Ric Addenbrooke, President of York-Penn, working with Paul Hassett, our legal counsel drafted them for scrutinizing by the Executive Council. They were than presented so that the Council could change or approve, for presenting to the member choruses for voting to accept or reject them. Ric went over line-by-line and additions and the members of the Council voted deletions on. Final changes were accepted and Ric will have Paul check if changes are in legal accordance and will rewrite to be sent to each chorus by July 15th, 2004.

    Each member chorus should share these new by-laws with their members and get a vote to their District member of the Council. The number of choruses in the district will vote each District. They can vote Aye or their Council representative will vote Nay with your votes. The Executive Council realizes that many choruses are off for the summer but this is one of the most vital documents for our future so we are asking for the choruses to read and respond, as quickly as possible after receiving the document. Please do not wait till you restart your season but take care of this upon receipt.

    Next phase will be resolutions to be considered at the next International meeting in Milwaukee on October 22nd & 23rd, 2004. We hope to have the new AMCA established at this time.

    Other issues that have already surfaced will also be discussed or committees will be set up to evaluate. We hope all districts will share in the responsibility by having members become part of the new organization and/or committee.

    Some of the feedback already shows that there are both personal and broader issues, such as, recruiting, attendance at concerts, guest appearance opportunities, addition of new choruses, memorization, use of music during concerts, uniforms, and AMCA logo merchandise to name just a few.

    Every chorus and district will also need to have a Historian to work with the International Historian plus a music committee. It's time we complete the sharing of our libraries because of the lack of music from publishers or the consolidation of it. There will ongoing opportunities for all to share their talents besides their voices.

    I would also like to start a team, with representatives from each chorus and district, to reach out to choruses who might have left the AMCA, even our Canadian brothers in AMCO, for whatever reason to think about rejoining the NEW, EXCITING AMCA.

    Let's take FELLOWSHIP, GOOD SINGING AND SERVICE to another level by adding FUN in all that we do.

    Your brother in Song,
    George