Rest in Peace, Passim Folk Music and Cultural Center

According to an email from its executive director, Daniel B. Hogan, J.D., Ph.D....

from	Club Passim
reply-to		dan@passim.org
date		Mon, Nov 1, 2010 at 2:36 PM
subject		Exciting news from Passim
mailed-by		in.constantcontact.com
signed-by		passimcenter.ccsend.com

...the Passim Folk Music and Cultural Center has ceased to exist, being re-branded simply as "Passim", the name of the for-profit entity run by the Donlins in the 1980's, but with a very different mission from theirs and from the Club Passim we have known for since the 1990's.  See a copy of the email at the end.

Compare the 11/1/10 mission statement...

"Passim, a nonprofit arts organization, creates an inspiring and interactive music experience for all, building a vibrant community for artists, students and audience members through its legendary listening venue and school of music."

...with the 2/13/10 mission statement:

Music as a Mission

Plans are well underway to ensure the mission of Club Passim continues. It's more than the sharing of good music. As a non-profit, the club believes it critical to preserve and promote folk and acoustic music by nurturing new artists, offering varied programming, and featuring both new and established talent. The challenge to fulfill this mission is to keep it financially sound by building its membership base and continue strong fundraising efforts through donations, corporate sponsorships and grants. We hope you join us this year in supporting the artists and helping us keep playing the music for another 50 years.

The difference?  
The "F" word, and the "F" word being of course, FOLK.  
Exciting news from Passim?   
Perhaps for the aficionados of pop / AAA / NPR, but not for fans of folk music. 
To paraphrase Clara Peller, "WHERE'S THE FOLK?"

The original notloB Blog entries.

Name change in store for Club Passim?

Feb 13, 2010

For more than 50 years, Club Passim has been known as a premier national venue presenting new and established traditional, folk, and acoustic musical performers. In all its incarnations, from the original Club 47 (1958-1968) to Passim ...

http://notlobmusic.blogspot.com/

and subsequently

Name change in store for Club Passim? - part 2

Aug 03, 2010

The word on the street is Club Passim will soon be officially dropping half of its more commonly used name: "Club Passim" (which is a hybrid that honors its predecessors, the original "Club 47" and 1980's "Passim") will become "Passim". .

http://notlobmusic.blogspot.com/

 The old banner

 

The new banner

This re-branding and change in music direction has been expected since first reported in this blog on February, 13, 2010 - Name change in store for Club Passim? - soon after the take-over of the board of directors by suits having deep experience in corporate law and high finance but extremely shallow roots in folk organization management (the closest in their biographies at the time was one had booked an affluent town library's music series).  This board's earliest actions included 1) sacking executive director and former Club 47 manager Betsy Siggins, booking manager Tim Mason, Folklorist/Archivist Millie Rahn, (who have gone on to create the New England Folk Music Archives) and 2) supporting Tim's replacement to book, produce and promote pop artists and pop cover nights.

November 10 update - "CLUB" PASSIM is back.

There appears to be some backtracking going on.  After the press relase using the term "Passim" exclusively, not only is today's concert e-announcement is titled "Club Passim Shows 11/10-11/30", but also the image includes the word "club".

Is this a case of the publicity department not being in sync with the executive board,  or is it a retrenchment?

And what happened to "Listen. Experience. Engage. These three words define what it means to be part of Passim?"

Inquiring minds want to know.

=============================

The November 1 notice:

Greetings,

We would like to introduce you to the new logo, brand, and mission of Passim!

Listen. Experience. Engage. These three words define what it means to be part of Passim. And our new mission statement captures the essence of what Passim has always been:

 "Passim, a nonprofit arts organization, creates an inspiring and interactive music experience for all, building a vibrant community for artists, students and audience members through its legendary listening venue and school of music."

Since 1958, during the days of the Club 47, and through today, Passim has presented virtually every type of music imaginable and we will continue to do so. The common thread throughout our storied history is that we have been and will always be the cherished place where people come together to share memorable musical moments.

And now you can visit Passim online by using passim.org.  We have a new web site in the works, too, so we appreciate your patience.

Thank you for being part of the Passim community!

Regards,

Dan Hogan
Executive Director

P.S. Our new web site, along with improvements in the Club and in the classroom, will take time, money, and effort. We could use your financial support! So if you'd like to make a donation now, click here.  If you'd like to become a member, click here. Becoming a member means being able to purchase tickets before the general public, discounts off of all shows, a subscription to our newsletter and much more! Thank you!

Lastly, we would like to thank Alphabet Arm Design in Boston for doing such a fantastic job creating our new logo!

	Greetings, We would like to introduce you to the new logo, brand, and mission of Passim! Listen. Experience. Engage. These three words define what it means to be part of Passim. And our new mission statement captures the essence of what Passim has always been:  "Passim, a nonprofit arts organization, creates an inspiring and interactive music experience for all, building a vibrant community for artists, students and audience members through its legendary listening venue and school of music." Since 1958, during the days of the Club 47, and through today, Passim has presented virtually every type of music imaginable and we will continue to do so. The common thread throughout our storied history is that we have been and will always be the cherished place where people come together to share memorable musical moments. And now you can visit Passim online by using passim.org.  We have a new web site in the works, too, so we appreciate your patience. Thank you for being part of the Passim community! Regards, Dan Hogan Executive Director P.S. Our new web site, along with improvements in the Club and in the classroom, will take time, money, and effort. We could use your financial support! So if you'd like to make a donation now, click here.  If you'd like to become a member, click here. Becoming a member means being able to purchase tickets before the general public, discounts off of all shows, a subscription to our newsletter and much more! Thank you! Lastly, we would like to thank Alphabet Arm Design in Boston for doing such a fantastic job creating our new logo!
	Passim office: 26 Church St., suite 300 Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA 02138 617.492.5300 club: 47 Palmer St. Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA 02138 ticketing line: 617.492.7679 www.passim.org