President's Message Steve McLendon, AMEA President

ABA AOA AVA CMENC ELEM/GEN HED The Music Educators National Conference (MENC) is now the National Association for Music Education. My guess is they’re hoping that NAfME will evolve into the organizational acronym. (Just what education needs, right?….one more acronym.) The following quote was included with the new name announcement on the website: “For today’s students to succeed tomorrow, they need a comprehensive education that includes music taught by exemplary music educators.” This quote will be the maxim that accompanies the new name and logo. I wish I had composed it, however. Even though it is very concise, it presents several wonderful ideas. First, the affirmative statement of success is assumed. I like that idea! Let’s assume that most of our students want to succeed and even will succeed. Under NCLB legislation, we’ve allowed ourselves to subscribe to the idea of educational mediocrity. The goal seems to have become, “Try not to fail” when the goal should be, “Let’s see how far we can go!” Government assumes that teachers are going to do such a poor job that they have to pass legislation to prevent these failures. But back to the maxim… The term “comprehensive education” is mentioned. Remember this catch phrase when you are advocating for music education. Finally, the slogan included one of my favorite words: exemplary. “Exemplary” means something is so admirable that it should be copied and emulated. The quote ends with “…exemplary music educators.” The strength of our organization lies with these exemplary music educators who just happen to be you and me. 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!