PFS Special License Plate Protocol

PFS Special License Plate Protocol

by | Jan 24, 2024 | Board of Directors, Membership, Membership Perc, PFS Info

There is a statement on the application for PFS special license plates that must be attested to by one of the Board of Directors. This statement says that the person applying for the plate is “a member in good standing of the organization”.

As such, only active members of the PFS may order a special plate from the organization.

If you send in an application, we will check you against the database. If you’re not an active member, you will be asked to renew your membership before we can proceed with your application.

 

The PFS is currently processing these applications without adding any extra fees over with the DMV charges. However, starting August 1, 2024 we will be adding a fee for each application.

 

The fees will be: $45 for a regular plate ($13 more than cost) and $180 for a custom plate ($20 more than cost).
VOTE in PFS Board Elections

VOTE in PFS Board Elections

by | Jan 22, 2024 | Board of Directors, Membership, Membership Perc, PFS Info

Voting is now open for the PFS Board of Directors. PFS members will be emailed an inviation to VOTE from Election Buddy.

Voting closes Friday, Jan 26 at 7pm ET. 

Invitations to vote will only be sent to PFS members in good standing. Please watch your inbox (and check your spam folder) for an email from Election Buddy inviting you to vote. For questions about elections, please contact George Ehrgott at gehrgott@pfs.org 

Three PFS Directors are seeking re-election to the board, Eric Robbins, Eric Ring and Rob Kutzik. More below on each candidate. 

Eric Robbins BOD
Eric Ring BOD

Eric Robbins is a Certified Public Accountant with over 25 years of experience auditing not-for-profit organizations. He advises Boards of Directors on accounting, financial reporting, tax, and other compliance issues related to the not-for-profit industry. Eric assists organizations with designing effective internal controls over financial reporting and over adherence to governmental regulations. As Treasurer of PFS, Eric heads up the Finance Committee and oversees the organization’s financial reporting. He has been a Folk Festival volunteer and attendee for over 30 years.

Rob Kutzik is the Director of Donor Relations at a New Jersey non-profit. He has more than 30 years of experience in small and medium-sized non-profits, having raised millions of dollars through diverse strategies. His specialties lie in non-profit management, fundraising, volunteer recruitment, marketing and sales, program development and program evaluation. Rob is also a prolific songwriter and accomplished musician, known by his middle name Rob Lincoln, who co-chairs the Philadelphia Area Songwriters Alliance. His PFF credentials include attending more than 40 Fests since 1977, performing there three times, running the PFS open mics online and at the venue, and being actively involved with the Philadelphia Folk Song Society’s Philly Co-op for a number of years.

Eric Ring is an attorney who practices in tax law, business law, and probate with experience in preparing business and non-profit tax returns. He is a graduate of Temple University Law School with a Masters in Law in the area of taxation. Eric has volunteered at the Philadelphia Folk Festival for over 20 years. His hobbies include concert photography. In collaboration with Jayne Toohey and John Lupton, he is one of the authors of the “Smiling Banjo” Book, a photographic history of 50 years of the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

PFF Announces 2024 Festival Management Team

by | Jan 1, 2024 | Board of Directors, Fest 2024, Music Events, PFS Info

The Philadelphia Folk Festival is thrilled to announce the appointment of the 2024 Festival Management Team: Blind Justice Music, consisting of Andrew and Michael Braunfeld, as the new Festival Directors, and Kimberly Sinclair as the new Festival Artistic Director. This highly esteemed team brings a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives to lead the iconic event into its next chapter.

Blind Justice Music comes with a proven track record in event management, having successfully overseen Spring Gulch Folk Festival in New Holland, PA for 20 years in their previous role. Their passion for fostering community through music aligns seamlessly with the ethos of the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

Equally exciting is the appointment of Kimberly Sinclair, an award-winning folk music industry professional, who offers decades of experience marketing and presenting shows across North America. With an ear for diverse and authentic voices, Sinclair is set to curate an unforgettable lineup for the upcoming festival.

“The Philadelphia Folk Festival has a rich legacy of celebrating folk music in all its forms. We are confident that with Andrew & Michael Braunfeld and Kimberly Sinclair at the helm, the festival will continue to evolve, enchant, and captivate audiences,” said Board President, Miles Thompson.

The Festival Management Team will work in tandem with each other to present the 2024 Philadelphia Folk Festival. The Festival Directors will be responsible for the logistical operations of the Festival, including building the festival site, volunteer oversight, handling all permits and on-site operations, etc.; while the Festival Artistic Director will be responsible for curating the musical lineup, organizing on-site performer relations, plus communicating and marketing the Festival. Each of these two Festival Director positions will report directly to the PFS Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Folksong Society eagerly anticipates the dynamic energy and innovative ideas that the Braunfelds and Sinclair will bring to this beloved event. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as they prepare to lead the Philadelphia Folk Festival into a new era of musical exploration and community engagement.

