A letter to Region I Officers and Deans - April 2008
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January 19, 2008
Dear Region I Chapter Leaders,
Belated New Year greetings to those I have not yet spoken to, and best wishes of good health in 2008! I am
writing with a number of items concerning Chapter operations and news of the Region and National. As always,
please contact the Regional Coordinators, your District Convener, or me if we could be of help to you or your
members.
I. Chapter Operations
The election season is upon us, and most chapters (those who have an election this year) should form a
nominating committee at their January board meeting. Details of the election procedures (e.g., nominating,
slate of candidates, voting) are in the Chapter Management Handbook (see Section 2, Chapter Administration).
I gave each Dean a copy of the Handbook last year, and it is available as a download at
www.agohq.org/management/.
Deans should have received a letter from both James Thomashower and the Internal Revenue Service regarding
revised reporting guidelines for exempt organizations such as the AGO. Generally, each chapter will have to
make a simple “postcard” filing of Form 990-N after the end of the fiscal year (June 30). There are details
about this in the Chapter Management Handbook and I will make sure that all of you get updated information
later in the year.
II. Minneapolis National Convention, June 22 – 26, 2008
The Minneapolis Convention Committee has developed a fabulous program and is offering a discounted
registration rate prior to January 31, 2008. Please consider a Chapter advertisement or donation to the
Convention. Full information and online registration is available at
www.ago2008.org.
III. Pipe Organ Encounter – Worcester, July 20 – 26, 2008
Worcester is again hosting a Pipe Organ Encounter (POE) this summer. We have a tradition in Region I of
“selling out” POEs well before the registration deadline, so please encourage your students to register
early. Frank Corbin (Dean & District Convener for Massachusetts) is the Director for the POE based at
Assumption College. Information is available at the Worcester web site,
www.worcesterago.org.
IV. Pipe Organ Encounter – 2009 and beyond
Please consider having your Chapter host a Pipe Organ Encounter. This is the most successful initiative that
the Guild has ever had for the new organist, and all Chapters have the capacity to host one. There is
information on the National web site,
www.agohq.org/education, including a short video.
Please contact me if you have any interest in this. If you would like, I or other previous POE chairs will
make a visit to your Chapter to answer questions and present the video.
V. 2009 Regional Convention – Boston, July 1 – 4, 2009
The Boston Steering Committee, under the leadership of Michael Kleinschmidt, has nearly finalized their
program for our 2009 Regional convention. I will let you know when their website is up and running.
VI. 2011 Regional Convention – New Haven, 2011
I am thrilled to announce that the Executive Board of the New Haven Chapter has voted to bid on hosting our
2011 Regional Convention. They last hosted a Regional in 1989 and it is time to return! With the wealth of
instruments and venues in New Haven, this promises to be a terrific convention.
VII. 2013 Regional Convention
Similar to future POEs, it is never too early to plant a seed for future Regional Conventions. Please let me
know if this is something that your Chapter might consider.
VIII. International Year of the Organ (IYO) & Organ Spectacular, October 19, 2008
The Guild has designated 2008-2009 as the International Year of the Organ, a time when we will exhibit the
pride that we share in our chosen instrument. The year of festivities will be inaugurated with special events
at the National Convention in Minneapolis in June of 2008, and will conclude with the AGO Regional
Conventions in the summer of 2009. Every chapter of the AGO should plan to participate in as many ways as
they can. Oct. 19, 2008 (Organ Spectacular) will be an international day of celebration, and a focal point
of the 2008-09 IYO celebration. The Guild is encouraging all of our chapters, plus all of our partner
organizations from throughout the world, to plan a concert or recital that day focusing on the organ.
Information is at www.agohq.org/events/.
IX. National Elections
The election for National Council members to serve from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010 will take place during
April and May of 2008. The slate of candidates was presented in the January issue of The American Organist.
The April TAO issue will contain pictures, biographies and statements from the candidates, as well as voting
instructions. As in the past, online voting and written ballots will be utilized.
X. Region I Blog
A request that I often hear at Chapter meetings is a desire for a calendar of AGO events in our region. To
facilitate that request and to provide a platform for me to communicate to all of the members, I have
started a Blog (web log) at
www.agonewengland.blogspot.com. Please look
at the site regularly and send me any programs you would like added to the calendar.
I have had a wonderful year serving as your Regional Councillor. It has been a joy to visit the Chapters,
attend musical events, and, especially, to meet so many of the members. Thank you for your generous
hospitality! We live and work in a magnificent part of the country, and are blessed with talented individuals,
and beautiful instruments and churches. I look forward to more visits in 2008!
I have just returned from meetings of the AGO National Council in Minneapolis, and want to share with you
news and information about several programs the AGO is working on that are of interest and benefit to our
chapters and members. [The National Council comprises the nine Regional Councillors, four National
Councillors (Education, Competition & New Music, Conventions, and Professional Development), and the four
officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer).]
First of all, I want to personally welcome all the new Deans and Sub-Deans. I am here to help and advise you
as questions arise. I am eager to become acquainted with you and your chapter members. Please send me your
current membership rosters and regular newsletter and bulletins. This information is most valuable,
especially when we meet to discuss your needs and concerns. It is also important to keep your web site
current. We are the ONLY region in which all our chapters (twenty in six states) have a web presence!
