THE NEW JERSEY MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION a federated state association of NATIONAL ASSOCIATION for MUSIC EDUCATION News From Our Division Chairs


Past President William McDevitt


billnjmea@aol.com Random Thoughts


Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.” Sherry Anderson


The reality is that doing good unto others actually does more good for you.” Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway


When you get the opportunity – thank a volunteer. Most organizations like ours depend on volunteers to keep it functioning in an efficient manner. NJMEA has many volunteers, without whom we could not function. A complimentary lunch or dinner is a very small price to pay for the service that we receive from these members. Many of our members think that the only thing that we do is All-State. There are countless volunteers behind the scenes that spend numerous hours preparing for auditions, rehearsals, and performances. We don’t hire a planner for all of these events. They are organized by a few individuals that most of our members never see. for an evening, you know the obstacles that pop-up.


If you have ever tried to book a rehearsal space Imagine booking all of the rehearsals, planning meals, setting up housing,


coordinating the concert venue, and seeing to the needs of the guest conductor and several hundred students. But All-State isn’t the only thing that we do. We also do amazing conferences. We have been a staple in the NJEA Conven- tion for many decades. We sponsor sessions and provide performances. We have a Summer Conference that has been providing professional development for our members throughout the State. We have a February Conference that is one of the best in the country – those that know have told us so! If you think that any of these could happen without dozens of volunteers, you would be sorely wrong. The February Conference alone has multiple aspects of volunteers, from registration, to equipment, to exhibits, to scheduling and clinician coordination. Our organization has volunteers that are contacts for Early Childhood Education, Guitar Education, Technology, Advocacy,


Retired Educators, Festivals, and the list goes on and on. None of these people are paid to do what they do. And none of them complain when work has to be done. Why am I devoting my thoughts to volunteers in this issue? It’s pretty simple. The best way to see how an organization runs


is to volunteer for it. There are many ways that you can volunteer. The best thing to do is to gravitate towards that topic that interests you, then go to our website and contact whomever is in charge of that area of our organization. When I graduated from college, some of the officers in my Region approached me and asked if I wanted to manage a Region


Jr Hi Band. I kept volunteering for more and more jobs and look where I am now! No – I’m not saying that if you volunteer you will have to serve as an NJMEA Board member, or run for President. You can serve to the level that you feel comfortable and with the amount of time that your schedule allows. We need members to take tickets at doors and pass out programs just as much as we need members to run for NJMEA President. The best part is knowing that you have helped an organization that helps our teachers develop their skills, helps music education progress in the state, and provides our students with opportunities to express themselves through music. Become one of those priceless volunteers!


continued on page 8 TEMPO 14 JANUARY 2019


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