Associated Male Choruses of Ontario
Board MeetingSaturday, October 29, 2011
Meeting held atBrantford Visitor & Tourism Centre,
399 Wayne Gretzky Parkway, BrantfordOntario.
Refreshments were provided by Jim Hutchinson.
Present: Gord Jarvis, Paul; LeBlanc, Jim Hutchinson,Fred Faber, Einar Voldner, Tony Jamestee, Bob McMillan, Garth James, Tom Mousseau, Paul Enns
Minutes
- Welcome, Review of Agenda and Introductions:
President Paul Enns welcomed those present and thanked those responsible for selecting an excellent venue.
Gord Jarvis mentioned he would be leaving early for another appointment.
- The agenda was approved as presented.
- Review of Minutes of January 29, 2011:
The minutes were accepted as presented.
Copies of Copyright guidelines put together by Geoff Bullivant (DOFASCO) were available for members.
- Discussion/Chorus Feedback/Follow-up re:
- AMCO Renewal Update Document – Paul Enns stated that we should not lose sight of Items 10 to 14 from the Document. He also asked rhetorically if we are interested in being a learning organization or just maintaining the status quo. If the latter, then he was perhaps the wrong person in his role.
- AMCO Recruiting Workshop - see attached document
- Feedback/Follow-up
Bob McMillan – BMOS internally looking to recruiting
-Focus on audience and music
-When you no longer need to solicit for tickets & people are looking for them, than you have reached a level of success.
-BMOS’s music, and maybe yours, need updating.
-We need to be distinctive and our genre is important.
Tony Jamestee- Very good facilitator.
-Hoping to see 2 or 3 of their people take on Recruitment in NMC.
Einar Voldner- We need to plan for a follow-up
- Hear what others have done with this document.
- Every AMCO member should be a Recruiter.
- What every member can do is one thing, what a whole chorus can do is another.
3.2.2. What AMCO can do – Get a group together to design a brochure template.
3.2.3. Next Step – For this document to be successful all Choruses need to be involved.
-Paul suggested that we generate a document on how to read music. Tony stated that NMC has a music intro on their Website. Garth suggested that info is available on the Internet.
-Garth will attempt to prepare a draft document for the February 4, 2012 meeting.
-Include the Recruitment Process in the Feb., 2012 meeting hoping the Choruses have time to digest the document.
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3.3.Ontario Sings 2011 Fall Workshop – Outstanding workshop, best we had for some-time.
-Paul Leblanc made a motion for AMCO to make up a $200.00 shortfall. Motion seconded by Gord.
-Discussion on motion – Dr. Cooper’s (clinician) cost was $375.00 plus mileage and HST. With costs for hall and a fill-in pianist there was a $200.00 over-run.
-Motion passed.
Question was asked - since this motion may set a precedent, do we want to set a limit?
To be discussed at a future meeting.
- Celebrations and Challenges: Chorus Round Table Sharing
5.2.1.Brantford –108 attended BMOS’s 50thAnniversary dinner. A scholarship went to a talented young lady going into opera.
-BMOS has a new Director, Bill Schatz. He is very enthusiastic and young. They are set to do a Christmas Concert.
- Best Practices: Communication Strategies between AMCO Executive and Members
Postponed to February 4th meeting.
- Financial Report/Draft Budget
Jim Hutchinson presented the financial report and budget. (See Appendix – Financial)
The Budget was moved by Jim and 2nd by Gord – carried.
Jim reported that BMOS presented AMCO with a cheque for $472.00 as the 10% portion of the Ontario Sing. Balance in General Fund as of Oct.29th is $5379.00
The report was moved by Jim and 2nd by Einar - carried.
- Updates/Discussion/Action
- Ontario Sings 2012 (Tony Jamestee) – Tony gave a handout, Communications #1, to members present. It is to be filled and sent back by Nov. 26/11.
- As the Convention Centre is quite expensive the registration and Afterglow will be held across the street.
- Permission has been given to make copies of “Yesterday”.
