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President's Message Steve McLendon, AMEA President |
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It is my privilege to serve under the leadership of national president, Scott Shuler and Executive Director Michael Butera. Maybe you are unaware that Mr. Butera’s full time job is working for NAfME. He has an enthusiastic staff that he leads every day into the lobbies and offices of our government representatives in Washington. Every day our organization is actively advocating for music education. Now I have to confess, that in the past I have disregarded emails regarding urgent music education legislation that was pending before the House or Senate. I have learned, however, that there is power in a phone call or an email to politicians. Please respond when NAfME or AMEA encourages you to call or email a Senator or Representative. Their staff tracks this communication and it does influence how they form their opinions and vote! At the state level, Garry Taylor does the same work in Alabama that Michael Butera does in D.C. Although we compensate Garry as a part-time employee, he actually works as Alabama’s Executive Director full-time. Whether it is contacting politicians in Montgomery and Washington, organizing the AMEA website, planning the annual conference, or editing the Ala Breve, Garry spends an enormous amount of time working on our behalf. Thank you, Garry, for the extraordinary job you do for us. Make your plans now to be in Montgomery at the Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center, January 19-21, 2012. Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser will be the keynote speaker. We are extremely fortunate to host our Southern Division President, Benny Ferguson, who will also speak. If you are a new teacher, please understand that this conference is professional development and is an In-Service conference. The superintendent of the state board of education endorses this event and encourages principals to have their music educators attend. He makes this official in an open letter to administrators which appears in the Ala Breve and on the website. Rejuvenate and recharge your batteries this January! |