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SWD Roundup
2nd Quarter Edition 56.2
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| Greetings! |
THE YEAR OF YOUR CHAPTER, PART 2:
This is the Roundup when we celebrate the Spring Conventions and look forward to how well our District fares in International Competition in Anaheim in July. I hope that many of you make plans to attend this week-long barbershop extravaganza. We wish all of our competitors good luck!
This is also the time to acknowledge that our International staff in Nashville is restructuring to recognize the financial realities of a declining membership base. Attendance in Anaheim is projected at an all-time low. The Society was looking at a $335,000 shortfall in revenue this year, so steps were taken to reduce headcount and identify more efficiencies in the delivery of services. Ed's email announcing these changes is included in this issue.
What do these changes mean for your Chapter? You will still be able to order music and learning CD's from Nashville. The Harmonizer will still be published and the Barbershoppers Shop remains open for business. The website is open to download information 24/7 with all of the manuals available to help you run a successful chapter.
And with these changes, the SWD Board of Directors is taking steps to provide even more learning opportunities to your chapter's music and administrative teams. We are looking at the number of conventions held each year to hold down travel, lodging and registration costs, but also provide more opportunities for fellowship and song between chapters. And we are looking for ways to personally deliver services to your chapter thru coaching and training sessions that are tailored specifically to you while keeping costs at a minimum.
It is now more important than ever that I hear from you. If your chapter has a need, let me know. If your chapter is doing something right, let me know so we can share that idea. If you just want to share a frustration, I'm just a call or email away. Open communication is required to make progress. And make no mistake: My view of progress is helping YOUR chapter to grow in members, improve your musical skills and help you with ideas in reaching out to your community. Your Division Managing Director has unbelievable resources available to bring to your chapter, but you have to communicate with us. Feel free to start with me: email president@swd.org or call my cell phone: (512) 633-3031.
Dwayne Cooper
SWD President |
There is still time for your chapter to be apart of this awesome opportunity.
Register today!
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"Let the Good
Times Roll" |
The Statesmen Chorus
Sat, Jul 18
2:00pm − 8:00pm
The Crighton Theatre
Tickets
$10 - $30
Special Guests
"Oasis"
Current Sweet Adelines District 10 Champion
MORE INFO
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| "Heavenly Harmony" |
OK Chorale
Sat, Sept 12
1:00pm − 7:30pm
Hardeman Auditorium Oklahoma Christian University
Tickets $15
Special Guests
"Accapella"
Award winning Christian Accapella Singers
MORE INFO
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Get your SWD
Lapel Pins
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Only $5
Order Yours Today!
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| International Convention - Good Luck to our SWD Qualifiers |
Good luck to the following
SWD quartets and choruses!
Glory Days
The William Kratt Chord Company
Eureka!
Genesis
Voiceover
Varsity
Heart of Texas
Vocal Majority
Our 71st International Convention embraces the same special concerts, exciting contests, educational classes, and inspiring sights you've come to love! International '09 will be a great opportunity to recharge your barbershop batteries and reinvigorate the art form.
But if you're not going to able to attend in person, the Webcast is an awesome option. The rates are cheaper this year so having a webcast party is very doable. Click on http://bhs-live.com/ for more information. |
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Chapter
Achievement Report
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Many Chapters in the Southwestern District have strong programs and
activities throughout the year like annual shows, singing valentine programs, guest nights, and other
fun activities that add the health and growth of the chapter.
This dual purpose Chapter Achievement Report will provide a means for
the Southwestern District to reward chapters for the many activities
that they plan and implement throughout the year. This report will also serve as a guide to the many growth
and fun activities that are available to all chapters.Starting in July, the reporting structure will be online for easier execution and review by chapter and district leadership.MORE INFO
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New Chapter Support Program
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One of the greatest challenges facing the
Barbershop Harmony Society and the chapters and choruses within the society is
recruiting and retaining members. In
recent times we all have seen membership numbers falling off at a dramatic
rate. To stem this trend, the SWD is
implementing a plan to offer support to District chapters, assisting them with
hand's-on advice and ideas to help them in areas that they themselves have
identified as needs.
MORE INFO
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Roundup Editor job opening |
The SWD is looking for someone who can be the next Roundup Editor.
Job requirements
1. Needs the ability to have open use to a computer with internet access and must be able to receive emails on a regular basis.
2. Have working knowledge or being proficient with Constant Contact email marketing program a plus but not required.
3. Displaying creative ideas to increase readership and marketing the barbershop art form is expected.
4. Being able to make deadlines is essential and
5. Reports to the SWD Director of Marketing Public Relations.If your interested in being apart of the SWD Support Team, then contact the Philip Maxfield at dir-mpr@swd.org or call him at (318) 455-4476. This is a great way to get started in a leadership role with the Southwestern District.
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Important Society staff restructuring announcement |
 As with most non-profits, our Society has always been challenged to do more with less. The challenge is especially urgent this year due to the disappointing level of international convention registrations for Anaheim. The resulting shortfall has put our annual budget over $330,000 in the red, requiring quick action. We have cut many expenses but can not make up this deficit without taking personnel actions. At the same time we must continue to serve members and chapters while we work to reverse the 20-year membership decline that is at the root of our economic circumstances.
We are realigning our staff both in response to these economic realities and to better position us for future opportunities. This restructuring is designed to help us leverage one another's expertise with the limited number of employees demanded by a sound economic model. This streamlining means reducing the number of departments, and therefore department heads. While I'm excited about the efficiencies and opportunities we've identified, I'm devastated on behalf of the dedicated employees who have just learned that their positions will be eliminated.
Other details will follow, but following are the major alignment changes:
- The number of directors who currently report to the Executive Director/CEO will be reduced from six to three
- A new position, "Director of Operations," has been filled by Rick Spencer, formerly the Director of Music Education. He now oversees all staff working in the Communication, Membership, Music Library, Events and Merchandise areas,
- The Director of Music Education position has been renamed simply "Director of Education." The position now encompasses Leadership Development and Training, Music Education and Youth in Harmony. In the interim until this position is filled, these responsibilities will fall under Operations
- The Director of Events position will be eliminated after John Schneider's announced retirement this August
- Our new Chief Financial Officer will begin on June 1. Retiring CFO Frank Santarelli will assist in the transition through October. One part-time position in the financial department has also been eliminated.
The above changes also mean we must say goodbye to some exceptional employees:
- The Director of Membership position has been eliminated
- The Director of Marketing position has been eliminated
- Ebony Davis (Merchandise) will continue her duties until May 31
- Amanda McCowan (Accounting) will continue her duties until May 31
- Dorene Santarelli (Receptionist/Secretary) will continue her duties until her retirement in August.
Charlie Davenport and Todd Wilson will assist with this transition for a short while, to be determined individually.
We are saddened by the economic necessity of these steps, but confident that the new staff structure will put us in a better position to handle the challenges and opportunities ahead and give our members the service they deserve. It saddens us that we will lose the full-time contributions of great employees who have given so much. A list of current staff and contact information can be found at www.barbershop.org/contactus.aspx.Ed Watson, CEO |
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SWD Leadership - (For those who don't know)
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Executive Board
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