Please allow me to introduce Nancy Cooper as our new Education Coordinator for Region VIII. Nancy comes to us with impressive credentials and we welcome her to our Region VIII Leadership! Nancy takes the place of Janet Ahrend, who served faithfully for the past 6 years.
Dr. Cooper has been on the music faculty of the University of Montana since 1992. She teaches music theory, class piano, organ, and harpsichord; she is also the organist and choir director at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Missoula. Nancy has earned her Masters and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Russell Saunders.
Nancy is a member of the AGO National Committee on Professional Education, which is currently planning the 2004 National Pedagogy Conference, to be held in Denton, TX at the University of North Texas. Nancy promotes AGO certification with her chapter and her students - two of the latter received the Service Playing Certificate over the summer, and one chapter member received her CAGO.
As Nancy says, "Certification Exams are a GREAT opportunity for study and growth!" You can mail her with your questions, concerns, or thoughts! coopern@mso.umt.edu
The new membership year is upon us, but it is not too late to learn from the past! During the recent National Council meeting, membership figures were shared showing the number of new members each chapter gained over a six month period.
The following Region VIII chapters grew between April and September of 2003:
+1 Anchorage 801 +5 Les Bois (Boise, Idaho) 802 +2 Missoula 803 +2 Yellowstone (Billings, Mt.) 804 +1 Eugene 805 +1 Southern Oregon 808 +1 Columbia Basin 809 +3 Seattle 812 +1 Spokane 813 +1 Great Falls 817 +2 Eastern Idaho 818 +1 Olympic Peninsula 820
Now, to all: Does your chapter have a "plan" to grow? Is there a "membership" position in place on your executive committee? Is it staffed with an energetic and out-going person? Doesn't this represent the future of our Guild and your Chapter?
Here's all you need to support, advertise, underwrite our coming National Convention. What if Region VIII Chapters created a simple business card size greeting? "Greetings from ___ Chapter?"
Download the simple PDF file, print and send your check! Business card size is only $100 and will reach circa 2500 readers! Please share this information with any interested advertisers you may know.
Download an Advertising Contract: http://www.agohq.org/2004/progbook.html
HELP WANTED: Region VIII is searching for chapter to host our 2007 Region VIII Convention. Any takers? We could call it the "007" (Double-O-Seven) Convention.
Chapters who have already hosted a regional report a resurgence of member activity and increased chapter vitality. Plus, the host chapter realizes a huge financial profit as a bonus! There has never been a chapter that later regretted the experience! Deadline for 2007 Regional Convention bids to reach my desk: 1/31/04
Visit the National AGO web page for downloadable documents, www.agohq.org/docs/doc.html and scroll down to "Competitions and Conventions." Here you will find two documents which will walk you through every step of the way!
Inspired by a conversation with my friend Robert Gault from Eugene, Oregon, I hit upon the idea of creating a Region VIII Speaker's Bureau.
Robert asked for suggestions of any local folk who might be available for chapter events. I thought, "What a great question!" Where can the smaller chapter find programs of interest from local people? Sure, we can (and should) sponsor nationally known artists. However, not every chapter can afford the large fees -- sometimes over $1,000. (Real amounts vary, of course.)
Region VIII is blessed with a host of talent. Perhaps our folk are not as widely known as they might be. Keeping their names handy might be useful.
Robert contiunues: "I think there are chapter members who have given talks on musical investigations. Having just read Eidam's book The True Life of J.S. Bach, I think there would be fodder for a new perspective on who he was. The author shoots a lot of holes in erroneous concepts that have been perpetuated, and there is new research."
So how about it, Region VIII? Can you suggest some names of people who are willing to travel and present the specialties at a modest cost?
I will keep a list of your e-mailed suggestions for speakers. You can nominate yourself of course! wkrueger@teleport.com
I need your opinions in order to proceed.
Pipe up with your thoughts.
The "wise gargoyle" me fecit, mmiii. 