- DOFASCO will be a guest Chorus and possibly the Schneider Male Chorus
- Awaiting word from several AMCA choruses
7.2.Ontario Sings 2013 (Einar Voldner) – Queensmen have less than 20 members and with Toronto’s high costs find that it is not feasible for them, resource and financially wise, to hold OS-2013
- Question asked – would Bob Cooper come back as Clinician in 2012? Einar willing to find a Clinician for Fall 2012 Workshop. Date choices 1st – Oct. 20/12, 2nd – Oct. 27/12.
- Discussion – Consider April Apfelstadt, U of T music professor as ext clinician.
-Gord – can an AMCO Chorus be struck, using a well known clinician and AMCO scholarship winners to present the 2013 OS? Promotion of ticket sales and venue would be crucial as well as a very committed committee.
-Paul L. – Would 8 to 10 men from every chorus be interested to do above AMCO Chorus?
7.3.Chorus Withdrawals
7.3.1.Kawartha – As per letter, they are not returning this season. Consensus is to extend the leave till Sept./12
7.3.2.Dofasco – Fit not good for them. It was a lot to add OS on top of their own songs to memorize.
7.4.Contact with Other Choruses
7.4.1. Schneider Male Chorus – from Kitchener are showing some interest
7.4.2. Guelph Male Chorus – They do not feel ready to join us yet.
7.4.3. Muskoka Male Chorus - have a concern with the distance.
7.4.4. Waterloo Regional Police Chorus – exchanging information
7.4.5. Jubilation Male Chorus – from Kitchener – mainly religious music
7.4.6. Valleyview Male Chorus – distance may be an issue as well at time.
7.5.Scholarship Committee (Gord) – Is looking at making the Scholarship Application process completely E-Form friendly. Dan Plunkett will provide the E-Forms and send to the AMCO webmaster, Joe Chu, to add to website. It would be available to print out a hard copy and fill that in and use the postal method to send to Gord.
7.6.Nominating Committee (Gord/Paul L.) – Paul L. has not been successful in getting a 1st V.P.
1st V.P.2 Yr Term
2nd V.P.Paul LeBlanc2 Yr Term
TreasurerJim Hutchinson2 Yr Term
SecretaryFred Faber2 Yr Term
Past PresidentGord Jarvis2 Yr Term
PresidentPaul Enns2 Yr Term
Gord moved that the nominations be accepted as presented, 2nd by Tony – carried.
7.7.OMEA Update (Gord)
Roy Harvey and Gord go to the Ontario Music Educator Assoc. meetings as AMCO is an affiliate member. AMCO’s report can have great benefits such as assisting schools with choral singing. Queensmen are involved with two schools (grade 6, 7, 8) and have had some great success.
7.8.Communications/Publicity
7.8.1.Wayne Brittenden has resigned from this position as he felt it was not being utilized.
7.8.2.AMCO Website – To be discussed at February 4 meeting
7.8.3.AMCO Banner – What should go on banner? To be discussed at our February 4 meeting.
7.9.The Future of AMCO
Only four Choruses.
Have same Exec members for a long time.
Tom M. Mentioned that AMCA also is down to a handful from 27 to 28 choruses at one time.
At Ontario Sings what appears to be missing is a solid Afterglow where friendship is made.
Should we do OS every 2nd year? Should we keep presenting a fall workshop every year?
Einar – could we pick up some of the AMCA Choruses to join AMCO?
Paul L. – we should concentrate on Southern Ontario.
- Other Items
- Motion to accept with regret the resignations of Tom Peel (DOFASCO) and Wayne Brittenden was 2nd by Einar – Carried.
- Next Meeting- As Paul Enns has a conflict with theJanuary 28/12 date the next meeting is scheduled for Saturday February 4, 2012 at the Visitors Centre
- Adjournment- Paul Enns thanked all for coming and adjourned the meeting.
Recorded by: Fred Faber
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Associated Male Choruses of Ontario
Appendix – Attendance
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Associated Male Choruses of Ontario
Appendix – Finance Report
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