This page has been inserted in response to a request for more information / feedback to the Branches and indeed to all our members on the proceedings and activities of the Provincial Executive.
The in-depth details of the roles and responsibilities of the BCOTFA is contained in the By-Laws which apply to the Provincial Executive as well as all the Branches and their members, however the basic roles and responsibilities of the BCOTFA Provincial Executive are:
– To offer guidance and assistance to Branches in matters related to our By-Laws
– To share ideas and activities throughout the province as they relate to fiddling
– To make recommendations of candidates for the Canadian Grand Masters invitational competition
– To provide insurances as approved by membership at the AGM
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SYNOPSIS OF January 21, 2026 EXECUTIVE MEETING VIA ZOOM:
- Old Business: Hat Sales Report – Net Funds at this time is $507.36 with still 5 hats to sell.
- New Business:
- BCOTFA Contest & AGM – to be held in Kamloops on September 19, 2026, possible breakfast meeting.
- Travel to Canadian Grand Master 2026 Motion to provide $600.00 to any B.C.O.T.F A. member in good standings once they compete in the Alberta Competition.
- Amendment to the BCOTFA Contest Rules – Revise the Contest Rule #13 to read
- If a contest is designated as a Provincial Contest, only residents of British Columbia are eligible to compete in the Championship Class. Those contestants must be able to provide evidence of three months consecutive residence in British Columbia immediately prior to the contest day. Contestants must list prior first-place awards and their categories for each contest. To keep the integrity of this Category – Each Competitor must be scored by the Judges in the first round above 750 points and over 1000 on the second round. Anyone below these scores will be disqualified in the Championship category. Disqualification decisions are to be made by the contest committee only.
- Newsletter – Editor Still looking for a Editor to help with the newsletter
- Reviewed – Insurance
- Merritt Meeting request for Quorum to be lowered for AGM
- ACTION – Beth Bressette is going to work on a rule of Conduct for our members and instructors and will bring them back before the next meeting for discussion to take to the next AGM
- Next meeting: September 2, 2026, 7pm unless one is required.
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SYNOPSIS OF May 28, 2025 EXECUTIVE MEETING VIA ZOOM:
– In addition to the recommendation of last meeting to raise the Provincial Contest fee Branch contribution from $35 to $75, we will also recommend that should that pass, a minimum of $700 go towards 1st place prize money in the Championship category.
– There is a recommendation to have a “members at large” fee of $20 annually. Fee would be paid to Provincial & those members would only be able to vote at a BCOTFA Annual General Meeting
– Funding request received from North American Fiddlers Convention being held in Edmonton in October/25; we will send a $ 525 donation to sponsor one of the workshops.
– Funding request received for financial assistance for the 2025 Youth Fiddle Retreat being held in Kamloops August 17-24, 2025; we will send a donation of $ 1,200.
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SYNOPSIS OF JANUARY 15, 2025 EXECUTIVE MEETING VIA ZOOM:
An enquiry received from Hazelton Fiddlers re forming a Branch. Florence had given them
the required information but they felt they would not be able to form a Board.
An enquiry received re Life Members – Life Members are Life Members until they pass away
& the Branch has to pay the per capita for them until then.
54th Provincial Fiddle Contest 2025 will take place in Kelowna on June 7/25. On June 6 there
will be a dinner ($6), BCOTFA AGM & a jam.
Hat Fundraiser Ongoing: 30 of the 50 hats have been sold so far
Recommendation to the 2025 CGM: It was decided to recommend Gabriel Mann
Travel Grants: The BCOTFA will provide travel assistance to our BC members (Gebe Mann,
Michael Burnyeat, Max Francis & Kai Gronberg) who compete at the 2025 CGM
Fund Raising Suggestions would be appreciated
Provincial Contest Contribution by Branches: We will be recommending that the
contribution be raised from $35 to $75 in order for the host Branch to increase the prize money
for Championship
New Plaque for Needed for First Place Open: It was decided to purchase a wood veneer
plaque for approx.. $67 + tax as it will be needed for the June/25 contest in Kelowna
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SYNOPSIS OF AUG 28, 2024 Zoom Executive Meeting
- regarding 2025 Fiddle Contest, other Branches besides Kamloops are being encouraged to host, as Kamloops will not be able to
- letter received from Michael Burnyeat asking if he would receive a travel grant for CGM 2024. Michael joined Kelowna Br. in Feb/24 & it was decided to support him with a $400 travel grant
- Jackie Davis had received a call from Hazelton Fiddlers asking for info on the BCOTFA but has not heard anything further
- A nominating committee was asked for, but no one came forward
- Some discussion regarding American Tunes at 2023 fiddle contest in Kamloops
- Query from a member re the 2 year rule – but it only applies to Adult categories. Youth can stay in Youth, or go up to Open
- some discussion re a hat fundraiser for the BCOTFA
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SYNOPSIS OF FEBURARY 4,2024 EXECUTIVE MEETING VIA ZOOM:
- The 2025 CGM will take place in Kamloops on August 22 & 23, 2025. Kamloops has established a committee of 7, Sagebrush Theatre has been booked. Budget is of about $ 51,000 with $8,700 raised so far. We are doing on On-Line bottle Drive through Return-It Express & plan to do an On-Line 50/50 in September; possibly putting out a challenge to other Branches to see who can sell the most tickets.
- Recommendations re 2024 CGM – Max Francis, Kai Gronberg, & Nolan McFarlane were recommended at our last meeting but we have not heard if they will be invited. If invited & they attend, we will be giving them $500 ea. to help with travel expenses.
- AGM 2024 – will be in Kamloops on September 14 @ 9:00 am at Heritage House in Kamloops.
- Fiddle Contest & 2025 AGM – will not be in Kamloops. Hoping for one of our other Branches to host.
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SYNOPSIS OF OCTOBER 25, 2023 EXECUTIVE MEETING VIA ZOOM:
- Old Business: Jackie still has not yet had any feedback from Branches having workshops, etc. as to recommendations for the 2024 Canadian Grand Masters which will be held in Whitehorse, Yukon. The BCOTFA will be recommending Kai Gronberg, Max Francis & Nolan MacFarlane & should they be invited & attend, they will each receive $ 500 travel support from the BCOTFA.
- New Business: It was decided to keep two years’ worth of these synopsis’s & 3 years’ worth of AGM minutes on the Website.
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SYNOPSIS OF AUGUST 31, 2023 EXECUTIVE MEETING VIA ZOOM:
- Correspondence: “Thank You’s” were received from the Quesnel Branch re our participation in their 50th contest celebration, and from Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers re our participation at their 50th year celebration in Abbotsford.
- Old Business: Jackie has not yet had any feedback from Branches having workshops, etc. as to recommendations for the 2024 Canadian Grand Masters which will be held in Whitehorse, Yukon. 2025 CGM in Kamloops has not yet been confirmed.
- Our Association had 388 members at the end of 2022.
- CGM 2023: Max Francis placed 5th & Michael Burnyeat placed 8th at the CGM in Truro, NS.
- Provincial Contest & AGM: Will be in Kamloops September 16/23 – AGM to start at 9:00 am
at Heritage House - Some wording changes to the contest rules will be recommended at the AGM: those being“ Contestants must play a waltz, a jig, and a breakdown (Tunes in 2/4, 4/4 time; ie hornpipe, reel, polka, two-step, hoedown are accepted). All tunes must be played in the old time style.” Also, Rule #8 would need to be changed to match. And changing Rule #13 to read “that out of Province competitors may enter all categories except the Championship Class”.
- The treasurer received approval to pay the Insurance which comes due in September on behalf of all the branches