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In past, members requested that selected highlights from the AMCA annual fall meeting be available in a format other than the meeting minutes for quick reference. Note that unlike the minutes, I have editorialized in this column with regard to some of the information presented. In addition, I have also included some updated information that has since taken place. It is suggested that these "Highlights" may also be useful as starting points for chorus and district business meeting discussion. Your comments as always are invited! International SingPlans for our International Sing scheduled for April 24, 25 and 26 indicate that this will be an exciting, enjoyable and educational weekend! The Registration Booklets are now available and one was sent for every chorister via your meeting delegate. You should have received a copy by now. The registration forms for concert tickets and workshops are in the booklet and you can save yourself 10% of the cost if you submit your payment prior to January 1st. There are a few promotional items bearing our new logo available for sale and these can be ordered in advance on this form.AMCA Music Reviewer, Don Crouch will present two music reading sessions each day at LanSing beginning on Thursday afternoon. He will offer about 30 selections for your consideration - with 15 selections per session. All music presented will be available for purchase at the Malecki Music booth. Don also plans to announce a special meeting of chorus representatives to discuss the direction the Common Repertoire should be taking and the possible formation of an International Music Committee which would combine the Common Repertoire, the Music Reviews and the Music Contest under one umbrella. The Men of Orpheus, their organizing committee and Gayle Pohl are to be congratulated for their planning, communication and dedication to making this LanSing a huge success. It is to be hoped that ALL member choruses will participate in our AMCA International Sing not only to fulfill their obligation as AMCA members, but to benefit from the wonderful weekend arranged by this chorus for YOU, our members.
Please note that Bill has voiced some personal concerns in a Comments Addition to this column. The ChoristerThe October Scholarship Issue of the Chorister has been mailed and is also available on the web site. Our editor plans a thematic approach for January focusing on music reviews and the composition contest. Send Chorister articles to dplunkett4@cogeco.ca.Composition ContestEntries in this years Music Composition Contest were presented by Harry Learoyd, Chair with none found appropriate and therefore there will be no winner for this year. Next year's theme category "humor, cheer, well being, entertaining" should encourage some lighter numbers for our repertoire.Blueprint for Progressa. Recruitment Chair, Joel McLay expressed discouragement at the lack of response to his request for committee members to work on a package to be mailed out to potential member choruses. Since the meeting, Doug Farley of the New York Penn District, has volunteered to work on this project and I am pleased to report that they are making wonderful progress. An information booklet is being planned with several pieces of material including an AMCA pamphlet already designed and ready for printing; as well, the package may contain a short informative video and an electronic slide presentation of member activities. They are now asking for chorus contacts and plan to send out a preliminary mailing with the package to follow upon request. This committee has really taken off and kudos must be given to Doug Farley for his work with Joel.b. The Publishing Links committee is continuing to compile a listing of male choruses to establish a larger purchasing base in an effort to encourage publishers to produce more new male voice arrangements. Chair, George Pecor has requested that information on either be sent to him. My suggestion would be that this committee narrow its focus to achieve a more manageable objective - that of compiling a data base of male choruses who would agree to consider the purchase of new male chorus music produced by publishers. This list should be large enough to produce sales of a minimum of 5,000 copies and could then be circulated to identified publishers. In my view this is the first stage, then the base be enlarged and publishers further encouraged to produce music for us. c. Keys to Success committee chair, Tom Rayner, has send out communications requesting ideas for inclusion in his committees report. It is hoped that this information will be of assistance to individual choruses looking for ways to both improve their chorus and to attract new members. d. Our Chorister editor stated that his Network of Reporters includes a listing of district volunteer reporters and he will kept in contact with them for district news. All committees are to conclude their project by October 2003. From the District ReportsMichigan is considering a name change to better represent the states represented. The Norton MC's Guy Stopper Memorial Fund is investigating ways to integrate their scholarship program with AMCA's.The Choristers of Erie Maennerchor have rejoined the AMCA as members of the New York Penn District. Welcome back. Congratulations to the Ontario District who celebrated their "Golden Anniversary" (1952 -2002) with a concert in Lindsay, Ontario hosted by the Kawartha MC. The profit share to both AMCO and AMCA amounted to approx. $233.00 Can each. A commissioned piece "Canada" will be presented at LanSing as one of the Ontario Choruses' solo selections. Winnipeg MC has withdrawn from AMCA due to financial pressures. (The Canada/United States exchange rate may have been a factor since they paid their dues and travel expenses in US dollars and currently the Canadian dollar is worth about 63 cents US.) According to District Governor, Roger Caine, two of their district choruses have decided to travel to Cardiff, Wales this summer and therefore will not be in attendance at AMCA's International Sing. We welcome Milwaukee MC's new accompanist, Jack Serwe, to the AMCA. Negaunee MC celebrated their 72nd year this fall with a fund-raising concert to help finance their trip to LanSing. Scholarship ProgramNewly elected Chair, Don Peterson, announced that a total of $4300.00 will be offered this year - 1 award of $800 and 5 awards of $700. Scholarship packages of information including new application forms were subsequently mailed out to chorus contacts and all are asked to search out worthy candidates and encourage them to apply. Information can be obtained by email at dpeterson@ei-ahla.org.Constitution ReviewThe committee established to review our Constitution & By-laws chaired by Tom Rayner has requested input from members. Please respond to trmusic@aci.on.ca.Web SiteDave Thomas' report stressed that the AMCA web site is dynamic and changes/improvements are ongoing. At the Board's direction, Contact Choruses, the Officers page and the District page have been moved to the protected site which members can access via their user name and password. Scholarship applicants may request a temporary password to find sponsor contacts. All "Comments" are now under the same type of password protection to avoid "yahoos" sending bogus messages.Since the meeting, Dave has expanded the email data base to include much more information and there is a manager's interface which allows each chorus and each member to update the information found here. You are asked to become aware of what is available at this site which provides several print options for your use and to be active in keeping it up to date. More detail on all of these highlights and more, can be found in the October 26, 2002 Minutes.
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