RJD
2009-09-02 23:43:14 UTC
I hope this message finds you all happy and well and enjoying your
summer!
As most of you are aware our forum went into a blackout for a few
days. If you tried to log on you were presented with the question
"What if there was no Drumsmith.com?".
Over the past year there have been numerous changes, developments and
challenges that this organization has faced. In the course of managing
these things I have on more than one occasion asked myself that very
question. Since Andy passed away on 2007 I have been the sole
caretaker of not just a community forum, but of a powerful, purposeful
(thanks for the word Curt!) and ambitious idea : the power of a
superlative drumming community. I can't provide you with a complete
definition of everything that may mean or entail, but there is no
shortage of tangible examples. From the Mark Bingham memorial and 9/11
benefit to the current Richie Hayward auction...we have achieved so
much - for others and for ourselves. In the times when I was fatigued
or it when it felt like it wasn't worth the continued effort it was
those accomplishments and achievements that provided the inspiration
to continue and the answer to my question "What if there was no
Drumsmith.com". Perhaps during the recent down time you were able to
come up with a few answers of your own. I know many of you did and I
thank you for taking the time to send me those (several hundred at
last count!).
The simple reason for the blackout was that WE needed to get your
attention and in doing so create a reminder that Drumsmith.com is not
merely a discussion forum.
In order to allow our organization to grow and to continue serving the
percussive arts community there was some work to be done.
On August 31, 2009 we received notice from our attorney that The
Drumsmith Percussive Arts Society was officially incorporated as a non-
profit society. For discussion purposes our organization is known as
the Drumsmith Alliance for the Percussive Arts.
I can't think of a better time than now to introduce our current board
of directors:
Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz
Paul Mason
Phil Galante
Kerry Crutchfield
and of course myself. I would like to personally thank Jon, Paul, Phil
and Kerry for stepping up. I cannot begin to express how important
this step was for our organization - or how relieved I am that I
finally have some help!
Since April there has been a moratorium on new memberships. I am
pleased to announce that effective immediately Drumsmith.com is
accepting new memberships.
I am also pleased to inform everyone that as a result of a recent
legal action and in cooperation with Yahoo and MelbourneIT, the web
site "drumsmyth.com" has been shut down and that the domain name has
been relinquished by the domain name owner. The web site had been used
to impersonate our forum (trademark infringement) and had engaged in
unauthorized use of copyright protected material (copyright
infringement) taken from drumsmith.com. At least one of the images
that appeared on "drumsmyth.com" had been digitally altered to depict
myself engaged in a deviant homosexual act. (Defamation).
In addition to this Drumsmith is dealing with some other issues which
I will be addressing and clarifying here at the appropriate time.
summer!
As most of you are aware our forum went into a blackout for a few
days. If you tried to log on you were presented with the question
"What if there was no Drumsmith.com?".
Over the past year there have been numerous changes, developments and
challenges that this organization has faced. In the course of managing
these things I have on more than one occasion asked myself that very
question. Since Andy passed away on 2007 I have been the sole
caretaker of not just a community forum, but of a powerful, purposeful
(thanks for the word Curt!) and ambitious idea : the power of a
superlative drumming community. I can't provide you with a complete
definition of everything that may mean or entail, but there is no
shortage of tangible examples. From the Mark Bingham memorial and 9/11
benefit to the current Richie Hayward auction...we have achieved so
much - for others and for ourselves. In the times when I was fatigued
or it when it felt like it wasn't worth the continued effort it was
those accomplishments and achievements that provided the inspiration
to continue and the answer to my question "What if there was no
Drumsmith.com". Perhaps during the recent down time you were able to
come up with a few answers of your own. I know many of you did and I
thank you for taking the time to send me those (several hundred at
last count!).
The simple reason for the blackout was that WE needed to get your
attention and in doing so create a reminder that Drumsmith.com is not
merely a discussion forum.
In order to allow our organization to grow and to continue serving the
percussive arts community there was some work to be done.
On August 31, 2009 we received notice from our attorney that The
Drumsmith Percussive Arts Society was officially incorporated as a non-
profit society. For discussion purposes our organization is known as
the Drumsmith Alliance for the Percussive Arts.
I can't think of a better time than now to introduce our current board
of directors:
Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz
Paul Mason
Phil Galante
Kerry Crutchfield
and of course myself. I would like to personally thank Jon, Paul, Phil
and Kerry for stepping up. I cannot begin to express how important
this step was for our organization - or how relieved I am that I
finally have some help!
Since April there has been a moratorium on new memberships. I am
pleased to announce that effective immediately Drumsmith.com is
accepting new memberships.
I am also pleased to inform everyone that as a result of a recent
legal action and in cooperation with Yahoo and MelbourneIT, the web
site "drumsmyth.com" has been shut down and that the domain name has
been relinquished by the domain name owner. The web site had been used
to impersonate our forum (trademark infringement) and had engaged in
unauthorized use of copyright protected material (copyright
infringement) taken from drumsmith.com. At least one of the images
that appeared on "drumsmyth.com" had been digitally altered to depict
myself engaged in a deviant homosexual act. (Defamation).
In addition to this Drumsmith is dealing with some other issues which
I will be addressing and clarifying here at the appropriate time.
