Tim Robson

 

Just as you sometimes hear on an NPR news program, this is Timothy Robson, filling in this week for our Dean, Paul Guyer, who has been called away for a family matter. Although I normally just assemble and distribute these updates, I agreed to write this greeting.

The news this week that has dominated the local organ community is the disastrous fire on August 28 at First Lutheran Church in Lorain that severely damaged the church structure and destroyed the historically important John Brombaugh opus 4 organ. You can find out more about the fire at the church's website and a photo of what remains of the organ. Our thoughts continue to be with Pastor Jimmy Madsen, Director of Music (and Cleveland AGO member) Brian Wentzel, FAGO, and the congregation and friends of First Lutheran Church. Brian wrote the following to me:
 

Many of you may recall that the church where I was director of music for many years, Euclid Avenue Congregational Church, was also destroyed by fire in 2010. The church's organ, Steinway piano, choral library and much of my personal organ music was lost in that fire. While no one ever anticipates such destruction, you can learn from my experience and make some advance preparations to faciliate a recovery (an insurance financial settlement, if not the property itself): 

• Make an inventory of your property: choral and organ music; books; organ shoes; musical instruments; any other personal property that will cost money to replace. How many copies of choral music (at least a good estimate) You should keep a personal inventory separate from property that belongs to the church.
• Keep a copy of that inventory in electronic format "in the cloud" or at a geographical location away from the location of the property. (An inventory or catalog that gets burned up in a fire or drenched in a flood is of no use.) Maintain the inventory as you add more music and other property.
• In the case of a loss from fire (or the far more likely burst water pipe that drenches everything in the way) you will need to put a value on your property as to what it would cost to replace it at today's prices. If the music is out of print or otherwise unreplaceable, an estimate of something similar will suffice (e.g. you replace the Bach Peters edition with Bärenreiter) The insurance adjusters will also likely reduce the value by a percentage for depreciation. Even if your personal belongings are stored at the church, at least part of the loss will likely be covered by your personal homeowners insurance.

AGO Cleveland Treasurer Don Jackson pointed out another valuable tip: My [i.e. Don's] church will be loaning 1st Lutheran our handbells. My church asked Brian to inquire about insurance coverage under the Lorain church policy. The agent told Brian the bells would be covered, but there should be a written loan agreement between the two churches that includes both written and photo inventory of the bells.

This may all seem daunting and not something that you want to think about, but take it from me, the unexpected necessity is far worse than planning ahead.

 

Gerry Mass, our Cleveland Chapter Placement Officer collects and updates job openings in the area.  Although they are not listed in the weekly updates, there is a link in the "Quick Links" section every week that will take you to the updated list on the chapter website.  Questions or need help finding a position? Email: placement@agocleveland.org

Each week on Thursday, we publish this email newsletter to help you stay informed about activities and programs of the Cleveland AGO Chapter. Questions or comments? Please let us know:

admin@agocleveland.org.

Have a news item for a future issue? Send to: newsletter@agocleveland.org

The deadline each week is Tuesday at 5 PM for Thursday publication.

American Guild of Organists Cleveland Chapter
34520 Sherbrook Park Dr.
Solon, Ohio 44139
440-349-7086