The board of directors of the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) elected a slate of officers for the forthcoming year during the organization’s annual conference at the Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, New York, Nov. 11-14. Cheryl Prashker and Michael Kornfeld were re-elected as president and vice president, respectively, while Dianne Tankle was elected treasurer.

President Cheryl Prashker (Photo: Jake Jacobson)

Prashker, a Philadelphia-based percussionist with the Celtic vocal and instrumental ensemble RUNA, who describes herself as “percussionist to the folkies,” also has accompanied such artists as Jonathan Edwards, The Strangelings and Pat Wictor. Kornfeld, editor and publisher of AcousticMusicScene.com and a communications & public relations strategist, also serves as President of the Folk Music Society of Huntington (NY) and coordinates the annual Huntington Folk Festival. Tankle is NERFA’s longtime conference coordinator and an active member of the Philadelphia Folksong Society.

NERFA board members listen intently during a community meeting at the NERFA Conference. (Photo: Neale Eckstein)

Newly seated on the NERFA board is Robin Batteau, a singer-songwriter, violinist and guitarist with the harmonic and witty Buskin & Batteau and co-host of a bi-weekly three-hour show called “Radio B & B” that airs on Bridgeport, CT-based WPKN-FM. Rounding out the board are Robert Corwin (Images of Folk Music photographer), John Fuzek (songwriter, music columnist and Hear in Rhode Island), Ramona LaBarre, (Godfrey Daniels Coffeehouse and the Celtic Cultural Alliance in Bethlehem, PA), Terry Mutchler (who heads up Mountain Top Productions in Bethlehem, PA), and Kathy Sands-Boehmer (Harbortown Music, Me & Thee Coffeehouse and vice president of the Boston Area Coffeehouse Association).

A nonprofit organization for those professionally engaged in traditional, contemporary and multicultural folk music, NERFA is the regional arm of Folk Alliance International that seeks to strengthen and advance organizational and individual initiatives through education, networking, advocacy, and professional and field development. NERFA’s recent conference drew a record attendance of nearly 750 performers, presenters, promoters and others for three jam-packed days and nights of juried and guerilla music showcases, open mics and song circles, informative panel discussions and workshops, mentoring sessions, an exhibit hall, communal meals, and lots of informal conversation, networking and late-night jamming. More information can be found at www.nerfa.org