic. Item 7: Litigation Stay: All litigation must be stayed until after the festival. The reason for this is that discovery proceedings are likely to create a significant impediment to the extremely time consuming process of preparing for the festival. Additionally, there is no logical reason why only the summary judgment motion hearing should be deferred. If an overall stay is agreed upon, a deferral of proceeding until 45 days after the festival is acceptable. Item 8: Payment of 2006 Obligations: It sounds like we do not have a disagreement in principle on this point. From Mr. Dimmick's point of view, he simply does not want outstanding obligations to government agencies or vendors to pose an impediment to the 2007 festival. Receipt of a copy of the final, signed version of the MCC/2B1 agreement and a certified box office statement regarding ticket sales to the "Reggae on the River" event for 2007, and subsequent approval of the terms above by Mr. Dimmick, are preconditions to any deal. It is therefore urgent that MCC/2B1 provide that information immediately if we are to conclude even a tentative deal by tomorrow. Please inform your client not to respond to these proposed deal terms with a "counterproposal." Not only is there inadequate time to continue these negotiations, but Mr. Dimmick cannot offer any increased sum, given existing financial constraints and uncertainties, nor can he afford to refrain from using the "Reggae Rising" name. The other terms, too, are all more than reasonable. I will attempt to contact you later today or early tomorrow to discuss. JGK |
May 15, 2007 Jeffrey Knowles Re: Mateel Community Center v. People Productions, et al. Dear Mr. Knowles: Consistent with my phone message of yesterday afternoon and our phone conversation of yesterday evening, this correspondence will confirm the Board’s response to your client’s last proposal. Your client claims that there is “confusion” among the ticket buying public arising from his unilateral promotion of a “Reggae Rising” event planned for the same weekend and same location as Reggae on the River such that he is worried about the ability to fully sell tickets for all authorized attendance. My clients have no doubt that your client and his backers have the ability to remove this “confusion” by clearly removing their competing “Reggae Rising” references from the market place. Reggae on the River has been in place for over 23 years and is well recognized by the ticket buying public. The event has sold out for a number of years. My clients are not interested in assisting in the promotion of a competing event and will not agree to the use of any competing trademark and in particular, the “Reggae Rising” label in the promotion of the event. The Mateel is, however, willing to address your client’s fears. They will provide a $20.00 credit toward any sums owed by your client to the Mateel including infrastructure when those sums are finally determined for the amount of tickets left unsold for the 2007 event. As I indicated to you in my messages and conversation yesterday, the ability to transfer advanced ticket sales as part of this offer will expire at 9:00 a.m. this morning. After that time, 2b1 must maintain good faith with those who purchased tickets to the 2007 Reggae on the River and will begin refunding ticket sales. Since you have advised that any arrangement for the 2007 event would necessarily require the inclusion of a transfer of those advanced tickets, I will assume that there will be no resolution for this year and the Mateel will be forced to announce the cancellation of the 2007 music festival at that time. Very truly yours, WILLIAM R. BRAGG WRB:pl |
The next step: a message from Boots
Hi Everybody
After months of trying to settle with Dimmick Ranch and People
Productions, no agreement has been reached. This leaves the
community's festival in jeopardy with hundreds of thousands in
costs and no permit or venue.
To produce an event two things are required - the permit and the
site. In the beginning it was felt that the Mateel as owner of the
festival permit for almost 23 years in addition to their binding
contract with the land owner would have no problems.
Then Dimmick Ranch terminated the Mateel's lease. People Production &
Dimmick Ranch posing as the permit applicant applied for the Mateel's
permit under Reggae Rising. Then "Reggae Rising" (the property owner
and People Productions) announced their intention of doing the Reggae
Rising Festival on the same day, at the same time and at the same venue.
The planning commission who handles the permit process decided to allow
both sides to continue with the application (crazy but true). Then, the
commission would not rule on who the applicant was, stating "let the
decision be made by the courts". Even though the decision is clearly
the commission's responsibility, they skirted it to avoid the
political fallout. This doomed the event to conflict that could only be
settled within the court system. We held out as long as possible in
hopes of a resolution. The Mateel has tried everything in their power to
convince Dimmick Ranch to settle fairly and in good faith.
Without a permit and venue this leaves us no choice but to cancel the
event for 07. All tickets will be refunded at the place of purchase.
