MMEA-WD Meeting

September 6, 2005

Peck Middle School

Holyoke, MA 

Present: Grace Rice, Steve Damon, Claire Williams, Andrew Villamino, Scott Thomson, Carol Toth, Beth Guertin, Kayla Werlin, Ken Michna, Andrew Garcia, Denise Gendron, Rebecca Phelps 

Call to order: 4:03PM 

Announcem,ents: Karen Atherton is not on her fulbright as expected but still at Frontier. Ben Smar’s wife, Joyce, passed away recently. The district sent a $50.00 memorium donation to the Angel Ticket Fund as requested by the family. Our sympathies go out to Ben and his family. 

Secretary’s Report: Rebecca - M/S/P to accept minutes. 
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Treasurer’s Report: Scott - M/S/P to accept our account change from BBank North to Berkshire Bank. M/S/P to accept report - see attached. 

Unfinished Business: We are still looking someone to replace Christine Davis for the senior district program. Christine is pregnant and expecting right around sr. districts. (Congratulations Christine!) Andrew Villamino offered to help with this since his Dad is a printer. He will get back to us on this. 

Coordinator Reports

Classroom: Diane Kontoff - absent, Carol reporting. Diane came back to school to find   her classroom underwater! E-mailed Carol that there was no current news. Denise   suggested that we send resume sending a letter to all WD schools for updating teacher   lists. Carol now has a current list of the membership which can now be used for mass   mailings. CMSS has offered us the use of their facilities if we would like. 

Auditions: Scott - Waiting for registrations to start coming in. The website is all linked   up and ready to go. Audition fees have been raised from $8.00 to $10.00 this year. We are  planning to enforce the photocopy rule this year. This is stated clearly in red on the web   site and the registration forms. Students will not be allowed to participate in the festival if  they are using photocopied music at their audition. Their audition will be scored, but the   director will be informed that the student is ineligible to participate.

Scott requests names of judges ASAP so that he can cut checks in advance. 

Strings: Denise - Has a manager for Jr. District - Grace Rice. Thank you Grace! Coming   along with judges - very close to all set. 

B/WW/Perc: Claire - All judges in place accept for low brass. Bassoon audition piece has   been fixed on the website. 

Vocal: Kayla - Has been sending out vocal packets. In good shape for sr. auditions, could  use more junior judges. Several suggestions were made. 

Jazz: Brian - absent, Carol reporting. Brian would like a list of previous year’s judges -   has nothing lined up as yet. Anyone having information regarding last year’s judges   should contact Brian at: brabuse@berkshire.rr.com 

Website: Beth - Would like to know if she can remove any of the job listing currently   listed. We decided that if she hadn’t heard anything from anyone that she should remove a  job listing after one month. 

Senior High Festival Business: Carol - Increased costs for use of the Fine Arts Center.  Everything is set to go with ben Smar 

Chorus: Aldonna - absent, Carol reporting. One piece is very expensive, Aldonna wanted  to check to see if she could borrow it from somewhere, possibly the All-State library. If   not we will go ahead and purchase. She has her conductor’s bio and head shot ready to go. 

Band: Megan Carr - absent, Carol reporting. Megan has contacted a conductor who has   directed in 2001. M/S/P to accept Mark DeTurk as conductor for the ’06  sr. band. 

Orchestra: Steve - Has conductor, bio and program which was accepted via e-mail   committee, see attached for program. 

Jazz: Pat Kennedy - absent. He is all set to go. 

Junior District

Male Chorus: Holly Joy Pearson - absent, no report. 

Treble Chorus: Mike Smith and Staci Downey - absent, no report. 

Jazz: Bill Chapman - absent, no report. 

Orchestra: Grace Rice has agreed to manage. Jim Vinci proposed 3 programs. After   considerable discussion, M/S/P to accept program #2, see attached. 

Band: Andrew - No response as yet from Andy Boysen regarding the program. There is  a possibility of doing his Concord Hymn which would include the chorus. This    would take coordinating with the chorus(es). 

Elementary Business

SGMM is looking for a representative from Western District to attend their meetings   which are held on the cape. Anyone interested? 

Advocacy - Suggestion was made that we hold a reading/sharing session at one of the   district festivals. Several people offered to help in setting this up. 

New Business

Symphony Hall Scholars report - Rebecca attended their meeting this summer. The SHS are trying to raise money from corporations and foundations to underwrite All-State Festival. The fees for All-State do not nearly cover the costs. They will be raising student fees this year as well.

Vera baker will be speaking about advocacy at our dinner meeting next month.

November 8 Agawam is offering a professional development session on Finale which is open to music educators from other schools at no cost. Contact Scott Thomson if interested. 

Adjourn: 5:36PM 

Respectfully submitted, 

Rebecca Phelps, secretary