The same can be said about AMCA. There is a new normalcy. Times have changed - people have changed - situations have changed - communications systems have changed - attitudes have changed and it is time to recognize that "we aren't going back to the way things were". We must recognize that changes that occur are PERMANENT changes. We must try to discover what the future is by working toward it and encouraging it to happen. What is the place of AMCA in the future? Do you care - should you care - do you want to care?

There are two attitudes that each of us must "fight". 1) "It has always been done this way therefore........" and 2) "It (AMCA) has always been there and always will be therefore........". Both of these attitudes can lead to actions that are really non-actions. 1) "Just follow the past procedures and all will be OK!" and 2) "What can I do as an insignificant party of one - can I really make a difference!"

Until each of us (Leaders and Members alike) begin to BELIEVE that we "can make a difference" AMCA will continue to spiral downward. Each of us must "do something" to make things work toward a viable future. Lets start with some of my favorite quotes (I have had a life of teaching young people):

"Actions speak louder than words!"
"Actions are not something we do but who we are!" (Others view us by what they see us do and hear us say.)
"We become what we do - good intentions are only a potential."
"Practice makes PERMANENT" (Doing something one time is not practice - Practice involves repetitions)
"How we respond to the unexpected changes in our life is a measure of our real character."
"The highest achievement in life is to always act with integrity and honor!"

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Some district LEADERS have added VALUABLE items to the of the web site. Tom Farley, NYP, has contributed very informative and qualitative minutes of happenings in the NYP District. I recommend reading these. Steve Butz has also done the same for the last WUM District meeting. Thanks guys and I hope these contributions will continue. The UMW District has provided minutes for a while also and Dan Plunkett keeps AMCOOOOOOOOOO informed with their own page.
http://www.serve.com/macsite/amcadirectory/files_dist.shtml#nyp
http://www.serve.com/macsite/amcadirectory/files_dist.shtml#wum
http://www.serve.com/macsite/amcadirectory/files_dist.shtml#umw
http://www.amcofa.org/amco.html

Some BIG SING hosts have allowed all of us to see how their Big Sings work. Good examples/models are really needed since we can all learn by "borrowing" ideas from successful people/districts/choruses (even Bach borrowed music). I hope these BS sites will "heat up" as their Big Sings get closer.
http://www.amcofa.org/bs2003/index.html
http://www.amcofa.net/eauclaire/index.html
http://www.amcofa.org/kawartha/index.html

The printed Chorister is "back in distribution" again so there may not be as much need for the online Chorister but... did you misplace your copy and want to look at some back issues... do you like to "print" only a portion of the Chorister... do you want to "forward" an article to a friend... (etc.) --- use the web version for these tasks. Editor, Dan Plunkett also has a "communication page" and a page where he will, from time to time, publish items that "come across his desk" that cannot wait for a new printed issue. Submit items to him for this page too....
http://www.chorister.amcachorus.org
http://www.serve.com/macsite/cgiplus/plunkett/chorister.shtml
http://www.serve.com/macsite/choristernews.html

The fall meeting of the AMCA International Board has just been accomplished and the 2001 Survey results are all in. Executive Secretary Bill Bates has published comments on some of these in his current monthly column "Interactive with Bill Bates". Bill also publishes "Notable Items" of immediate interest to AMCAers and the Minutes of the AMCA International. Watch for these and "sign up for automatic notification of updates".
http://www.interactive.amcachorus.org
http://www.serve.com/macsite/amcanotable.html
http://www.serve.com/macsite/amcadirectory/files_intl.shtml#official

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Individual LEADERS make their contributions to help "FOCUS" the membership.
Individuals LEADERS & MEMBERS can definitely do their part in the "PERFORMANCE IS EVERYTHING".
Some possible ways might be:
---

1. Answering email or responding to email immediately:
   If you don't have "time" for a lengthy answer, a "courteous" act is to just hit the REPLY button and say "I received your email - I will get back to you!" (That is certainly better than no response and it takes almost no "time". It is certainly "courteous" and indicates a "caring" attitude.)