We wish to thank all of you for the, love, understanding and support
you have shown 2b1 and the Mateel during these trying times. We know
it's a difficult transition that will not be easy but we will do
everything we can to help alleviate problems.
2b1 was asked to help the Mateel in its time of need, because their
doors were on the brink of closing. Financially they were loosing the
fight for survival. We felt it was important the dream stayed alive.
Humboldt is a community built from the ashes of the 60's, forged by a
self sustaining economy that fostered a world renowned festival. This
adventure spirit, anti-establishment philosophy, and spiritual belief in
unity built the community, which developed a festival so full of love
the world has taken notice. This spirituality is important and above all
must continue.
"Reggae on the River" has become a place of almost religious
importance. It is a yearly renewing of the faith, a time where goodness,
caring for one another, sharing one's love, shedding the worlds
problems, and cleansing from the everyday bull, all happen in the name
of "UNITY". It is a place where we raised our children and met our
wives, husbands, lovers and companions. It is where groups of people
meet from around the world to socialize and renew their faith in our
culture, reinforcing our beliefs and strengthening our morals and
renewing our code of ethics. This is the spirit and love we have all
felt at "Reggae on the River," this is what's important.
2b1 will wait for the courts to resolve the dispute and is 100%
behind the Mateel. Once resolved we believe the community can again come
together behind Reggae on the River's founding principals of love,
spirituality and "UNITY"
Much love and respect,
Boots-2b1
After months of trying to settle with Dimmick Ranch and People
Productions, no agreement has been reached. This leaves the
community's festival in jeopardy with hundreds of thousands in
costs and no permit or venue.
To produce an event two things are required - the permit and the
site. In the beginning it was felt that the Mateel as owner of the
festival permit for almost 23 years in addition to their binding
contract with the land owner would have no problems.
Then Dimmick Ranch terminated the Mateel's lease. People Production &
Dimmick Ranch posing as the permit applicant applied for the Mateel's
permit under Reggae Rising. Then "Reggae Rising" (the property owner
and People Productions) announced their intention of doing the Reggae
Rising Festival on the same day, at the same time and at the same venue.
The planning commission who handles the permit process decided to allow
both sides to continue with the application (crazy but true). Then, the
commission would not rule on who the applicant was, stating "let the
decision be made by the courts". Even though the decision is clearly
the commission's responsibility, they skirted it to avoid the
political fallout. This doomed the event to conflict that could only be
settled within the court system. We held out as long as possible in
hopes of a resolution. The Mateel has tried everything in their power to
convince Dimmick Ranch to settle fairly and in good faith.
Without a permit and venue this leaves us no choice but to cancel the
event for 07. All tickets will be refunded at the place of purchase.
We wish to thank all of you for the, love, understanding and support
you have shown 2b1 and the Mateel during these trying times. We know
it's a difficult transition that will not be easy but we will do
everything we can to help alleviate problems.
2b1 was asked to help the Mateel in its time of need, because their
doors were on the brink of closing. Financially they were loosing the
fight for survival. We felt it was important the dream stayed alive.
Humboldt is a community built from the ashes of the 60's, forged by a
self sustaining economy that fostered a world renowned festival. This
adventure spirit, anti-establishment philosophy, and spiritual belief in
unity built the community, which developed a festival so full of love
the world has taken notice. This spirituality is important and above all
must continue.
"Reggae on the River" has become a place of almost religious
importance. It is a yearly renewing of the faith, a time where goodness,
caring for one another, sharing one's love, shedding the worlds
problems, and cleansing from the everyday bull, all happen in the name
of "UNITY". It is a place where we raised our children and met our
wives, husbands, lovers and companions. It is where groups of people
meet from around the world to socialize and renew their faith in our
culture, reinforcing our beliefs and strengthening our morals and
renewing our code of ethics. This is the spirit and love we have all
felt at "Reggae on the River," this is what's important.
2b1 will wait for the courts to resolve the dispute and is 100%
behind the Mateel. Once resolved we believe the community can again come
together behind Reggae on the River's founding principals of love,
spirituality and "UNITY"
Much love and respect,
Boots-2b1
Monday, May 14, 2007
Is that your final offer?
A couple of folks sent me links to this, a "minimum" offer posted on the Mateel website that apparently will be running in some paper or other this week.
Note: If you have trouble reading the small type, click on the image and it will enlarge (just the image, not the offer).
