From the President’s Desk
Sam Moore-Young, MMEA President

If you are like me, there are times when you
find yourself with nothing to do and so pull out the
regional and state festival "albums", going back in
time to relive those events with slightly rose col-
ored glasses. In my case, it's Western Maine 1968

We must become proactive; attend school
-1971, All State 1970-72 and All Eastern 1971.
board meetings. Have students present projects at
Can anyone forget the miserable weather during
board meetings, especially anything that involves
All State 1970 at Livermore High School, with the
technology to prove that you are using it in the
slush and rain. Or driving to Atlantic City in a snow
music classroom. Round up parents to monitor the
storm in 1971.  
budget process especially since the state changed

I enjoy going through the programs and
the format in which the budget is voted. Informed
looking at the names of the students who shared
members of the public will vote with their brains
the same experiences and rediscovering the people
not out of knee jerk reactions to things they don't
I became friends with for the duration of the event
understand.
or whom I first met at Maine Music Camp at UMF

We can't afford to sit back and wait to see
and kept running into at festivals, Girl Scout Cam-
what is going to happen. Everyone needs to stay
porees (believe it or not) and, later, college. Now
on top of what is happening in their school sys-
THAT was a long time ago. In some cases it is
tems.
coming across the name of someone who has be-

This is also when you need to dust off and
come a close friend through MMEA events but was
update your resume; update your references; make
unknown to me way back when.  
sure your transcripts are up to date.

The history of MMEA is the history of us all.

If the worse case happens, this is when all
It isn't just the festivals and conferences, memo-
the folks with whom you share history come into
rable as they are;  it is the people who come to-
play. They are there to support you in all
gether, united in the belief that we can make a dif-
scenarios. The loss of a program is not to be con-
ference in the lives of students across the state. 
strued as a failure on your part and we all know
It is knowing that, every once in awhile, a student
that. Sometimes you have no control over the
comes along who would have chosen a different,
outcome. Let your friends know that you need
possibly destructive, path had it not been for the
them. No one is safe in today's climate.
music teacher who gave the student the creative

So what does this have to do with MMEA
outlet needed to turn his or her life around. I have
history? MMEA has a history of supporting its own.
talked with several teachers who said that their
We are a unique community. We grow up and grow
involvement in music was the only thing that made
old together. We celebrate everyone's joys and
high school bearable.
console in times of distress, personal and profes-

We find ourselves in the worse economic
sional. Just ask the teachers whose house burned;
times since, possibly, the Depression. State fund-
or those whose personal life is in turmoil; or those
ing is drying up and towns and cities throughout
who have been going through the life changing ex-
Maine are scrambling to make cuts with the least
perience of having parents die. Our colleagues are
amount of collateral damage.  No one is immune
there, ready to help where needed. We listen be-
from the ravages of this economic downturn. We
cause, sometimes, that is all that is needed. Just
have become complacent, safe in our own little
imagine if we didn't have each other!
worlds that, over the years, have become havens
of comfort and security.

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