NJACDA State Chapter Meeting

October 8, 2022

Shindell Hall

Rutgers University*

To: Members of the State Board, New Jersey Choral Directors Association

Re: Meeting Agenda, October 8, 2022

10:00 AM — Call to Order (10:07am) 

  • John Wilson
  • Matthew Lee
  • Lisa Rotondi
  • Rick Retzko
  • Barbara Retzko
  • Adam Good
  • Libby Gopal
  • Randy White
  • Patrick Hachey
  • Lori Lynch
  • Mike McCormick
  • Brandon Williams
  • Rachel Carson
  • Stephanie Tubiolo
  • Sarah Michal
  • Lynnel Joy Jenkins

11:40 AM — Adjourn

Motion – John Wilson

Second – Patrick Hachey

All in favor

11:40 AM — Additional collaboration as needed

Agenda

  1. Preliminary Reports
    1. President’s Report — John Wilson
      1. Centering questions
        1. Identify something we do now as a state chapter that you can see continuing to flourish over the next five years.
        2. Create a tangible goal that our chapter can achieve by 2027 that focuses on elementary and middle school outreach. It could be an event, initiative, etc. 
        3. In what new ways might NJACDA be facilitating connection between choral professionals in 2027?
        4. How will NJACDA be serving our choral professionals in 2027?
        5. How will NJACDA be serving our state community artistically in 2027? 
      2. Rick – Festivals are great for serving the state artistically.
      3. Matthew – More time to talk with other conductors
      4. John – Events for professional development without needing membership so that people can get an idea of what NJACDA has to offer.
      5. Short clips from conductors throughout the state with small ideas about pedagogy, repertoire
      6. Adam – Use R&R chairs to help facilitate many of these endeavors
      7. Lori – In 5 years, we should still be continuing the things that we have been doing well (in-person conference, time for connection with other professionals)
      8. Approve/Modify April 23, 2022 minutes
        1. Brandon Williams – Motion to approve
        2. Lori Lynch – Second
        3. All in favor
      9. Thank you Josh Melson and Jason Vodicka for your service
        1. Membership chair, Lisa Rotondi!
        2. Student Activities chair, Dr. Preston Wilson! Welcome!
        3. Welcome Rachel Carson from Kean University!
        4. Congratulations, Libby!
      10. National Conference, Cincinnati, February 22-25
        1. Funds available for board members
        2. Google Form: https://forms.gle/m2nXPQrZhdwLX3gg7 
      11. Elections
      12. Please email me about changes in your involvement with NJACDA: wilsonjohn.iii@gmail.com 
      13. SINGUP membership drive, more later in the meeting.
        1. Posts, outreach.
      14. R&R Reports Due in April. Assuming it will be another google form which will go directly to the national R&R Chair, Gretchen Harrison, and will be shared with appropriate national chairs. 
    2. Treasurer’s Report — Patrick Hachey 
      1. Budget Requests
      2.  Allotment from National ACDA is up by $80, membership possibly went up?
      3. $15805.79 Current balance
      4. Budget proposal sheets for any events that are requested
        1. All events must be planned to make a profit (even if it’s small)
      5. Motion to accept – Rick Retzko
      6. Second – John Wilson
    3. Membership Report — John Wilson, Lisa Rotondi
      1. Vision for this year’s membership initiative — Lisa
      2. SINGUP campaign
        1. Link to share for complimentary memberships (we’ve got 8 left): https://bit.ly/ACDA2022Comp 
        2. Expectation is that we follow up and get them to renew
      3. Posted from email: 275 total members, including 58 student members
      4. 295 lapsed members.
      5. National has limited the number of comp memberships. We’ve got 8. Let me know if you want them, and I’ll send you a link. Then, your target member needs to fill out a form to get the membership.
      6.  If there are events that you have coming up and want sent out to membership, share with John Wilson.
      7. Lisa – Try to find people that can get their districts to pay for their memberships
  2. Website — Rick Retzko
    1.  Get more content from R&R chairs for the website
    2. Share anything with Rick that you’re working on and want put on the website, more content the better
  3. Summer Conference Recap — Barbara Retzko
    1. Recap Document #1
    2. Recap Document #2
    3. Next summer?
  4. Looking Ahead — Libby Gopal
    1. Vision for the chapter 2023 – 2025
    2.  Libby – Multi-dimensional approach to choral education
      1. Equitable access to K-12+ choral community
      2. Not so top heavy (including more of Elementary and Middle School)
      3. Choral Academy in January
      4. More targeted PD during the school year
      5. High School Festival sight reading
  5. Festivals and Events
    1. Elementary/Junior High School All State Honor Choir — Kaitlyn Reiser
      1. April 29 and May 6
      2. Auditions via recorded submission, due January 16
      3. Jamie Hillman, out-of-state conductor!
    2. High School Choral Festival — Wilson/McCormick
      1. Vinroy Brown, Hannah Carr, Christine Bass, Paul Head, Diane Saez & Timothy Urban
      2. New location, Kasser Theater at MSU
        1.  Still using Rutgers and Rowan as well
    3. Voices United — Kason Jackson
      1.  Norma Jean Hughes headlining
    4. NEW EVENTS — John Wilson and Lisa Rotondi
      1. Middle School Event
        1. East Brunswick, BRMS (others), Nick McBride
        2.  Need a few more middle schools to be involved
        3. The difficulty is physically getting people there
        4. Inviting other directors to come and observe (no membership required)
      2. Reading Session
        1. Free to students and elementary teachers 
        2. DON’T need to be a member
      3. Non auditioned choir or reading choir event
      4. HS Festival Sight Reading Walk-Through
        1. Monday, October 17 @ 2:45 PM
      5. NJACDA at NJMEA
        1. Libby, contact?
      6. Past president of NJACDA sits on NJMEA in advisory role? 
        1. Mailing list?
        2.  To reach the NJMEA members, you can reach out to the person in charge of TEMPO Express
  6. Inclusivity Chair Report — Kason Jackson, Stephanie Tubiolo
    1. Honors ensemble advocacy initiative
  7. Community and Professional Choirs Report — Kahlil Gunther
  8. Repertoire Activity from Matt Lee https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Z00TJs0E7WV1d4Te5jkJjjUkcPT57MjAlPMwfalCFLs/edit 
    1. Report from Summer Conference, etc. 
  9. Other R&R Reports?
  10. Gifts for Retired Board Members (old business)
    1. Who can do this?

