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Initial Comments from people interested in the project (on this page)
Note: this page includes the core group that gathered in the summer of 2003. See also the more current list of listserv members as of early 2004, which also includes the intro notes from many people: [GO THERE]
Jim Cummings (NM) [GO]
Gary Ferrington (OR) [GO]
Dave Aftandilian (IL) [GO]
Nigel Frayne (Australia) [GO]
Norman Lowrey (NY) [GO]
Michelle Nagai (NY) [GO]
Paul Roquet (CA) [GO]
Toby Sinkinson (CO) [GO]
Kraig Grady (CA) [GO]
Elliott Berger (IN) [GO]
Mike Maehr (IL) [GO]
Paul Matzner (CA) [GO]
Chuck P./Previtire (CA) [GO]
Key Issues, Interests, and Available Skills Highlighted in Comments and Dialogue (on a separate page) [GO THERE]
Jim Cummings
As those of you who've watched EarthEar can attest (with respect or wry smiles, as the case may be), I tend to shoot high, and to work to reach the mainstream. In the case of this possible project, that takes on a few specific forms:
- Aiming to be well enough funded to pay for the time that it takes to maintain the web site and do other organizational development. This means grant writing, or perhaps seeking corporate sponsorship (the big outdoor equipment companies may be natural for this...).
- I imagine targeting environmental foundations initially. Given the recent surge of interest in sound issues (snowmobiles in Yellowstone, the Roadless Rule, LFAS), I remain my naively optimistic self, and believe that we can be an attractive project even in today's squeezed philanthropic climate. (especially if we can keep the seed budget fairly low).
- In some ways, the most important expansion of the current AE.org work that I'd like to pursue in the short term is to become a more active and valued source for story ideas and background research/resources for the print and broadcast media. If we can continue to keep these issues in the media, we are well on the way to making a real difference. Of equal importance is catalyzing a more structured and informed network of people to comment on management plans (and over time, short term, to be active and regular expert consultants to land managers).
- In addition to the current news/info focus of this site, I would hope that we can move as well to be a valuable resource, and a source of funding, for educational and arts projects. EarthEar has a new CD-release program that relies on outside funding for design and manufacturing, and then directs 70-100% of sales revenues to the artist or a targeted non-profit (depending on the desires of the funders). Various regional events series and educational initiatives could be similarly supported, with info and contacts, or funding, by the ASAE.
I realize that much of this could happen with purely volunteer time, and that this is the historic route taken by other WFAE affiliates and the Nature Sounds Society. However, I think that we can at least take a crack at being supported for this. If we fail (and until we are successful), we continue to do it on our own.
Personally, having "gone for it" with EarthEar to such degree, and now near the end of my available funding, I am looking to find ways to continue this work by getting outside funding for my salary needs. I hope that this "selfish" need does not distort my participation in the group process. . . at this point, its main effect is my desire/need to begin some grant writing soon to at least support this web site; this could, at least initially, happen outside a slower evolution of the ASAE vision.
(FYI: EarthEar will continue to operate, on a much smaller scale. Sales are fairly consistent, enough to pay for the half day a week of filling orders and offer $5000 or so of net profit per year, but shows no signs of mushrooming to a level that can support me. The web site will soon be revamped into more of an online gallery experience.)
Finally, I have been penciling in that I could pay the filing costs for a 501c3 if we decide or need to start our own, out of the last of the EarthEar capitalization funds (it costs around $2000). Of course, if we can raise some money for this (perhaps by soliciting donations from the 50 or so folks who have indicated on AE.org that they may want to join a membership organization), that would be even better!
Gary Ferrington
Greetings,
I welcome a discussion about the formation of an American association of
acoustic ecologists.
Currently, there are five World Forum for Acoustic Ecology affiliated
organizations. These include: Australian Forum for Acoustic Ecology,
Canadian Association for Sound Ecology, Finish Society for Acoustic
Ecology, FKL, UK and Ireland Soundscape Community. The addition of an
affiliate from the United States is much needed. The WFAE web site
(http://www.wfae.net) provides more information about each.
I see some issues that such an association would need to address as it
is being formed.
1. Human resources and energy to organize and make such a group function
will be a priority. People must be willing to make a commitment to being
involved and to spend volunteer time and energy to make it all work.
