Board of Directors

ChoralFest Manitoba:	Sonya Williams & Eric Hemmerling
Fund Development:	Vacant
Library:	Michael Dueck
Marketing and Communications:	Vic Hooper
Membership:	Pamela Martinson
MMEA Representitive	Catherine Robbins
Professional Development	Cynthia Peyson Wahl
Provincial Honour Choirs	Marilyn Redekop

Regional Representatives

Central:	Mary Siemens
Eastman:	Kyle Friesen
Interlake:	Vhana Moldowan
Norman:	Kim Jones
Parkland:	Susan Hopfner
Westman:	Lesley Taggart

Honorary Solicitor: Bruce S. Thompson

Thanks for a wonderful AGM! I know that seems like an odd sentiment but the atmosphere and positive spirit shows that MCA is clearly back on track.

I would like to thank Kris Kornelson, Helen LaRue and Heather Henderson for their many years of fine service on the MCA Board of Directors. The library and newsletters have benefitted from Helen and Heather’s respective efforts. Kris in charge of the purse strings has been beneficial to the entire organization. He has been encouraging us to spend more money and was crucial in the development of the library cost-share program. All of you will be missed.

Congratulations to our new treasurer, Aaron Cheung. We look forward to the first board meeting with you in January. We still need a new library chairperson and are also looking for an editor for Noteworthy. The library is a board position which would include attended four board meetings per year. Please contact the office if you think of anyone who might be interested and qualified for the position.

I know that the season is full of concerts and joyous music making. May you and your loved ones be able to take time to appreciate and reconnect during this wonderful time.

Merry Christmas,

Maureen Ferley

Fall has been filled with a wide range of music making in our province: Central Youth Choir’s 25 anniversary, where each of the 25 years was represented by at least one singer in the Alumni choir, Ecco’s fall concert with partial proceeds being donated to the MCA Endowment Fund, Westman and Eastman Youth choirs tours, Elroy Friesen’s presentation of Rautavaara’s All Night Vigil, and many other great concerts and workshops.

At our last board meeting we took our mission statement and envisioned how we can make it a reality. For each program that MCA offers the board brainstormed implementation ideas with “MCA provides resources and creates opportunities for all Manitobans to experience and enjoy choral music” being the guiding principle.

These are some of the ideas that were presented. If any of them interest you please contact the MCA office or the committee chairperson directly to get involved. Many hands make light work.

Board Ideas

ChoralFest

• PD for teachers – T.P.D.P. (based on the Banff festival model)
• Travel grants – help writing application to the correct granting offices
• Meal sponsor discounts – need to get businesses involved

PHC

• Adult choir great step
• Region choir sponsorship – (one singer from each youth choir)
• Provincial voice teacher info base needed
• Outreach phoning idea – needed to complete third step in PHC plan. We need someone to volunteer to liaise and phone school and churches to create a voice teacher database to help get the information to all regions and communities.

Library

• Postage paid program exists but many people unaware of it
• Cost-share program in its first year – will monitor to evaluate its effectiveness

Marketing

• Weekly e-news to members
• Noteworthy – link to choral community – needs an editor
• Forks Market Manitoba Display
• Homecoming Link Social Media – Facebook, Twitter - evaluate benefits

Membership

• New chorister member – advocate for choir music
• Email reminder for renewal

Your ideas???

We are trying to better serve the entire choral community – let us know what you need. Hope to see you at the AGM.

Maureen Ferley e-mail