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Hall of Fame Nominating  Process

PROCEDURE ADOPTED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NORTH AMERICAN FIDDLERS’ HALL OF FAME
NORTH AMERICAN INDUCTEE & NEW YORK STATE INDUCTEE

January 9, 2010

 

Purpose: To recognize fiddlers throughout North America who have contributed to the preservation, perpetuation, and promotion of the tradition of Old Tyme Fiddling.

 

NAFHOF NOMINATING COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:

  1. Reports to the NYSOTFA Board of Directors;

  2. Selected annually by the NYSOTFA Board of Directors at their April meeting to serve from May 1 to April 31;

  3. The committee members list must be checked for accuracy of contact information and presented to the Board at the August Board meeting for any further additions and changes;

  4. Responsible for overseeing the entire process from nominations to induction and assuring that the schedules are met.

  5. Will provide status reports to the NYSOTFA Board of Directors at their monthly meetings.

 

NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Any of the following may serve on the North American Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame – North American Induction nominating Committee as invited by the NYSOTFA Board of Directors:

  1. Noted fiddlers in North America (including the United States, Canada and Mexico);

  2. Past inductees;

  3. Representatives from major fiddler organizations.

 

CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERING NOMINEES: It is the intent of the New York State Old Tyme Fiddlers’ Association to select candidates who have risen above all others in their contributions to Old Tyme Fiddling. When nominating a person for induction into the North American Fiddlers' Hall of Fame, one should consider the following desired attributes:

  1. An advanced fiddler who is known to have contributed to the preservation, perpetuation, and promotion of the tradition of Old Tyme Fiddling;

    1. Examples of Preserving Old Time Fiddling: preserving fiddle tunes through archival activities; preserving our fiddle heritage; recording, transcribing and sharing information; administration of fiddle organizations.

  2. A North American-recognized fiddler;

  3. Involved in performing activities;

  4. Examples of Teaching Activities: Helps others to learn through fiddle lessons, presenting fiddle workshops, sharing tunes at jam sessions, sharing tips or techniques, encouraging attendance at fiddle workshops, camps, and festivals

  5. Involved in teaching activities;

    1. Examples of Teaching Activities: Helps others to learn through fiddle lessons, presenting fiddle workshops, sharing tunes at jam sessions, sharing tips or techniques, encouraging attendance at fiddle workshops, camps, and festivals.

  6. May be living or deceased;

  7. Inductee need not be a member of the NYSOTFA.

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PROCEDURE:

  1. Chairperson sends a REQUEST FOR NOMINATIONS LETTER to the Nominating Committee Members by September 1st. Included with the letter should be a NAFHOF - NA Current NOMINATING COMMITTEE MEMBER LIST, NAFHOF - NA PAST INDUCTEES LIST and NAFHOF – NA Inductee NOMINATION FORM;

  2. The letter asks the committee members to select up to two (2) nominees from their constituents, friends, and fellow fiddlers, and who meet the qualifications. The letter also states that if there is no response, their name will be removed from the committee list.

  3. Nomination Process:

    1. Persons outside of the committee wishing to nominate candidates must forward their request through a committee member.

    2. Chairperson will provide the address information for the nearest committee member.

    3. Entities nominating candidates are responsible for providing the following information about the nominee:

      1. CD recording of the nominee playing a minimum of three (3) songs;

      2. A photograph of the nominee;

      3. A brief biography of the nominee; the biography should be approximately 200-250 words, provide a history of the nominee, music experience and examples of how the nominee meets the criteria outlined in this procedure. 4) Name, address, telephone number, email address, website, list of affiliations.

      4. Nominees shall not be automatically carried over to the next year. A person must be re-nominated according to this nomination procedure. If there is a new CD or music, it must accompany the new nomination form;

      5. Return nominations to the Committee Chairperson, postmarked by November 1st to:

North American Hall of Fame Nomination Chairperson

New York State Old Tyme Fiddlers’ Association

P O Box 24

Redfield, NY 13437

  4. Notification of request for North American Inductee nominations to be included in November newsletter.

  5. If there are more than three people nominated, a letter and the list of all the nominees, a short bio, photo are made                 available to the committee by December 15th asking them to select three (3) nominees and return ballot by January

      15th.  Recordings will be made available, if possible, on the website.

  6. The votes of the final three nominations are tallied by the Chairman of the Nominating Committee and two NYSOTFA                Board Members. 

  7. A final letter and ballot with the top three nominees and short bio are sent to the committee members asking them to            select one (1) and return ballot by April 1;

  8. Committee members are also asked to update their own information (name, address, phone number, email, and                      website);

  9. The Nominating Committee Chairperson and two NYSOTFA members will count final round ballots at the April NYSOTFA          board meeting. The majority of votes from the nominating committee members shall determine the Inductee. If the                  ballots are improperly completed or past the due date (determined by postmark date) they will not be counted. In the              event of a tie. the President of the NYSOTFA shall vote to break the tie;

 

PRESENTATION PROCEDURE:

  1. The Nominating Committee Chairperson will purchase or notify the board representative responsible for purchasing plaques by April. The format of the plaque shall read as follows: (Full Name of Inductee) North America (Year of Induction)

  2. The Nominating Committee Chairperson will contact a key family member of the inductee by April 1, who will notify other family members and friends to assure attendance of both the Inductee and family/friends at the presentation ceremonies. Confidentiality should be exercised both to the Inductee and to the family/friends;

  3. Presentation is made by the Curator(s) of the North American Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame and Museum at the induction ceremonies at the NYSOTFA Annual Picnic Festival in July;

  4. Inductee becomes a lifetime member of the New York State Fiddlers’ Association.

 

AFTER INDUCTION CEREMONIES:

  1. Results of the selection process and final ballots will be retained on file for a period of two years (beginning July of the current year), then discarded;

  2. Photos, CD/Music file and bios submitted shall become part of the archive collection of the North American Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame and Museum;

 

INDUCTEE RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Attend and perform, wherever possible at New York State Old Tyme Fiddlers’ Association events;

  2. Attend and perform at annual induction ceremonies;

  3. Assist in the nomination and selection process for future nominees for the New York State Old Tyme Fiddlers’ and North American Fiddlers’ Halls of Fame.

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