My first trip to Minnesota, so just to look around was interesting. I am grateful to Bill Rowe and his wife Lee for the ride from the airport to Marshall, and Bill's cousin for inviting me to the house Thursday evening. Arrangements for the ride back to MSP were made with Rob Pinkney and his wife Jan prior to the trip, so thanks to them for that aid. Good will seemed to abound all weekend. I was enthused by the folks approaching me and other officers to say some words of encouragement or just to talk about something of their reflection.

     Upper Midwest District (UMW) holds adjudication Friday evening for choruses attending. The process is great assistance to a chorus performance refinement. "Good job!" to all the choruses and thanks for an introduction to new music, and some old jokes. The District also holds sessions Saturday morning - a reading of new music, seminars for improving choristers - very educational and beneficial. I had witnessed some of this before but not all together. I'm impressed enough to take the idea to a NYP District meeting. Thanks to all involved for a great weekend.

     Reporting on the annual meeting briefly, the AGENDA was much the same as posted with a few additions. The committee chairs and the Executive Council members did a great job of getting to the business at hand. Discussions remain open for some subjects to be presented with corrections or new interests, but most of the items were concluded at the meeting or agreed upon for direction to proceed.

     Aside from officer and district reports which I urge you to read as attached to the minutes, some of the items for quick review include:

• Committee Chairs, Don Crouch (Music) and Doug Farley (Recruitment, Publicity and Promotions) presented concepts of each committee for review and feedback of the Executives. Don attended and stated his ideas in person, with outlines passed around to follow. Some suggestions were made and Don will reconstruct his proposals accordingly. His report is expected soon. Doug's report is to be attached to the minutes, but Doug feels much of the structure of the committee remains open for those yet to join the committee. Members are sought from each District of the Association.
• Ed Armbruster reported his plans to publish two "one sheet" versions of the CHORISTER prior to the summer, one covering the annual meeting and one covering the WUM Big Sing.
• Both Ed (newsletter) and Dave Thomas (website) need contributions to the news they publish. Please respond to their plea with anything you have on chorus activity, district news, new music found or anything of interest for publication. Please designate two chorus contacts from each chorus for this important function.
• Ron Stenzel reviewed some questions from the By Laws, discussed by all for clarifications or any actions. No further action will be taken at this time, though the importance of such reviews, done at the committee level, was emphasized.

     News of the important announcement from Eau Claire is being left to the chorus. I felt they deserved to make the announcement, so look for it on the website (soon if not currently posted). More on this as plans are posted.

     Watch for other ideas and issues related to our activities being posted in coming months. Jim Egan, Executive Director, and myself are contacting old members in hopes they are interested in rejoining AMCA; Norb is seeking a balance to the proposed budget for next year with inclusion of the Music Contest again plus other costs; Doug Farley seeks committee members and ideas for his new position; we are seeking a place to store "copies" of old artifacts on disc (perhaps a university library) for history archiving; and there probably will be much to talk about during the summer, too.

     The travels of this trip were good, but I would have liked more time. The pace of driving the Interstate these days is hectic and tiring, but you can see more than commercial flying. I would have liked spending more time going and returning, but that is the reality of getting our business done. (Last year the larger amount of attendees came from the UMW area to western NY, this was just my turn.) Next year is in Marquette, MI - sort of the middle! As we move from one meeting to another, one locale to another, it is an education in the workings of this Association, and an introduction to great people - that's "Good Fellowship, Good Singing and Public Service"!

     Thanks For The Memories - Eddie Cantor, closing theme for his TV show - that sure dates me!

Best regards Ric Addenbrooke