Note: If you have trouble reading the small type, click on the image and it will enlarge (just the image, not the offer).
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Dimmick Ranch Responds
You knew the notion that the Mateel was the victor at the Planning Commission Meeting could not go unaddressed. Here's the official reply:
Response to the Planning Commission Meeting from The Dimmick Ranch
May 5, 2007
We entered the May 3 Planning Commission meeting hopeful that we would present a united front and that we were close to a one-year truce agreement with the MCC that would preserve the annual reggae event for this community and the reggae community at large. We left frustrated with the Commission’s ruling and the sense that we ALL lost this round due to the reduced attendance level – unfortunately, the loss now extends to the other local non-profits, as well as the parties directly involved in the dispute.
With festival attendance set at 12,400, the event will experience an immediate 30% income decrease. This revenue cut also makes it financially impossible for the Dimmick Ranch to continue to offer a monetary settlement or truce proposal anywhere close to what the MCC needs to keep its doors open on their current operating budget.
Prior to the Commission meeting, the Dimmick Ranch had put yet another truce agreement on the table, and the MCC was, again, unwilling to discuss it promptly. Further, Mateel attorney Bill Bragg has admitted that the MCC has no show, yet it insists on continuing to fight the fight. This is consistent with what, we are hearing from the agents of artists listed on the ROTR site: that many of the artist are being advertised without contracts or deposits and several are now asking to sign with Reggae Rising. Among the confirmed ROTR NO SHOWS are Shaggy, Ky-mani Marley and Luciano. Meanwhile, Culture, Dubconscious, Dr Israel, the Itals, Eek-A-Mouse and Marlon Asher have all asked to come onto the Reggae Rising lineup.
Yet, the MCC continues to promote a show on property it does not have a right to occupy, with a line up that is not confirmed, and an operational plan for the conditional use permit (CUP) that has limited staffing. In addition, the MCC threatened the county with litigation if the CUP that runs with the Dimmick Ranch property is handled like any other conditional use permit: it remains with the property. Because no new testimony from the applicants was permitted at the hearing, we were unable to provide the Commission with evidence of this.
While we are disappointed in the lower attendance level, we recognize it as a by-product of this dispute and the MCC’s absurd threat of litigation against the county. It is apparent to us that Taunya Stapp and a majority of the MCC Board of Directors support only one non-profit in this community: the Mateel.
Taunya Stapp once stated that the Mateel didn’t need ROTR to survive, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that she may well have to make good on those words. Sadly, it has always been our intention to have the Reggae festival support the MCC while being produced on the Dimmick Ranch by the experienced professionals of People Productions. We will continue to work towards this goal, although the county’s decision has made the financial viability of the event even riskier.
We at the Dimmick Ranch have done our best to keep our dealings professional. While we will, of course, protect our property interests, we have had and continue to have the community’s resources, non-profits, event volunteers and citizens, as well as reggae lovers throughout the state and beyond, in the forefront of our minds throughout this situation. Reggae Rising was launched so the planning and ticket sales for this annual festival could move forward in spite of the ongoing dispute.
Reggae Rising has an outstanding CONFIRMED musical line up; an experienced production team; committed and hard-working volunteers; the support of many non-profit vendors; and the limited number of tickets are selling fast. Our legal position is solid, and the Dimmick Ranch will persevere in producing Reggae Rising to support ALL of the non-profits in our community and for the love and enjoyment of reggae generally. Southern Humboldt, we need your common sense, support and voices to be heard.
Sincerely,
Tom Dimmick
Property Owner
Meeka Ferretta
Ranch Manager
[postscript: an anonymous commenter offers, "an excerpt from the [report by a] Eureka Reporter who was in attendance at the planning meeting this past Thursday:
Commissioner Smith addressed the possibility of revoking the permit if the court didn’t identify who had the right to the festival, but, he said, July 23 was too late.
Commissioner Richard Hansis said he wanted the attendance levels reduced.
“I haven’t seen enough evidence that either party has fully grasped or presented a plan or information that they can handle all the requirements of that attendance level,” he said.
Commissioner Sef R. Murgia said it was unclear who the party was.
“I can’t support a motion that (grants) a permit to an applicant as yet unnamed,” he said.
Smith reminded that the county already has the permit. This is about adding conditions to it.
