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Greetings from Tri-M!
Welcome back to another school year. As you begin to
plan for a new year I want to encourage you to
consider chartering a Tri-M Music Honor Society
Chapter in your school. It is a wonderful way to
recognize those students in your school that show
exceptional dedication to music. In addition, a Tri-M
Chapter can play a critical role in developing
position relations both in your school and community.
For more informatino about chartering a chapter please
contact me (Alice Sullivan at acbsnow@yahoo.com) or
give me a call at Woodland High School (427-3325 or
460-5306) and let me knowm how I can help. You can
also download registration forms at www.MENC.org
For those schools that already have active chapters
please send me a note and let me know about activities
in your school. I would like to share your news on
this site and also send it along to MENC for inclusion
in their publications.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Alice Sullivan
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District 2
We are ready to begin another exciting year in District 2. Our first meeting of the year is on Wednesday, September 6 at
the Auburn Ground Round at 4 PM.
Thank you, Jim Horwich, District 2 Chairperson
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Government Relations--
Emails have been sent to my counterparts in other states, including Michigan, Missiouri, Virginia, Indiana, and Colorado to
help target what this new position can do for the MMEA and/or evolve into. For more informative news on a national level,
the information below has been taken directly from the MENC August 2006 Legislative Memo:
http://www.menc.org/information/legislationpolicy/memo/aug06/2006_08_memo.html
(If the links in the text below do not work, they do from the menc website)
Federal News
Congressional Appropriations for Arts Education
The Senate Appropriations Committee has presented a bill increasing funding for Arts in Education programs in the U.S. Department
of Education to $36.5 million. This funding, an increase of $1.2 million from the FY 2006 budget, contrasts with the House
Appropriations Committee bill that eliminated funds for the same programs.
Included in the Senate bill is approximately $500,000 for the Dissemination and Evaluation section, which will enable the
Department of Education to execute the Fast Response Survey System, measuring the state of arts education in the United States.
The FRSS was last completed in 1999 and its repeat implementation has been a major priority of MENC and the national arts
education community. In addition, the Senate bill provided a $500,000 increase to the Model Development & Dissemination grant
program.
Action on congressional appropriations is expected early this fall. Please tune into the Memo and weekly MENC Member News
Updates in your inbox for suggestions on how you can help support federal funding for arts education.
No Child Left Behind
MENC Update
The Commission on No Child Left Behind concluded its summer roundtable series on the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act
(NCLB) on high schools. The discussion focused on efforts to upgrade high school curricula, calculations of dropout and graduation
rates, and student readiness for college.
The Commission heard from organizations representing those working directly on issues related to high school students. These
round table members included Gaston Caperton, President, The College Board (NY); Bob Wise with the Alliance for Excellent
Education (DC); Michael Cohen, President of Achieve, Inc. (DC); Robert Balfanz, Associate Research Scientist at the Center
for Social Organization of Schools at Johns Hopkins University (MD); Fredreka Schouten, Education Trust (DC); and Becky Pringle,
a teacher and Chair of the NEA ESEA Advisory Committee at the National Education Association (DC).
Submit your comments to the Commission prior to its September hearing this fall in Washington, DC.
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In addition... a good tip from the same website:
Take Action
During the month of August, Congress stops its work in Washington, DC to allow time for Representatives and Senators to go
home for the Summer Work Period. During this time your federal legislators are traveling throughout the state and throughout
their districts and therefore easily accessible.
Take action now by calling to make an appointment with your elected officials while they are close by. You can find the district
office phone number by visiting this web site and entering your home zip code.
At the meeting, talk to your legislator about the importance of music education and the impact of No Child Left Behind on
your music program. These No Child Left Behind talking points are a good resource and starting point. Your officials may also
hold "town hall" meetings where you can bring up issues such as music education and hear theirthoughts on other issues as
well.
--
E. Scot Fuller
Performing Arts Department
Gould Academy
Bethel, Maine 04217
www.gouldacademy.org
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Technology Manager
Greetings all..
Since this is a fairly new position, I really don't have much to report at this time. This coming year may provide some technology
based opportunities for music education. I will certainly update everyone as progress is made.
Arnie Poland
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MMEA MENC Student Chapter Report
My apologies for this late report. I have two brief items of interest:
MENC is now allowing and encouraging online registration for Collegiate members. This will allow faster chapter activation
and more efficient communication with MENC, complete with monthly roster updates that are mailed to the chapter advisors.
MENC has been asked to participate again this year in the BMI John Lennon Scholarship program. The program offers one $10,000
scholarship and two $5,000 scholarships to college students who write the best original compositions for vocal-instrumental
performance with the broadest popular appeal. I have been asked to chair this effort for Maine and to form an adjudication
committee. I will distribute scholarship information to our MENC Collegiate chapters very soon.
