Officer’s Meeting With Dr. Schildcret

April 14, 2005

Present: Dr. Schildcret, Faculty Advisor, Jason Shoemaker, President Elect,

Elvin Dioquino, Vice President, Rebecca Woolf, Secretary

 

I. Name, mission statement and other related business

            A. Jason would like to modify the name of our chapter

                        1. It will be modified slightly to:

                           “American Choral Director’s Association, A.S.U Student Chapter.”

            B. Our current mission statement needs to be revised

                        1. The current statement says that our mission is to promote

                            “Choral singing”.

                        2. It was agreed that the statement needs to say something about choral                                         conducting.

                        3.  Dr. Schildcret’s idea:  “To help aspiring choral conductors

                             prepare for their careers.”

                        4. We could also mention something about being a resource for choral                               students by sponsoring workshops and promoting networking

                            among students.

                        5. Jason will send an email to ACDA members and ask for input and

                            ideas for our new mission statement.

                        6. Dr. Schildcret mentioned that we might call the national ACDA                                                   office and ask them if there is an information packet for

                                         student chapters.

                                    a. Check with Lori Weist, who coordinates student chapters.

                                    b. We need to ask the national ACDA if they have available

                                         funds for student chapters.

            C.  Discussion about the need for more coordination between the ACDA and                     CMENC

                        1. We need to coordinate our events so they don’t overlap or repeat

                        2. We might work together to plan a big event.

                        3. We need to have an officer’s meeting with the CMENC officers.

                        4. We need to make sure that there is a difference between the two

                            organizations.

II. Upcoming Events

            A. Need for planning in advance.

                        1. We want to have next year’s events planned and scheduled before

                            the end of this semester.

                        2. Dr. Schildcret will give us a copy of the music calendar for next year

                            to help us with our planning.

            B.  The first event of the year will be a “meet and greet” for new students.

                        1. It needs to involve FOOD! (pizza?)

                        2. Possible locations: Tempe Town Lake, Kiwana’s Park, a room

                            at the MU, someone’s house.

                        3.  Possible date: Sometime during the 2nd or 3rd week of school,

                             maybe on a Saturday. (Timing is crucial)

                        4.  At our first meeting we should announce our upcoming events

                             for the semester.

                        5.  We could hand out a survey (market research) and have students

                              rate a list of possible activities that they would like to attend.

                                    a. possible list: foreign language diction, sight reading, attending

                                       other choir performances as a group, world music,

                                       how to get community support and funding for a school choir.

                                    b. Jill Sullivan is great at market research.  Elvin will ask for her                                                    ideas.

            C. Four Corners Workshop

                        1. June 23rd-25th.

            D. Choir retreat with NAU next year.

                        1. We could drive up to Flagstaff as a group to attend a choir concert.

                        2. We could have an activity with their ACDA chapter the following day.

                        3. Elvin will contact Dr. Edie Copely to see about getting in touch with

                            their ACDA officers.

III. Funding and Budget Issues

            A. Report on “The Islands” fundraiser.

                        1.  It’s a good way to raise money because it was “painless”. (Little work

                             and time spent by officers)

            B. Applebee’s is a very popular location for students after any choral events

                        1. Elvin will contact the management of Applebee’s to see if we could                                have a fund raiser there.

            C. Bake sales will be good if we have only pies and get them all donated.

                        1.  Maybe one per semester…we need to check with Dr. Schildcret

                             to make sure it would be appropriate for the event.

            D. Workshop ideas for next year (that won’t break the budget!)

                        1. Dr. Schildcret would be willing to do a workshop for us.

                        2. Linda Spevacek has published a lot of octavo music for young choirs.

                            (She lives in Tempe)

                        3. Dave and Jean Perry have published a lot of choral music.

                            They are usually eager to help.

                        4. A good approach (as suggested by Dr. Schildcret):

                            “We would love to have you present a workshop for us. Is there s                                  something you would like to present?”

                        5. Warren Dennis, choir director at the University Methodist Church.

                             He is the former choral director at McClintock High School (30 years)

                        6. Jeff Harris, Westwood High School. (One of the most successful High

                            School programs in the state)

                        7. Greg Ebert, Corona Del Sol high school. (Also has one of the most                               successful programs in the state)

                        8.  Ron Carpenter runs a successful Junior High School program.

                        8.  The choral directors mentioned above could do a workshop on:

                             “The keys to a successful choral music program.”

                                    a. These men have successful programs because they are

                                        willing to put in the effort.

IV. Other Ideas from Dr. Schildcret

            A. Dr. Schildcret has given the ACDA permission to use the Bulletin Board

                 which is outside the choir room.

            B.  We need to keep the lines of communication open between

                  the ACDA and the ASU Choral Department.

            C. Dr. Schildcret takes very seriously his role as faculty advisor for ACDA.

                        1. As “advisor” his role is to “give advice”.

                        2, He does not want the ACDA to become a “faculty project”.

            D. Choir performance improves when each person is “mindful” or makes a                         conscious effort to improve one aspect of the performance each time they sing.

            E. “Success is not some magic from a fairy godmother. Success                                           happens because one person worked harder than anyone else.”

                                                                                                            --Dr. Schildcret