(¯`·._(¯`·......Wha Gwaan in R.A.W......·´¯)_.·´¯) Thursday, July 26, 2007 _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ *INDEX [1] New Board Job Descriptions (please forward to Massive [2] : ..."Getting Intra-it" - 1st steps of the new plan (from Kyle Russell), 7/25/07 [3] An open message from the Board to the R.A.W. Membership, July 19, 2007 [4] ROSKINDS:PRISON MIRACLE, MONTREAL REGGAE FESTIVAL & UTURE MOVEMENTS [5] "THE FIRE TOUR" Heads to TORONTO, CANADA "RAS INDIO" @ RASTAFEST 07 [6] Eggs Over Irie - 7/15/07 [7] Native Elements on the Peninsula this Weekend!!! [8] No move... (HAJI MIKE) [9] USA based reggae bands YAHOO club site _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ [1] *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= >From: Kyle Russell [Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide #] Subject: New Board Job Descriptions (please forward to Massive From: Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2007 01:39:27 EDT 4.3.2.B General Director Job Descriptions (based, in part, on those outlined on the R.A.W. web site): 1. PR & Media Coordinator: a. Write and distribute press releases for R.A.W. news, events and projects b. Edit official R.A.W. communications c. Oversee the compilation of a ³R.A.W.-friendly² Reggae media list d. Provide publicity services for R.A.W. conferences and events e. Provide information on marketing/PR/publicity services to R.A.W. members 2. Web Site Director: a. Update, maintain and administer R.A.W.¹s web site b. Maintain and update the list of R.A.W. Member web sites c. Post and update R.A.W. news and Reggae news items d. Develop and install a message board system and a more thoroughly cross-referenced demographics page e. Develop R.A.W.¹s on-line marketing efforts 3. On Line Communications Coordinator: a. Welcome new on line Members and provide them with updated Email and URL R.A.W.sters, and a list of important contacts within R.A.W. b. Send information packets to On Line individuals who are interested in joining R.A.W. c. Collect on line information (tour schedules, press releases, requests for assistance, etc.) and post them as often as twice weekly within ³Wha¹ Gwaan in R.A.W.? (WGIR)² 4. Off Line Communications Coordinator: a. Welcome new R.A.W. Members who don¹t have access to the Internet (i.e., are ³off line²) b. Provide, upon request, information on possible avenues to get on line (no cost and low cost options are available!), as well as send information packets to Off Line individuals who are interested in joining R.A.W. c. Assemble, print and distribute information and communications between on line members to off line Members; likewise furnishing off line prospective members with interest in R.A.W. with information about the organization (in both cases, budgetary & time constraints may limit what can be done, and how often) d. Provide, with a team of R.A.W. volunteers, the opportunity for off line members to post their communications to on line Members and to the R.A.W. Forum 5. Record Label & Deejay Coordinator: a. Welcome new Record Label & Deejay Members to R.A.W. b. Develop and maintain an up-to-date Member Record Label & Deejay database c. Facilitate communications between Record Labels and Deejays d. Facilitate reporting between Deejays and Members responsible for R.A.W. BUBBLERS e. Distribute a ³New Member Welcome Kit² to Record Labels & Deejays: the Kit will contain useful information on R.A.W. networking, including the effective use of radio play lists and label reports; how to share news and information; detailed methods (for Deejays) on how to obtain promotional music, and effective ways (for Labels) to secure feedback, publicity, and air play for their releases 6. Performing Artists Coordinator: a. Welcome new R.A.W. Members in the Performing Artists category b. Periodically poll R.A.W. artists to arrive at a better understanding of their needs and interests, and learn how the Performing Artists Coordinator can assist the artists c. Suggest ways to utilize R.A.W. Membership and the R.A.W.ster to forward a career as a Performing Artist by networking with Dee Jays, fans, venues, and promoters d. Provide or direct Performing Artists to sample performance contracts, stage plot and technical rider forms e. Provide tips to Performing Artists on booking and advancing gigs, and network with other R.A.W. Members in all categories to update and improve the tips and techniques for Performing Artists. 7. Committed Reggae Fans Coordinator: a. Welcome all new Committed Reggae Fan Members b. Encourage Committed Reggae Fans to use the R.A.W.ster to its fullest potential c. Respond to inquiries regarding R.A.W. benefits, including R.A.W. discounts d. Inform Committed Reggae Fans how to bring more live Reggae music to their home towns e. Provide tips on how to help events be successful f. Show Committed Reggae Fans how to ³adopt² R.A.W. artists in their areas g. Share examples and/or strategies of how Committed Reggae Fans can become members of the industry and support Reggae in a more professional capacity h. Advise Committed Reggae Fans how to increase their involvement in Reggae music through R.A.W. networking, and share philosophies on being a true Reggae Ambassador §5.5 Officers¹ Duties A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Chair) ­ The Executive Director¹s vision and actions shall direct the organization in both tone and detail, outlining and pursuing (with the Board & Membership¹s involvement) R.A.W. goals and directions. The Executive Director shall have general charge of the affairs and property of R.A.W., supervising all the organization¹s business and performing all duties incident to the office of the Executive Director (and such other duties as may be determined by the Board of Directors). All Board Members & Committees must report to the Executive Director. The Executive Director is specifically responsible for monitoring and encouraging the fulfillment of goals undertaken by the Dee Jays/Labels Director; the Performing Artists Director; and the Committed Fans Director. The Executive Director may, with any other Officer duly authorized, sign and execute in the name of R.A.W.: deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, agreements or other instruments duly authorized by the Board, except in cases where the signing and execution shall be expressly and exclusively delegated by the Board to some other Officer or agent. The Chair shall: 1. Preside at all meetings of R.A.W.. 2. Chair the Board of Directors. 3. Be official representative of R.A.W. in matters involving external groups. 4. Be an ex-officio member of all Committees (except those directly related to the evaluation and compensation of the President¹s performance). 5. Cast vote whenever the Board calls for a vote. 6. Appoint Committee chairs and members. 7. Present a written Annual Report, which will be available at the Annual General Meeting. 