Response to the Planning Commission Meeting from The Dimmick Ranch
May 5, 2007
We entered the May 3 Planning Commission meeting hopeful that we would present a united front and that we were close to a one-year truce agreement with the MCC that would preserve the annual reggae event for this community and the reggae community at large. We left frustrated with the Commission’s ruling and the sense that we ALL lost this round due to the reduced attendance level – unfortunately, the loss now extends to the other local non-profits, as well as the parties directly involved in the dispute.
With festival attendance set at 12,400, the event will experience an immediate 30% income decrease. This revenue cut also makes it financially impossible for the Dimmick Ranch to continue to offer a monetary settlement or truce proposal anywhere close to what the MCC needs to keep its doors open on their current operating budget.
Prior to the Commission meeting, the Dimmick Ranch had put yet another truce agreement on the table, and the MCC was, again, unwilling to discuss it promptly. Further, Mateel attorney Bill Bragg has admitted that the MCC has no show, yet it insists on continuing to fight the fight. This is consistent with what, we are hearing from the agents of artists listed on the ROTR site: that many of the artist are being advertised without contracts or deposits and several are now asking to sign with Reggae Rising. Among the confirmed ROTR NO SHOWS are Shaggy, Ky-mani Marley and Luciano. Meanwhile, Culture, Dubconscious, Dr Israel, the Itals, Eek-A-Mouse and Marlon Asher have all asked to come onto the Reggae Rising lineup.
Yet, the MCC continues to promote a show on property it does not have a right to occupy, with a line up that is not confirmed, and an operational plan for the conditional use permit (CUP) that has limited staffing. In addition, the MCC threatened the county with litigation if the CUP that runs with the Dimmick Ranch property is handled like any other conditional use permit: it remains with the property. Because no new testimony from the applicants was permitted at the hearing, we were unable to provide the Commission with evidence of this.
While we are disappointed in the lower attendance level, we recognize it as a by-product of this dispute and the MCC’s absurd threat of litigation against the county. It is apparent to us that Taunya Stapp and a majority of the MCC Board of Directors support only one non-profit in this community: the Mateel.
Taunya Stapp once stated that the Mateel didn’t need ROTR to survive, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that she may well have to make good on those words. Sadly, it has always been our intention to have the Reggae festival support the MCC while being produced on the Dimmick Ranch by the experienced professionals of People Productions. We will continue to work towards this goal, although the county’s decision has made the financial viability of the event even riskier.
We at the Dimmick Ranch have done our best to keep our dealings professional. While we will, of course, protect our property interests, we have had and continue to have the community’s resources, non-profits, event volunteers and citizens, as well as reggae lovers throughout the state and beyond, in the forefront of our minds throughout this situation. Reggae Rising was launched so the planning and ticket sales for this annual festival could move forward in spite of the ongoing dispute.
Reggae Rising has an outstanding CONFIRMED musical line up; an experienced production team; committed and hard-working volunteers; the support of many non-profit vendors; and the limited number of tickets are selling fast. Our legal position is solid, and the Dimmick Ranch will persevere in producing Reggae Rising to support ALL of the non-profits in our community and for the love and enjoyment of reggae generally. Southern Humboldt, we need your common sense, support and voices to be heard.
Sincerely,
Tom Dimmick
Property Owner
Meeka Ferretta
Ranch Manager
[postscript: an anonymous commenter offers, "an excerpt from the [report by a] Eureka Reporter who was in attendance at the planning meeting this past Thursday:
Commissioner Smith addressed the possibility of revoking the permit if the court didn’t identify who had the right to the festival, but, he said, July 23 was too late.
Commissioner Richard Hansis said he wanted the attendance levels reduced.
“I haven’t seen enough evidence that either party has fully grasped or presented a plan or information that they can handle all the requirements of that attendance level,” he said.
Commissioner Sef R. Murgia said it was unclear who the party was.
“I can’t support a motion that (grants) a permit to an applicant as yet unnamed,” he said.
Smith reminded that the county already has the permit. This is about adding conditions to it.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Mateel declares victory
I got a note from Mateel E.D. Taunya Stapp earlier today advising that a press release was coming re: the Planning Commission's actions last night. I don't know that I would describe what happened as a "victory" myself, since the commission lowered the attendance level, which will cost whoever gets to do the festival a lot of money, and they threatened to pull the permit entirely if legal issues remain undecided by July 16, but the Mateel is still in the game, which I suppose is worth something.
