RPMDA Fall 2009 E-Newsletter

THE MEASURE Fall 2009

Greetings to my fellow RPMDA members!

I'm writing to you fresh from the RPMDA Board's convention-planning meeting in Oklahoma City. The Board is excited about the city, the hotel, and the program we're planning for you, including some very fun surprises!

The opportunity to serve on the Board is one I have truly valued. I enjoy the challenge of coming together with others for the good of the organization, the planning, the divvying up of jobs, and the anticipation of making the convention another memorable, meaningful event. Much of our time was spent discussing the state of the organization - the number of lapsed members, some of whom are financially stressed, and how best to recruit new members and keep our organization not only surviving, but thriving!

It's important to keep our eye on what we have, not what we don't. I always try to take a "glass half full" approach, so here's a reminder of what RPMDA has going for it:

Support from the industry - Print music is now the third largest segment of the industry. NAMM has enormous respect for our organization, for who and what we represent, and supports us not only financially, but also with convention speakers and advocacy materials. Two out of the three members of the NAMM Board Executive Committee are from the print music industry!
Press coverage - The music industry trade magazines provide us with visibility and a reach far beyond our membership through their coverage of our convention, articles featuring print music topics, and advertisements provided for us at no cost. We owe both the music industry press and NAMM a huge debt of gratitude.
Collegiality - RPMDA represents the best relationship in the industry between supplier and retailer in what has become a model for the rest of the industry. We have forged a true partnership as we all work together for the betterment of print music.
RPMDA is truly where people and ideas connect. We offer small business solutions through our educational sessions. We're known as a hard-working convention, but also the most fun. We continue to offer the very best value for your professional development investment for owners, managers, and staff personnel alike.

Finally, the board has accepted a challenge - to find and recruit one new member that will send someone to the 2010 convention. Can you do the same? Think of what is possible if each of us could add another company to the RPMDA family. As Gayle Beacock reminded us during her session last May, we're unlimited. Best wishes to you for the upcoming holiday season and into the New Year!

Lori Supinie, Senseney Music

Apply for the RPMDA/Ed Adams Scholarship

The RPMDA/Ed Adams Scholarship has been established by the RPMDA to encourage individuals in the print music industry to further their education. The scholarhip recognizes the lifelong service of Ed Adams, a man whose dedicated service to the print music industry continues to inspire our industry. Industry veteran Joey Lyons, who worked for Music Sales for 44 years, sends us these fond recollections of Ed:

"My first memories of Ed Adams were that he always looked like he stepped out of the front page of GQ magazine. One of the most detailed and nattily dressed men of his generation. He loved to smoke cigars as I recall. When I started working for Music Sales on January 2, 1966, Ed was the commission rep for us. He represented our catalog among many others at that time. That was the mode of the day then, Ed was one of three reps who serviced our accounts, he in the mid-west and two others one for West Coast and one for the East Coast. I was among the first house reps Music Sales hired. My job was to open and service accounts Ed did not visit.

"We first met in Chicago at Carl Fischer Music, this after I was given all the accounts in that territory to service. He served our company with great enthusiasm and was enormously respected by Music Sales and all the companies he represented. He greeted me with a smile and said, "So you're the young guy who took my job," laughed, shook my hand and wished me luck.

"He was indeed a difficult act to follow. He once indicated to me on another occasion that he loved this business and would perhaps never retire and one day may pass away while on a road trip. Sadly, this was exactly what happened. To this day people remember Ed and how they loved to see him walk into their place of business. He was a giant and truly loved by all in this business."

To be eligible, you must 1) be currently working for an RPMDA member business, and 2) have worked a minimum of 400 hours in the print music industry before submission of the scholarship award application."

Applicants should exhibit a strong desire to continue to work in the print music industry. The application must be received at RPMDA headquarters by February 1, 2010. The recipient, if chosen, will be announced at the annual convention of the RPMDA. Recipients receive $1,000, to be applied to attending annual RPMDA conventions, or classes at a college or university, technical school or training facility where offerings would be useful to employees in the print music business. Download an application at www.printmusic.org, or contact RPMDA at office@printmusic.org, 972/233-9107 ext. 204, fax 972/490-4219.

Your Membership Dollars at Work

Total income from 7/1/2008 through 6/30/2009 $117,695.54

Total expenses from 7/1/2008 through 6/30/2009 $131,660.65

Please forward this newsletter to your colleagues and print music industry friends! To join RPMDA, click here.

Members of RPMDA will not act in any way to interfere with or affect free competition in the market for music instruments, publications, accessories and parts. To that end, there will be no discussion of prices, market area or market segmentation, boycotts or any other matter which constitutes an illegal or monopolistic act or restraint of trade as part of any activity of the association. RPMDA and its members specifically disclaim and disavow any action taken or purported to be taken by any individual or company that is contrary to the foregoing statement of intent.

Board of Directors 2009-2010

Lori Supinie,

President

Senseney Music

Gayle Beacock,