8. Develop and supervise programs which are consistent with the purposes of R.A.W. and which are approved by the Board of Directors and shall carry out such other duties as may be directed by the Board. 9. Delegate and/or assume responsibility for the duties of the Public Relations and Media Director should they be unable to perform for any reason. B. Assistant Executive Director (Vice-Chair) shall: 1. In the absence of the Executive Director or in the event of death, inability or refusal to act, the Assistant Executive Director shall perform the duties of the Executive Director and, when so acting, shall have all powers of, and be subject to, all the restrictions upon the Executive Director. 2. Share the Chair¹s responsibilities, and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Executive Director, or by the Board of Directors. 3. Oversee the R.A.W. Web site and its Director, and be responsible for ensuring that the site is functional and updated. This last duty may, by majority agreement of the Executive Directors, be shared with or delegated to another Executive Director. C. Secretary ­ The Secretary shall: 1. Keep the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors and General Meetings (with physical and electronic records kept in known locations). 2. Give or provide for the giving of all notices in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws or as required by law. 3. Be custodian of R.A.W. records, official forms, the seal of R.A.W. (when or if such a seal is developed). 4. Provide that the seal of R.A.W. is affixed to all official R.A.W. documents. 5. Perform all duties as from time to time may be assigned by the Executive Director or the Board of Directors. 6. The Secretary oversees and is responsible for the effective fulfillment of duties undertaken by the On line & Off line Communications Directors, as well as the Public Relations & Media Director, and may, if qualified and able, assist in web site management. D. Treasurer ­ The Treasurer shall: 1. Be responsible for carrying out the mandates of the Board of Directors in overseeing the financial resources of R.A.W. including, but not limited to cash, securities, stocks, bonds, and all other property, personal or real, owned by R.A.W.. 2. Cause to be kept all the books of account of the business and transactions of R.A.W. (revenues, expenses, and debt). 3. Chair the Finance Committee and, if required, insure that the annual accounts are properly audited by an independent certified public accountant. 4. Make the organization¹s books available to the Board as a whole, to which the Treasurer is directly accountable. 5. Share responsibility with the Membership Director for the accurate tracking of membership dues (incoming funds from new membership and renewal dues). 6. Maintain records of special funds designated for sponsorships and other projects. 7. Reimburse authorized R.A.W. expenditures 8. Compile and submit an Annual Financial Report. 9. If qualified and able, assist other Executive Directors in their duties or help supervise specific General Directors. E. Membership Director - The Membership Director shall be responsible (along with the Treasurer) for managing the R.A.W. Membership, monitoring expirations, renewals, changes and updates to the Membership, including outlining the organization¹s demographics periodically. The Membership Director may also, by majority agreement, be responsible for the R.A.W. web site, as would be the Assistant Executive Director. 1. Keep the R.A.W. database up-to-date, informing on line Members of new Member details; membership renewals; changes in members¹ categories/addresses etc., in ³New Members and Changes² updates to be issued at least monthly. 2. Send R.A.W.sters (the full contact information for every R.A.W. Member) to new Members, and updated versions upon Member request (may be subject to cost-coverage fee). 3. Keep the Email R.A.W.ster (the list of all R.A.W. Member Emails), R.A.W. demographics and statistics up-to-date and distribute new versions periodically (at least quarterly). 4. Work in conjunction with R.A.W. volunteers and supervise any direct outreach (by them) to the R.A.W. database (via Email, phone, or letters). 5. Archive the information of no-longer-active members for future contact. 6. Actively develop & implement membership-expansion drives. [2] *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= >From: Kyle Russell, Interim Executive Director, R.A.W. [Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide #] Subject: ..."Getting Intra-it" - 1st steps of the new plan (from Kyle Russell), 7/25/07 From: Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:19:26 EDT ..."Getting Intra-it" - 1st steps of the new plan (from Kyle Russell), 7/25/07 By now, some or all of you are aware that something new is afoot for R.A.W.. Some have shared concerns over the whether, the how, and the why (now, as opposed to previously), but the fact is: we are moving (and talking) again, and that's a good thing any way you slice it. The part of my plan (posted on the R.A.W. site as "R.A.W. hires KRucial Reggae," 7/19) which relies on your participation (and should ideally be achieved by Thanksgiving) consists of Part A: to hold Elections (for the future and continuing Board); and Part B: to hold an Annual Meeting. Prior to the Elections, we need to 1) educate the membership about the ByLaws in general, and the Election process in particular; and 2) shepherd us through the Nomination procedure. Both of these are handled in this communication. Education first: if you're not familiar with the ByLaws, read them on the site (accessible right off the Home Page). I will work with our webmaster and Membership Director Tom Pearson to ensure that - for those of us who can't get access to them electronically - an offline, hard copy pac will be mailed out including the ByLaws and other pertinent information (such as this communication, and the previous Announcement of 7/19). Much in the ByLaws are pertinent to our discussion, but I will endeavor to steer us toward the stipulations that are particularly relevant at this time for the achievement of Part A of the plan, beginning by defining what positions are in the existing & future Board, and then exploring (and initiating) the Nomination process. Therefore, and once the Nomination process is in motion, we can tackle the balloting and Election process in preparation for the Annual Meeting. Right now, the Board consists of the following members (or "Boardies," as we affectionately call to ourselves). Tom Pearson is performing the functions of Membership Director (managing new memberships, renewals, the database, etc.), and is also holding the title of Assistant Executive Director (and by default, acting as the Online Communications Director). Although he resigned his previous (long-time) position as Executive Director due to his crushing professional work-load, he continues to perform the above duties admirably, including submitting the