A Happy New Year to all! I trust your holidays are pleasant in the least and grandly more than expected, if possible. Please remember the folks in service to our country while you recall memories and regale in the embers of the celebrations, the many who could not be home for Christmas or the New Year.
     Traditions of resolutions for the New Year are all around us. I am not much for this tradition, but it brings focus on improvements needed or wished. We have made progress and continue with all that faces us. 2007 tenders a challenge to our Association, though really more of the same we have experienced this past year. The difficulty of getting all programs and projects operational and still balancing a budget will test our mettle considerably, possibly even to the point of determining the future of the AMCA.
     The challenge comes from what is left undone!
     I would like to disclose several key issues (though not all inclusive) and briefly state my thoughts on each:

1. Activity
   • Eau Claire Big Sing 2008 - All indications seem to point to members interest in continuation/ reestablishment of an Association wide gathering (The Big Sing) to confirm the health and capability of the AMCA. Should this be the case, then the registration and attendance to this event, beginning this year, shall become an important factor regarding Association activities in the future.

     Expectation - The event likely should be a success! A caveat is the involvement being district oriented and driven by leadership, then chorus leadership driven - in other words, interest must be locally driven and local leaders are the ones to depend on.

   • Districts seem to be performing as they have, with the exception of NYP, but recruiting must get attention again. (See Programs, next)
2. Programs
   • Music Committee - Don Crouch has been working to revamp this vital committee and seeks assistance from all districts to complete his committee membership. Without contributing members from every district the purpose cannot serve all, and the feedback will remain incomplete.

     Expectation - a likely success based on past history. Music is what we are all about. Without the music we're just another fellowship gang sitting around talking about the weather or something. The important change here will be the consolidation of several committees for efficiency.

   • Recruitment, Promotion and Publicity Committee - Doug Farley awaits information from the Eau Claire chorus to begin preparations for that aspect of his work, but has added schedule difficulty currently - his daughter was injured last Thanksgiving in an automobile accident. Doug's responsibilities have not been compromised, and his daughter is progressing. We wish her well. Meanwhile, he will need assistance to search for marketable promotion items, and ways to highlight our Association, and the issue mentioned above.
     Recruitment - Restructuring of this within the committee should get done this year. More can and should be done for this important need.

     Expectation - this work will likely succeed with Doug's experience in promotion, but the jury is out on complete fulfillment, the districts must have individuals within to carry the workload into the members choruses, and offer feedback on success or failure for evaluation.

   • CHORISTER Newsletter - Ed Armbruster is a good editor, but he needs more input, contributions from the field. He can't justify putting out copy just to spend postage. Members always seem to have something to say so I don't understand why they won't contribute to our newsletter.

     Expectation - Limited only to our imagination, but nothing will come of it without member choruses sending in information on happenings, leaders telling of good results with something different, music comments; and maybe a feedback column in the future!

   • AMCA Website - you could read the previous paragraph, but insert Dave Thomas, Webmaster, in place of Ed. Both these men depend solely on contributed work sent to them. They can polish up most anything offered.

3. Projects - ??
   (The question marks are deliberate, to notice that few visible programs are being administered. Not that I find we are lacking in talent, just that the talent remains shy to step up.)
   • I have asked for officer-staff writing at our last meeting, with little response to date. Admittedly, I am not a good example for my lack of keeping schedule with my commitment to a monthly article. It is tough to write something for a large audience and not know what it did for that audience. I simply ask folks to try and see where it leads.

     Expectation - not much success! Recent trials for the past year to get members to comment are inconsequential. (I will try to improve my setting an example.)

   • The area of projects is unlimited, if the potential body of talent is ready to tackle a few ideas. Until the Executive Council gets a positive sense of that support, I cannot ask them to push new things into the districts for support that does not remain. For all the capable talent I am sure we possess, it shyly lingers anonymous. They must volunteer to proceed with new programs, to tackle issues of progress.

     Expectation - from not bad to quite good, depending on how well we can get the rest going this year, and some projects are easier.

4. Elections
   • The next meeting of the Executive Council will have elections on the AGENDA, as terms end at the close of this fiscal year.

     Expectation -unknown! I cannot speculate what will occur. I have held no discussions with any of the current Council members or staff. The districts must vote their representation first, and the representatives then vote their choice for Chair and Vice Chairman.

     I can only implore participation, I can urge volunteering. It is the old "Lead the horse to the trough, but can't make him drink!" simile. How to activate folks has to do with getting their attention with something of their interest.
     Guess I am not there yet! - My apologies!

     This is not gloom and doom talk, please do not mistake my writing. Everything is an opportunity to address, another adventure to embrace. Talent is aptitude, genius, and ability ... we have much of that. Resiliency and perseverance, to be flexible and determined, is within our capacity. We are not want for the means to accomplish, maybe we just need to mean what we want. The fellowship remains strong.

     Winter in western New York is very different this year. I wrote about "Octimber", the freak early snow storm, but now we have unseasonably warm temperatures ... no white! It has broken the rhythm somehow. Recent history in our Association has that same break in rhythm feeling. You are unaccustomed to it but you don't want to stop dancing. It's a good time, the party is not over. So we find a new step and keep on going.
     Come to the music, and join the dance.

Some analysis to ponder...
...are the issues clear or clouded?...
...did the article make you want to do more?...
...do you find some goals stated above?...
...what can you add?