Congratulations!
EACH ONE - REACH ONE
The guild is beginning the third and final year of its membership growth challenge. You are certainly
aware that we are facing a downward trend in our national and chapter membership numbers. It will take all
of us to reverse this trend.
The goal for this year's membership campaign is "PERSONAL INVITATION." Don't wait for new organists in town
to seek US out, GO TO THEM. It is the responsibility of each member to make the phone calls to local
organists. Be brave and courageous! Invite them to each chapter meeting and activity. When they do come,
roll out the "red carpet" to make them feel welcome.
This year of the challenge will award a prize to the individual (not chapter) who brings in the most new
members. The prize will be registration, transportation package, and five-nights of the hotel at the
Minneapolis national convention next June. Details are available on the www.agohq.org web site (Each One -
Reach One button midway down on the home page).
I attended a membership meeting in Providence this summer where a chapter membership officer described
having a membership "kit" available in her car. Whenever she met a new organist or possible member, she gave
them the kit that contained a recent issue of The American Organists, her chapter's newsletter, a
membership brochure, and a calendar of the chapter's events. It was an easy program to implement and was
tremendously successful.
YEAR OF THE ORGAN
By now you have heard the 2008-2009 will be the International Year of the Organ. The AGO is coordinating a
series of events and publicity to bring the organ into the public spotlight. The year will climax on October
19, 2008 with a nationwide Organ Spectacular. If your chapter has not yet planned a recital, concert, party
or daytrip for that date, it is not too late to get on the bandwagon and become part of this huge event.
Program committees, plan a member recital, or a solo recital, or a marathon at several local churches, and
make sure your local newspaper knows what you are doing! More to come....
TAX LAWS
You should have received a communication from James Thomashower (AGO Executive Director) about the change
in tax laws. They now require each chapter to file an annual return. This was followed by a postcard from
the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Don't panic! A simple e-postcard will do the trick for most chapters, and the first one isn't due for a year.
Please stay on top of this.
ONLINE REGISTRATION
How would you like your chapter registrar and treasurer to never have to fill out a membership report form
again? What if your portion of membership dues appeared automatically in your chapter bank account without
your having to process a single check?
All this may soon be in place. Headquarters is exploring a new software package that will enable members
to register and pay their dues online, eliminating 90% of the work that chapter officers now have to do. A
major upgrade like this is not inexpensive, so please encourage your members to contribute to the Annual
Fund to help this project turn into a reality. Many of our chapters make a contribution to the Annual Fund.
Thank you for the these and the individual contributions that many of you make!
DISTRICT LEADERSHIP MEETINGS
Our region is divided into three regions (described below). Each district is led by a Convener who could
often be your first contact for any concerns relating to your chapter or membership. There are also two
Regional Coordinators who focus on Professional Development (e.g., contracts, grievances, church relations)
and Education (e.g., certification, outreach, Pedals, Pipes & Pizza). Together, these fives officers and
myself are available for chapter visits, lectures, or other needs. Please call upon us.
In past years, there has been an annual Dean's Retreat for the entire region. To make it easier for Deans
& Sub Deans (or their representatives) to attend, we will be scheduling a Saturday meeting for each district
shortly. Each chapter should plan on sending two representatives to their respective meeting.
NATIONAL EVENTS
Please promote and consider attending one or more of the following events. Detailed information is on the
Guild's website.
January 20 - 24, 2008, Mid-Winter Conclave in Tucson
April 13, 2008, Recital and Benefit Gala honoring Fred Swann, Los Angeles
June 22 - 26, 2008, National Convention, Minneapolis
I continue to make plans to visit chapters this year, and I look forward to meeting all of you. Please let
me know of any program or meeting where you would like me to attend.
Thank you for all you do for your members and chapters!
Lary
E Lary Grossman PhD SPC
Regional Councillor - New England (Region I)
American Guild of Organists
Regional Councillor
E Lary Grossman PhD SPC, 24 King Street, Hatfield MA 01038
413-247-9426 (h); 413-687-7228 (cell) elg@bradygrossman.com
Regional Coordinator for Education
Cheryl L. Duerr AAGO, 267 Concord Avenue, Lexington MA 02421
781-860-8893 (h); 617-852-3533 (cell) clduerr@gmail.com
Regional Coordinator for Professional Development
Donald R. Funk AAGO, 136 S. Highland Street, West Hartford CT 06119
860-231-8197 (h) dfnkjr@comcast.net
District Convener for Connecticut & Rhode Island
David Clyle Morse, 134 Mathewson St, Providence, RI 02903
401-486-0244 (h) drigor480s@aol.com
District Convener for Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont
Marilyn J. Polson, 31 Beacon Hill, Chelsea, VT 05038
802-728-5849 (w); 802-685-7725 (h) polsonm@innevi.com
District Convener for Massachusetts
Frank Corbin, DMA, 85 Park Avenue #4, Worcester, MA 01605
508-767-7508 (w); fcorbin@assumption.edu
