From the President...
Pat Stegall, AMEA President
Summertime…and the Livin’ is Easy?
with our conference for the past many conference under one roof at a reasonable
years, and for their work in preparing for cost, and that we will be supporting
the coming year’s conference in ourselves through the Retirement System
Gershwin was obviously not a music Tuscaloosa. They always go above and of Alabama. The facility houses an
teacher! There is nothing easy about the beyond to make sure our conference is incredible Performing Arts Center as well
summertime as AMEA president. I want outstanding and we really appreciate their as more than enough room for exhibits,
you to know what a busy board of efforts. workshops and performances.
directors we have. Planning the activities
for the association takes much time and During the course of the day we made On June 17-22 I had the privilege of
effort and your AMEA Board has been several decisions that we hope will allow attending the first annual Music
very busy getting ready for this year and us to be stronger as an organization and Education Week in Washington DC. This
future years. that will give us the opportunity to grow. was an incredible experience for me and I
You can go ahead and put the dates for the was honored to represent you at this
On June 9, 2009 we met in Montgomery next three conferences on your calendar: important gathering in our nation’s
to set the direction for 2009-2010, start January 21-23, 2010 in Tuscaloosa; capital. MENC had arranged a meeting
planning our AMEA Conference and January 20-22, 2011 and January 19-21, with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
make decisions that will affect the future 2012 in Montgomery at the Renaissance where we presented him with the Petition
conferences. First of all, I would like to Hotel and Conference Center. Some of for Music Education. I also had the
express my gratitude to the University of main reasons for moving to Montgomery opportunity to visit Capital Hill and the
Alabama Music Faculty for their help in 2011 are that it will house the entire office of Senator Richard Shelby to meet
with his legislative assistant, Laura
Friedel; the office of Senator Jeff Sessions
AMEA’s Home on the glyph1197et!
where I met with Andrew Newton,
www.alabamamea.org another legislative assistant; and the
office of Representative Parker Griffith
Stay up-to-date and informed by visiting the website often!
where I was able to actually meet with the
Electronic version of AMEA Constitution and By-laws
congressman. Dr. Griffith’s staff took me
ala breve
containing live links and email addresses
to the Rayburn Room in the Capital
AMEA Strategic Plan
Building and got him off the “floor” of
Calendars of district and state events
the House of Representatives to talk with
AMEA Hall of Fame
me. That was very impressive and he
Complete conference information as it
looked me square in the eye the whole
becomes available, including on-line
time and listened attentively as I talked to
Officer and Committee Chair Handbook
registration, conference schedule, and
him about supporting Music Education
listings of performers and clinicians
and several issues regarding the ESEA
ABA directory, handbook, music lists,
Act (Elementary Secondary Education
all-state requirements, forms, etc.
Forms - award nomination forms, call for
Act) that is being written to replace
sessions, performance application,
NCLB. We want to make sure that Music
CMENC Constitution and on-line
exhibitors info, FAME, etc.
Education remains a part of that important
version of their publication, Semi Breve
bill.
Division pages with information
regarding each of our six divisions:
Elem/Gen newsletters, resource
Along with performances by the Army
ABA, AOA, AVA, CMENC,
books, etc.
Jazz Band, Marine Band, Air Force Band
Elem/Gen, and HED
and the Singing Sergeants, I received
Timely and informative articles by the
guidance from MENC members and
Clinic handouts
AMEA President and Division Presidents
leadership on music advocacy. The focus
of the entire conference was on advocacy
AMEA Governing Board contact info, Links to other important and useful sites and I challenge you to be more active in
meeting minutes, and reports promoting music education in our great
Much, much more! state. We elected our national, state, and
8 August 2009
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