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Much has often been said out of turn about the “modus operandi” of our
Association. Taking it for granted that there will always be those who are
very active, certain prized uvulas, the vanguard of a minority of “frequent
singers”[1], we have tried instead to understand what
the leanings are of the majority, who tend to be worryingly mute. It seems
to us that the predominant school of thought is that, since the Association
has done so much in the past, it can now calmly continue to “row the boat”.
We theorise that the brilliant results obtained from successful events, of
interest even at the National level, are proof positive of our exceptional
creative and organisational capabilities. Not having anything further to
demonstrate, therefore, the critics keep quiet and our hyperactive friends
keep calm. After all, we all have families, work, it is stressful, our wives
remonstrate: why get so het up? With the inherited initiatives that so
successfully hit the bull’s-eye, with a Journal “that so many envy our
having” and that represents the continuity and the “glue” of our lives in
the Association, there is nothing else to do but to organise any old two or
three events, preferably to take place in August and the game is played. We
do not agree. To us, instead, it seems that the time has come to change the
record, and that everyone should have a consistent stance. From the
President who is writing this to you, to the last of the Members, (by last
we mean in relation to the date of enrolment!!!). Out of respect for all the
other Members, the people who have taken on directorial and organisational
duties cannot let themselves dedicate only their spare time to the
Association. If they can’t or don’t want to work in a serious and steady
way, let them kindly step aside. Members who don’t have any particular jobs
to do, however, are
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cordially invited to collaborate in a more specific way, offering their
contribution of ideas and initiative. They have done a lot in the past and,
after what we have generously termed “a pause for reflection”, they must do
a lot more in the future. Because it is simply not good enough just to renew
one’s membership, like it is not enough to limit one’s own contribution to
exercising the right/duty of taking possession of the chairs outside the
front of the headquarters, or even inside on the occasion of the meetings.
In the latter case, they assume the role of guests made of stone. We do not
agree. And we think that all those Members who drew closer to the
Association in its time of difficulty, bringing fresh blood and giving a
decisive thrust to our resurrection, would not agree either. Our resurgence
is now a reality. Membership this year has reached the same level as in our
best years. We have already sorted out an interesting programme of events
and we are setting up the basis of a constructive and fair collaboration
with the Executive of Pro-Loco of Torricella. We are certain that in August,
when our mandate expires, we shall hand over, to the new people responsible
for it, an Association that is in full health. On this point, we have
something else to say. And we shall say it calmly, not caring less about
those who would have us “plastered”: sincerely, if possible, on guard and
with prudence. Not at all. We know how to walk with our legs. We don’t need
tutors. Of those who would tell us what to do and what not to do. What we
should or should we not say. And then in what tone of voice. Well then,
let’s say it to them, this last thing; for too long we have dithered over a
problem that we never had the courage or even the will to face up to. The
accusation has been raised, we don’t understand well to whom, that we should
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use this Association as a means of “putting us in the
shop-window”, of “appearing”, of finding ourselves again amongst “those who
count” in a small local reality, without managing to stand out in any way in
the most complex and difficult reality of the large cities. Frankly, other
than being ridiculous, it seems to us to be an accusation that is absolutely
without foundation. In fact, no-one can doubt that all those who have
undertaken to work for the Association in the past have been other than
serious and esteemed professionals. And this is precisely why we feel able
to hazard some advice, even though we haven’t been asked to do so. Following
the example of the President, who has accepted his position just “for one
year”, as one of the founding Members kindly reminded us should be the case,
the others should do likewise. To silence the malevolent, to demonstrate
once and for all that we are not interested in the “positions” but only in
the fate of the Association, we wish to state that it is equally satisfying
to work in the shade, as simple associates. Because the change-over, as well
as being normal and physiological, is also healthy. For everyone.
TRANSLATOR’S NOTE:
[1] frequent singers – the Italian word used,
canterina, which normally means a person who sings frequently, willingly,
for a long time and in a well modulated voice, has certain specific
connotations in the Central-South region of Italy, where a cantore belongs
to a group paid by the Town Council to cheer people up on solemn feast days;
nowadays it is also used in the plural for groups of pop(ular) singers! |
