Shelter Valley AGM and a lovely Valentine’s Day

The thing about Shelter Valley Folk Festival is that a great number of people have a lot emotionally invested in it, in the best way.  So that means that, unlike other organizations, our AGM has a terrific turnout, a lot of heartfelt applause, and a few emotional moments.

The SVFF Board of Directors listen as Artistic Director Aengus Finnan speaks.

This has been a big transition year for SVFF; the landmark of the 5th festival, combined with founder and sometime Executive Director Aengus Finnan resigning from the ED position (he’s still Artistic Director, and quite involved with the festival, but no longer a paid employee) and a lot of turnover as people who’ve worked themselves like crazy take a step back.   I think it’s a really healthy time for a change; those who helped make the festival what it is get to sit down and enjoy what they’ve created, take a breather, and bask in the glow of having helped to create an event that unites the community and has garnered acclaim internationally.

Focused on a high-quality experience for everyone, SVFF really sets the gold standard for festivals around the world, and it feels like a big family for me, especially after 5 years of volunteering, one of which I’ve also served on the Board.  I can only imagine what it’s like for those who’ve been instrumental to the creation and implementation of SVFF to now step back; to watch this thing they’ve nurtured continue to walk on without their direct guidance.  A very emotional time, but we’ll continue to look to them for support and advice – I don’t think you ever really leave the festival; once you’re in, you’re kin.

After the AGM, there was a terrific pot luck over at the Lawless Gallery in Grafton – one of the best thing about Shelter Valley is the food.  It’s been lauded for the quality of volunteer and performer food over the festival weekend, but I have to also praise the many fine cooks from all areas of the festival who dish up some incredible food at every opportunity.  I could grow fat on this Board!  My contribution to the feast was chocolate cup cakes with pink buttercream icing – I love to bake!  I almost made some purple ones for the manly men, but other than one ukelele-playing grumbler who had to be convinced, they were happily gobbled up.  I ate the last one for breakfast this morning.

How you can tell that you've been infested with musicians.

The Good Lovelies played a special Valentine’s concert, but it was standing-room only so I decided to sit back at the gallery (they’re playing Peterborough in a short while, so I’ll get to see them soon – check out their brand-new album, which is terrific!) and have a good chat over some of my special tea.  And once the concert was done, a few of us stuck around for a little more special tea and jamming and talking into the wee hours, which is just about my favourite thing to do.

Today was a lazy, sunny Sunday, and I got a really slow start, but I feel really good.  I may be a single girl, but I got to spend Valentine’s Day with a whole bunch of people I love, doing what I love, and I can’t think of too many VDs that’ve been better.