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New Horizons International Music Association News
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Learning Music Not Just For Youngsters
The Toronto Star
Story by Judy Steed, Video (Pictures) by Bernard Weil
November 13, 2008 -
New Horizons Band Interview
88.5 WFDD
NPR News and Triad Arts Stations
Wake Forest University
July 16, 2008
Note: This is an MP3 audio file that is over 2MB in size. -
New Horizons Ensemble Unveils New Work in Tribute to Late Leader, Ed Mizma
Rochester New Horizons Band at the Eastman Community Music School
In Concert, May 27, 2008
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The New Horizons Band at the Eastman Community Music School will premiere a new work in memory of the group’s former leader, Edward Mizma, during a concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, in Eastman Theatre. Titled “Moments of Glory,” the work was commissioned by the ensemble and The Commission Project, a nationally recognized program that sponsors composers-in-residence, with support from the New York State Music Fund.“Moments of Glory” was written by Howard Rowe, a retired Rush-Henrietta School District Music teacher and a composer and arranger of works for jazz band, concert band, strings, and chamber ensembles. Rowe began his residency with the New Horizons Band last November, initially talking with band members and leaders and Deborah Mizma, Mr. Mizma’s widow, to draw insights about Mr. Mizma for a composition that would reflect his involvement with both sacred and secular music as well as his zest for life. Rehearsals started in early January on the first draft of the score, which Rowe has revised over subsequent months. The music was composed at the intermediate level so that it would be accessible to more ensembles including developing New Horizons bands.
“The New Horizons commission to honor Ed Mizma has provided me some challenges and a wonderful opportunity as well,” said Rowe. “First, the task was to create music that would evoke memories of Ed for all the participating musicians as well as their audiences, plus, that objective had to be accomplished within parameters concerning length, range, instrumentation, and others. Just as important, the project gave me the opportunity to meet and work with a great group of people. I have found this process to be immensely gratifying.”
Mr. Mizma directed the New Horizons Band from 1992 until his sudden death in July, 2007, at the age of 73. He earned his bachelor and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering from Bucknell University and Cornell University, respectively. During his long career with Kodak, he pursued his avocation with a passion, leading the Rochester Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, the choir at Hilton Baptist Church, the Hilton Gazebo town band, and several other church and community choirs, including the New Horizons Choir.
Prior to his retirement, Mr. Mizma took music courses at the Eastman School of Music. Later, he enrolled formally and received his master’s degree in music education in 1993. At Eastman, Mr. Mizma took classes with Roy Ernst, who founded New Horizons, an adult music education program. Mr. Mizma joined the New Horizons Band and took over more responsibility in directing the program in Rochester as it grew.
In Rochester, New Horizons is sponsored by the Eastman Community Music School of the Eastman School of Music. The program has been widely adopted by more than 100 organizations in the United States, Canada, and Ireland. Locally, weekly rehearsals are held at the First Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Road. More information is available from the Eastman Community Music School, 585-274-1400, or online at [www.esm.rochester.edu/community].
The Commission Project was founded by musician and educator Ned Corman to foster creativity by commissioning music for ensembles and bringing musicians into close contact with composers to see the creative process at work.
The May 27 program by the New Horizons Band is part of Eastman Community Music School Festival Week. Other New Horizons concerts occurring during Festival Week are: the New Horizons Orchestra, Wednesday, May 28, 7 p.m., Eastman Theatre; the New Horizons Green Band, Green Strings, and Chorus, Thursday, May 29, 2:30 p.m., Kilbourn Hall; the Brasso Profundo and the New Horizons Big Band, Friday, May 29, 7 p.m., Kilbourn Hall; and the Evening of Ensembles, featuring chamber music, Monday, June 2, 7 p.m., Kilbourn Hall. All concerts are free and are open to the public.
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Retirement is Great Time to Strike Up the Band
Lisa Jo Rudy, CNN.com/Living
February 22, 2008 -
An Encore for Seasoned Musicians: Band Program Gives Older Players the Chance to Entertain Once Again
Bob Andres, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
August 12, 2007
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Ron Taylor, 76, said joining the Roswell New Horizons band was the best thing he has ever done.“I stopped playing when I got out of the Army,” he said. “I put my horn away for almost 50 years, and regret that it took me so long to start playing again. It's brought a purpose to my life that I didn't have before. I found it was something that I terribly missed.”
