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An Open Letter to the Boston Symphony Orchestra

By Carole Owens and Patrick White

For nearly 50 years, the Josh Billings triathlon has been Berkshire County's preeminent annual athletic event, similar in stature locally to the Boston Marathon. It is the second oldest Triathlon in America. Traditionally, Stockbridge played a central role in this race. It is the only municipality that hosts at least a portion of all three legs of the race: bike, running, and paddling.

The race has a strong economic impact on Stockbridge merchants including the Red Lion Inn. With its proximity to Lenox, Tanglewood had an immense benefit to the Lenox's merchants as well.

Just as the John Hancock is the iconic finish line of the Boston Marathon, so Tanglewood was the iconic as the finish line for the Josh Billings.

Tanglewood, in so many ways, played a central and vital role in the success of this race. Tanglewood traditionally allowed the use of its parking for the athletes and has hosted the after-event on its grounds. We tried over the last few years to host the party instead at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac and unfortunately this location has proven unworkable.

We ask you to revisit the decision not to allow Tanglewood to be used for parking and for the after-race event. Any of your parking lots would work for the race, including the Main Gate Lot, the West Lot, or the Lion's Gate Lot.

This September, in the absence of BSO's support, the race will move to an alternative route for the first time in half a century. We believe that relocating the race serves neither the interests of the BSO nor those of the Towns of Stockbridge and Lenox. Here's why.

Just like Tanglewood, the Josh is a cultural institution in the Berkshires. It traverses south county, winding from Alford through Great Barrington to West Stockbridge and finally to Stockbridge, where the three legs of the race converge around the Stockbridge Bowl. The race has always ended at Tanglewood in North Stockbridge. The race draws hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators, benefitting the entire surrounding area.

The benefits to the BSO of its association with the Josh include:

• Countless social media posts, comments and mentions in and around the Tanglewood campus.
• Regional press coverage of the various finish lines and post-race event in and around the Tanglewood campus.
• The incredible goodwill that has accrued from your generous actions in the past.
• The positioning of Tanglewood as the literal and figurative center of the Berkshires.

The partnership helps cement and reinforce the positioning of Stockbridge, Lenox, and Tanglewood as the cultural center of the county.

There are reports of rude and inappropriate behavior by a small minority of visitors to your campus. These were the exception and should not be the basis of judgment. We would strongly endorse a zero-tolerance policy going forward.

We recognize the unmatched positive impact your programming has on the region and on the Towns of Stockbridge and Lenox. We deeply appreciate the dedication to the community that you have demonstrated throughout your long history. We am thankful of the incredible economic impact for which our organization is responsible.

Last summer, BSO leadership expressed a desire to vigorously participate in the economic revitalization of the county. We applaud your vision and suggest that supporting the Josh Billings race can be a linchpin of that strategy.

We respectfully request you reconsider your position for the good of Tanglewood, Stockbridge, Lenox, and the region.