February 4, 2019
I am writing in response to the Nedfest Board’s decision to cancel Nedfest 2019 and the subsequent blaming of the Nederland Board of Trustees, on which I have served since April 2016.
Mostly, I enjoy the work of being a Trustee. However, when I experience my community through social media outrage, fueled by private agendas and misinformation, I struggle with reconciling the sacrifices I make for this chosen line of service to my community.
I am shocked at the abrupt decision by the Nedfest Board to cancel the much anticipated 2019 Nedfest. My shock stems from knowing its popularity and impact on town, and in people lives. People look forward to the tradition that IS Nedfest, whether that tradition is to join the festival with your family and a three-day pass, or to listen from the deck with your friends.
I am shocked even more so because the Nedfest Board chose not to bring even one concern to the Board of Trustees, offering no possible resolution to the challenges for the 2019 event. Instead, it took a PROPOSAL meant only to improve year-round use of our shared resource, Barker Meadow Park, that has evolved in the years since the Nedfest Board engaged in the park planning process, and used it as the tool to quite effectively blame the Board of Trustees for their choice to cancel.
The truth is a healthy democracy demands an informed and engaged citizenry. Nedfest Board chose not to engage the Nederland Board of Trustees regarding its concerns for the Barker Meadow Park proposal’s impact(s) on the festival. If you go back and listen to the two meetings addressing the proposal, Nedfest was not overlooked. Nedfest was discussed based on our knowledge and experience, which is clearly not on the ground festival implementation. I encourage Nedfest to rejoin the conversation around how we as a community can collaborate to improve Barker Meadow Park so that it can support our festivals, and year-round fun. I also hope that those excited and willing to make Nedfest a success will find a meaningful way to engage with the organization and bring Nedfest back.
Except for just keeping at it, I am not sure how to convince Nederland that I care, I listen, and I prepare for every meeting and make the best informed vote I can as a Trustee. The idea that is too frequently held up on social media forums that the Trustees are bozos, stupid and not representative of Nederland is false. Please attend a meeting and listen for yourself.
Sincerely,
Julie Gustafson