The New Horizons International Music Association (www.newhorizonsmusic.org) is a nonprofit organization that promotes music programs for players more than 50 years old. There are about 140 New Horizons bands nationwide, including local programs in Roswell, Marietta, Sandy Springs and Rome.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity for senior citizens to play their instruments again,” said Bob Martin, director of the Roswell New Horizons bands. “We have several folks in our band that are pushing 90 years of age, and it’s very exciting to see them enjoy the process of making music once again.”
The Roswell program is popular, with a full concert band, two jazz bands, an intermediate band and some smaller ensembles. They have been invited to perform in January at the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference in Savannah. They also host a weeklong jazz camp at Unicoi State Park and Lodge near Helen each spring that has been growing in popularity.
“I’ve been out of the school teaching business for several years now, and I’m having more fun doing this than I ever did teaching school,” Martin said.
He spends all day Thursday rehearsing with the multiple Roswell bands, and keeps a busy schedule of performances. The concert band has two performances scheduled this month, at Northminster Presbyterian Church on Saturday, and Alpharetta First United Methodist Church on Aug. 21.
Bud Boden, 78, said playing in the Roswell bands makes him enjoy living more.
“I joined the band, reluctantly,” he said. “They practically dragged me in because they needed trumpet players. I was scared to death. I loved it. I couldn't let it go. But when the swing bands came along, I really turned on. I just can't get enough of the swing. It makes me feel young. Maybe I'm kidding myself, but I'm living longer because of it.”
John Lauer, like many of the members, plays in the jazz band and the concert band. “I put my horn away when I got out of the service and didn’t play for 40 years, and then came back and played with this group,” he said. “I’m 75 years old now, and I look forward to Thursdays; they’re the best day of the week.”
For Taylor, it's more than just the music.
“It adds something to the life, as well as the lives of the people we perform for,” he said. “The New Horizons band is probably a great stimulus for good health, mental and physical. It’s been a wonderful, wonderful time and I hope it goes on forever.”
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Adults Buck Conventional Wisdom to Play Musical Instruments
Gail Wein, National Public Radio
July 3, 2006 -
New Horizons Band, “Take 5! Grand Rapids News”
WZZM-TV(ABC), Grand Rapids, MI, 4/21/05 (03:36)
Giles Communications LLC Multimedia Services Division
Note: This is a Windows Media file (.wmv) and may take a long time to download using a dial-up connection. -
New Horizons Band Camp in Olympia, Washington (July 12-16, 2005)
Making Music Magazine
March/April 2005 -
Beat Goes On, For All Ages
Lolly Bowean, Chicago Tribune Staff Reporter
February 11, 2005
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In this band, seniors are learning to play instruments and students are learning to teach.When George Blinick joined the North Shore New Horizons Band nine years ago, he was 69 and had never picked up a musical instrument.
And because of arthritis in his hands, most days he still can't hold his heavy baritone saxophone.
Blinick, a retired pharmacist from Prospect Heights, doesn't let his ailment stop him. He props the silver sax on a stand and lets the melodies transport him.
He is just one of dozens of seniors who have decided to take up an instrument later in life through an innovative program that pairs them with Northwestern University students training to become music teachers.
“I tell people they had to tell me which end of the horn to blow into,” said Blinick, 78. “I grew up in the Depression, and my father couldn't afford music lessons. But I always wanted to play.”
Sally Bowers founded the North Shore group nine years ago while working as a music instructor at the Music Institute of Chicago.
Dozens of New Horizons Bands, including several in Illinois, have formed across the country since 1990 when Roy Ernst, a music educator from New York, hit on the idea. The concept gives adults over 50 who couldn't master an instrument in their early years a chance to try again.
“I just went nuts over it,” Bowers said. “It was so different and it was cutting edge.”
