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Since the June 8/9th meeting, your executive and executive-elect (hereafter referred to as the Organizing Committee) has joined forces and started working together on the best procedure to implement the many ideas that resulted from our brainstorming sessions (listed in The Report) for improving our Association. This column presents the results of those deliberations and lists the start points that the Organizing Committee has agreed upon. Eventually specific committees will be established to address the other initiatives that are not included in this opening plan.
Survey the Membership
Design and circulate by regular mail, a survey to be sent in time for the first rehearsal in September. This will be done as a special mailing sent by the Executive Secretary to each chorus executive via their contact listed in the current AMCA Directory and to each district via the District President. A copy of our June 8/9 meeting report will be included for reference. All returns will be due early October in time for a report to be prepared and presented at the October 26/27th AMCA business meeting.
The purpose of this mailing would be to:
- determine what our members think about the initiatives in the Report,
- give an opportunity for them to add/delete/expand ideas,
- directly ask for their expectations of AMCA,
- identify members with special skills, expertise and interests and give them an opportunity to volunteer in areas of their interest from a list included,
- reporting of the survey results to all concerned.
Survey the District Leaders
Design and circulate to each district executive through the district president, a survey accompanied by the list of Benefits of Membership (see Interactive column on Benefits) to determine the leadership's expectations of the AMCA International. At that time we should also solicit their active involvement in establishing and implementing agreed upon initiatives. The questions should be broad in scope dealing with larger issues at the district level. In future, district presidents should be included in the decision-making process in matters related to these actions. This survey would be in addition to, not in place of, the membership survey. This too, should be in their hands prior to start-up with the suggestion that it be included as a topic for discussion at the fall business meeting of each district.
Tracking Progress
The special meeting every six months held the Friday night of our AMCA General Meetings will be continued to allow the Board to hear and discuss progress being made and to plan the next steps toward meeting our goals. Some system needs to be established to keep track of the progress various committees are making. A flow chart was discussed and we need to seek out someone with expertise in setting one forth if this is to be the method used. However, it remains important that all committees established be adequately supervised and motivated.
Project Committees & Leadership
If we are to make progress with the projects identified and yet to be identified, it is important that those who lead and those who join the team be highly motivated and have the time and interest in the subject. Presidential appointments, which is the way we have handled tasks to be done in the past, may not be the best procedure here. First we need to survey the membership and give our members an opportunity to express their interests, experience and expertise - then the projects will be assigned.
Chorister Communications
We need an issue to be published and mailed in time to be in the hands of our membership for the beginning of September! The membership should be given due dates for submitting material for publication and the publication dates clearly stated and adhered to. For the present, copies of the Chorister should be sent by regular mail to each member chorus in sufficient numbers for each member to receive a hard copy as well as to our Affiliate and Life members. Electronic copies may be a consideration for the future. The established network of district Field Editors should be reactivated with the responsibility resting with the Editor-in-Chief under the supervision of the Board of Directors. The Organizing Committee through the AMCA President should make its wishes known to our Chorister Editor forthwith.
Music Publication
Emily Crocker stated that Hal Leonard would be willing to publish a collection of 8 to 10 pieces for AMCA with our name and logo on the cover. This is too good an opportunity for us not to act upon now. It is hoped that our Music Reviewer, Don Crouch will be interested in pursuing this with Ms. Crocker but if not, the Board needs to solicit the services of one or more qualified members to work on this worthwhile project.
Larger Market Base
We should begin to establish a data base of male choruses and male chorus associations with the purpose of creating a larger market to encourage publication of music for male choruses. It would be the responsibility of this committee to research, contact and follow-up on leads. There is a great deal of this type of information available on the web and indeed there are many links on our AMCA web site as a start point. A carefully worded letter would need to be drafted by explaining AMCA's purpose. It might also be wise to contact music publishers to find out what they might require in the data base, ie. chorus or association mailing addresses, membership numbers, etc.
Presently, the Organizing Committee is working to produce the membership survey. Consideration is being given to the many suggestions submitted by various members. The final result should be in the hands of each chorus and district executive by September. You are encouraged to contact the Organizing Committee through this column to make known your willingness to participate in this exciting rebirth of our Association. Whether you possess special skills or have just a strong desire to assist in our work, your offer to help would be greatly appreciated. It is with the participation of our members that our efforts will succeed!
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Bill
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This column is planned as a regular feature and will be written monthly by the Executive Secretary.
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