WGIR updates through another R.A.W. volunteer. Tom would like to continue as Membership Director, and so the Assistant Executive Director & Online Communications Director positions will become available (from within and outside the Executive Board, respectively). Check the ByLaws and information below regarding who may qualify for the Executive Board positions. Kyle Russell, who had originally been (and remains, by default) the Performing Artists Coordinator, accepted the appointment and Board election to become the Interim Executive Director for the sole purpose of breathing life into the actual ByLaws document, which was completed after a laborious & time consuming process just under a year ago. After having expended enormous personal and financial resources (not least of which was his time) hosting R.A.W.'s 10th Annual Conference in 2003, and completing the ByLaws by 2006, Russell has taken on this current project of effecting the Elections & Annual Meeting as an independent management consultant (for those who may not be up-to-date on the who and why of these latest initiative). Almost needless to say, the Performing Artists Coordinator is up for election. The Executive Director position, however, must be filled by a standing Board member (per the ByLaws), in the interests of continuity, and them necessarily knowing the ropes by the time they take leadership. Unless someone else on the Board volunteers for the position (which we wholeheartedly encourage), Russell may present an application to be elected to the slot by the Board itself. What if, however, he doesn¹t? We have some time on this, and the Board itself is grappling with the implications of the various options we¹ll need to explore, should we not receive applications for all the available slots through the existing channels. Per 4.2.D: ³in the absence of adequate substitutes or sufficient personnel to occupy all posts, the Board of Directors may vote to allow certain members of the Executive Board to also serve on the General Board, and vice versa, on either an interim, or extended basis.² Nan Lewis, PR Coordinator, has stated that she no longer has time to hold the position going forward, and was previously charged with writing announcements of this nature. But given that I (Kyle Russell) am responsible for the execution of this plan - and since I'm not speaking for other individuals (or begging their clarification if and when I do) - it falls on me to make these announcements, which I think makes sense, given that I've been charged with expediting the process by which we literally get from A to B. This position is definitely open to the General Membership. These communications are, FYI, run by the existing Board for feedback, wording recommendations, etc., so they are not merely my opinions alone. Susan 'Zipp' Thompson has been the Off Line Communications Coordinator, but has not had Internet access or been able to fulfill her various duties due to health issues. I¹m sure she¹ll agree that this position is available & up for election as well. Mind you, the ByLaws, Section 4.2.D state that ³a maximum of 2 Executive Board members may be elected or replaced in a given year.² But given the much larger size of the new Board, and the extended tenure of the existing Board, it makes sense and is not a misreading of the spirit of the ByLaws to say that while we want to keep as many of the existing Board members on board as appropriate, we also want and need to open up as many positions as possible to ³new blood.² Joanie Pearson has been, and would be willing to continue as Treasurer, unless an eager newcomer would like to submit their application for the position (and replace or ³run² against her). Joel Spencer has been, and would continue as Labels & DJ's Coordinator. David Bauman has been, and would continue as Committed Reggae Fans Coordinator. Both are open to new applicants for those positions submitting their applications, as they may choose instead to continue in other Board positions. The ByLaws call for the Board of Directors to include 5 Executive Directors (their duties are laid out in section 5.5): 1. the "Chair," or Executive Director 2. Assistant Executive Director 3. Secretary 4. Treasurer 5. Membership Director. Per the ByLaws¹ Section 4.2.B, positions 1, 2, and 5 must be selected from Board members who¹ve already served 1 or more years. Therefore, position 1, 2, and 5 are only available to someone within the existing Board. Positions 2 & 3, on the other hand, are available to the General Membership (as are several of the General Directors' positions below). Be it known that (per section 4.1.C) anyone desirous of, or sitting on the Board MUST have email access and be continuously responsive to Board-Business emails as a prerequisite to remaining on the Board. The technology exists, and all Board members should have access to it, that would allow real-time chats facilitating meetings-with-minutes, an organizational & accountability assess. We will endeavor to have these be integral to the Board¹s future functioning, and ideally, the successful holding of the Annual Meeting. I would like to submit that all applicants must have read and have a grasp of the ByLaws prior to running for office. Being on a Board of Directors is not simply a forum to voice ones opinion. It requires reading, writing and attendance to detail, which is not in everyone¹s skill-set. The new Board shall additionally consist of the following General Director positions, including: 1. Public Relations & Media Director 2. Web Site Director 3. Online Communication Director 4. Offline Communication Director 5. DJ & Labels Director 6. Performing Artists Director 7. Committed Reggae Fans Director From what I can tell, the following positions are available: 1, 2 (although we have someone performing admirably on maintaining the site now, and they could certainly become an official Director by applying), 3, 4, and 6. As mentioned, we welcome feedback from parties interested in positions 5 & 7, as they may well become available for election. Nominations (see section 4.6) may be made via the Nomination Petition Form, a basic version of which is at the bottom of this email. In the interests of expediting the process, it would be just as easy for applicants and nominating agents to simply list the candidate's name; R.A.W. #; the 1 position they seek; and their qualifications & mission statement (per the form below) and submit that. The applicant may be asked to forward references to the Board per 4.3.1; and must abide by the following, all-important proviso: each petition "must include a verification via signed statement of the nominee that the nomination is made with his or her permission and that he or she will serve and perform as required if elected to the Board" (see 4.6.B). The ByLaws call for the nomination period to be 2 months in duration, and commence 4 months prior to the Annual Meeting "and shall terminate at least 2 months