JAVS Fall 1997

3

FROM THE PRESIDENT

I would like ro address our relationship with our parent organization, me International Viola Society, referred ro as rhe IVG or rhe IVS . This relationship has been strained for many years. As your president, I have encountered real problems in communication wirh rhe IVG similar ro chose in the past. The fundamental functions of rhe IVG have been to publish me jahrbuch and (0 sanction rhe international con gresses. For rhese services we have paid our membership fees but have had little or no input into IVG governance. When I became AVS president I expected some direction from rhe IVG as ro my responsibilities, but I did not even receive a copy of rhe international bylaws. However, when I was invited to participate in rhe Markneukirchen Congress in June of 1996, I committed myself ro attend and had high expectations of meeting and interacting with rhe IVG board members. Ar rhe general membership meeting I discovered rhar elections ro me IVG board were going ro be held, but

most attendees were unaware of rhis. Alrhough I represented me largest section, me AVS, I did not receive an agenda prior ro rhe meeting, nor was I asked for nominations. The election process consisted of listing rhe names of rhe rhen current board members on a chalkboard before we arrived for me meeting. As attendees, we were rhen asked for a yea or nay (0 rhe entire slate. l noted mat me AVS had no representation. I immediately set out to find a solution ro this unacceptable situation. The results of my substantial efforts are as follows: • The IVG board voted to stop publication of rhe j ahrbuch. • The currenr IVG board (except rhe treasurer) decided in good faith to resign, as of rhe Glasgow Congress, July 1998, so mar new elections can be held. The treasurer was asked to remain on rhe board for rhe sake of conrinuiry and because rhe financial records and paper work are in Germany. • With rhe aid of the current presidenr of rhe IVG, the presidenrs of rhe Canadian, German, and Swedish sections and ochers, we have drafted a new, mutually acceptable set of bylaws. There is a problem: I can find no consensus on fundamenral issues such as rhe purpose and function of rhe IVG. Nor do I sense enthusiasm from AVS membership for continued participa tion. Ler rhere be no mistake- mere was once an important role for an international viola orga nization and rhere may be one again in rhe future. At this time, however, I can find no benefit ro AVS members in the AVS' s continued membership in rhe IVG. We can furrher rhe interest of rhe viola wherher or not we are members; we can still participate in or organize international activities wirhout a formal international srrucrure. Therefore, I will recommend ro our AVS board mat we wirhdraw from rhe IVG. Further, I propose mat we continue ro organize viola activities, being as inclusive as possible. Our journal will continue ro post informacion regarding inrernarionl events and our AVS members can independently participate, support, and attend chose international viola activities.

AVS president's change of address and e-mail: Dr. Thomas Tarron, 7511 Park Woods, Srockron, CA 95207 telephone: (209) 952-9367 fax: (209) 473-8042 e-mail: rrarron@gotnet.net

-Also ofinterest to A VS members will be a related article in this issues Forum on page 72 -