Barbara Retzko’s thoughts:  I think criteria should start at 10 years – like being vested in a pension (which may also be a thing of the past) and move in 5-year increments if this idea is adopted.

If you are looking to present a pin, there is a minimum order of 50 on most sites…Medal?  Trophy?  Where and when would these objects of recognition be shared?

Having received each of these at one time or another, I’d say, it was nice for the moment, but the money may have been better spent elsewhere.  

Maybe the person of honor would like a donation made in their name to a musical charity of their choice?  How about classroom supplies for a Choral Director in need?  Donors Choose?

https://www.donorschoose.org/

DonorsChoose: Support a classroom. Build a future.

DonorsChoose connects teachers in high-need communities with donors who want to help.

www.donorschoose.org

 

Or NJ-ACDA could sponsor X number of college students as members for a year in their honor – like having grand-students…that way the expenditure goes to something that carries their legacy forward in choral music…

$100 gift cards for a meal are always nice. 

I think the idea is a noble one and I think folks volunteer to serve as NJ-ACDA Board Members because they are interested in making a change with nothing in return.  If I knew that x number of college kids were now becoming active in the organization because their memberships were sponsored in my name, I’d think my investment of those many years was now being paid forward…I’d also feel pretty good if White boards, erasers and markers were purchased for a classroom in need…

  1. Heather Lockart (A Cappella/Jazz), Deborah Simpkin-King (HS Festival), Patrick Gardner (TB Choirs), Debbie Mello (Children’s Choirs)

Other Business

  • John and Rick, website updates
  • Board Updates
  • Jason, Lisa, etc
  • Voices United Festival 2021 – Kason, Libby