before the Annual Meeting" (4.6.C). In order for us to complete parts A & B of this plan according to the expected timeline, however, I believe we can begin the Nomination process immediately (in July), with the Nomination process ending as early as the end of August. If there are any nominees who for whatever reason are unable to submit their paperwork on time, they should let us know, so we can wait a reasonable time for their submission to be received. Even with snail mails going out by early August, I think 4 weeks should be ample time for a turnaround, especially given that Board members must universally have email access, and would have already received all the information they need as of today. Ballots would then go out as soon as possible, certainly well before the end of September. This will enable all votes to be received & counted (Tom Pearson has already agreed to receive & count votes as they are to be submitted) in October, at which point arrangements will have been made for the Annual Meeting to occur in November, so that we may report on its outcome after Thanksgiving. Per 4.3, "a new applicant (ie. one who has never served on the Board)Šwhose candidacy and qualifications must first be approved by the Board [before running for office]Šcannot apply for more than one position at a time; should there be more than one applicant for any one position, the Executive (or existing) Board reserves the exclusive right to determine eligibility and qualification of the applicants, who, upon approval to run [the Board will publicize the list of candidates in September], may then pursue Election via the established procedure. Should there not be any applicants for a vacant Board position, the Executive (or existing) Board can, at their discretion, make a request to a General Member to fill the vacant position." Almost needless to say, all positions are available only to R.A.W. members, however, it would certainly make sense for anyone interested, from outside the R.A.W. network, to join and thereby qualify to run. Now I (Kyle Russell) have also agreed to use the promotional machinery of my own company KRucial Reggae to publicize and open up this election process to the Reggae industry in general, as well as publicizing other developments of the organization (particularly soliciting partnerships with other non-profits; launching a MySpace presence for R.A.W.; and other email/newsletter announcements through additional avenues of publicity), all of which do not require the same all-important involvement of the membership, except that I invite any and all to give us or recommend to us networks by which we can get the word out about R.A.W.'s new life. In other words, I will be making announcements sponsored by my company which I will send out based on the announcements made within the organization, but without the same submission & editing protocol I reserve for my intra-R.A.W. communications. A R.A.W.-focused newsletter¹s scheduled for transmission next week. In closing, I present the following take-home message: let us begin with the Nomination process now, using the basic Nomination Petition Form below (you can cut, paste, reprint at will ­ I have provided a Word attachment as well, if that¹s useful), and we welcome all comers for the listed Available Positions... Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide (R.A.W.) Elections¹ Nomination Petition Form [presented July 25, 2007 - may be auto-submitted, or presented by another on your behalf - to be received by designated Board member by the end of August] Available Positions: Executive Board [the ByLaws call for positions 3 & 4 to open to the General Membership; with positions 1, 2, and 5 to be dR.A.W.n from from within the existing Board] 1. the Executive Director 2. Assistant Executive Director 3. Secretary 4. Treasurer 5. Membership Director General Directors [Applications are welcome for all positions, with the possibility that positions 5 & 7 may be retained by existing Board members] 1. Public Relations & Media Director 2. Web Site Director 3. Online Communication Director 4. Offline Communication Director 5. DJ & Labels Director 6. Performing Artists Director 7. Committed Reggae Fans Director Please fill-in and submit all Nomination/Application sections below, either by email or postal service to myself, Kyle Russell at ReggaePR@aol.com or via PO Box 440263, Somerville, MA 02144 (utilizing the Certified, Return Receipt Requested services, unless submitted by Email, to verify receipt). 1. Candidate's Name & Full Contact Information. 2. R.A.W. # (current status may be researched or queried by Membership Director) or membership fee & application form, if candidate is not currently a member). 3. Position Desired: the single (1) position being sought, from the list above. 4. Qualifications, what in your experience & skill-set makes you the right person for the position. 5. Recommendations (to be furnished voluntarily, or upon request). 6. Mission Statement, what you envision doing and contributing to R.A.W. through the position. 7. Verification via signed statement of the nominee that: ³I have read the ByLaws; I have and use email every (or almost every) day; and this nomination is being made with my permission and that I will serve and perform as required if elected to the Board.² Once submitted, Petitions, which will be the basis of your appearance on the ballot, and thus, should not to be amended or rescinded. Looking forward to your Nomination/Applications! Thank you, Kyle Russell. [3] *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= >From: ReggaePR@aol.com [Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide #] Subject: An open message from the Board to the R.A.W. Membership, July 19, 2007 Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:44:50 EDT An open message from the Board to the R.A.W. Membership, July 19, 2007 After having defined & ratified the new R.A.W. ByLaws in 2006, the existing Board has found that holding an Annual Meeting and initiating the Election process has been a task too daunting and time consuming for any one individual, or existing committee to take on additionally to the fulfillment of their basic duties as volunteers for the organization. As a result, the organization as a whole has been on autopilot, and without any particularly defined or achievable goals. Kyle Russell, who's position as Interim Executive Director was to have expired on completion of the ByLaws, presented the Board with a proposal exactly two months ago, that would put the ByLaws into effect AND revitalize .A.W.¹s place in the industry. We have had due time to debate and approve the plan, and have voted by a majority to accept it. A one-time payment of two thousand dollars has been ade through Russell¹s consulting firm KRucial Reggae to proceed with the ost necessary ³prearranged and valid expenses² of his labor & services hich will be expended over the next 4-6 months.