Volume 1, Number 2 --- October, 2002
Urgent! Young Organists Competition - Deadline to offer, 11/30
Good news! Regional patriarch, Jim Barrett, will serve as regional coordinator for Region VIII chapter competitions, 2003. If your chapter is considering (or has already agreed to host) such a competition, please contact Jim immediately. HymnaryP@aol.com Keep your regional leadership informed of your progress!
Need a copy of the guidelines? They are downloadable from AGO Headquarters - www.agohq.org/docs/doc.html - Just click on RCYO* (Official Rules Governing the 2003 Regional Competitions for Young Organists.) *The official shorthand for this competition, RYCO, is commonly pronounced "Rick-Ee-Oh".
So far, 5 brave chapters have stepped forward: Eugene, OR; Portland, OR; Missoula, MT; Spokane, WA; Tacoma, WA! Let's not make our young students need to travel that far. "Think globally, act locally" is a good motto here.
Without chapter winners we cannot have Region VIII contestants in Salt Lake City 2003! Without Region VIII winners, we cannot have Region VIII contestants at the 2004 National Competition! Please consider this as a strong possibility in your Chapter! It is surely a way to promote the "king of instruments!"
Region VIII goes "on-line"
As of this writing, five Pacific Northwest Chapters have websites, 28% in all!
Some of these are gifts from members to the chapter (Portland, Olympia). Some were planned and purchased by the Chapter (Eugene), and others are from a new program offered by National Headquarters. To find out how Les Bois and Missoula chapters did it, read on . . .
How your chapter can get a free website
National AGO Headquarters is offering a free website to each chapter to help them publicize their activities. No knowledge of complicated HTML language is necessary. It is template-based. If your browser is up and running, you can try it right now! Log onto: www.agohq.org/chapter/edit. Test drive the process by typing in chapter handle: "Boston", then the password: "4444". Then click "Login."
This will bring up the editing screen. Suggested web-site features include: Message from the Dean, Local Events, Newsletter, Membership, Placement, Certification, Contact Us, and Links.
Now, remember, this is just for trial! To create an actual web-page you will need chapter authorization, so talk about it! Your next step would be to contact Jennifer Morris, jem@agohq.org, at headquarters, and she will give you a password.
For the full informative story on this, consult the AGO Leadership Bulletin by James E. Thomashower on page 47 of June's The American Organist.
Around the Region . . .
(the part of the newsletter where YOU are the news!)
Dean Marie Porterfield and Yakima Valley Chapter (816) is in the process of setting up Advent Recitals featuring a newly refurbished organ. In Spring they will tour the "keyboard lab" at a local school. Tour led by past dean Lois Menard.
Betty Jean Bartholomew (805) writes about the commissioned anthem our Eugene 2001 Regional Convention. "When the Morning Stars Together," by Joel Martinson. It has now been published! Oxford University Press (Octavo #0-19-386479-7) for SATB, trumpet, and organ. The Albert Bayly text speaks to the praise of God from the time of Creation to the present when we bring our gift of music. Received with interest and enthusiasm at the Convention, now available to all.
Southern Oregon Chapter (808) co-sponsors "ORGAN SMORGAN" on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. This day of events in cludes lectures and concerts to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Schoenstein Pipe Organ at Medford First Presbyterian, writes Lois Harrison.
Howard Stoess of Spokane Chapter (813) reports of their installation service in which former Regional Councillor Jim Barrett server as installing officer, according to AGO tradition. The service folder listed all the past Deans going back to 1948 -- nice touch!
Anchorage Chapter (801) hosts "NOTES AND NIBBLES," an afternoon of listening to and reading new music for organ and piano followed by a light sandwich supper. "Bring a favorite piece for piano or organ and a salad to share,"" says Dean Alice Branton.
Linda McGuire, of the Southern Oregon Chapter (808), hosted an opening BBQ at her home. (Gotta love directions to her home that say "driveway is lined with grapevines!")
Missoula (803) organists meet to share new and favorite music, goodies, and coffee/tea, writes, Alice Williams.