BTW, I was otherwise occupied and did not attend the hearing personally, nor did I tune it in on my TV (or even TiVo it) so I'm going on press reports by my esteemed colleagues, James from the T-S and Wendy from the E-R, whose accounts you can read by clicking on their respective names.
On another note, I got a call from Boots Hughston of 2b1 this afternoon. I'd sent him an e-mail earlier asking if there was any truth in an anonymous rumor posted elsewhere saying he'd pulled out as producer of Reggae on the River. As I suspected, the rumor is baseless.
One more thing. An anonymous commenter complained in an unposted comment,
"Your "Journal" stories are fun to read and all but your attitude regarding people commenting on "your" blog and your sending them over to Eric's to post stuff your going to read over there anyway leaves a pungent aroma in our quickly warming atmosphere."
Well, for starters, thanks for the compliment, glad you like my "Journal" stories and all. I'm curious as to why you put quotes around the word "your" as applied to this blog. I think I've made it clear in the past, I am responsible for what you read here in as much as I am the person who set the blog up, I'm the only one who posts here (although I mostly post official p.r.) and I'm the moderator.
As far as the comments in connection with the last post, I just don't want to hear a bunch of personal attacks, much less provide a forum for that sort of thing. Forgive my language, but if there's a "pungent aroma" in your vicinity, perhaps it's because you're one of the anonymous trolls who's full of shit. I have a few more thoughts on the effect that anonymous bloggage has had on the "quickly warming atmosphere" down SoHum way, but I'll save them for another day. - Bob
and now for that press release:
REGGAE on the River Victory on Control of Festival Permit
REGGAE on the River moves forward to save event for local community
[Humboldt County, CA May 3, 2007]
The Humboldt Planning Commissioners held steady in their support for the community last evening by confirming through actions, that the Mateel Community Center is still the applicant and holder of the permit for this year’s festival. “We appreciate the planning commission taking the action necessary to maintain the integrity of the decision making process to help guide the community through this controversy.” said Boots Hughston of 2b1 Multimedia, the producer for Reggae on the River. This clears the way for the Mateel, owners of the festival-- for over twenty three years, and it’s production partner, 2b1 Multimedia to successfully confirm its right to produce the festival this year and beyond.
The festival is a crucial part of the social and economic goodwill for the local Southern Humboldt community, a community which has much pride in it’s support over the years for building and maintaining a healthy nonprofit sector in a rural area with limited governmental services. For over twenty-three years the Mateel Community Center has used its largest fundraiser to distribute the goodwill of the festival by developing diverse cultural arts, theater, and music programs for the surrounding communities. Programming includes items like the Mateel Meal for those without resources and acclaimed theatrical performances by local youth through Recycled Youth.
Taunya Stapp, Executive Director of the Mateel Community Center said, “We are grateful to the commission and acknowledge the difficulty of the job, the changes requested, and we are fully up to the task. We have taken their words to heart and we hope to have any remaining issues resolved prior to the deadline set with the Mateel and Reggae on the River prevailing.”
2b1 Multimedia has an excellent reputation and track record for safe large festival events. The Mateel is very appreciative of 2b1’s support and continued willingness to assist in this year’s production. The Mateel commends 2b1 Multimedia for stepping up to ensure this festival stays with its community and music roots.
BTW, I was otherwise occupied and did not attend the hearing personally, nor did I tune it in on my TV (or even TiVo it) so I'm going on press reports by my esteemed colleagues, James from the T-S and Wendy from the E-R, whose accounts you can read by clicking on their respective names.
On another note, I got a call from Boots Hughston of 2b1 this afternoon. I'd sent him an e-mail earlier asking if there was any truth in an anonymous rumor posted elsewhere saying he'd pulled out as producer of Reggae on the River. As I suspected, the rumor is baseless.
One more thing. An anonymous commenter complained in an unposted comment,
"Your "Journal" stories are fun to read and all but your attitude regarding people commenting on "your" blog and your sending them over to Eric's to post stuff your going to read over there anyway leaves a pungent aroma in our quickly warming atmosphere."
Well, for starters, thanks for the compliment, glad you like my "Journal" stories and all. I'm curious as to why you put quotes around the word "your" as applied to this blog. I think I've made it clear in the past, I am responsible for what you read here in as much as I am the person who set the blog up, I'm the only one who posts here (although I mostly post official p.r.) and I'm the moderator.