Each week, the band reports to Northwestern to take lessons from music students working on their teaching skills. It's a way to let the two generations mingle to learn music.
“It's a class where students basically learn how to be public school band teachers,” said Maud Hickey, an associate professor of music education who coordinates the band lab. But unlike in a real classroom setting, band members are more willing to speak up and give feedback and encouragement.
“The students can practice their skills on this very friendly group,” Hickey said.
According to experts, Blinick and other band members are doing more than just mastering a new craft and keeping busy in retirement; they're also adding to the quality, and perhaps the longevity, of their lives.
“Seniors need to reinvent themselves, and when they do that they need to find activities that will let them express themselves, meet other people, give back to society,” said Celia Berdes, a sociologist with the Buehler Center on Aging at Northwestern. “And a band does all of that.”
Gene Cohen, the director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., has spent a year studying how music affects the elderly.
Seniors who participate in arts programs are healthier, take less medication and are in better spirits, he said.
“It's the type of activity that keeps a person engaged,” he said. “They come back every week and they rehearse and have concerts. So it's a sustaining activity.”
Cohen said that based on his studies, there is a growing demand for arts-based programs for seniors, especially those involving music.
“Today's group of persons from 65 and older are better educated and healthier than ever before,” he said. “They are life-long learners. In those circumstances, [they] are looking for stimulation.”
Bowers started her group by asking people she knew if they wanted to learn to play in a band. “We put a lot of old instruments that were on the shelf back into good use,” she said.
There are more than 50 people in the group, drawn from all over the Chicago area. Most of them play and read music at a middle school level.
Bowers begins with baby steps. She helps students decide what instrument they want to learn, and they practice blowing and trying to make sounds.
The students start in small group sessions where Bowers teaches them how to read music. As they improve, they sit in with the full band and eventually start playing with the more advanced group.
The students start in small group sessions where Bowers teaches them how to read music. As they improve, they sit in with the full band and eventually start playing with the more advanced group.
But the musicians are learning more than just notes and rhythms, Bowers said. They are also overcoming adversities.
“When I look at my people and the limitations they have, I am humbled that they do what they do,” she said. “Some of them play with arthritis, with limited breathing capacity and sight problems. It takes a lot of energy to play. They are doing something wonderful for their mind and spirit.”
At a recent rehearsal, Kingsley Tang, 22, stood grinning in front of the clarinet, saxophone, flute and trombone players.
Before the band started playing “The Little French Suite,” the Northwestern student told them to read through the music. Many leaned closer to the sheet music and adjusted their glasses. Some mouthed the rhythm of the song.
Although there were squeaks and high-pitched peeps during the first run-through, Tang kept smiling.
“When you see their energy and enthusiasm, you get inspired,” said Tang who is working toward a master's degree in music education. “We often think we are too old to learn something new. But it's never too late.”
Playing in the band transports Ethel Liten, 83, back to when she played the piano as a child. In her 70s, she decided to take up the clarinet.
“Playing an instrument is an absolute delight,” she said. “It's so satisfying.”
When Liten's husband died more than 20 years ago, she started searching for activities that could clear her mind and bring joy. She met Bowers and learned about the band.
“Music has always been a part of my life,” she said. “We always listened to music in my house. We had a Victrola, we had records and when the radio came out, we had that too.”
Liten is so dedicated to playing, she takes private lessons when she's not practicing with the band.
“I needed something for myself,” she said. “When this opportunity came, I grabbed onto it. The music has opened a new life for me.”
Copyright (c) 2005, Chicago Tribune
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Miller Family Plays in Tournament of Roses Parade
Larry Rodgers, The Arizona Republic
January 1, 2005
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Music has always been a big deal for Big Bird and his pals on TV's Sesame Street, and it has been a huge presence for generations in the family of Phoenix's Barbara Miller.The Miller family's love of music has landed four members starring roles on a Sesame Street-themed float in today's Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, expected to attract 1 million spectators and 300 million global TV viewers.
