Northern Illinois Music Conference
Minutes for April 22, 2015 7:00 PM
Lake Zurich North Middle School
Introductions
Ellen Singer, Jim Garbrecht, Art Hildebrand, and Elise Matusek introduced themselves. Apologies were shared from Steve Stenzel who was unable to be there. Thirty-six directors representing twenty-six different schools attended the meeting.
Why a new organization
A brief overview was given of specific events that have occurred over the past few years, and why we feel it is time for a new organization. Ellen, Jim, Art, and Elise each stressed that NIMC will be an organization that will listen to directors, will value input and suggestions and that NIMC will be an organization that wants the best for everyone (students, directors, schools alike). That is IMPORTANT.
Why you should join
Discussion was focused on increased educational opportunities for students and directors both short and long term, the possibility of clinics for S&E, as well as Organization Contests; flexibility in scheduling contests to accommodate issues related to long weekends and PARCC testing; opportunities for a second-level contest in a professional venue for groups that qualify, and lower cost for participating schools and Directors.
Financial/budget info
Ellen shared a spreadsheet showing potential budget for the organization. The bottom line shows that we could realistically keep costs the same or LESS as compared to other organizations currently running contests.
Questions
Questions from the directors included which S&E contest a director could attend (having a choice of dates), to just joining to participate in Organization Contest (yes), to having 4 judges and clinics, to size and classification (for 2nd performance), to having everything on email and establishing a google docs page, to S&E contests once a quarter to keeping things simple the first year. This is a short list of the questions discussed.
The meeting concluded at 8:15 pm. Many Directors stayed around to converse and talk to Ellen, Jim, Elise, and Art about NIMC.
NEXT NIMC GENERAL MEETING: MONDAY JUNE 1ST—7:00 PM – LAKE ZURICH NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL 95 HUBBARD LANE, HAWTHORN WOODS.
Submitted
Art Hildebrand