As far as the comments in connection with the last post, I just don't want to hear a bunch of personal attacks, much less provide a forum for that sort of thing. Forgive my language, but if there's a "pungent aroma" in your vicinity, perhaps it's because you're one of the anonymous trolls who's full of shit. I have a few more thoughts on the effect that anonymous bloggage has had on the "quickly warming atmosphere" down SoHum way, but I'll save them for another day. - Bob
and now for that press release:
REGGAE on the River Victory on Control of Festival Permit
REGGAE on the River moves forward to save event for local community
[Humboldt County, CA May 3, 2007]
The Humboldt Planning Commissioners held steady in their support for the community last evening by confirming through actions, that the Mateel Community Center is still the applicant and holder of the permit for this year’s festival. “We appreciate the planning commission taking the action necessary to maintain the integrity of the decision making process to help guide the community through this controversy.” said Boots Hughston of 2b1 Multimedia, the producer for Reggae on the River. This clears the way for the Mateel, owners of the festival-- for over twenty three years, and it’s production partner, 2b1 Multimedia to successfully confirm its right to produce the festival this year and beyond.
The festival is a crucial part of the social and economic goodwill for the local Southern Humboldt community, a community which has much pride in it’s support over the years for building and maintaining a healthy nonprofit sector in a rural area with limited governmental services. For over twenty-three years the Mateel Community Center has used its largest fundraiser to distribute the goodwill of the festival by developing diverse cultural arts, theater, and music programs for the surrounding communities. Programming includes items like the Mateel Meal for those without resources and acclaimed theatrical performances by local youth through Recycled Youth.
Taunya Stapp, Executive Director of the Mateel Community Center said, “We are grateful to the commission and acknowledge the difficulty of the job, the changes requested, and we are fully up to the task. We have taken their words to heart and we hope to have any remaining issues resolved prior to the deadline set with the Mateel and Reggae on the River prevailing.”
2b1 Multimedia has an excellent reputation and track record for safe large festival events. The Mateel is very appreciative of 2b1’s support and continued willingness to assist in this year’s production. The Mateel commends 2b1 Multimedia for stepping up to ensure this festival stays with its community and music roots.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
the river is still rising
Maybe it's just because I'm generally an optimist, but attending Coco's party at the Mateel Saturday almost had me convinced that there's a way out of this morass that does not include total annihilation.
Then I saw the letter below posted on Eric's blog, and the resulting barrage of comments. Last I checked it was up to 96, and it's less than 24 hours since the letter went up. I don't know Peter Ryce all that well, but I know that yesterday morning he was a beloved schoolmaster, and now what is he? A traitor who should be boycotted (how exactly I'm not sure) shunned, and perhaps drawn and quartered.
It's been suggested that he did not write the letter himself, than Yvonne wrote it (I asked her, she says she did not).
Someone else writes, "We will go to the planning commission and get them to sign off on the biggest drug restriction Reggae has ever seen. You assholes have no idea what you've gotten yourselves into..." which to me says, if things don't go our way, we'll do our best to destroy the festival.
I'm guessing that my weighing in just this much will result in people assuming that I've chosen sides in this battle, something I'm trying hard not to do.
Anyway, I'm reposting this notice because I'm not sure that everyone who reads this blog also reads SoHum Parlance. If you have thoughts on it, I'd just as soon you post them there.
The photo above shows the pizza bread booth at last year's Reggae. Peter is the guy on the right. It was used to illustrate a story I wrote for the Journal, "The Cuisine of Reggae." Read it and you might get a better idea about how Peter's statement came about.
Reggae Rising - on the River
Judge Watson came out with his ruling. He said that the MCC has no basis for a preliminary injunction on Peoples Production. Reggae Rising will go forward.
We believe this is truly the time for UNITY.
Peoples Production has been meeting regularly, on site, and with the coordinators and are able and ready to produce this year’s event. They have shown both the professional caliber necessary to produce the event along with a trained and experienced staff. Peoples has shown that they are fully capable of producing a large Reggae Festival. They have also shown that their support of the non-profits and our community center will be continued.
We support their production of this year’s event!
