JAM: August/September 2002 Issue: President's Corner

by John Leisenring

Notes From the Pub Crawl

June 26, 2002 -- It is the eve of the 2002 Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl, the penultimate day before our 21st jazz extravaganza, and I want to get this in print before tomorrow night's crawl, because I feel so strongly about what I am about to say.

Please let me express my sincere appreciation to the many volunteers who, each year, make the Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl so successful. There is no way that such an event can be mounted without the dedicated work of the hoards of Jazz Ambassadors and other volunteers who give so selfishly of their time and talents. And for no reward other than the satisfaction of the support they give to their organization and to the music.

Tonight, well over 100 good folks will gather at The Levee for last minute instructions, and tomorrow they will fan throughout the 22 participating clubs to assist, sell merchandise, and generally keep things going as smoothly as possible. Some will be runners, hurrying from club to club making sure that t-shirts are still available, Mardi Gras beads haven't sold out, and delivering the much needed profits back to headquarters, thereby insuring that our Jazz Ambassador goals can be met for yet another season.
To all who will brave the various hassles of the evening in your assigned places on the crawl, I salute you.

Most especially I salute my wonderful committee, who began planning for this event more than six months ago. Throughout numerous meetings, countless e-mails and phone calls, the final plans were hammered out. Clubs were recruited by Bill Paprota, Hal Melia, Dana Blay, Dean Hampton, Mary Ellen Farney and myself. Mary Ellen also worked with the bus company, helping to establish the routes and timings so critical to the success of the crawl.

The posters, table toppers and t-shirts were designed and produced by Dana Blay, with initial and very cool design ideas from Coban Rudish. They are so hip this year that we have had trouble keeping them in the clubs -- people have been helping themselves! -- and even though we've had to spend some extra money resupplying them, that is a good thing.

Dana and Marsha Blay, along with much help from Bill Paprota, Bev Mann and Jayne Rudish, have organized and presented all the merchandise for the crawl. This is an overpowering job, and an important one, as many of the net profits from the Crawl come from the sale of merchandise. Dana and Marsha, once again, are in charge of organizing and issuing marching orders to 100-plus volunteers. And Bev Mann, our treasurer, wears the constant concerned look of someone whose job it is to see that we make a maximum profit in these trying economic days.

And, finally, a special thank you to Dean Hampton, who provided his usual ideas and support while dealing with some serious health issues along the way.

* * *

July 22, 2002 -- It has been some weeks since the big party, and we are still in the process of crunching numbers. Several bills have yet to be paid, and several checks have yet to be collected; but, as of this writing, we can see that the net income from this year's crawl will come up short of our goal.

Yet, onward we go to Pub Crawl 2003, if for no other reason than this event has raised nearly $50,000 in recent years for jazz-related causes in KC.
However large or small the profits in 2002, the work of the competent and dedicated workers of the KC Jazz Ambassadors must continue, be acknowledged and applauded.

To each of you, may I issue a heartfelt thank you. I have never worked with a more dedicated group of volunteers, and I salute you all, as do all Jazz Ambassadors everywhere.

KCJA president Dr. John Leisenring is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri at Kansas City.






	Search our site:		by John Leisenring Notes From the Pub Crawl June 26, 2002 -- It is the eve of the 2002 Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl, the penultimate day before our 21st jazz extravaganza, and I want to get this in print before tomorrow night's crawl, because I feel so strongly about what I am about to say. Please let me express my sincere appreciation to the many volunteers who, each year, make the Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl so successful. There is no way that such an event can be mounted without the dedicated work of the hoards of Jazz Ambassadors and other volunteers who give so selfishly of their time and talents. And for no reward other than the satisfaction of the support they give to their organization and to the music. Tonight, well over 100 good folks will gather at The Levee for last minute instructions, and tomorrow they will fan throughout the 22 participating clubs to assist, sell merchandise, and generally keep things going as smoothly as possible. Some will be runners, hurrying from club to club making sure that t-shirts are still available, Mardi Gras beads haven't sold out, and delivering the much needed profits back to headquarters, thereby insuring that our Jazz Ambassador goals can be met for yet another season. To all who will brave the various hassles of the evening in your assigned places on the crawl, I salute you. Most especially I salute my wonderful committee, who began planning for this event more than six months ago. Throughout numerous meetings, countless e-mails and phone calls, the final plans were hammered out. Clubs were recruited by Bill Paprota, Hal Melia, Dana Blay, Dean Hampton, Mary Ellen Farney and myself. Mary Ellen also worked with the bus company, helping to establish the routes and timings so critical to the success of the crawl. The posters, table toppers and t-shirts were designed and produced by Dana Blay, with initial and very cool design ideas from Coban Rudish. They are so hip this year that we have had trouble keeping them in the clubs -- people have been helping themselves! -- and even though we've had to spend some extra money resupplying them, that is a good thing. Dana and Marsha Blay, along with much help from Bill Paprota, Bev Mann and Jayne Rudish, have organized and presented all the merchandise for the crawl. This is an overpowering job, and an important one, as many of the net profits from the Crawl come from the sale of merchandise. Dana and Marsha, once again, are in charge of organizing and issuing marching orders to 100-plus volunteers. And Bev Mann, our treasurer, wears the constant concerned look of someone whose job it is to see that we make a maximum profit in these trying economic days. And, finally, a special thank you to Dean Hampton, who provided his usual ideas and support while dealing with some serious health issues along the way. * * * July 22, 2002 -- It has been some weeks since the big party, and we are still in the process of crunching numbers. Several bills have yet to be paid, and several checks have yet to be collected; but, as of this writing, we can see that the net income from this year's crawl will come up short of our goal. Yet, onward we go to Pub Crawl 2003, if for no other reason than this event has raised nearly $50,000 in recent years for jazz-related causes in KC. However large or small the profits in 2002, the work of the competent and dedicated workers of the KC Jazz Ambassadors must continue, be acknowledged and applauded. To each of you, may I issue a heartfelt thank you. I have never worked with a more dedicated group of volunteers, and I salute you all, as do all Jazz Ambassadors everywhere. KCJA president Dr. John Leisenring is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. RETURN TO AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2002 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2002. All rights reserved.