Date: 11 March 2003, Issue 36 LanSing - The Aftermath About Bill Bates Links to other "Interactive" columns View Feedback | Say "HI" Email Notification of (Feedback) updates!

LanSing

AMCA’s Future Plans

The “Blueprint for Progress” was an attempt to address these issues but for various reasons it has not resulted in any major changes since it got off the ground. However, it does continue to be active and we look forward to seeing some results from the committees’ work. The tragic demise of our flagship event, the 2003 International Sing has refocused attention and efforts away from the Blueprint issues temporarily. I would be remiss in not mentioning that the “Recruitment” committee has unwaveringly moved forward throughout this time and continue to make encouraging connections with prospective members.

AMCA Benefits

Prioritizing the list of reasons why we belong is difficult, but in this author’s view there are four other practical major benefits that could be ranked with the Big Sing:

1. Tax Free Status

   AMCA is incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization and all of our U.S. choruses have the opportunity to apply to the IRS for inclusion in our Group Exemption. As a participating member chorus, the AMCA Treasurer and Executive Secretary attend to the annual filing requirements for your chorus, provided your gross income is not over $25,000.00. If it is over that amount you must obtain the necessary forms from your local IRS office and file in that year for yourself. In order to achieve the same status, choruses outside our association must pay the cost of incorporating and maintain their own individual tax free status. Advice is also available to AMCA members covered under our Group Exemption, on how to accept grants and donations tax free.

2. The Scholarship Fund

   This is a wonderful program that AMCA operates to give assistance to promising young undergraduate students of music. We all can take a great deal of pride in the fact that we offer this kind of financial aid to encourage young men and women in pursuit of a musical education. Without members’ support in giving voluntary donations this fund could not exist. The March 1st deadline for accepting applications has passed and I understand from Chair, Don Peterson that again we have a number of excellent candidates for consideration by the evaluating team. Without the International Sing scholarship contributions the fund will suffer this year by not receiving the anticipated funds.

3. Information on New and Existing Music

   Probably one of the most appreciated services that AMCA supports is the sharing of information on available music for mature male voices. We are very fortunate in having the services of dedicated volunteers who’s expenses are paid by AMCA, but who’s valuable time and expertise is voluntarily donated. We have a professional music reviewer who writes reviews for our members and also maintains a listing of recommended music for male voices referred to as our “Common Repertoire”.
        AMCA also encourages the writing of new music via the annual “Music Contest” which is supported financially with prize money for the winning selections and gives assistance to the composer in getting his or her work published.
        Both the music contest chair and reviewer are in continuing contact with publishers and by virtue of that, encourage an awareness of AMCA’s existence and needs.
        In addition, the International Big Sing “Workshops” have, as part of their focus, reading sessions which introduce many new and newly arranged TTBB music. LanSing had several sessions planned for this purpose.
        Finally, some member choruses have voluntarily made music from their library available on a loan basis to other member choruses. Not only does this help to extend the individual chorus’ music budget, but it can make available music that is no longer in print without the necessity of securing permission to reproduce and payment of the copyright fee.

4. Our Web Site

   I list this as one of the four major benefits additional to the International Sing, not only because of its merit, but because it touches every aspect of what we as an organization are and do. The web site is administered on a voluntary basis by our web manager who created the original site some 8 years ago based on the AMCA Directory. It has grown due to his creativity into one of the finest sites for those interested in male choral music on the web. While AMCA does pay the basic costs of the site, the web manager receives no remuneration but gives of his expertise freely in the service of our members. Not only does the web site serve our membership, but it provides a service to male choruses wherever they are. Many have linked to the AMCA web site and in so doing have become an extension of our association.

In any discussion of AMCA’s future, members are advised to give full consideration to these benefits and might also wish to refer to the three articles on “Benefits of Membership” written in previous Interactive columns, May, June and July of 2000. If restructuring becomes a consideration then AMCA would be wise to make certain that those benefits that have proven to be most valuable are retained. If other directions are contemplated then members are cautioned to make their decisions based on a full knowledge of what their membership in AMCA provides for their membership.

Bill