The MCC should drop any further attempt at litigation or court procedures against PP or Tom Dimmick over this year’s event. The time for fighting is over and we want to move on. The income we, the non profit organizations, receive from the event is, for many of us, our largest annual fund raiser. We cannot continue to do the good work we do without this event. The politics of these past months has been deplorable and we want no more of it. MCC is a community center not at Production Company. Yes, there are unresolved issues, but the current leadership has not been able to affect a timely or satisfactory resolution. This is not the time to sort out. There will be time after the event when they should sit at the table and speak until the air is clear. We do not want to see any more posturing or delaying tactics. This event is less then 100 days out and we need to focus on getting it together if we are to have a world class event in August 2007.
The vendors ask that Reggae Rising keep us apprised of the expected attendance and actual ticket sales on a regular basis so we can gauge our ordering and preparation for the actual event size. We further offer our assistance to help with the planning department or any other agency that wants to see we are united and ready to move on Reggae 2007.
We are saddened that the community has become so divided, distracted and disturb over our Unity Event. This is not how we want to do things or how we have practiced conflict resolution. Doing Reggae 2007 can be a break and a breather.
Take a deep breath, count to ten, do Reggae and then find a win/win solution.
Jah Love,
Peter Ryce for the non-profit vendors of Reggae Rising - on the River
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
A different sort of Reggae sory
Forgive me if I crow for just a moment, but I just found out I'm a finalist for an award from the California Newspaper Publishers Association's 2006 Better Newspapers Contest. What, if anything, does this have to do with Reggae? Well, the story was one I wrote for the Journal's August 24, 2006 edition, just after last year's Reggae on the River, regarding the greening of the festival, specifically the use of corn plastic.
Here's the beginning of "How Green is my Plastic?"
(click on the title to read the rest...)
THE FORK MOVED ALL ON ITS OWN. Not much, just a slight twist, but it definitely moved. It was the summer of 2004 and I was standing in front of the Rasta Pasta booth at Reggae on the River, eating a hot dish of pesto. I'd left the fork stuck in the hot food while talking with a friend. When I pulled it from the pasta I found that the tines were warped into a claw shape. My plastic utensil had melted from the heat of the pasta pesto.
I learned the reason why from the Whitethorn School folks running the pasta booth: The utensils were biodegradable, made from corn. This was explained further when I took the plate and fork to the nearby complex of garbage cans for proper disposal.
A smiling woman sat on a stool amid the barrels and bags dressed in rolled up jeans and a grey Reggae T-shirt with bold letters on the back identifying her as part of the recycling crew. Her job was to direct festivalgoers regarding the proper disposal of their waste: cans here, plastic bottles and cups there, glass in another barrel and so on.
She explained that the large bag marked "plates and utensils" was destined for composting, one part of a plan to move toward a "greener" festival. While garbage duty was not the most glamorous job at Reggae, she was happy to be playing a small part in making the event waste-free and thus more ecologically sound.
aka PLA
The fork I used that day and the cups used to serve beer and soda were made from a plastic resin, polylactic acid, aka PLA, a material most often made from corn but also using other plant starches including potatoes and wheat.
Just about anyone you ask will tell you that bio-based PLA plastics sound like a great idea. With awareness about the relationship between petrochemicals and greenhouses gases at an all time high (along with the cost of gasoline), people see this new plastic derived from renewable resources as an attractive alternative to our dependence on oil.
Add in the fact that we are getting buried by an avalanche of plastic containers used to carry and hold this, that and the other thing. Around 25 percent of the material in our landfills is plastic.
The notion that bio-plastic is "biodegradable" would also seem to be quite a plus. The people who make the stuff certainly seem to think so. The word is embossed on the handles of the forks and spoons used at Reggae this year.
The use of corn plastic has grown by leaps and bounds since I first heard about it. Last year NatureWorks, a major player in the industry (and the company that makes the cups used at Reggae) signed a deal to supply Wal-Mart with clear plastic containers for produce.
In a press release Wal-Mart noted that PLA plastic will be used for 100 million containers per year and bragged that, "with this change to packaging made from corn we will save the equivalent of 800,000 gallons of gasoline and reduce more than 11 million lbs. of green house gas emissions from polluting our environment." They also pointed to PLA's "ability to provide a price stable product as the price of oil needed to produce conventional packaging keeps climbing higher and higher."
Could there be any downside to this picture of an eco-groovy plastic future? A closer look into the world of corn plastic shows that there are problems yet to be resolved. (more)
