Board of Directors

We respectfully acknowledge and recognize that the work of the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society takes place on the unceded traditional territory of the Secwepemc Peoples.

Mission Statement – We present excellent culturally diverse music experiences to enrich and build the fabric of community.

Vision Statement – Celebrating Together!

Value Statement – To expose, entertain and enrich our community by delivering an excellent presentation of culturally diverse music and related artistic experiences, engaging a multi-generational audience.

The Salmon Arm Folk Music Society (SAFMS) is a non-profit charitable organization that presents the Annual ROOTSandBLUES festival scheduled every 3^rd week in August, a concert series, and participation in many local community outreach activities.

Taking place in the beautiful Shuswap Lake in the unceded traditional territory of the Secwepemc peoples in the Interior of BC, the festival has been a cultural presence in the community for over three decades. The SAFMS’s mission is to present excellent world class, culturally diverse music and artistic experiences to enrich and build community.

History of the Organization

The SAFMS began in 1979 through the hard work of a group of music lovers who wanted to promote local music as well as present touring artists in our small community.  At that time, the group belonged to the Northern Music Circuit, an organization comprised of mostly northern BC communities that were able to block-book musicians at a reasonable price, guaranteeing national and international musicians a few weeks of touring throughout central British Columbia.

Throughout the 1980’s and early 1990’s, the Society presented approximately 20 concerts a year – all through the efforts of a core group of dedicated volunteers, as paid staff did not exist until 2001.

In 1991 the SAFMS became a registered non-profit society and began planning its first Roots and Blues Festival.  Held indoors at a small rural community hall in October of 1992, the first Festival attracted just enough attendees to continue with the idea the following year.  The second year the Festival moved to the considerably larger Community Centre in Salmon Arm and then in later years added a few more indoor venues.  In 2000, the group took a year off from presenting the Festival and hired a consultant to evaluate our Society and its course of direction as an arts presenter.  As a result, the Society made the decision to hire year-round staff, open a permanent office, move the Festival to an outdoor venue and stage it in the summer. 

Our Organization’s Management and Staff Structure

The Salmon Arm Folk Music Society has an annually elected Board of Directors consisting of 12 community members. The board approves the annual budget of the society and reviews financial statements on a monthly basis. The board has several active committees that are involved with their own governance, and the Society’s strategic planning, human resources, as well as committees that offer guidance to staff related to sponsorship, community outreach, and site related issues.  This Board meets on a monthly basis with the Executive Director and Artistic Director.

The Society has 4 full-time staff, 1 part-time bookkeeper, 1 part-time sponsorship/marketing/media person, and 2 part-time contracted production persons. The 4 full-time staff consists of the Executive Director, Artistic Director, Office Manager, and Volunteer/Grant Coordinator. During the peak season, 10 seasonal staff/combined with students come into play by filling the following positions; Engage Stage Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator Assistant, Box Office Assistant, Site Coordinator, 2/3 Site Assistants, Artistic Director Assistant, Camping Coordinator and an Assistant. We also have 2 seasonal volunteers who contribute. We are fortunate to have our seasonal staff return to their positions on an annual basis, thereby creating continuity to the organization. There are over 650 volunteers who contribute to the festival weekend.

Ownership of Properties Utilized by the SAFMS

The SAFMS’s main office is owned by the City of Salmon Arm.  The building is conveniently located at 541 3rd ST SW, Salmon Arm, BC.

The festival venue 490 5th AVE SW is leased from the Shuswap Agricultural Society.

Outreach venues that are utilized by the SAFMS are owned by local businesses, and non-profits. In the City of Salmon Arm, Ross St Downtown Stage, Wednesdays on the Wharf, Song Sparrow Hall, and more.

The Festival storage facility is in semi-trailers, and steel shipping containers located in the backyard of the festival office, ABC Storage and also in the Quonset Storage in town donated by the City of Salmon Arm.

Currently there are twelve Board Level Committees: Each Board Committee is led by a Board Director, features a staff representative and may include a volunteer at large.

Expanded terms of reference for each committee can be provided upon request.

AUDIENCE EDUCATION – To provide information, background, and knowledge about the purpose and products of the SAFMS.

ENVIRONMENT – To develop and deliver on a short and long-term plan that reduces our environmental footprint and allows our festival to excel in this regard.  Promote sustainability in environment practices.

FINANCE – Review implication of financial decisions and ensure that financial processes and procedures remain current with the needs of the Board.

GOVERNANCE – The purpose of the Governance Committee is to establish and maintain an effective governance structure that reflects and supports SAFMS Constitution and Bylaws.

HUMAN RESOURCES – Oversee the performance of the Executive Director, and assist in HR operations at the request of the Executive Director and/or the Board of Directors.

INFRASTRUCTURE – To monitor, envision and participate in matters that pertain to the infrastructure and community relationships affecting the festival and office sites.

MERCHANDISE – To ensure that all merchandise related expenditures are managed appropriately.  The purpose of this team is to provide direction and support for the Administrator and Merchandising Coordinator in regards to the related expenditures within the approved budget. 

SCHOLARSHIP – To administer and coordinate the selection of a worthy student to receive the annual scholarship.                    

STRATEGIC PLANNING – To facilitate the planning of a strategic plan to focus and guide Board and staff decision-making.

VOLUNTEER – The purpose of this team is to provide direction and support for the Volunteer Coordinator and Executive Director regarding volunteer recruitment, retention; and to manage volunteer related expenditures within the approved budget.