Chautauqua’s Silent Majority

Chautauqua’s Renewed Amphitheater – Circa 2017

Who are they and what do they really want? With this post I take a closer look at this under-defined, difficult to count, yet vitally important constituency. If this Amp debate had been an open election (thankfully it wasn’t), a lot of time and effort would have been put into getting these Chautauquans on one side of this Amp fence or the other. But the vote of the Board is in and now, hopefully we all move forward together to a Renewed Amp, without the acrimonious and contentious discourse that has defined way too much of this process.

I have received some criticism on posting this blog, and the associated emails anonymously, all Twigs considered. The conspiracy theorists have receded into the ravines, and most now believe, and rightly so, that these are just the musings of someone who cares very much for Chautauqua and has used this platform to offer an opinion opposing those who have attacked Chautauqua’s leadership in their decision to renew the Amp. Whether you want to RENEW or SAVE the Amp we all share a deep love of this place, the people, the shared experiences, and a very unique sense of community. I have no doubt that Chautauqua has been the single most influential and defining factor in the ongoing evolution of my life. One of the pleasant little surprises of doing this under a pen name has been that I have received hundreds of emails from people, and I quote/paraphrase, thanking me for speaking up on behalf of the “silent majority”. For the purposes of this post I am going to dig a little deeper into my side of that Amp fence to explain why I feel that most Chautauquans support the Administration and the Board’s final decision to RENEW our Amphitheater.

Once people started accepting my posts for what I wrote, not who I was (or wasn’t), something interesting started to happen. With each new post (topic) I struck a chord with certain people, and they in turn shared some thoughts with me on that topic, and the Amp Renewal project as a whole. In some cases things they may not have brought up during a porch party with family, friends, and neighbors. This divisive topic has caused lines to be drawn, and allegiances to be questioned throughout the grounds, as families and friends landed on both sides of the Amp fence. An old Chautauqua friend emailed me about just such an encounter. She was enjoying the pre-season quiet last June with an after dinner glass of wine on her porch with one of her oldest friends. The topic of the Amp came up and the conversation devolved quickly, as they realized they had opposing points of view. Emotions ran higher, and a bit of an argument ensued, which quickly dissolved into tears, and they had to part company.

My anonymity allowed people to speak out, vent a little, argue, or just offer an opinion better left unsaid in certain company. For every email worried about Grandma’s favorite bench, I received as many on the new ergonomically improved benches and better sight lines with less columns, and lauding the program flexibility with an orchestra pit and lift. For all those lamenting the loss of the bleachers even more were worried about fate of the 3rd edition of Peter’s (not Perry’s) Bridge. For those concerned about her historical integrity, I received as many on the failing structural integrity of the old girl. When it came to reciting all the famous people who have graced the various stages, there was the corresponding chorus of concern for the safety, convenience, and accessibility issues, for all who perform, speak, work, and assemble there. And yes, I received many, both pro and con, asking my opinion of the transformation/timing of the project, from rehab to renewal.

Peter’s Bridge Redux – Circa 1980

From the bulk of emails specifically thanking me, I believe that the most significant part of the Silent Majority of Chautauquans are in favor of a renewed Amp. They support this decision quietly because, despite the emotional attachment to the current structure, it’s the right thing to do, and the best possible solution given the existing conditions and circumstances. I took the time to look into the numbers as thoroughly as possible. And as I previously wrote, numbers don’t lie, but they can be made to say almost anything. So here’s my interpretation and opinion.

Over 100,000 people came through the gates last season. The Save group recently crossed over 2,900 signatures (including additional comments double counted from previous signatories) on their petition. So despite over a years worth of voluminous and one sided regional press coverage that usually mentioned the petition and sometimes included a link to the Save site, less than three (3%) percent of last summers Assembly signed on. And don’t even think about bringing up the other petition by the National Trust that gets them to that oft quoted “more than 10,000 signed” number, as the vast majority of those signatories have never set foot on the grounds. I took the time to visit the Save site and read every one of the 2,902 signatures and associated comments on their petition. I also read all of the136 emails from their Chautauqua Board of Trustees campaign. What is conspicuously absent from their lists is the Silent Majority. By that I mean the vast majority of Chautauquans who have decided to remain quietly sitting on their keyboards, not wanting to publicly weigh in, for a wide variety of reasons. I don’t claim them by proxy, but I do I believe that the most critical portion of the Silent Majority are sitting on the RENEW side of the fence.