* Russell is not being paid in his capacity as a volunteer Board member ­ the uties of which he will continue to do gratis & in addition to this project but as an outside management & PR consultant whose labor & services have een duly ³recognized and approved by the Board and Treasurer,² as autorized in our ByLaws.* [* = 2 quotes from paragraphs 3 & 4 are taken rom the ByLaws] Kyle Russell's commitment: 1. to educate the membership about the ByLaws and future organizational structure. 2. to organize the much needed Elections that will bring in new leadership. 3. to organize an Annual Meeting, even remotely, via the Internet. 4. to give R.A.W. new meaning by having it collaborate in its own promotion with partner organizations, particularly those involved in efforts to achieve global change. 5. to put KRucial Reggae¹s promotional machinery behind promoting R.A.W. beyond our existing network, reaching out to lapsed members and asking them back; creating a R.A.W. MySpace page he would administrate; and through his own email network, Newsletters & web site, which currently reach over 10,000 people monthly. The time frame for the achievement of these goals would be: for the project definition & election nomination process to begin immediately, ideally completing by the end of September; and for the balloting & Annual Meeting process to follow thereafter, ideally completing by Thanksgiving. These optimal benchmarks notwithstanding, Russell has pledged to stay in as long as it takes for us to put the Annual Meeting behind us and have ourselves a new Board in place. We believe that these goals, coupled with his other efforts will serve to "reinvent" R.A.W., both expanding and improving ur public image internationally, as well as our capacity to ³forward the eggae vibe every time ³. [4] *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= >From: Robert Roskind [Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide #] Subject: [Newsletter] ROSKINDS:PRISON MIRACLE, MONTREAL REGGAE FESTIVAL & UTURE MOVEMENTS From: robert roskind Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:56:35 –0400 Reply-To: PRISON MIRACLE, MONTREAL REGGAE FESTIVAL FUTURE MOVEMENTS THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE LOVE OF POWER TO THE POWER OF LOVE We are resently working on our next book, 2012:The Transformation of the Love of ower to the Power of Love. If you would like to read the book in progress typos and all) click below. Pre-publication comments are always welcome. We ow have 20 of our videos of Native American, Maya and Rasta elders and our oncerts on YouTube. We have had over 113,000 views in the last few months. Just search under "Robert Roskind." Also, Red, the elder Ras of Negril who is featured in several of our books, s very ill. I know he would love to hear from any of our many readers who ave been moved by his wisdom and would like to tell him that. His phone in Jamaica is (876) 316-8545. Future Movements: We will have a booth and/or speak at the following upcoming festivals: FloydFest - Floyd, VA - July 26-29 One World Inner National Music Celebration - Horse Shoe, NC - Aug 17-19 Ashefest - Asheville, NC - Aug. 24-26 CLICK HERE TO READ NEW BOOK MIRACLE OF LOVE AT ALEXANDER CORRECTIONAL CENTER I want to share with you a miracle that occurred at a maximum security prison in Taylorsville, North Carolina and our experience of the Montreal Reggae Festival - obviously two very different venues for love to express itself. For several years, we have been speaking and sending our books to Rastafarian inmates and speaking to several Rasta groups at prisons, including one at Alexander Correctional Center in Taylorsville. After reading the books, inmates would often write us letters - some of the most eloquent, heartfelt responses we have ever gotten. One prisoner wrote, "I was in a one-month solitary lock-down and two days in someone slipped Rasta Heart through the food slot. I don't even know who. I want to thank you for writing this book. I went in lock-down as a man of hatred and revenge and came out a man of peace and love." Another inmate wrote, "Thank you so for the signed copy of your book. I will always treasure it and its message. It is the first personal gift I have ever received. I am 35 years old." Another wrote us of having the man whose lies caused him to be in jail, years later being assigned to the same prison. "My friends wanted to get him," he wrote, "but I stopped them. It took everything in me to overlook the animosity I held in my heart. I forgave him. Regardless of the years lost from my freedom, I feel free in heart now." On my first visit, I told the Alexander group I would make a long-term relationship with the group to help them claim themselves as peacemakers if they would bring this vibe out into the yard and encourage other inmates to do the same, in whatever manner with which they were comfortable. After about a year meeting with this group, sometimes including Julia to talk to them about meditation, we all agreed to do a One Love Concert for the whole prison and invite all the incarcerated brothers to join the Rastas as peacemakers in the yard. Laura Reed, a very conscious recording artist living in Asheville and her seven-piece band, Deep Pocket, agreed to perform for free. Petite, beautiful, with long dreads, five-foot tall Laura was described in a review as "belting out a song like Janis Joplin with the attitude of Aretha Franklin." CLICK HERE TO LAURA REED'S SITE LAURA REED DEEP POCKET PERFORMS On June 4, the concert was held. It took hours to get everything, including sound equipment and instruments, and all thirteen of us, through security and in the gym, where they had set up a couple of hundred chairs. Soon the twenty Rasta inmates came in, greeted us and took the front row seats. After a few minutes, everyone else started coming in - 250 stoic maximum-security inmates with fully-armed guards. Over 60% would never leave prison. Many where there for violent crimes. As far as any of them knew, this was just a concert with a rock-and-roll band. I had a DVD of Luciano playing on a large screen to break their vibe from the prison yard. "Greetings, my brothers," I said to the gathering, with the Rastas standing up in the first row, facing their fellow inmates. "We have come here tonight at the invitation of the Rastafarian Group. I come as a Rasta, a Christian, a Muslim and a Jew or as Ziggy Marley sings, "My religion is Love." These bredren standing in front of you have claimed themselves as peacemakers, as warriors against war. They are committed to making this village - this prison - the most enjoyable it can be to live in by encouraging peace and love here. Tonight, we are inviting you to do the same." "We have come here today to free you," I said after the Rastas sat down. "I'm not talking about physical freedom. That I cannot offer you. But I can offer you emotional, mental and spiritual freedom because if you learn and teach love behind