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From the Interim ED
As ALCM celebrates 25 years, I am curious to know what excites you about ALCM. What's member benefits are most important to you? What tools or resources could ALCM provide that would help you in your work? How can we best communicate with you?
This interim period is an opportune time to explore what we can do better and celebrate what we do well. Please send your thoughts and ideas to ed@alcm.org.
Kate Adelman
Interim Executive Director |
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Save money by registering for our summer conference TODAY!
How can you save money? By registering before the price goes up on April 15th! It is that easy. Register online or through the mail, and if we received it before April 15, active ALCM members will save $40.
It is looking like a fantastic conference with plenary session presenters Christian Scharen, Teacher, and Pam Fickenscher, Pastor and Hymn Festival leaders Anton Armstrong, Conductor, and John Ferguson, Organist. Seattle University is a great location to hold a conference! It is the perfect combination of affordable housing, walkable campus and tourist-friendly location, the Space Needle is only 15 minutes away. Don't forget to check out the opportunity for Master Classes and Denomination Workshops. The conference starts on Sunday July 31st and goes to Wednesday, August 3rd. The post-conference is Thursday, August 4th.
For more information and online registration, visit the ALCM web site at www.alcm.org.If you want to follow our progress on the planning of the conference, "friend" our page on Facebook at ALCM Seattle.If you have specific questions about the conference you can email us at: alcmseattle@alcm.org.
Sign up today before the rates go up!
Marshall Bowen
Conference Chair
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The Festival of Liturgical Arts of the Western Reserve (FLAWR) was created for clergy and musicians who plan and execute worship. Our mission is to celebrate the liturgy of the church through worship, education and fellowship by bringing leading preachers, teachers and musicians together to offer their gifts and share their experiences. Artists and Presenters include: The Rev. Mitties McDonald DeChamplain of the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, Dr. Gerre Hancock of the University of Texas at Austin (Organist and Master of Choristers Emeritus of St. Thomas Church, New York, NY), The Rev. Dr. Paul Westermeyer, Professor of Church Music at Luther Seminary, and Todd Wilson, Head of the Organ Department at The Cleveland Institute of Music. For more information and to register for the June 22 - June 25, 2011 event in Hudson, Ohio, go to www.flawr.org.
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See Your Business Card in Seattle Conference Book
 Don't forget to include your business card in the conference book.
How?
Submit a b/w PDF and 2 business cards along with a check for $50 made out to ALCM. (If you have 2 different business cards or an oversized card, please send 4 cards and a check for $85.) Deadline is April 10, 2011.
Why?
Make connections with other ALCM members
Help support the conference.
Get the conference book, even if you can't attend!
Send your check payable to ALCM and business cards to
Joanna Pretz-Anderson
ALCM Advertising Office
14367 Bennington Dr
Strongsville, OH 44136-8103
PDFs should be sent to ads@alcm.org
Payment must accompany cards; no billing.
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International Festival for Youth 
The Lutheran Youth Choir Of North America, founded in 2006 by ALCM charter member Philip Spencer, is pleased to announce that as of this date, 25 American and 20 German students are registered to attend its inaugural Festival of American Vocal Music this summer. The one-week festival will be held at Mansfeld Castle in Wittenberg, Germany, July 31 - August 6. The festival's focus on American vocal music will include daily choral rehearsals and several performances in nearby German towns, an original Evening Prayer for Peace service, and workshops in jazz and gospel singing technique, beginning jazz piano, beginning pipe organ, and German and American youth cultural comparisons. A few additional openings for American students are still available for applications completed in April. Please go to the choir website www.lutheranyouthchoir.org for details. |
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Happy Birthday, ALCM!
You can help advance ALCM's ongoing mission with a gift of $25 for our 25th year. This mission includes reaching out to church musicians in ever-new ways. It includes equipping our members for the continual challenges they face in their work. We have so many gifted and talented members among us, who have gifts to share. I invite you to make a gift, in any increment of $25, or a gift of $25 several times over this anniversary year. You can make a donation directly through the ALCM web site or by sending a check made out to "ALCM" and sent to:
ALCM
810 Freeman Street
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Be sure to note that your gift is for ALCM's 25th birthday! Gifts can also be made in honor or memory of someone.
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Is it true? Good news from the IRS?
Yes, occasionally we do get good news from the IRS. The good news here is that the IRA ROLLOVER HAS BEEN EXTENDED!!!
Tax legislation that includes the extension of the IRA Rollover was signed into law December 17, 2010, returning an opportunity for individuals to make a charitable gift by directing a transfer from a regular IRA to qualified 501(C)(3) organizations of their choice (we hope you chooose ALCM!). The extension expires December 31, 2011. All gifts must be completed by that date.
Who qualifies?
Persons who are 70½ or older may direct an amount up to $100,000 per individual or $200,000 per couple (with separate annuities) without incurring a taxable event. The gift would qualify for the annual required minimum distribution.
How does it work?
The IRA owner makes a written request to the IRA administrator to make a gift to an organization of his/her choice including his/her congregation or other 501(C)(3) ministry/charity. The donor would also notify the receiving organization of the forthcoming gift.
What are the benefits of a donor's gift from an IRA?
Donor avoids taxes when gift is completed prior to December 31, 2011. Donor may fulfill a pledge with a transfer from an IRA. Donor's gift qualifies for required minimum distribution. Donor takes advantage of legislation that encourages gifts and makes a difference in the lives of others.
Should I be aware of other information or restrictions?
Yes. The donor pays no taxes on the gift amount; at the same time, however, the donor may not claim a charitable deduction for a gift made through an IRA rollover since it is not received as income. Additionally, distributions from an IRA may not be used to fund a life income agreement, such as a Charitable Gift Annuity; nor transferred to a Donor Advised Fund.
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More good news - this time from GoodSearch!
If you have not already done so, consider adding GoodSearch's ALCM toolbar to your web browser. Once added to IE or Firefox, each time you shop at more than 1,300 stores (from Amazon to Zazzle!), a percentage of your purchase will automatically be donated to ALCM - at no cost to you! In addition, having the toolbar may even save you some money, since it provides coupons and deals as well! The toolbar also has a search box and each time you search the Internet, about a penny is donated ALCM. Believe me, those pennies add up!
Get the toolbar NOW! http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/association-of-lutheran-church-musicians-alcm
And please pass this along to all of your friends. The two minutes it takes to add this toolbar to your browser can make a lifetime of difference!
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Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
Valparaiso University
810 Freeman Street
Valparaiso, IN 46383
800-624-2526 |
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