A Rock ...
     As the UMW District prepares to perform their District Big Sing this month I recall the "Promotional Item" they gave out last year - I have it sitting on my desk as a reminder. It is a small piece of rock wrapped in cellophane, the attached card tells of the event and gives ticket information on the back, and I believe we were told the rock was quarried in the St Cloud area. Good luck to the Cold Spring Area Maennerchor and the attending voices to this event. The theme printed on the front of their card is "A Rock To Build On" - and it gave me thoughts about an article.

     The statement - A Rock To Build On - might stimulate thoughts of biblical verse, but as I write for the Association it causes recollection of the past, where we came from, my memories of AMCA (the Association and the Biennial Meetings, particularly). Most of that was in Milwaukee with a room full of attendees from across the country. The sum total of that assemblage was indeed a Rock to build on, for a great many issues and for very many years. Consider how many years you, as an individual, and as your home chorus, have belonged to this Association. Most of you will think in terms of decades. So, you are as familiar with my recollections as I, just from a different location.

Good ...
     We have had a good strong run with our involvement, all based on "Good Singing, Good Fellowship, And Good Service" - that is the rock! I highlight the thought in this article because I want members to center themselves within this statement as a part of their personal philosophy moving forward. The Association, I find, still regards this as our central focus, our motivation.

Big Sing 2008
     Next year at this time the Eau Claire chorus will host a Big Sing for all of us. They anticipate good attendance from all choruses. My belief is the central location makes that a good likelihood. It would be great to have that attendance include your chorus, both for the host and your chorus. It will boost the future of the Association because your leaders will know this is what you want. It will create memories long maintained for talks around the Afterglows yet to be. Give serious effort to get involved with these plans soon.

AMCA Council Meeting In Marquette
     Efforts are being made in planning this year's Annual Meeting in the WUM District next month. The previously mentioned 2008 Big Sing will be a topic of discussion there, and I am sure more information will result following the meeting. Please watch for information, and seek answers where there might be questions because many will wonder about the same things. If we get the questions sooner we can get a grip on the situation sooner.

     While I mention planning, I wish to cover other items on the AGENDA for next month so you can contact us about your thoughts on them:

• Chorister: The CHORISTER (newsletter) is a major expense operating the way it is currently - mailings are the cost. We must get the newsletter down in cost or find an alternative.

• "Posting point": I have been asking for volunteers to provide their email address for a "posting point" to send information that we can expect them to take what is posted to their home chorus. The idea has not been accepted well at all. I do not understand why some members would not take up this proposal but it has not come to achievement. We are open to suggestions!

• Website: Members are doing better at visits to the AMCA Website, therefore the costs involved there seem reasonable, and looking better with traffic on the site. You members that read this column are probably tired of hearing me complain about communication. Well, the visits to AMCA Website only mean we are showing off our Association to the electronic visitor. It is the "comments" that returns the proof that we do work there. We still wait for much improvement on that issue. Dave Thomas works diligently to create something of value for us. We need to understand that value and use it accordingly. (Webman: There are "places for your comments" on MOST AMCA pages.) Post your comments

• Costs & Dues: Costs are the likely problem for any program we suggest to advance the Association in the future. Do we raise the dues to accommodate future programs, or wait for some benevolent donation to fall our way? It is likely the dues discussion next month will include recognition that we are behind what inflation has done to our treasury. My own view is that if this Association is worthwhile the support must be worthwhile to maintain and advance it. Rather than fall behind inflation again, I would propose an increase to ten dollars per annum rather than up the dues by a dollar any given year and hope it lasts. If the treasury is built strong enough we can keep watch on costs every year (including inflationary rises) and propose any required increases at one year out. The reasoning behind any such proposals could then be discussed at chorus and district meetings with thoughts passed to the Executive Council as they are revealed. We struggled with the potential costs of the 2008 Big Sing to determine if it would go and considered ways of possible funding then. We should not have this difficulty every time a program is in question.

• Big Sing Support: 2008 Big Sing costs should be considered by choruses at this time. The AMCA will need to spend something for efforts on our behalf, but the host chorus has done well to consider costs thus far. I do not know what they will present at our meeting, but I do know the Association will want to sell product we have, or want to produce, at that time. Once again we face cost - of purchase, shipping, and dispensing. A one-time cost associated with this could probably be a dollar per member. The cost should be recovered, but I know of promotional product left from the last "Sing" (in Amherst) that went begging for a home months after the event. We will cautiously observe expenditures as best we can.

• Scholarships: Scholarships have been a bright position in the Association for many years. It was relatively easy when we had the magnitude of members. One of our problems, if you will pardon this expression of it, is the "dying off" of our members. We have become an elder organization, without gaining new and younger membership as we aged. One problem is the loss of income to the scholarship program and required depletion of the fund capital (there is not enough within to sustain the current level of scholarships yearly). Creative ways are being suggested by the Scholarship Committee, but they will require effort by member choruses. Watch for information coming forth after the meeting, but offer any suggestions at any time, please.

• Elections: Elections for the Executive Council will be held at this next meeting (May 2007), namely the offices of Chairman and Vice Chairman. Any feedback from the members would assist your District Representatives to vote as the district chooses. All District Representatives are qualified to hold these offices, that is, the choice is made from those elected to the Executive Council from their districts. Some faces may change at the District levels, changing the group a bit.

Agenda Items
     I have an AGENDA being prepared on the computer as items come in this month. I shall post it when it is completed to give members enough time to contact the leadership of any desires aimed at those issues. I may also post notes pertaining to individual items which might do well to ask for feedback. I again remind members that AMCA chose to rotate these meetings so any individual member could address the Executive Council while in their area. Please feel free to approach these gentlemen, including myself, about issues of your concerns.

Send An Email
Feedback Post your comments Two email contacts	Best regards Ric Addenbrooke