these prison walls, you are free, maybe freer than you were on the outside, freer than many others on the outside. As Bob Marley sings, 'Emancipate yourself from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.' We are here tonight to help us all free our minds. And it doesn't matter what you did in your past or what was done to you in your past or whether you're an inmate at Alexander Correctional Institute or the president of this country. The Creator has given each of us our own personal assignment and that is to heal the small piece of this planet that we will walk in our lifetime by loving and forgiving as much as we can. Everybody's assignment is of value. You are the brothers whom the Creator has sent behind these walls to teach His love. Everybody's efforts are needed because it is the Creator's will that every piece of this planet be healed. There is no more powerful path to walk than this path of love. All other paths lead us astray. And I guarantee you that if you accept your assignment, you are heading Home and your life will become a mystical, magical adventure - even if you never leave here. If you need to atone for things you have done, spend your life helping others, especially the youths, avoid going down that same painful path you once journeyed down. If you yearn to contribute something to the lives of your loved ones on the outside, let them feel your peace and love and by doing so, remind them that it is accessible no matter what our life circumstances are. Welcome to our concert." CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR SITE EMANCIPATE YOURSELF FROM MENTAL SLAVERY This was a group of misguided warriors who had learned through the traumas of their lives that it is never safe to show their feelings - at least positive ones. Unlike the Rasta group, they hadn't sought out our message. They were just coming to be entertained. In the days and hours before the concert, I often wondered how these men, many of whom had known such a rough life, would accept a message of unconditional love. Their enthusiastic response to my opening remarks was all that I had hoped for and much more than I had expected. Over the next two hours the concert continued under the same vibration. Julia spoke from her heart about using our breath in meditation to feel the rhythm of our heart and soul to free ourselves, reminding them that they could be in Zion even "in this house at Alexander lock-down prison." We showed video footage of various elders speaking of love. Laura kept taking the audience higher and higher, with her soulful songs and conscious lyrics - all written and composed by her - as Deep Pocket (Derrick Johnson, Greg Hollowell, Ryan Burns, Ben Didelot, Barret Helms, Travis Ward, mgr. Katherine Powell & sound, Brook Binion) blew everyone out of their chairs with their tight backup. After her second of four sets, they got a standing ovation and at that point all of us knew we were experiencing something powerful, something blessed. Even the guards standing out in the hall were moving to the music and the vibe, with big smiles on their faces. For the rest of the program, many men were on their feet and every time we spoke, the applause was enthusiastic and sustained. CLICK HERE TO ORDER OUR BOOKS AT LESS 50% THE POWER OF LOVE At the end of the concert, I stood by one of the exit doors to say good-night to some of the inmates. I wanted to look them in the eye to see if the message was resisted by a few, perhaps too wounded to forgive. Everyone looked me straight in the eye and with a big smile thanked me. The last man out was an elderly inmate in a wheelchair being pushed by younger inmate. He was frail and looked like he was nearing the end of a hard life, "That was incredible," he said through his tooth-less grin, his eyes gleaming. "Absolutely, absolutely incredible!" "Thank you all so much," Chaplain Redding, the open-hearted, open-minded chaplain who helped us organize the event, told us as we were packing to leave. "We needed this tonight. One of the inmates died in his cell from a heart attack a few days ago. That always hits everyone here really hard. He was well liked and a death here reminds a lot of the guys that that's how they will one day die - alone in prison. There's been a lot of depression the last few days. You can feel it, even in the chapel services. This definitely helped." CLICK HERE TO LAURA REED'S SITE INCARCERATED TEACHERS OF LOVE A few weeks ago, a month after the concert, Julia and I returned to Alexander for our monthly visit, interested to see the impact of the concert. "I'm interested to see if you felt the concert and its message had any real impact or was it just an enjoyable evening," I said after we had said our opening prayer and settled in to our reasoning circle. "Ya, man," Ras JAHmin said. "It had a big impact, not just on us but on everyone that was there and even on the guys that weren't there. The only negative thing we have heard was from the guys that were mad because they missed it. They all want to know when you're coming back. We can sense a difference towards us in the yard. Now when someone says 'Respect!' you can sense they mean it. Some of the Christian brothers came up to me after wards and said they felt real comfortable there. They had always thought that Rastafari was a cult but now they realize we are just talking about the same One Love that Jesus was talking about so I know that has done a lot for us here in this group as far as acceptance and respect in the yard." "One of the inmates in the yard came up to me after the concert and said 'You look like you are glowing,' " Joseph said. "Can you imagine someone saying that to you in a prison?" "You could feel the presence of love in that gym," another member said. "Everyone there felt it and the vibes on the yard are already better. Everyone pretty much respected each other before but now there is even more of that and some guys that you would never see together are now talking on the yard." "We are getting more respect as peacemakers," Derrick said. "People liked the message and the vibration. In a couple of hours, you guys healed some pretty hard-hearted inmates. It showed me the power of love and you can see how quickly it can spread across the planet. People just need the proper guidance and most never get it." A week later, I talked with a chaplain from another nearby prison about doing a concert there. "We'd love it!" she said. "I know all about it. It was the main topic at our state-wide chaplains meeting last month." Kymani Marley Opening the Festival MONTREAL REGGAE FESTIVAL A few weeks after our prison concert, we flew to the Montreal Reggae Festival, where the organizers had asked us to speak on stage between the artists' performances. Our daughter Alicia and her boyfriend Zack joined us. On Friday, the first night of the festival, held on a small island park in front of the historic area, Kymani Marley performed with the