The 61st Philadelphia Folk Festival takes place August 16, 17 and 18, 2024, on the Old Pool Farm. Join the Philly Folk Festival mailing list to be the first to know about tickets, performances and more, via our website: pfs.org.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL MANAGEMENT TEAM

BLIND JUSTICE MUSIC
Blind Justice Music, LLC is Andrew Braunfeld and Michael Braunfeld, who are also partners in the Masterson Braunfeld law firm in Conshohocken, PA. Michael and Andrew were the producers of the Spring Gulch Folk Festival in New Holland, PA for 20 years. Their law firm has been counsel to the Philadelphia Folksong Society and the Philadelphia Folk Festival over the course of many years and has consulted for, and provided legal services to, several other folk music and related organizations and venues. Andrew had previously served on the PFS Board for more than 30 years and served as the organization’s President for 5 years during two terms. Michael served as the Society’s Secretary and Vice President during his tenure on the board.

On the Festival side, Andrew has been part of the management of the Philadelphia Folk Festival as a Co-Chair over the course of 6 decades, serving one year as the Festival Chairman. Michael has for years lent his knowledge of the music business and performing skills to the festival as a consultant in a variety of areas.

Michael is a performing singer-songwriter with national visibility and a strong connection to the Americana music scene. Andrew has a thorough working knowledge of most kinds of festival-related music, with particular emphasis on preservation of Bluegrass and Old Time music. He ran the Philadelphia Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival for the Society for its 15 year run.

Andrew and Michael are looking forward to coordinating the efforts of the multitude of committees and volunteers who are the Philadelphia Folk Festival, along with the various partners who help assure the success of the event, not the least of which are the good people of Upper Salford Township and the Godshall family, our hosts at the Old Pool Farm.

Both Andrew and Michael have been afflicted with the genetic disease of guitar and banjo collecting, and are repeatedly in and out of remission.

KIMBERLY SINCLAIR
Kimberly Sinclair, a seasoned force in the music industry, specializes in orchestrating and promoting events for artists, festivals, and non-profit organizations. With a comprehensive background in live event production, including work with the Summerfolk, NERFA, Home Routes, the Canadian Folk Music Awards, the Halifax Jazz Festival, Folk Music Canada, and more, Sinclair boasts a proven record of expanding audiences, revenue, and fanbases.

After managing a multimillion-dollar retail portfolio for Federated Department Stores in New York, Sinclair transitioned to the East Coast of Canada and was quickly immersed in the music scene. Recognizing the parallels between her fashion expertise and the demands of the music industry, she founded Spincount in April 2008. Under her leadership, Spincount has earned the prestigious Company of the Year award six times, while Sinclair herself has been honored as Industry Professional of the Year three times.

From Toronto to Nashville, Halifax to Kansas City, Calgary to Kerhonksen, Sinclair has adeptly pitched and collaborated with acclaimed performers including David Crosby, Anderson .Paak, Sharon Jones, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Ms. Lauryn Hill. Her comprehensive services encompass everything from community engagement to event production.

Notably, Sinclair served as the official publicist for the 2019 Philadelphia Folk Festival and joined the PFS Board in February 2021. Actively engaged in the music community, she is a member of Folk Alliance International, Folk Music Ontario, The East Coast Music Association, NERFA, and Music New Brunswick.
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Sinclair shares her life with her husband Kevin, two sons, a dog, and three cats. Follow her journey on Instagram @kimberlysinc.

David Wax Museum Saturday, Dec. 30th

David Wax Museum Saturday, Dec. 30th

by | Nov 30, 2023 | Board of Directors, Concerts, Folk Music, Membership, Membership Perc, Music Events, PFS Info

Discounted Tickets for PFS Members!

 

PFS members get discounts to tickets to shows this December and January, thanks to our partnership with Rising Sun Presents. PFS members, don’t miss:

Lisa LeBlanc, Dec 7 at 118 North

The Weight Band, Dec 21 at The Ardmore Music Hall

David Wax Museum, Dec 30 at 118 North

To purchase discounted tickets, use the links and promo codes sent to PFS members via email.

PFS is giving away two pairs of tickets to EACH of these shows. Fill out this form for your chance win. https://forms.gle/NdpA63MdE8bXzyvYA

Discount codes for tickets and entry into the contest are only open to current PFS members in good standing.

Nominations for board positions are now open!

by | Nov 6, 2023 | Board of Directors, Membership, Membership Perc

Nominations for board positions are now open!

There are three seats up for election, and these are currently filled by Eric Ring, Eric Robbins and Rob Kutzik. These three men were appointed to open seats and have done incredible work to put the society back on a firm footing.

Anyone wishing to serve or to nominate a qualified member should request information from George Ehrgott (gjehrgott@verizon.net), though instructions will be sent to all members in good standing.

Nominating petitions must be received by November 16th, with the slate of candidates to be announced by the end of the month.

Election will be electronic and will take place at least 30 days after the announcement of the slate.

photo of Amanda Shires (2019) by Susan Roston