I am unable to attend the meeting due to a herniated disc. Among other things, my PT instructs me to avoid sitting for more
than 10 minutes at a time over the next week, so I am doing just that.
Doug Owens
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PRESIDENT'S REPORT - 8/06
Not much to “report”, though that is going to change in a hurry - - - QUITE a few things are ongoing and will
be discussed Sunday. Specific points to ponder in the meantime:
* The MENC Natl Anthem Road Show hits Portland the first weekend of October and has the potential to be a BIG deal (tv coverage...
a shot in the arm for advocacy). More info will be posted on the Website shortly and we need folks to volunteer their time
and bring groups to perform.
* Ed’s departure to New Hampshire leaves a vacancy on the Exec Board, but it is really the one “position”
that can’t be replaced by someone else (there is only one “Immediate Past President”!) Having said that,
it appears that the immediate and pressing duties are able to be covered elsewhere on the board so I am recommending we leave
the position vacant while absorbing those related job duties. We can always change our minds later down the road, but I'd
like to attempt this path for now.
* Eastern Division is rocking and rolling (a la Sam’s report on the Hartford Planning Meeting) getting ready for March.
I believe we should be making a unique push to build this conference up... not because it has to be “sold” but
because we benefit from having it be a shared experience by the membership. Add that onto the fact that it is only this close
once every six years and we have an event we really should be recruiting very heavily for, agreed?
* Kudos again to Barbara for an outstanding Bulletin/Handbook and for
getting it into our hands in the requested time.
MUCH more to be discussed Sunday (Agenda will be out tomorrow - Thursday - as promised) so be ready for a full hour or two
up in Augusta. - Rob
Rob Westerberg
(h) 207-646-5507
(w) 207-363-3621
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State Editor and Webmaster Report - August 27, 2007
The following is an overview of our site for August 20, 2006. This information is accessible by clicking on the Get Stats!
button on the bottom of the homepage of MMEA.
Webmaster Report:
• Please check any part of the website that pertains to YOU and/or your district. If something is out of date, bad link,
or wrong information - PLEASE send me an email with the specifics. I am happy to fix things.
• Please don't assume that I have any idea what information you need or want on your page! I know nothing about auditions,
festivals and the like. I don't teach MS or HS and I don't know how all of that works. Assume that I am one of your parents!
(But, please, be kind!)
• All Districts, Festivals, etc. can have a dedicated page on the site. Let me know that you need one and I'll be sure
to either upload your completed site or create one with your information. I can give you step by step instructions.
• If you are having difficulty with a large amount of spam please let me know. I have removed most of the email links
from the website to try to stop some of the unsolicited mail that you get. I will be converting the site over to addresses
that are spelled out to further foil the "Spam-bots". For example: bbpackales@aol.com would look like this: bbpackales at
aol.com. This prevents the spam-bots from spidering the addresses in a massive attempt at getting your money, information,
etc.
• In an effort to be vigilant about security, just a quick reminder to change your passwords once in awhile and to secure
your wireless systems at home. If you don't know to secure your system, please ask Arnie Poland (Technology Manager) or me.
Either of us would be glad to help you!
• Please continue to send me information to post. I will try to put things on the site in a timely manner (usually a
two day turn around unless you mark it urgent) or sooner.
State Editor Report:
• The Bulletin went out a week later than I had hoped, however, I still managed to make my personal goal of having it
in your hands before September.
• Many thanks to Nancy Cash-Cobb for always being able and willing to get the magazine in the mail.
• Thanks to Rob and Mike Davis for assuring me that COLOR was the way to go and finding a way to get it into the budget.
• District Chairs - please check your membership to be sure that they are updated in their address with MENC. HOME
address is what should be listed with MENC! It facilitates the timely delivery of materials to them.
• The deadlines for the Bulletin are not flexible. I cannot hold an issue for a week if you HAVE to put something in
there. I sometimes have a day or two leeway, but not much more than that. In order to get the issues out when our advertisers
expect them (and they pay the bills!), I MUST stick to the deadlines posted on the website.
• We have sold the inside front and inside back covers of the Bulletin for the rest of the year.
• The advertising rates were increased to reflect the 4th issue that was added this year. They may need to increase
next year in order to meet the rising costs of the new format.
• Although I decide what will "fit" in the magazine and what is appropriate for the magazine, I rarely change what
is sent to me to publish. I will correct spelling and grammar as needed, but the content (other than research papers which
go through our Research Chair) remains as you type it.
• SUBMISSIONS for publication should be in the form of a Word document (or Appleworks) and attached to your email.
If you can't do that, or don't know how to do that, I will take it from an email, but that is dramatically harder for me.