2. Given the vast size of the United States the association would, at
least initially, need to be a virtual community with online
communication and collaboration. Perhaps, eventually, there would be
enough members and momentum that regional chapters could be formed
where people could meet face to face.
Perhaps, as the discussion develops on this list there may emerge an
interest in an organizing meeting somewhere in the US where people could
come together and develop the conceptual framework for an American
association.
Jim has suggested some initial goals including:
1. providing resource for public info and education,
2. being active in planning processes for public and perhaps private
lands management,
3. supporting arts events and publications.
4. energize regional activities and networking
What might be some additional ideas....
On a personal note, I would be interested, myself, in devoting energy
and time to issues of education perhaps developing resources for
in-school activities.
Jim --
Please keep me in the loop on this. I can't do a lot right now, but I would
like to be involved over the long haul. I'm pretty good with writing and
editing, so perhaps I could lend a hand with those tasks as they arise.
Basically I'd like to see a membership-based organization organized around
the following goals:
-- research and record natural and urban soundscapes (perhaps with a
long-term goal of developing a library of natural soundscapes, not unlike
Cornell's Lab of Ornithology for bird sounds, that we'd archive somewhere
and make available to researchers; there's also a growing interest in
historical soundscapes, and we could gather together the scattered
publications on this and perhaps help catalyze research on this as well)
-- educate the public about acoustic ecology and related issues, incl.
noise pollution
-- advocate to protect natural soundscapes, reduce noise pollution, etc.
-- encourage and support artistic exploration of natural and urban
soundscapes
-- serve as a public resource and information source on all these issues
Maybe we could have some sort of newsletter as well, probably no more than
quarterly to start. We already have the acoustic ecology listserv. We'd
need to come up with some sort of Board, preferably with representation
from acoustic engineers, acoustic ecologists, musicians, and
environmentalists, and some sort of officers. And it would be great to have
national conferences to bring everybody together--perhaps once every two
years to start?
Those are some ideas, anyway. It's well worth doing, I think!
Best Wishes,
Dave Aftandilian
NF: Just to note that there are actually 6 Affiliates of the WFAE
now,
JASE (Japanese Association for Sound Ecology) being the most recent
addition to the fold. We welcome the possibility that the American
group would become the seventh.
It would be interesting to hear from the American group as to which
activities best fit into a local perspective or action and what would
be considered a global set of activities carried out together with the
WFAE affiliates. Given the very limited resources available to us
collectively it is important to avoid duplication while still
maintaining action locally. This was a point of discussion
(continuing) for the WFAE group that got together during the Melbourne
Symposium.
Norman Lowrey
Jim,
I've meant to check with Pauline about this. I'm pretty certain she
would have an interest, and thus perhaps her Foundation could in some
way be of help. I'll bring it up with her when she gets back from her
present touring in Georgia on Monday.
Norman
Hi Jim,
I've been meaning to get in touch with you for quite a while now, probably
at least two years!! You think you're moving slowly??? Well, anyway, I am
an electroacoustic and soundscape composer, field recordist, performance
artist etc. Too many titles.
I am very interested in the creation of a US affiliate for the WFAE. I have
long thought about creating something in the Northeast, as I live in NYC,
but have never gone beyond imagining about it. I would like to offer my
support to you in the process, through help with grant writing, organizing,
administering etc. I've got quite a bit of arts admin experience (this is
how I put bread on the table) and a few connections with non-profit orgs.
I'm really curious how you see the organization taking shape, and what the
response was to the call you made in the journal of the WFAE.
I'd also love to talk with you more about current projects, both yours and
mine. I'm about to embark on a community radio project designed around
soundwalks and field recordings and I'm searching for some feedback,
interest, encouragement and inspiration.
Hope this missive finds you well!
Regards, Michelle Nagai
Paul Roquet
Hello,
I just received your note on the AE list about starting an American branch
of the WFAE. I am interested in becoming involved.
I am currently in my senior year at Pomona College over in Southern
California, and will be doing a Watson Fellowship next year researching
acoutsic ecology-related issues in Tonga, Mauritius, Malaysia, and Bhutan.
So I won't be around next year necessarily, but I will be very involved with
AE, and hope to carry on with this work when I return.