Amp Fence from Southern Perimeter – Circa 2017

In studying the 3,038 signatures and emails (with extremely heavy overlap as expected) and comments on both of the committee’s lists (petition to save & email letters to the board), what really struck me was that the overwhelming majority of the people I spent all the summers of my life growing up with, getting to know, playing and working with, and competing against on Sharpe Field and the lake, and all my groupers in Club (and the generations of all those families) are, with less than100 exceptions, not on the Save lists. Over 50 summers spent in Chautauqua and you get to know a lot of people. Some better, and for longer than others of course, and an even greater number of acquaintances, and names you know but haven’t yet met. Of course the list grows every year as new Chautauquans arrive and start their own traditions. The hundreds of familiar names on the emails thanking me for speaking out (and those who have remained silent) represent the most important subset of the Silent Majority. I’m going to refer to them as Perennial Chautauquans. Single through Multi generational Chautauquans who come back year after year. Many are property owners, old and newer alike. Many more are now taking their Chautauqua time in vacations and weekends, navigating the rental market as their Chautauqua homes were lost along the way. They make up the largest percentage of those who contribute the most to Chautauqua. I mean that both, literally and figuratively. The Perennials, and generations of their families seemingly take advantage of every opportunity to be engaged, nay, immersed in the Chautauqua community. Be it ushering at the Amp, shaking the basket for scholarship donations at recitals, baking (tarts, Herb), and raising money for the; Chautauqua Fund, denominational houses, CLSC, Women’s Club, Jewish Community Center, and a host of other worthy causes.

George L. “Shorty” Follansbee Noting the Sunday Collection – Circa 1978

Most importantly these Perennial Chautauquans take the lead each and every year when it comes to giving back to Chautauqua. Whether it’s donations to the Chautauqua Fund, or gifts to the various Endowments and Capital Projects, they give the most. For fiscal year 2014 the Chautauqua Fund raised $3,756,894 from over 2,500 individuals, families, and foundations, making up the annual shortfall in the budget. Drilling down even further, a familiar phenomenon occurs, with 88% of the total donated coming from the 1874 and Bestor Society members. These two groups, comprised of 584 individuals, families, and foundations, represented just 23% of the over 2,500 individual donations to the fund. This represents a classic “Pareto Principle” distribution. Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto described an unequal relationship between inputs and outputs. The principle states that, for many phenomena, 80% of the results obtained (outputs), come from 20% of invested inputs. This is also referred to as the the “80/20 rule”, and can be applied to many business scenarios (i.e. 80% of our sales come from 20% of our clients/sales force, etc.). In referencing the 1874 and Bestor Society lists I have received positive emails from 177 of the 584 donors, thanking me for speaking up. They say you are judged by the company you keep and I can certainly live with that endorsement. Conversely less than 100 of those 584 appear on the Save lists. One of the mass emails in support of Chautauqua’s leadership sent by one of the 23% above, that came out before last season, mentioned something to the effect, “those who complain the most, contribute the least” (80/20 rule – 80% of our complaints come from 20% of the customers).

The Lewis Miller Cottage – Chautauqua’s Only National Historic Landmark Structure

Of course each and every one of the 2,500+ donations count as this incredible Chautauqua community, all at once, gives back, and pays it forward for future generations of Chautauquans. This is what what makes Chautauqua special. It is a wonderful and diverse mix of a community, taking part in a multifaceted program that creates a nine week summer festival where we all feel brighter, happier, more serene, thoughtful, relaxed, and included in something very unique and transcendent. The timeless beauty of Chautauqua was/is/always will be, all you have to do is show up. Make the commitment to attend the Assembly and partake in as much or as little as you want to. Chautauqua is many different things, to many different people, on a take it or leave it basis. The four pillars of the Chautauqua experience, Art, Education Religion, & Recreation, offer practically limitless possibilities for all who attend, bounded only by our finite time there.

Now as we all look ahead, I can only hope we, as a community, united by this very special place, can now come together and look forward to the possibilities of a Renewed Amp. As Chautauqua opened the new Amp in 1893, Dr. Harper spoke second, following Dr. Hurlbut to the podium, and his words proved timeless and so very appropriate today:

“Ladies and Gentleman: – At this time it becomes us to look back and at the same time to look forward. Has the time come for Chautauqua to stand still? No. The lesson of the past is clear. Chautauqua must do in the future what she has done in the past…And so will not the friends of Chautauqua familiarize themselves more closely than ever with what Chautauqua plans today. Will you not be ready for the announcement of new plans in the future? For if Chautauqua is to do for the future what she has done for the past, it must present new plans. And when they are announced will you not study them, will you not lay them upon your heart and soul, will you not help Chautauqua do for others what she has done for you.”