Please continue to let me know what you want to see in the magazine and on the website. Also please remember that I am only
ONE person with a full time job, two part time jobs, a teenager and a family on top of my MMEA responsibilities. I will always
attempt to smile when you ask for things - even if I struggle to get them done.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Packales
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Report of State Director – Aug 22, 2006
Greetings,
As usually my function has been dealing with questions and details. The Board makes the big decisions, I just carry them
out.
1) I’m still requesting to be put on the District email lists. It’s getting better. I’m now on 2, 3, 5,
& 7. Maybe Dist. 1, 4, & 6 do not have a district-wide email list. If not, you should. It is a great way to keep all in
the district up to date with what’s going on – District wide, State wide and even Nationally. The subject heading
can quickly tell a teacher if this is something s/he should read. It’s easy to delete if it doesn’t pertain.
2) I received a request today for a voice teacher. Districts II and III have MMEA member private teacher lists. Here is
a way we can support each other. Do any of the other districts have such?
3) Web sites – I’ve checked a few. Some are up to date; some are not. Please, if your District web site is not
up to date, try to get some help for your web master. It is crucial that our sites be pertinent. They are looked at by our
teachers, students, parents, administrators, public. They do reflect on all of us. Some of the sites – including our
MMEA site – are excellent. Congrats!!
4) The State Directors MENC conference was great. I’ll be bringing more information to you as the year progresses.
5) Is your membership up to date?? How about that of your co-teachers? If you move, change jobs, change, email, change
telephone, etc., you need to contact MENC with the info. I would also appreciate a note (email)
6) Please, please, please try to follow deadlines and stress to your co-teachers the importance of getting it done on time.
Music teachers are notorious for being so over-involved that they wait for the last minute and then something happens and
they are late.
I’m looking forward to an excellent year. Our new Board format is in place and Rob is ready to run with it. I’ll
miss this first meeting as our Aug. trip was delayed until end of Aug/beginning of Sept.
Yours in Music
Faith
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President-Elect Report
Almost titled this "Auditions Report". Some habits die
hard.
Ed and I attended the Eastern Division Conference
planning meeting in Hartford, Conn. not Maine, in
July. I must state, first of all, that I was impressed
with all the teachers involved. Everyone was very
friendly and welcoming.
Connecticut (CMEA) has done an outstanding job of
getting things in place, including a realistic budget.
Kudos to them for the work they've done so far.
The focus of the meeting was to prioritize the
proposed sessions we wanted to see at the conference.
My group, Pre K - Gr. 5 Ele. discussed and scored 47
proposals; one in particular was very outstanding and
would be of interest regardless of what area you teach
but I can't say anymore than that about it or any of
the other sessions.
CMEA has asked for free ad space in all bulletins that
will come out before the Eastern Conference to promote
the event. I believe this will include a registration
form. They are most anxious that a lot of teachers who
don't have kids in any of the BOCJ groups attend.
Conference headquarters will be the Marriott Downtown
which is connected to the Convention Center. The hotel
can be seen from the exit, just keep turning left. NOT
to be confused with the Residence Inn Marriott which
is right in the middle of downtown.
Each BOCJ group will be housed in separate hotels
where they will also rehearse, each with its own nurse
on duty.
Keynotes for the conference will be Peter Schickeley
(sp?) and Henry Fogle (sp?) both for free as I
understand it. And, of course, Dr. Tim; it wouldn't be
an Eastern conference without him.
Special performing groups will include the Yale
Whiffenpoofs, US Coast Guard band, and the Orff group
from Italy that was featured at the Eastern Division
meeting in Italy two years ago.
Kids will be seeing two concerts; an additional one
for Thursday night is still in the works but not
definite. Friday night, they will be bussed to the
convention hall to see Barrage, and Saturday night, to
see the Empire Brass which will also do a master class
for the brass kids.
BTW - the question was asked as to why there still was
no All Eastern vocal jazz honor group. The last time
this was brought up only Maine and NH had very active
vocal jazz programs. It will be revisited for the
next conference as most states now have active
programs.
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I am looking for volunteers to canvas the state for
corporate sponsors for the taping of the All State
concerts. This is not something that one person can
handle and I am not asking board members to take it
upon themselves in addition to everything else they
do. There must be teachers in each district who would
be willing to, at the very least, brainstorm the large
companies that should be approached. This should not
be confused with Alice's suggestion that businesses in
the towns where All State acceptee's live be
approached. I will have an information packet
available at the meeting.
Other than putting together a handbook entitled
EVERYTHING YOU EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT BEING
AUDITIONS CO-CHAIR, BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK, a three
week project as I kept thinking of more things that
our new co-chair, Kim Mathieu, needed to know, my
summer has been pretty low key, that is, after I got
sprayed by a skunk, fortunately a small one without
much distance or trajectory ability.
Sam Moore-Young
President-Elect
yeomoore1954@yahoo.com
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