I have been reading with interest the articles published in TAO over the past couple of months by John Walker about the findings of the Task Force on Long-range Planning. The article in the December 2012 magazine titled "The State of Mainstream Religion In America; Implications for the American Guild of Organists" provides enough fodder for a year's worth of columns so I will return to it in future columns, I am sure.

As has been reported in the media, membership in mainline churches has declined year by year. Along with this financial contributions to these churches has declined. Most of us are employed in these mainline churches. For those of you in churches that are bucking the trend and whose membership and music programs are growing-Hooray for you! Go for it! For the majority who are in churches with declining membership and seeing your music program and the funding for it being cut, do not despair.

Remember that the total declines are numerically small. While a particular congregation may be declining faster than average, there are still good opportunities out there for church musicians. Do not allow a failure of fundraising to pass as a reason to gut the church program. Many churches are using consultants to improve the giving of their membership. Cutting programs, including music, does not foster the kind of activity that will attract new parishioners. Unfortunately in many cases, changing jobs is the only way to obtain an increase in pay or benefits for a church musician. The new church all of a sudden finds out that they are out of touch in terms of compensation of musicians and improves the salary especially if they have a good candidate who sticks to their guns in this regard.

Well, I could go on all day. I will be encouraging next year's program committee to plan a meeting, or meetings on issues of professional concerns which I don't believe we have focused much on of late in the chapter.

Fern

TREBLEFEST

Saturday, February 9, 2013, 9:30-4:00 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

Ben Hutto

Lunch is available for $5. Free parking in the Cathedral lot. The day begins at 9:30 a.m. and concludes with Evensong at 3 p.m.

Contact Dr. Richard Nelson for further information: richard.nelson@case.edu 

Repertory for the rehearsals and Evensong is from the Anglican choral tradition:

Introit: I will worship - George Dyson

Responses - plainsong

Psalm 23 - John Goss (chant)

Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis - Philip Moore

Anthem: A Song of Wisdom - Charles Stanford

CHURCH MUSIC WORKSHOP: "Resources for Today's Church Musician" co-sponsored by Cleveland AGO and Cleveland National

Saturday, March 9, 2013, 9:30am - 2:45 pm

Link for driving directions and other information: www.ursulinesisters.org/ursuline-educational-center 

We will gather for coffee, sweets and staff introductions at 9:30 a.m. and will continue with choices from five different class sessions presented by our area leadership.

10 a.m. Choral Resources for Smaller Choirs - Clifford Hill

11 a.m. Copyright Issues in the Digital Age - David Powers, Bob Soeder

11 a.m. Organ Resources for the Easter Season - Barbara MacGregor

1 p.m. Electronic Organ Technology and MIDI - David Powers, Christopher Toth

1 p.m. Professional Development: Résumés and Certification - Dan Bergen, Fern Jennings, Tim Robson.

The day will include a buffet lunch and will conclude by 2:45 p.m. in the chapel with a reflective service of Word and Music for Lent. Come prepared to find resources for yourwork and your spirit and to join in community with other musicians.

Prior registration is required and can be done online or by contacting Registrar, Ruth Novak at rnovak.stmarysberea@gmail.com . 216-210-0542.

Registration fees are $25. for AGO or NPM members ($20. if paid by Feb. 15) and $35. for non-members.

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