2012 KCBS Board of Directors Election
Candidate: Steve Farrin
1. Please describe the skills you possess (which you believe are stronger than the other candidates) which would make you an asset as a board member, in dealing with the challenges facing KCBS, and give an example of how those skills would serve the KCBS Board of Directors and its membership.
Being outside the bbq heartland gives me a perspective that the majority of the KCBS BOD members and candidates do not have. Contests outside of the bbq belt face some challenges that those within do not have, things like lower team density, less public exposure to bbq in general and smaller prize purses. As past President of the New England BBQ society I was witness to how decisions by the BOD have affected contests in our area. Being President of the NEBS board has also helped me to understand how to bring people of diverse backgrounds together to form a consensus. I believe these experiences will serve me well as a member of the KCBS BOD and more importantly serve the members well.2. If you are a Cook, Judge, Rep or Backyard Cook, please identify the major KCBS issues concerning, one of areas in which you are involved. Describe the major issue, your strategies to correct or improve the issue, and what you see as the biggest challenge to the success of your plan.
I've been cooking bbq contests for almost 15 years. I have literally travelled from coast to coast to compete. I will bring my experience as a cook to the Board Room and make policies to improve things for cook teams. There are rules on the books now that are completely unenforceable and in my opinion unnecessary. I will use parting of pork as a prime example. If a team wants to cheat and part their pork there is really no way to stop them, in my opinion this puts teams that are willing to follow the rules at a disadvantage. I truly don't understand why the rule was put in place to begin with. There is also a document with pages and pages of rep advisories. I'm sure there are a number of teams that are not even aware that the document exists. These advisories should be incorporated into the rules or done away with. There should only be one place to look for all the rules that can affect you as a competitor.3. Identify your major short term goal and the major long term goal, if elected to the Board of KCBS and your plan to implement change or improvement in order to carry out each of these goals.
My short and long term goal is to stop the secrecy and closed door sessions in the Board Room, bring true transparency to KCBS operations and improve communications between the KCBS and its members. Yes I have seen improvement in some of these areas but in my opinion it has not gone far enough. Board members should not be profiting from their positions on the BOD with Sam's club rep assignments, book deals or any other type of sponsorship money. It's the members of the KCBS that make the organization great and they should not be kept in the dark.4. If elected please explain "your level of commitment, time and energy" for committee projects and monthly reports, board meetings and attendance, as well as representing KCBS to the public and being responsive to our members.
I commit to attend the majority of meetings by phone and when possible in person. I commit to listening to the concerns of members inside and outside the bbq belt and acting on your behalf in the Board room. When given a committee assignment I vow never to go more than a single meeting without a report. I attend several contests each year and I will use my time at these contests to communicate with the members of the KCBS and listen to your concerns.5. Please describe your previous participation in KCBS activities and years of experience.
I have been a KCBS cook going on 15 years, competing in contests from Maine to California and many points in between. I am a KCBS CBJ and have volunteered at numerous KCBS judging classes in the New England area by cooking or helping where needed. I teach KCBS-style competition bbq classes that have been held in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Indiana and Pennsylvania. I, along with two friends, organized a small bbq contest in Massachusetts. I have used barbecue as a means to give back to the community by volunteering for Harpoon Helps (which raises money for the Greater Boston Food Bank), supporting Kookers Kare as well as The Corliss Johnson Memorial Foundation. Our team, I Smell Smoke!!! has donated back our winnings at contests that benefit charities.6. Please explain why you want to be a member of the KCBS Board.
I enjoy competing in KCBS contests and have done so for a number of years and hope to do so for many years to come. This is an opportunity for me to give back to an organization that has brought some great experiences to my life. Please visit my website at www.changekcbs.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SteveKCBS
