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AVA Governing Board

Jane
Powell, AVA
President
Involvement or commitment? Have you given much thought to the
difference? Most of us are involved in many things on a daily basis, but
of those things in which we are involved, to how many are we actually
committed? To what are we giving most of our time and energy, mere
involvement or total commitment? Commitment to teaching choral music
involves a deep and abiding care for the students that come our way.
Hopefully we are seriously committed to changing and enhancing their
lives through music and not just involved in teaching a lesson every
day.
September 9th & 10th brought teachers and college students to the
University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa for the annual Fall Workshop.
Attendance at this workshop demonstrates a commitment from so many
teachers to improving themselves as well as their students. The
university music students were gracious hosts for this event, meeting
the needs of AVA on so many levels. What a commitment each of them made
in contributing to the success of every aspect of the workshop. Dr.
Marvin Latimer organized the student task force beautifully as they
greeted the board upon their arrival and helped to unload and set-up,
Their involvement continued as they were available at all times to
answer questions as well as provide physical and technical support. What
a great service for these students and future teachers! I can’t think of
a better way to introduce a group of college students to the passion
shared by music teachers than to interact with them on this level. I
hope that these students could see in us a commitment to their futures
in this great profession. It was also a pleasure to have college
students from Montevallo and UAB sitting with seasoned teachers and
enjoying the vivacious spirit of Dr. Steve Zegree. He is such a fine
example to all of us of a dedicated educator and innovative composer and
thinker as well. We are grateful that he was able to share himself and
his music with us, even for such a short period of time.
I would like to applaud those teachers who are working so hard to
prepare students for All-State Show Choir and All-State Choir auditions
as well as Outstanding Choral Student, Outstanding Accompanist, Music
Education Scholarship Award, and the Honor Choir Screening. Some are
also preparing for Fall Solo & Ensemble Assessment as well as pulling
out the music for the winter concerts. This level of involvement with
your students requires a commitment to excellence that is exemplary and
often goes beyond the regular school day. As you are reading this, the
Show Choir auditions have passed and the AVA Executive Board is
preparing to travel the state ready to listen to hundreds of students
audition for the All-State Choirs. We eagerly anticipate meeting your
students and celebrating their individual commitments to excellence.
Please be making your commitment to attend the AMEA In-service
Conference, January 19 – 21, 2012. We are once again in Montgomery at
the Renaissance Hotel & Spa @ the Convention Center. This will be a
weekend packed with entertainment and educational opportunities. AVA has
great session offerings for each director with Paul Gulsvig, Rollo
Dillworth, and Greg Gilpin. Rosephanye Powell will be conducting the
Honor Choir and Paul Gulsvig and Santana Shelton will be working with
the All-State Show Choir students! You will not want to miss a minute of
this fabulous weekend so plan to come early and stay late!!
The AVA Governing Board is dedicated to mentoring new teachers. If you
are registering for the conference and have only been teaching 1 – 3
years we invite you to a luncheon with the AVA Board on Thursday,
January 19 @ 11:30. If you will contact Pat Blackwell via email
(pat@alavocal.org) she will reserve a spot for you. We would like to
have your reservation by January 10. Our goal is to keep you well
informed, provide a forum for you to ask questions, and offer you the
opportunity to become better acquainted with the governing board.
The AVA Governing Board continues its commitment to advocacy with the
introduction of the Don’t Silence Our Voices campaign. The executive
board will be traveling with a banner and brochures throughout the year
to proclaim to the state that we have a commitment to Keep Alabama
Singing! If you would like to have copies of the brochure to share with
principals, PTO boards, superintendents, local, state & national
legislators, they will be available at all AVA events.
I challenge each of us to examine ourselves to determine our level of
commitment and involvement in our professional organization. Are we
demonstrating a level of care for our students, our colleagues, and our
profession that represents a dedicated sense of loyalty to all three?
Lou Holtz has been credited with the following...”If you don’t make a
total commitment to whatever you’re doing, then you start looking to
bail out the first time the boat starts leaking. It’s tough enough
getting that boat to shore with everybody rowing, let alone when a guy
stands up and starts putting his life jacket on…
Are you casually involved or totally committed?
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