I am also just starting to seek out more detailed information on Acoustic
Ecology studies (if there are any) around the equator and/or SE Asia to help
me prepare for next year. Do you know of any resources or contacts that may
be useful?
many thanks,
Paul Roquet
Dear Jim,
Truly excellent to time the forming of this group with the flowing of a
dried up water source...
Every time you have mentioned AE/ US I have wanted to write. I have recently
moved to Boulder, CO I am just beginning to find other ear minded folk, but
I believe that a regional group could likely thrive here especially since we
have a great radio station. I have only written one grant in my life but it
turned out well-- 35,000 for a homeless youth initiative. I would certainly
like to help in anyway possible. Thanks for your gumption, and for Earth
Ear! I am a big fan.
Best,
Toby Sinkinson
Hello Jim!
I am all for such an enterprise although my involvment might be a
bit spotty as my work comes and goes in intense periods of
concentration. but i do have down time from this. I happen to already
have a 501 c3 which although has been active, has not been so as far as
raising money or other monetary concerns. I have always been inclined to
do what i can do with the means at hand. anyway i digress. please
include me in your updates on this. BTW where are you located?
-- -Kraig Grady
Jim,
I read your notice in Soundscape. Good news! I am interested in the formation of a WFAE affiliate, although I can provide little time at this moment. However, as you develop a panel of experts consider including me for my knowledge of the effects of noise on hearing, noise-induced hearing loss, and especially hearing protection. You can learn more about me and read some of my materials at http://www.aearo.com/html/industrial/tech01.asp.
Keep me posted.
Regards,
Elliott
Elliott H. Berger
Senior Scientist, Auditory Research
E-A-R / Aearo Company
Thanks for the note. It sounds to be both an interesting and important
undertaking. I would definitely appreciate being included on the e-mail list
and I will check back to your web site as suggested. Thanks again.
(from earlier message to Gary):
"To me,
acoustic ecology is an effective umbrella for my varied interests in
music, animal sound use, diverse environments and quality of life
issues. Hopefully this mini-essay was not to rambling to provide some
concrete ideas: book reviews for animal bioacoustics? write articles on
consumer audio and society, animal sound use and acoustic ecology? I am
also willing to help coordinate branches, events etc. "
Mike Maehr
Natural Resource Management
Department of Leisure Studies, University of Illinois
104 Huff Hall, 1206 South Fourth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
I am delighted that you are considering a US chapter of WFAE in the US. I would like to wholeheartedly support these efforts. I have long felt that some strong collaboration with WFAE is to the advantage of the NSS and have had connections with them since their formation.
Paul Matzner
Founder, Nature Sounds Society
Curator, California Library of Natural Sounds
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak St.
Oakland California 94607
Phone: 510-238-7482
Fax: 510-238-3393
Chuck P.
I've been working in the creatively fledgling commercial radio industry for 15 years. I am currently employed at a Los Angeles radio station as Creative Services Director. I am also a member of the phonography.com e-mail list, which has been a valuable resource when discussing sound and projects related to it.
Only during the past 8 years or so (around the same time I started listening to
avant guard) have I truly realized the world of sound outside music. I started picking up music recordings made in the field, like 50's and 60's journeys into Africa or India to document indigenous tribes, which led me to raw field recordings of nature, and eventually inspired me to become involved in the process on my own.
I think that Dave Aftandilian's suggestion of building an on-line catalog of sound is brilliant. One of the things I've found while researching field recordings is that there aren't many cd's being released (comparably to music). There are a few on-line sites with sound from their particular area (Japan's Kobe University site is an extraordinary example), and if each international branch of the WFAE built their own localized library of sound (could even be broken down regionally in big countries such as the US), it would provide a marvelous resource, not only to budding and veteran recordists, but also to schools and universities who touch upon this subject, especially as it relates to noise pollution, that increasingly invasive issue.
Since I found out about the WFAE, I was surprised to see that an American wing hadn't been set up yet. Considering our relation, geographically, to the originator of the soundscape project, we are way overdue.
Unfortunately, I don't have much experience with grant writing or nonprofit organizations, but I would love to be involved and help out in any way I can, be it technical or otherwise.
Chuck P.
24411 Chestnut Street
Newhall, CA 91321
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