Crow was concerned that a patriotic performance "could shift the focus away from the most important part of the night and the thing that brings us all together-the music." In a note to the IBMA-L mail list regarding his resignation, Crow said:

After meeting with the Navy Band and Wayne Rice (one of the producers) after the awards show and not getting a satisfactory answer from anyone, I had no other choice but to resign. Wayne Taylor insisted that the change in the show was "authorized" but was "not at liberty to say by whom." Wayne Rice stated that he never authorized the change in the show and Dan Hays says he doesn't know what happened. Somebody has to be in control and someone has to be accountable. As the President and Chairman of the board, it is my job to be in control and to be accountable.

Yes, somebody has to be accountable. Why is it that Wayne Taylor says the change (the inclusion of the medley) was "authorized" but that he isn't allowed to say by whom? The people who invited them and who presumably orchestrated the program, certainly have a right to know who "authorized" the change. Was it someone in the IBMA or was it by direction of the U.S. Navy?

David Crow should not be the scapegoat for this irresponsible act. If his authority (and that of the entire board) is ignored, then what purpose is there for the position?

David Crow is one of the highest respected people in the bluegrass community. He prides himself in his word, ethic and morality and should not be the victim of this error in judgment. It is hoped that the internal failures will be corrected in a manner such that he can return to his position in the future. He is truly a leader and the IBMA membership has been quite vocal in supporting him.

One of the newest members of the board, Mike Bub, is also highly respected and held in the highest of esteem commented to the same mail list saying,

Personally, I see the ultimate necessity in getting new show producers. They are the one's who put together the content of the show. This show should be about one thing and one thing only, honoring our music and musicians and the contributions made over the previous year. That to me is the bottom line. There needs to be a real focus on that. Passion is powerful and there is loads of it in our music. Pageantry is another animal completely and it can logically breed dissention and can be construed as offensive. The IBMA awards show needs to have new and original creativity behind it to keep it fresh and not redundant. Why does it take Marty Stuart to think of inviting Hall of Honor member Bobby Osborne to be a part of the show? We are one of very few musical genres where there are still first generation architects of the music among us providing vital participation and they should continue to be honored on our biggest night.

This takes us back again as to who is ultimately responsible for the content of the show? Why was the board left out of the final decisions when their position was clearly known? Why was the board allowed to state that their decision would be honored and then having their decision over-ruled? Does the board have any say in the operations of the IBMA and, if not, why not? Clearly, the membership and their representatives are not the ones who are in control.

While the show will go on, changes in operation are clearly required and a closer involvement between the IBMA Board of Directors and the Director of the IBMA is essential. These two leadership groups of the IBMA need to work together and not independently. Closure and consensus is required. What went right and what went wrong clearly needs to be addressed. How to prevent another situation like this needs to be clearly addressed. It's bluegrass music that matters here -- not politics or patriotism within an International organization.

The IBMA is a fine organization and will survive but, clearly, how the board and the executive director work together needs to be addressed. This will be a positive improvement to an already positive organization. The board clearly needs to be supported by the rest of IBMA if they are to have a meaningful role. Anything less is clearly unacceptable. Control and direction of the IBMA should be by a single entity - not two or more. Design of the association and it's direction should be by those who the association represents -- the membership which is represented by their elected board of directors.

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