Seattle Chapter (812) is offering a new program called "Event Telephone Coordinator" to assist members that commute some distance to an AGO event. Someone close to the telephone on the day of an event will connect people, say in Bellevue, to carpool to an event in Tacoma, or wherever. People would call in to that number prior to the event and establish a meeting place, etc. This sent in by secretary Norma Aamodt-Nelson.
Portland Chatper (806), under leadership of Phyllis Ernsberger co-sponsored Michal Gailit in concert at First Presbyterian, Portland.
What is the Annual Fund?
Message from Nancy Dodge, of the AGO Development Committee:
As all of you in Region VIII know, someone comes around from the AGO every year asking for your contribution to the Annual Fund. But did you know that without it your friendly AGO might not be the strong professional organization that it is?! The Annual Fund supports a very sizeable chunk of the AGO's operating budget. Only 40% of that support comes from membership dues. Pleasant as it might be to have dollars fall from the rafters of churches into the AGO coffers, it hasn't yet been known to happen. Therefore, the Annual Fund was established in 1982 to fill the very real need for funds to keep the AGO on an even financial keel. Many member make contributions faithfully, year after year; but they make up a small percentage of the total membership. The actual numbers of individual contributors is important not only because outside donors like to know whether
members support their own organization and for the much-needed funding, but also because it's much more meaningful and exciting to give when we're all involved. We all need to get on this bandwagon!
Many thanks for reading this message in the Regional newsletter, and best wishes to all of you for a bright and beautiful musical season! Nancy Ruyle Dodge, AGO Development Committee.
From the Convention Planning Committee 2003 . . .
"The Convention committee is working hard to get ready for our convention next June. We are glad to have Walter Krueger, the new Region VIII Councillor, as a member of the committee. This convention is unusual since it is for two regions. That should make it twice as much fun!
"The dates for the convention are June 16-19, 2003. It begins Monday morning and ends Thursday evening. The convention headquarters will be at the Best Western Salt Lake Plaza Hotel. It is across the street from Temple Square--a great location!
Each evening we will have a recital. On Monday, John Weaver will play at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Joyce Jones will give a recital on the new Lively/Fulcher organ in the new concert hall at the University of Utah on Tuesday. Wednesday evening Thomas Murray will perform at the Tabernacle on Temple Square and on Thursday evening, there will be a concert at the new LDS Conference Center. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will provide the concert along with Temple Square Orchestra , which will perform the Jongen's Symphonie Concertante with Todd Wilson.
During the day we will have many other recitals and workshops. Eight new pieces were commissioned for organ and choir. Separate regional competitions for Young Organists will be held. Visit our web page www.SLCAGO.org We hope you will begin making plans to join us in Salt Lake City next June!
- Janet Griffin, Convention Co-Chair
October in your Chapter?
(If you haven't already attended to these)
- Your Chapter Directory / Yearbook should by completed.
- Send copies to: Headquarters, your Regional Councillor and District Convener.
- Continue follow-up with members that have not renewed.
- Beginning October 1, Service Playing Tests may be administered (any Chapter)
- Deadline for a Chapter to submit an application to National Headquarters to
host a chapter-level Regional Competition for Young Organists (RCYO)
Assignment for Next Time . . .
Newsletter survey: Write back and tell us how many newsletters your chapter sends by snail mail? Do you use bulk mailing permits? How many are sent by e-mail? Do members in your chapter receive both the printed version and the e-version?
Region VIII with a global view . . .
All Deans' names and addresses are now correctly updated, please check your leader's info for accuracy. www.agohq.org/regional/reg8.html
Coming next newsletter
- "Silence at St. Patrick's" a true story from Portland Oregon.
- Put your Chapter Newsletter ON-LINE
- Meet your District Conveners
- Special survey of Newsletter procedures.
Sincerely, Walter Krueger, Region VIII Councillor
[Note: Last month's newsletter is archived at www.teleport.com/~wkrueger/region/Reg8News-v1n1sep02.html]
Pipe up with your thoughts.
The "wise gargoyle" me fecit, mmii. 