Ms. Schwartz --

Thank you for your clear and thorough explanation.

Given the circumstances, and having served on award panels myself, I
understand.

Thank you for your sincere apology and sharing my concerns,

Dave Radlauer


On Fri, Jul 1, 2016 at 7:57 PM, Schwartz, Roberta Freund <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Dear Dave,
>
> First, you should know that the ARSC Awards Committee is still working on
> this year's awards. ARSC is a small organization, and the Awards committee,
> like all our other committees, are volunteers - myself included.  We don't
> have a set schedule for the determination of finalists or winners, as much
> depends on how long it takes us to hear from publishers, when books and
> other materials reach the judges, and when we can find a common time for
> seven individuals with full-time job commitments, conference and
> professional presentations and obligations, teaching schedules, etc., to
> hold a conference call to determine the finalists, and then several months
> later, to determine the winners.  We do try to select the finalists by May
> 1 and the winners by early September. However, this year we had a number
> of publishers and self-published authors get material to the
> committee in April, and I've been trying for six weeks to find a time when
> all of the members can participate in the conference call.   When the
> finalists and winners are chosen, the list will be posted on the ARSC web
> site, winning authors and their publishers will be notified, and a press
> release will be issued.
>
>
>  I recall that we chatted about your submission for this year's awards in
> November, and thought that this sufficed as an acknowledgement of your
> submission. Very few of our nominated titles are self-nominations;
> I compile a list of books that are eligible and contact publishers
> directly with requests for examination copies for our
> judges.  Usually, publishers notify the authors.  I regret that I do not
> have time to contact each of the 150 authors  - if I can even find contact
> information, which is often extremely difficult for authors at non-academic
> publishing houses - personally, nor to send out updates (save for the
> notification of finalists), much as I would like to.
>
>
> I apologize that you found this insulting or discourteous in any way.  We
> honestly do the best that we can with no budget and a committee of experts
> who volunteer their time to read and evaluate dozens of books, liner notes
> and articles.  The membership decided in 1991 that a modest awards program
> that acknowledges the finest writing about recorded sound each year was of
> merit.  Over the years we have broadened the scope of what we consider both
> categorically and geographically; while this has brought attention
> to a wider number of fine works on the subject, it has slowed the process
> and made timely completion of our task more difficult.
>
>
> Again, you have my apologies. Both the president of the organization
> and our Executive Director have seen your message as well as a synopsis of
> my comments to you, and share my perspective.
>
>
> Best,
>
>
> Roberta Freund Schwartz
> Associate Professor of Musicology
> University of Kansas
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Dave Radlauer <[log in to unmask]>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, June 29, 2016 4:31 PM
> *To:* Schwartz, Roberta Freund
> *Cc:* Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
> *Subject:* Re: ARSC Awards for Excellence nomination
>
> Ms. Schwartz --
>
> Per your instructions I submitted materials for the ARCS competition in
> the field of *Research in Recorded Jazz Music* on Nov 13 with additional
> data submitted Dec 31, 2015.
>
> I am disappointment to receive to date: no acknowledgement of submission,
> no follow-up, nor announcement of the competition final outcome.
>
> This is not in keeping with the several award competitions I have entered
> (and have won) in related fields.  Generally, submissions are 1)
> acknowledged and, 2) the results of the competition announced in timely
> fashion by correspondence and public announcement.  Unless I've missed
> somthing, your competition falls rather short in this regard, and the
> process lacking common courtesy,
>
> Please inform me where can I provide feedback to the relevant committees
> or directors so that your organization may consider addressing these
> shortcomings from the perspective of those submitting entries.  The process
> I've experienced  is unsatisfactory, insulting and wholly inadequate.  I
> don't think I would care to submit again without improvements.
>
> Can you please provide follow-up and/or direct me to where further
> information about the outcome of the competition may be found.  Short of
> that, I find this event very poorly managed.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Dave Radlauer
>
> --
> hm# 510-848-8323
> cell# 510-717-5240
> www.JAZZHOTBigstep.com
>



-- 
hm# 510-848-8323
cell# 510-717-5240
www.JAZZHOTBigstep.com