District 14 Southern Metro

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Meeting Minutes for 10-23-00

General Membership Meeting of OMEA District 14

Izzy's Restaurant, Tualatin

October 23, 2000

The meeting was called to order by District 14 Chair Sue Schreiner at 5:42 p.m. The following members were present:

Jeff Putterman, Lake Oswego High School;
Dave Sanders, Chehalem Valley Middle School;
Dick Elliott, Newberg High School;
Angela Mullins, Mary Woodward Elementary School;
Sue Hale, Tigard High School;
Nita Van Pelt, Lakeridge and Lake Oswego High Schools;
Hal Shepperd, Sherwood High School;
Matt Whitehead, Wilsonville High School;
Ted Sittser, Lake Oswego Junior High School;
Barbara Vardanega, Athey Creek Middle School;
Debbie Glaze, Lake Oswego School District;
Kevin Egan, Tualatin High School;
Sue Schreiner, Wilsonville High School;
Greg Angeloni, Sherwood High School;
Karen Bohart, Wood Middle School;
Marc Dana, Duniway Middle School;
Lise Jaffe, Hazelbrook Middle School;
Sue Sanseri, Athey Creek Middle School;
Dave Becker, Lewis &Clark College;
Kim Kroeger, Tualatin High School;
Ron LaGrone, Rosemont Ridge Middle School

Sue Schreiner announced that there is no State Thespian contest or conference scheduled for March 3, 2001 - there is no conflict with the District 14 Solo/Ensemble Festival scheduled for that date. Instrumental judges have already been hired.

Dave Sanders reported that there is a positive balance in the district's bank account. It was explained that Solo/Ensemble Festival actually lost money last year due to the high expense of tuning pianos at Wilsonville High School. Although the contest is slated for Wilsonville High School again this year, Kevin Egan suggested that alternative sites be investigated, as the cost for using Wilsonville is prohibitive, and is actually costing the district money, rather than paying for itself or generating some profit. The profit would allow the district to offer more services to its members. Sue asked for suggestions for piano tuners who would give a volume discount for tuning multiple pianos. Dave Becker will look into the feasibility of using Lewis & Clark College for the District contest, as the date is open.

Sue announced the Sing-along Messiah at Wilsonville High School and invited interested high school singers and instrumentalists in the district to participate.

Dave Becker explained how District 14 came into being, and where it sits in the natural progression and growth of an OMEA District. Discussion centered on how the district should follow the state By-laws by electing a new Chair, and by drawing up its own by-laws with job descriptions and operating procedures. These will help members feel confident and willing to volunteer to help in district activities. Other districts also elect a Chair-Elect, so that there is a chairperson-in-training for the next term of office. The consensus was that this is a good plan.

Kevin Egan outlined the understood job descriptions of the current Officers and Chairs in the District, some of whom have served for four years. He indicated that there is a need for many new people to get involved and share the opportunities for leadership in the district. Debbie Glaze mentioned the state District Chair handbooks, which are job manuals for District Chairs. These have been used and modified by district chairs around the state.

Dave Becker then asked for nominations for new District Chair: Dick Elliott nominated Dave Sanders; Karen Bohart nominated Barbara Vardanega. Dave Sanders won the vote by a close margin, and Barbara will serve as Chair-elect. This leaves the position of Treasurer open. Dave Sanders nominated Paula Reeve as Treasurer, and she won by acclamation.

The other area chair positions were discussed and new chairs were appointed, as necessary:

Sue Schreiner will be the new Choral Chair; Sue Hale will continue to hire vocal judges for Solo/Ensemble.

Greg Angeloni will be the new Band Chair; Jeff Cumpston has already hired instrumental judges for Solo/Ensemble; Lise Jaffe will help Greg.

Colleen Wheeler will continue as the Orchestra Chair; she will look into setting up an Orchestra Festival in the spring.

Donna Kagen will run an elementary Choral Festival; a need for more General Music teachers on the board was expressed; Debbie Glaze will find two for the next meeting - a chairperson decision for this office was tabled.

Matt Whitehead will be the Site Chair for this year's Solo/Ensemble Festival. Karen Bohart will help. The consensus was to appoint a site chair each year. The site chair will always need help at the site from willing volunteers.

Others volunteers included:

Ted Sittser will look at samples of other district's by-laws and draft a set by the next meeting.

Kathy Thompson will work at getting minutes out to members and to the state webmaster.

Marc Dana will set up an e-mail list for better communication within the District.

The problem of comprehensive and timely communication within the District was brought up by several members. Solutions to this problem include: using the email list for announcement of meetings, using mailing labels provided by OMEA Executive Manager Mark Jones, following timelines set up in the District Handbook for setting of meetings and mailing of information; and publishing a bimonthly newsletter. It was also mentioned that periodic general meetings will strengthen the ties and create better communication within the district.

Dave Sanders announced that he will write an article for the Journal and needs the following information by November 10: Dates of all festivals and district events;

New teachers in each school district and where they are teaching.

The next meeting was scheduled for November 13, 2000 at Izzy's in Tualatin at 5:00 p.m.

The members gave Sue Schreiner a round of applause for her four years of work as District 14 Chair.

Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Glaze, Acting Secretary