The three generations of musicians - Miller, 61; her daughter Ellen Miller, 34; and grandsons Carl Cohen, 11, and Benjamin Cohen, 7 - will play Merrily We Roll Along as they share the “Music Makes Us a Family” float with Big Bird, Elmo, Oscar, Cookie Monster and other Sesame Street characters and a human “drum circle.”
“They were looking for a family that plays music together,” says Miller, a Valley native who plays oboe and English horn. “They found us through the Desert Foothills New Horizons Band, which is geared toward seniors who want to get back into music or pick up an instrument for the first time.”
The four will be on the flower-covered float for four hours, covering 5 1/2 miles, starting at 9 a.m. Arizona time.
“I won't make it that long,” first-grader Benjamin said, drawing gentle reassurance of “Yes, you will” from his grandmother.
Miller's encouragement of her children and grandchildren to enjoy music reflects the philosophy of the two non-profit groups sponsoring the float - Sesame Street Music Works and NAMM, the International Music Products Association. Both promote the benefits of having music as a hobby, benefits studies indicate include family bonding, reduced stress, better academic performance and increased self-esteem.
“There's a growing body of evidence linking early childhood music-making with increased brain function,” says Joe Lamond, president and chief executive officer of NAMM.
“The wonderful thing about music is that all generations can participate in it. You can have fun, no matter what your level (of proficiency) is,” says Miller, who plays in the New Horizons Band, as well as groups sponsored by Glendale, Paradise Valley and Glendale Community College.
The grandmother and two boys get together regularly to practice and play. Ellen Miller, who is the boys' aunt, joins in on flute or piano occasionally. She and the boys also attend Barbara Miller's band performances.
“I started teaching them keyboard over the summer to help them start reading music, and we just started playing together,” Barbara Miller says. “Sometimes we'll look at each other and just start laughing when we're playing.”
Benjamin, a drum student who attends Madison Simis School, calls music challenging but enjoyable: “You keep doing it till you get good. Then it's fun.”
Carl, who plays saxophone and attends fifth grade at Madison Meadows School, has set a goal of playing in his school's jazz band next year.
Music is being used to relax children during class in the Madison Elementary District, says Ellen Miller, who teaches math and science at Madison No. 1.
“A lot of teachers use music, usually jazz or classical, because of all the studies that talk about how kids' cognitive abilities increase, or it soothes them,” the teacher says.
The family's assignment for the 116th edition of the Rose Parade is making for a very busy trip. After flying in Friday and watching the judging of 50 floats in the parade, whose theme is “Celebrate Family,” the four Arizonans were due at the parade route at 5:30 a.m. today. They'll wear red-and-white outfits provided by NAMM, which is paying all the family's expenses. They'll be interviewed by local TV and radio stations before the parade and will fly home later today.
“It will be two very long days,” Barbara Miller said Monday. “But they're so excited.”
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OASIS Band Members Find Music Gets Better With Age
Ryan Heinz, The Suburban Journals of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
December 7, 2004
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Just try telling the senior citizens in the OASIS Center for Music program that playing music is a young man's game.They refused to take any heed of their age for their fall recital Nov. 30 at the Community Music School of Webster University, off Delmar Boulevard in University City.
Sure, St. Louis' own Chuck Berry, 78, still plays once a month in the Duck Room at Blueberry Hill; Louis Armstrong had a No. 1 hit with “What a Wonderful World” three years prior to his death at age 71; and 79-year-old B.B. King still tours frequently.
The difference? None of the three aforementioned greats waited until their golden years to first learn their instrument.
That's right, all of the participants in the OASIS Center for Music's annual fall recital are not only older than 50, the vast majority of them have all learned to play their instrument only a few years earlier. Diane Quitmeyer, manager of OASIS Center for Music, says the program keeps older adults engaged in social and intellectual activities.
“They've always had the desire (to learn an instrument) but didn't always have the time or money,” she said. “Now that they are retired, they've got both.”
Quitmeyer, a music therapist who started the program four years ago as a music and wellness project, said several beginning-level classes are offered for a wide variety of instruments. That became evident while watching the recital, in which participants from throughout the St. Louis region played everything from the flute and drums to hand bells and guitar. The one catch is you have to be at least 50 years old to participate.
