Some (earlier) thoughts: 
"I find that the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor." - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.Please don't miss my point. I've been called a preacher before but I am not about to discuss your needs for salvation. I simply find the quote analogous to our Association from my current perspective. Should we desire to perpetuate success - that being the fellowship and ongoing programs and activities of our organization, and indeed the improvement of these - all of us "must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor...", we must move in a design to gain, a plotted course to a destination, a considered set of directions leading to our goal(s). Try this memory lane trip for a moment: Think of the very first time you went to your home chorus, then the first time you attended a District Big Sing with your chorus. Great fellowship, right?! Now remember a lecture or workshop you attended with the chorus members, the interaction surrounding a good discussion, when you said to yourself, "This is really good!" and told friends they really missed out if they did not attend. Think about reading the newsletter or a web page and learning something new, a sort of 'I didn't know that!' moment. All of these things were planned by caring leadership, motivated and sharing volunteers and in a direction all of them wanted to take for the time and place. They were not happenstance. We need some lookouts in the 'crow's nest'!If you are reading this on the web right now you can click on the space marked below for INPUT or COMMENT. Fill in the requested information about your name and home chorus to become a contact person for the chorus - volunteer to communicate between the chorus and the leadership. It can be done from the comfort of your home (or office), wherever you do email, and it takes little effort to get that information to the officers of your chorus,.. and thank you for helping. (Those that may read this in the CHORISTER can do the same when they get to their computer.)Start working on charting our course.
Planning is always a substantial job for any chorus, and much help is needed along the road to an AMCA Big Sing. Why not offer your assistance to the leadership ranks of your chorus in planning to attend the 2008 AMCA Big Sing at Eau Claire. Get involved, become a part of this event ... not apart from it!
We can use more helmsmen to steer the course!My own District is in need of some leadership in vacated offices. Shifts in people and changes in activity cause these circumstances occasionally. Why not offer to take up the slack when the opportunity is presented to you? If you offer to go to meetings now you will not be surprised at how easy it is to become more active.
So I make a point with a seaman's jargon! More of us are necessary to be proactive with our Association. More member participation will be required to reach some goals, some desirable perpetuation of success. Even if we just wish to reach a safe haven, some sheltered port, we need to do the work to get to 'the beach'. That means everyone must do something to help.
For all who answer the call, you have my grateful appreciation for any assistance you can offer.
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Participation at the chorus level helps the individual chorus, yet the work must extend to the farther reaches of this Association, all the way to the Executive Council. Members must be fully involved for proficient development of programs affecting success. So now is the time for you to pitch in!