   Computer practices that may lead to inconsistent use of email:

   1. The computer has to be turned on first before using: (I leave my computer on all day - many people never turn their computer off - it is always available for email - you probably will not "wear out" your computer before it needs to be upgraded anyway and it certainly does not take much electricity)
   2. Emailbox gets filled up: Check your email at least as often as you check your answering machine or voice mail.
   3. The Human Element is missing: Try to understand the "convenience" and "courteousness" of email. Just because it doesn't "interrupt" dinner with an obnoxious ring does not mean that it is unimportant. Answer things at your own time - but make time to do it!!!
   ---
2. Contributing your ideas/questions/comments on interactive web pages:
   The "Guestbook" is available on all Main AMCA Pages
   AMCA Talk is there for you.
   There are places on the web to "Dialogue" with the

   Executive Secretary
   Chorister Editor
   Music Reviewer
   Big Sing Hosts (Eau Claire, Kawartha, Lansing)

   Submit titles of your "favorite male chorus selections"
   Submit your chorus library for the "Shared Libraries"

3. Sharing Chorus Events and Activities
   **** PLEASE SHARE THEM ****
   Each Chorus is an entity of itself and it should be that. If there is any strength in common purpose and comraderie, the AMCA should be a part of that. We can begin by letting other choruses know what works for us, what music we really like to sing, what music works for us, and letting them share our public performances (do you sell recordings - why not advertise on the web and sell to other AMCAers)

   Enter events and ideas on the "Highlights" Bulletin Board
   Put your Chorus Event on the AMCA Calendar
   Enter music ideas on the "Submit Music" Sites
   Reference choral selections on the "Shared Libraries"

4. Contributing Email Addresses
   Eau Claire Chorus Addresses now are all available online (password site of course) thanks to Norb Lehman. It would be wonderful if more choruses would do this so we can have stronger electronic links in AMCA. Even if your whole chorus doesn't do this, how about INDIVIDUALS taking the responsibility for submitting email addresses of those chorus members that they know (get approval ahead of time please). http://www.amcofa.org/submitmaillist.html

It is my hope (and encouragement to District Secretaries) that the minutes will be displayed/distributed ASAP after the meeting rather that just before the next one. The minutes can be a working tool and not just something to be displayed with the agenda of the next meeting.

If minutes are sent to me, I can distribute "notice about their availablility" to a list of people that you provide. (We can maintain a standard list for your district or create a new one each time.)

IMPORTANT: THE MINUTES ARE MOST VALUABLE IF THEY ARE PUBLISHED ASAP AFTER THE MEETING INSTEAD OF WAITING TO PUBLISH THEM WHEN THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING IS PUBLISHED. MINUTES AND AGENDAS ARE TWO SEPARATE ITEMS AND HAVE DIFFERENT USES.

There is also the possibility of maintain Chorus/District rosters online so they can be updated by local chorus (with a password) so current rosters are always available to the District/International leadership. These can be entered directly online. If any District Leaders wish to initiate this practice, I can set it up for you but you must "communicate with me".

It appears as though the Lake Erie District of AMCA is gone..... Gone forever possibly.... Some choruses have been lost to AMCA because of this change (travel distance is one reason most often mentioned). Traveling, as our AMCA membership gets more and more senior, can be either a plus or minus depending upon the health and attitude of those seniors. Some seniors are healthy and enjoy traveling while others need to restrict their movements. AMCA has many more "seniors" each day. The last remaining effective activitiy of AMCA are the "BIG SINGS" which require travel. Should AMCA be trying to find other meaningful activities to sponsor. What might some of these NEW ACTIVITIES be? Offer some ideas...... BTW - have you made your plans yet for Lansing in 2003? The new AMCA directory is online an you can see the changes there:
http://www.serve.com/macsite/amcadirectory/files_intl.shtml#directory

Last month I published a list of "hints" for better web and email use. Some of you responded positively about them - Thanks.
"..... I have been using email for 6 years and never read about this or had it pointed out to me, but it sure makes sense. I will be using your advice and passing it on to others.... "
Responses like that help to let me know that the web site and my emails do "make a difference" and can sustain me for another "period of time".
Let someone know if you have been helped/influenced/informed! Send an email.... they are FREE and quick!
http://www.serve.com/macsite/files_info.shtml

AMCA HIGHLIGHTS (for web masters / web managers):
Have you tried the "AMCA Highlights" Feed on your own web page yet?
http://www.serve.com/macsite/amcadirectory/ahighlightcall.html

Use the web page to remove your address
http://www.visi.com/~mhendrick/amca/amcaremove.html

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