CBA General Election Candidates for 2010

Charlie Raymond
Candidate for Membership Chairman
My name is Charlie Raymond and I have been an at-large member of the board since last August.  I have been working with Linda Clark on membership maintenance.  I would like your support as membership chairman in the upcoming election.

Guana Cornell
(pronunciation of Guana is like 'Gwenna' -- say Gwen with an 'A' on the end of it.)
Candidate for Secretary
I am an avid music lover and I love the blues. I was born in Dallas, Tx, a city and state known worldwide for some of the most exceptionally talented and legendary blues artists ever born. I have always had music in my life because I took 9 years of dance lessons as a child. In my family home, we had a piano and my father had a mandolin, accordion. He gave me a recorder for my 9th birthday. I also had bongo drums, castanets, maracas, a xylophone. Music to me is my life's blood. I could not live without it. It is such a special gift to the world.

My boyfriend, Bob Jasper, is a talented guitar player who has contributed a great deal to expanding my horizons in the blues music genre. We have a very large library of blues artists from all over the world; and, we love going out to listen to the great, local blues talent the NW has to offer. Bob has joined in on the blues jams at the Refectory and Trails End Saloon many times. It is because of him that I had the thrill of standing face to face with Buddy Guy at the Oregon Garden last year while he played his guitar to just the two of us for a short minute or two while we were entering the gate. I actually touched him on the shoulder and thanked him and he just smiled at me. What a memory that will always be!!

I think serving on the board as secretary would be a good experience. I look forward to the opportunity to serve as secretary of the CBA Board and all the new friends Bob and I will make in the blues community. Thanks and have a great day!

John Etten
Candidate for Treasure
It's hard to accept that another incredible year for blues in the Northwest is just about over. That means it's time to elect the five officers that help direct and guide our blues association through the next twelve months. I have served as your Secretary and as your Vice-President over the past few years. While I thoroughly enjoyed working both of those offices, I am a strong believer in getting the right person in the right job, sometimes referred to as the right job fit. That's a discussion that many of us board members had recently and we are in favor of making a few adjustments to change things up and strengthen the overall board as we head into another tough year for nonprofits.
 
I am also a big fan of cross training and being able fill in, or work through any of the board tasks. It is with that strategy in mind that I look to your support in electing me to be your new Treasurer. While I have no specific experience in this position, I am confident that my years of service as a trustee on a number of large benefits funds has given me the experience to handle any fiduciary or fiscal challenges the CBA may face in the coming year. Thanks for your support!

Jerri Shelton
Candidate for Vice President
   My name is Jerri Shelton and I am running for the Vice President position on the Cascade Blues Association Board of Directors.  For the past two years, I have fully enjoyed serving on the board of directors as your CBA Treasurer.  In addition, my husband Robbie Laws and I are also the Chair Persons for the CBA Blues in the Schools Program.  Our business interest in music education has extended into owning and operating a local music school for several years and I can’t tell you how exciting it has been to watch young and old alike just thrive and grow through learning and playing music. 
    Being involved in our great blues community and serving on the board has been a rewarding experience.  I believe my background as a business owner and administrator will be valuable in this position and I look forward to having the opportunity to assist the CBA board and members in realizing our mutual vision as the largest, most supportive and enthusiastic blues community in our nation. 
    I hope you will cast your vote for me at our December general meeting and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Greg Johnson
Candidate for President
    As you probably are well aware, I have been serving as your CBA President since May 2002 when I first took over in an interim role and have been elected the following seven years thereafter. I first began filling a role on the Board of Directors in 1998 and during my time have received six Back What You Believe In Muddy Award nominations, receiving the honor in both 2001 and 2008, as well as being the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Muddy in 2008. This past year I have helmed multiple events for the CBA, including the Journey To Memphis and both Show Your Love For The CBA fundraisers as well as being a major part of the Muddy Awards production and scheduling the music for the upcoming holiday party. I have also been the main contributor to the BluesNotes newspaper as both principal writer and photographer. I have enjoyed my time that I have served the Cascade Blues Association and would be honored to continue in the role as your President.

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