lights of the city as his backdrop. Almost ten thousand people showed for this free concert. It was an almost transcendent experience - a warm summer night in gentle Montreal with Kymani singing not only many of his moving songs, but many of his father's as well. As I watched this young man, who in voice and vibration is so like his father, I thought this is as close as I'll ever come to seeing Bob Marley live and as close as many of us may come to having a group spiritual experience. On Saturday, Julia and I began speaking between artists, telling five-to-ten minute stories of the tremendous healing power of One Love we had witnessed over our journey - including the prison healing. With each story, the crowd grew silent, giving us their complete attention and enthusiastic applause when we finished, letting us know that our message of encouraging everyone to claim their God-given destiny as a teacher of love had truly reached home. That night, conscious reggae group Black Uhuru, performed as the American entry to the International Fireworks Competition, held every summer in Montreal, lit the sky above us. Site of Montreal Reggae Festival Overlooking City CRUISING WITH LUCIANO, MIKEY GENERAL DEAN FRAZIER On Sunday afternoon, we continued our stories, by now well-anticipated by the crowd and stage crew alike. That night, conscious artists Tony Rebel, I-Wayne, Gyptian and Third World performed. As I looked out at the huge crowd, I thought all of this, and similar reggae concerts and festivals worldwide, all lead back to one man - Bob Marley. No other musical genre or even worldwide social movement can make the claim that it goes back to one person, to one root. And as I contemplated this, I knew the reason this one man - born and bred in extreme poverty, with almost no childhood or support of a secure, nuclear family, with little formal education and no political, social or economic status, a man who had once been a "rude boy" - had created such a miracle. He had given his life, his energy and his talent totally over to the Creator and Jah had used him as an instrument of His peace. He has transformed all those who listen and are touched by this grace. He served as an instrument of the One who played him. We all have the same opportunity. At midnight, after the close of the concert, we walked further down the waterfront and, along with 350 other reggae fans, boarded at large cruise boat where Luciano and Mikey General, artists who have also given their lives and talent to the Creator, entertained us with their loving melodies and lyrics as we gently cruised the Saint Lawrence River until four in the morning. They were joined, as they often are, by renowned reggae saxophonist, Dean Frazier - three mature, dignified - but always approachable - One Love elders of the reggae world. Mikey General Luciano on Ship DOUBLY BLESSED The festival ended as we sailed back in to port. The captain said that due to sound ordinances, we could not use amplified music as we approached the harbor. Hearing that, Luciano and Mikey General put their mics away and led us all in singing "Movin' On" quietly, gently as we closed the night and the festival. 'I saw Luci and Mikey General on the top deck before the concert," Alicia said as we walked back to the hotel through the near-deserted streets of the old city. "They were so glad we were here. They said 'you have no idea of the impact your parents have made in Jamaica. Even if the country didn't totally heal itself as they hoped, they made a big difference.' " "What did you say?" I asked, glad that Luci and Mikey had connected so sweetly with her. "Well, I told them you weren't disappointed," Alicia continued. "You really didn't have any expectations." After the cruise, I joined Mikey and Luciano, who has performed in our One Love concerts in Jamaica, in their hotel suite, two floors below ours. I told Luci about the transformation that we had witnessed at and after the prison concert. "When I asked the brothers there to chose a CD that would break the prison vibe when the inmates entered the gym," I said to Luciano, "they chose a DVD of a live performance that you did in California. It worked beautifully. As soon as everyone entered, they fell silent, transfixed by your performance. And these were not reggae fans. Your work with us continues even when you are not there." "Thank you, my brother," he responded humbly. "Prisons will be one of our future gigs." "You and your family had a big effect during your time in Jamaica," Mikey General said. "The way you did it was good. It worked and your work there is not over." "Thanks, Mikey," I said. "It's good to hear that. We haven't been back since our last concert on Bob's 60th almost three years ago so we never heard much echo." "Ya, mon," Luci said, the sunrise breaking through the evening sky in the large picture window directly behind him. "I am glad that you didn't stop in Jamaica, that you and Julia and Alicia kept going. Don't ever stop your work. It is blessed." "And the same to both of you," I said, as their words triggered some deep completion for me about our five years, three books and fifty-four concerts in Jamaica. "When we were all younger, I don't think any of us thought that our lives would have gone as they have and that we would be here tonight, together in this room, as a result of our work. None of us will ever stop. At this point in our lives, nothing else would motivate us - not money, not pleasuring, not fame." "Ya, mon," they said in unison. HAILE SELASSIE IN MONTREAL IN 1967 "And by the way, you sanctified this area for a second time," I said as I headed out. "Exactly forty years ago, Emperor Haile Selassie I had been across the harbor on a piece of land as he dedicated the Ethiopian exhibit at the 1967 World Fair held here. I think his blessings were with all of us this weekend." Julia & Robert Roskind Authors of Rasta Heart, The Healing of the Nation, The Beauty Path, Memoirs of an Ex-Hippie, In the Spirit of Marriage and In the Spirit of Business PO Box 2142 Blowing Rock, NC 28605 (828) 295-4610 roskind@boone.net www.onelovepress.com one love press · po box 2142 · blowing rock · NC · 28605 [5] *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= >From: Ras Indio [Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide #] Subject: "THE FIRE TOUR" Heads to TORONTO, CANADA "RAS INDIO" @ RASTAFEST 07 Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:13:37 -0700 (PDT) To: Ras Indio THE FIRE TRAIL Continues...... "RAS INDIO" Will be in TORONTO, CANADA THIS WEEKEND JULY 21st - 22nd @ RASTAFEST 07' Also Feat. MUTABARUKA TONY REBEL QUEEN IFRICA EDI FITZROY NATTI PABLO & MANY MORE ! ! ! UPFRONT THEATRE FOUNDATION in Association with MASANI PRODUCTIONS *flyer attached* PRESENTS RASTAFEST 07 in TORONTO, CANADA @ YORK UNIVERSITY - VANIER FIELD THURS - SUN FREE Admission Ras Indio will be performing on Saturday!!! For more INFO chek: myspace.com/rasindio or www.rasindiobelize.com ITS A RASTA AFFAIR ! ! ! SELASSIE I, JAAAH RASTAFARI ! ! ! [6] *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= >From: Jah Stone [Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide #] Subject: Eggs Over Irie - 7/15/07 From: Justin Barnett Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:40:41 -0600 Massive: Getting back to the playlists...Eggs Over Irie, Version 375 is attached to this e-mail. Recently in CO...reggae scene still real nice! Good to see some of you out there nicing up the scene at The Melodians!. We got Itals tonight and Scratch tomorrow followed by Jr. Toots on Sat. Not a bad line-up!!! Respect, Jahstone [7] *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= >From: Native Elements [Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide #] Subject: Native Elements on the Peninsula this Weekend!!! Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 02:48:20 EDT From: Greetings, Much love and Aloha to you. It's been a while and it's good to be back at the home of live reggae music on the Peninsula at Chris New Harbor this Saturday night 7/21 (tomorrow). As always, our resident selector, DJ Arrow of Youth Fiyah will be in the house bubbling the latest sounds from JA between sets and of course your irie cousins, Native Elements will bring on 3 sets of live homegrown music to your dancing feet all night long. Come out and share some nice vibes with us and the beautiful people of the Bay Area Peninsula. We hope to see you soon. Go deh! Guidance, Native Elements Band www.myspace.com/nativeelements Sat. 7/21, 10PM-2AM Native Elements plus DJ Arrow (Youth Fiyah) Chris New Harbor 150 Harbor Blvd, Belmont, CA 21 and up $10 [8] *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= >From: Haji Mike [Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide #] Subject: No move... (HAJI MIKE) Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 09:57:53 –0400 From: HAJI MIKE Big Up all people far and wide, maximum respect for your support on the www.soundclick.com reggae chart, where the new tune by Spill The Milk feat Haji Mike & Aaron Kedar has stayed consistently in the top ten tracks for over a month! is also getting some nice hits from people round the world including the mighty Brinsley Forde, and R.A.W.kus from Birmingham who has a great blog on UKHipHop. We'd also like to recommend a totaly new web site deciated to all forms of undergound music based in Cyprus. www.cyprus-underground.com is a fresh unifying initiative launched on 17/07/07 for musicians to chat in various forums and engage in discussion. This site is not only for musicians/artist based in Cyprus - as any one from around the world can join with an interest in what's happening in an underground sense on the island. For any one passing through Aphrodite's Isle on hols from Blighty and beyond check the 50Cent/Akon/Julien Marley gig Medfest next week Sat 28th July GSP stadium Nicosia. Also Summer Vibes Festival with the Roots Crew on Sat August 4th at Napa's Sunset Beach. Enjoy! band page: http://www.soundclick.com/hajimike [9] *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= *=*=*=*=*=*=*= >From: The ark band [Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide #1414] Subject: USA based reggae bands YAHOO club site Date: Monday, July 23, 2007 5:32 AM R.A.W., please join the usa based reggae bands site at - http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/usabasedreggaebands/ ( created in november 1998 ) ( at same time when the usabb site was created) mission - I&I believe strongly that this USABRB subject is one that will prove crucial in advancing reggae music in this huge country, geographic wise and population wise. I&I further believe that we in the USA can serve as a vital link in promoting inity among all reggae musicians (in fact all of the reggae massive) not only in the USA but all over the world. I&I are one among many but we are strong when we choose to unite. this club also emphasises REGGAE'S message and its worldwide inity potential... ~Roots_ee~ Note: This group has been set to "restricted membership" in order to eliminate automated IDs that join only for the purpose of posting unsolicited ads. Membership is open to anyone who is interested in USA Based Reggae, but each membership request will now be approved by the moderators so that we can filter out spammers. one love one peace roots-ee --- the ark band http://thearkband.com http://thearkband.com/gigz/index.html http://www.myspace.com/thearkbandmyspace ***no one but ourselves can free our minds*** From: rasadam simeon To: Daniel Frankston Cc: Evan C. Reiffel ; Jah Son ; hods ; R.A.W.@pilgrim.reggaeambassadors.org Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 11:52 AM Subject: Re: [R.A.W.] An open message from the Board to the R.A.W. Membership, July 19, 2007 i'm glad sto see some movements forward in R.A.W.! one thing i'd like to suggest i sthat the R.A.W. board set up a free yahoo group for itself. it comes with a chat room and that way they can be in different countries(someone may have to stay up late one night to meet). meetings can be done online on a regular basis instead of waiting to fly people around etc. another thing i will sugest again is that reggae ambassadors get sites up for their region of the globe. here's three emaples i have made: http://www.myspace.com/upstateNYreggae http://www.myspace.com/NYCreggaeguide http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/R.A.W.northEastUSA/ on these you can list all your regional bands, upcoming concerts, venues, booking agents, local media links and if you make one via myspace you can get lots of "friends" to share this info with and since you will have a common message board..your words spread to all their "friends" . all of these regional R.A.W. sites can be linked together into one big global kumbaya hug. I was thinking of bailing out since my radio show seems to have peeetered out, but I am writing some reviews for mikey atjammin reggae archives and still reggae networking through my sites and playing in a reggae band so i'll hang in there as long as it seems like its heading somewhere. give thnx ras adam simeon #1530 *********************************************************************** In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty Forward the Reggae Vibe...Every Time ! Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide Tom Pearson (R.A.W. #33) http://www.reggaeambassadors.org ************************************************************************* < REGGAE AMBASSADOR WORLDWIDE Disclaimer > "Any and all statements, views, and opinions expressed in the 'Wha' Gwaan in R.A.W?' newsletter are those of individual members of Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide, Inc. (R.A.W.). REGGAE AMBASSADOR WORLDWIDE is not responsible for the veracity, or for the content, of any REGGAE AMBASSADOR WORLDWIDE member's statement, views, and/or opinions included in this newsletter."