Alonzo Reed, 55, a real estate agent from Normandy, took up guitar two years ago through the program. Despite being a longtime, avid golfer, playing the guitar has become a close second to his favorite hobby. His daughter, Ashlei Ray of Brentwood, was in attendance to watch her father perform at the recital. She said Reed has really taken to the instrument, sometimes getting up as early as 4 a.m. just to practice.
“It gives him something to do, and I don't have to worry about what he's doing or if he's bored ... because he's always at home playing his guitar,” Ray said, laughing.
The Nov. 30 recital was special, because the OASIS New Horizons Band shared the stage with the Alton New Horizons Band - another group of senior musicians, who had just learned to play within the last several years.
The two bands took turns performing songs, with the OASIS New Horizons Band starting off the recital with a noble take of John Williams' “Raiders March” (the theme to the “Indiana Jones” movies). However, it was the Alton New Horizons Band's spot-on performance of Kander and Ebb's “New York, New York” that was truly surprising, given that the band members were basically music novices.
“More than half of the band, five years ago they couldn't read music and they couldn't play music,” said Stanley Chytil, director of the Alton New Horizons Band. “Today I'm very proud of them because they can read music, they're a part of a group and they do well.”
Chytil himself is a storied musician. The Godfrey, Ill., resident escaped communist Czechoslovakia in 1987 in order to have the freedom to play the music of his choice. After arriving in the United States in 1989, he took a job at a car dealership until he learned enough English to teach music at Lewis and Clark Community College. He later started the Alton New Horizons Band and now likes his band to perform alongside newer groups such as the OASIS New Horizons Band.
“People in the group, they sometimes get discouraged and say, ‘Oh, I'm not going anywhere with this.’ But I can say to them, ‘Look, you were there and now listen to where you are,’” Chytil said.
Quitmeyer is highly enthusiastic when discussing the program and its benefits to one's health. She cited Dr. Richard Rowe of Clayton, who recently succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Rowe was the clarinet player in both an OASIS jazz ensemble and the New Horizons Band. Despite his ailment, he continued to play with both groups.
“The doctor asked him, 'Why are you still alive' and he said it was the music program, because people with pancreatic cancer don't live very long, and it was a phenomenal length of time he was surviving,” Quitmeyer recalled. “He actually played up until a couple of weeks before he died, so the whole thing was remarkable.”
Eve Wilde, 76, a native of Berlin, Germany, who lives in Olivette, already plays piano but has joined the program to learn the violin and flute.
“I don't play very well,” she said bluntly of her participation in the program. “But I enjoy it.”
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Orchestra Helps Adults Develop Musical Talent
Christi C. Babbitt, The Daily Herald, Provo, Utah
December 16, 2003
New Horizons International Music Association Newsletters
• Calendar |
Board of Directors Meeting Summaries
Summary of the July 27, 2009 Meeting of the Board of Directors CAMPS: 2010 is looking like an extremely musical year with spring camps scheduled in Cambria, California (March 14-19); Unicoi Lodge near Helen, Georgia (April 18 – 23); Waterloo, Ontario (May 4 -8); Dayton, Ohio (May 16 – 19); and Iowa City, Iowa (May 31 – June 4). It will be great fun to see old friends and new at these camps. LIFT-OFF PROJECT: The first check from NAMM has been received. The amount of the check ($5,000) is half of the total grant. As in the past, an additional payment will be forthcoming following the submission of the Interim Report at the end of December. The balance will be received after the submission of the final report next June. There are currently 60 Planning Members, and we look forward to another year of successfully assisting many of these new groups in their start-up efforts. LOCAL NHIMA REPRESENTATIVES: From the first mailing to groups, we have identified approximately 45 local volunteers to serve as NHIMA Representatives. We encourage others to volunteer for this very important role in helping to improve the communications between the NHIMA Board and groups, as well as between and among all New Horizons groups. This will be a valuable way to share good ideas and continue to grow the New Horizons programs. DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: Besides the 30 letters that went out in the spring, the Development Committee recently sent out an additional 24 invitations to music-related businesses. We look forward to including many of them as Business Members in the future. COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE: It was recommended that an iContact message go out to our individual members highlighting our business members, as many individual members might not be very aware of who our business members are. 20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS: Many ideas have been received, and it would seem appropriate to identify a committee, or at the very least, a chair to follow up on plans for this important year of celebration. This item will be discussed further at the in-person meeting in Chautauqua. DOCUMENTARY PROJECT: A resolution to create a “documentary” committee was passed, and a document of understanding will be developed to provide the detailed arrangements. It was reported that much of the actual filming has been completed for the documentary, and the committee will be developing their fund-raising plans to support the editing and production of the final product. Those plans, along with the budget, will be furnished to the NHIMA Board in the near future. ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS: We are delighted that our Newsletter Editor, Shirley Michaels, is in the process of entering the materials from this past spring’s newsletter into an electronic format using iContact, and anticipate this will be sent out to members in the near future. It is the plan of the NHIMA Board to provide the New Horizons News in both the paper and electronic format for approximately one year, and then we hope to move in the direction of electronic distribution in order to save a significant amount on paper, printing expenses, packaging and postage. INVITATION TO NON-MEMBER GROUPS: Many folks may not be aware that not all groups listed on the New Horizons web site are actual NHIMA members. It is the feeling of the NHIMA Board that, even though a group might not be a current dues-paying member, if it benefits individuals to have these groups listed, then they should continue to be on the web site. However, occasionally, it occurs to us that these groups might benefit greatly from holding a NHIMA membership. Therefore, letters were sent to 39 groups inviting them to consider becoming NHIMA members. We look forward to increasing the group memberships and also to providing the many membership perks, including (but not limited to) receiving the Newsletter, becoming eligible to download the entire score for “The New Horizons March” at no charge, listing of events on the web site, utilizing the used music library, and many more. PUBLIC RELATIONS: It was suggested that we forward press releases, camp notices and other information to Making Music Magazine. This will help to get New Horizons information out to many folks who are clearly interested in the world of music. Summary of the May 18, 2009 Meeting of the Board of Directors NEW CAMPS: It was reported that a very successful music camp was held in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada this spring with about 60 participants. We hope this camp will be repeated next year and also hope to provide registration information well ahead of the event. Congratulations to the sponsors in Waterloo. LIFT-OFF PROGRAMS: As previously reported, two very successful programs were presented to assist Planning Groups in their organizational start-up efforts. These programs were held in Fredonia, New York and in The Villages, Florida. We have recently received notice that the NAMM Foundation will be awarding grant funds to continue holding these very effective programs, and they plan to assist 10 or 12 additional Planning Groups in other parts of the country during the next year. Planning Groups are encouraged to express their interest in being included in these helpful start-up programs. The grant provides funds to help offset travel costs of Planning Group representatives. To express interest, please contact [Nancy Wombacher]. LOCAL NHIMA REPRESENTATIVES: The NHIMA Board is delighted that we now have volunteer representatives identified in almost half the New Horizons groups. These volunteers will serve a very valuable role in maintaining communications and helping to expand the New Horizons vision. NOMINATING COMMITTEE: The Nominating Committee has identified a very impressive pool of possible candidates for future appointments to the NHIMA Board. We are grateful to all the directors and other folks who have helped in identifying these very qualified people, and we look forward to hearing from those who have yet to forward their recommendations. Please know that this is an ongoing process, so recommendations are always welcome. COMMUNICATIONS: The use of an e-mailing service has allowed us to establish a very useful mechanism for communicating with all 850 members. Since we have now had almost one year to use and evaluate this service, it seemed appropriate to also consider other similar companies. We have been able to identify a different company that will provide very similar, and in some ways better service, at a much reduced cost. Therefore, in the very near future, the NHIMA Board will be utilizing the services of iContact for our messaging service. Most members will likely not notice much difference, but we are pleased that the new company provides the means for messages in a simpler format. We also anticipate that, at some point, this service will be used to distribute the Newsletters electronically. LOOKING FOR IDEAS: The first New Horizons band was established in 1991, which means that 2011 will be the 20th anniversary of the beginning of this extraordinary phenomenon. The NHIMA Board continues to look to