"World of Bluegrass" took on a deeper meaning as an unprecedented two-day event brought together 29 participants from 16 countries in Nashville September 30-October 1, 2008.  Convened by IBMA International Committee chair Richard Hawkins and international board representative Rienk Janssen, the summit was facilitated by Fred Bartenstein.  Countries at the table included Canada (5), England (4), The Netherlands (3), the United States (3), Ireland (2), Germany (2), Norway (2), Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Japan, Scotland, Slovakia, and Switzerland.

"The Summit surpassed our expectations,” Hawkins noted. “It was an invaluable experience in itself, and it laid solid foundations for future progress.”

IBMA president & board chair Greg Cahill and vice chair Stan Zdonik welcomed participants and presented an overview of IBMA activities and international involvements.

The group brainstormed a detailed history of bluegrass outside the United States. Sab Watanabe Inoue submitted the earliest event on the timeline: Commodore Matthew Perry's introduction of the banjo and fiddle to Japan in 1854. Newly inducted Hall of Fame member Bill Clifton was acknowledged as the "Saint Paul of bluegrass," bringing it for the first time to many countries and continents between 1964 and the 1980s.

A number of bluegrass leaders unable to attend the summit submitted their input in a preliminary survey. The most-often mentioned strength of bluegrass outside the U.S. was "good music, musicians and bands."  The most-often mentioned weakness was "lack of marketing and exposure." Opportunities included "media promotion" and "concerts, festivals and tours."  Threats included "conflict over styles and issues of national identity" and "difficulties of travel, such as costs and permits."

Participants added and discussed many other issues, while building relationships and community among themselves. By the end of the first day, common issues began to emerge from what had seemed an overwhelmingly complex array of differing situations, cultures and levels of development in the widely separated bluegrass hot spots outside the U.S.

The second day was spent developing consensus and direction on four topics: 1) The organization and working of the International Committee within the IBMA, 2) Building awareness of non-U.S. bands in the U.S., 3) Building new and better means of communication among bluegrass leaders worldwide, and 4) Increasing membership and coordinating strategies of IBMA and other bluegrass associations.

Exhausted by the two full days they had spent (while hardly neglecting the night-time showcases), participants were exhilarated by what they had achieved.  In closing comments they vowed to follow through on plans, maintain contact and seek ways to meet again in person.  In the days following the meeting, and even before minutes could be transcribed, early results were visible. European leaders who had not seen eye-to-eye were talking and collaborating, and arrangements were made for appointing initial members to the International Committee.

Members subsequently appointed include: Richard Cifersky (Slovakia), Dan Dorschel (Norway), Richard Hawkins (Ireland), Rienk Janssen (Netherlands), Hannah Johnson (England), George McKnight (Canada), Thierry Schoysman (Belgium), John Sheldon (Scotland) and John Wirtz (England), along with associate members Lilly Drumeva (Belgium), Hansjorg Malonek (Germany),  Dagfinn Pedersen (Norway) and Erio Meili (Brazil).

Also later in the week, Canadian members of the IBMA (several of whom had participated in the Summit) held their second annual meeting, in which Richard Hawkins and Rienk Janssen took part. Considerable progress was made with the organization of Bluegrass Canada, the national association they are now in the process of creating.

“For many years the IBMA board has striven to be more aware of and responsive to the needs of the non-U.S. membership,” said Greg Cahill.  “IBMA executive director Dan Hays and I  worked diligently with Rienk Janssen and Richard Hawkins to plan the event, and under the guidance of master facilitator Fred Bartenstein the end result far exceeded our expectations. The group identified goals and objectives that can significantly benefit our international community. We are truly focusing on the ‘I’ in the International Bluegrass Music Association!”