the membership for ideas for the 20th anniversary celebration(s) of New Horizons. Please give this some thought and send your ideas to any member of the NHIMA Board. PLANNING GROUPS ON THE WEB SITE: You will note that there have been some new additions to the web site. We are grateful for the efficient work of our webmaster, John Morgan, for his timely attention to all requests from the Board. One of the new sections now includes information on Planning Groups. It is anticipated that this information will be very useful to people in these communities to learn about new or planned New Horizons groups in their areas, and will help the groups to get established and grow. MEMBER DIRECTORY: Discussions continue regarding possible alternatives to the printed membership directory. A subcommittee continues to study this issue. The Committee provided a lengthy and thorough report to the Board at our recent meeting. Board members look forward to continuing this discussion at the Fall in-person meeting. Summary of the April 20, 2009 Meeting of the Board of Directors MEMBERSHIP: Following the Wine Country Music Camp (at Healdsburg, California), we are pleased to report that there was a “mini-surge” in new memberships. It was questioned if this might have been due, in part, to presentations made at the camp. It is generally agreed that we must continually find venues for making folks aware of the benefits of NHIMA membership. LOCAL NHIMA REPRESENTATIVES: As local representatives continue to be identified, discussion centered on the best next step to get them involved. Communication Committee Chair Lisann Gurney will pursue the possibility of establishing a Google or Yahoo group where information can be posted and exchanged. Since the contact person on the NHIMA Board will most likely change from year to year, a Google or Yahoo group would allow for a “constant” for maintaining contact with this valuable group of volunteers. CALL FOR USED MUSIC: The “music for sale/exchange” is fully functional on the web site. Groups with music that they are willing to make available either for sale or on loan should provide the requisite information by going to the Music Library pages, where they can list their music for inclusion in the library. Groups are encouraged to review their libraries and list music that is no longer in their “active repertoire.” It was recommended that each group might want to identify a person to coordinate this so that music is posted when available, and removed from the web page when it is no longer available. It is important to keep this listing current. The Music Library is for use by New Horizons International Music Association group members only. NON-MEMBER GROUPS: Currently there are about 40 groups listed on the web site that are not NHIMA members. The Communications Committee has volunteered to contact each of these groups and explain some of the benefits of membership. Sample newsletters will be furnished along with other information. NEW BUSINESS MEMBERS: We are pleased to report that the recent mailing has already resulted in two new business members. REVIEW OF CONSTANT CONTACT: The use of Constant Contact has proven very beneficial for improving communications to members. Since our current arrangement ends in June, the Board is reviewing and evaluating this provider, as it compares with other e-mail service providers, in particular, iContact. The Board is anxious to continue this valuable message service, but want to assure that we are providing it by the most cost effective method possible. 20th ANNIVERSARY OF NEW HORIZONS: The Board continues to seek ideas for celebrating the 20th anniversary of New Horizons in 2011. Please send your suggestions to [Nancy Wombacher]. SAMPLE BY-LAWS & ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION ON THE WEB SITE: We continue to collect samples of by-laws and articles of incorporation to assist new and developing groups, and are most grateful to the Desert Foothills New Horizons Band and the Northern Colorado New Horizons Band for furnishing their documents and granting permission to post them on the NHIMA web site. We would greatly appreciate hearing from other groups that are willing to share their documents in this manner. MEMBER DIRECTORY: There was significant discussion about possible alternatives to the printed member directory. A subcommittee was established to research this and report back to the Board. PLANNING MEMBER GROUPS ON THE WEB SITE: It occurs to the Board that it could be useful to Planning Group Members to have some information listed on the web site so that interested folks, and particularly potential musicians, might be aware of the possibility of potential New Horizons groups in their area. Membership Coordinator Kathy Weber will contact the existing Planning Members and will routinely query new Planning Members as a part of the application process. NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Letters and e-mails went out to approximately 65 directors asking them to identify possible Board candidates. The committee continues to receive recommendations to be added to a pool of possible candidates for future appointments to the NHIMA Board. |
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