Minutes of GEMTA Meeting—January 14, 2011

Our January meeting took place at the home of Candy Henkler in Goshen.  Present were Evelyn Stichter, Michelle Beyler, Cindy Hawkins, Nancy Ludden, Maxine Yoder, Karin Hartman, and our hostess, Candy.  We started the morning out with a pre-owned music sale, enjoying tea and coffee as we visited and ‘shopped.’

We then moved down to the basement where we held the business part of our meeting.  The secretary’s report was read, corrected, and approved.  Michelle moved to approve the minutes as corrected and Maxine seconded the motion.

Maxine gave the treasurer’s report, stating that we had $1,815.29 in savings.  Since the last meeting some checks were written: $225 to Candy for website expenses, $475.52 to Evelyn for supplies relating to printing and mailing the directories, $25 to Esther Lanting for presenting our December meeting, and $200 to Goshen College as a donation for allowing us to use their facilities for the AIM Festival.

 Group members were brought up to date on progress in planning the upcoming multi-keyboard concert with the South Bend teachers’ group set for June 4, 2011.  Chairperson Juliana Lockman has chosen Trinity United Methodist Church in Elkhart as the venue for the concert.  Brian Weibe of Goshen College will conduct.  At this point the only cost at Trinity would be to have a maintenance  person present during our time at the church.  A combined practice is tentatively planned for 8:00 AM the morning of the concert. The Piano Market Plus of Elkhart will be providing the 10-12 pianos, and teachers are welcome to contact them to set up times to practice before the concert if needed.  Michelle will communicate to the staff of the Piano Market Plus our appreciation for all the help they are giving us to make this concert happen.  Be watching for information on registration of students; the  assignments to pianos will be given on when registrations are received.

Next, it was mentioned that some of our members will be attending conferences soon.  A couple of teachers are planning on attending the workshop February   in Ft. Wayne with Nancy Bachus sponsored by the Ft. Wayne teachers’ group.  Two group members are planning on attending the MTNA national conference in Wisconsin during March.

The discussion of conferences brought up the topic of scholarships for teachers wanting to gain further education.  Scholarship Committee chairperson, Nancy Ludden, passionately shared with us her desire to see teachers receive some financial help when wanting to attend these types of gatherings.  In the past we have only offered financial aid for the Goshen College conference.  This is for teachers attending the whole conference and students of ours who participate in the student track of the conference. 

There was some discussion as to whether or not we should also offer scholarship help to students who would like to participate in other GEMTA functions like AIM and the multi-keyboard concert.  Michelle wisely shared that doing that could cause many problems (how would we decide who would be the recipients, potential for lawsuits, would it impact our non-profit status, etc.) and extra work for us that doesn’t really fit the purpose of our group.  She also reminded us that the Stickley Foundation offers that type of help for students if they apply for it.  Also, should scholarships then become a budgeted item?  After much discussion, Evelyn made a motion that the board, at their next meeting, would discuss setting financial guidelines for teacher scholarships. Michelle seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Before turning to our program for the morning, the video of Marvin Blickenstaff entitled                                                          , Michelle proposed that the board discuss the idea of having one or two places our meetings would take place.  She felt it would give a little more professional aspect to our group and would make it easier for members  and prospective members to find meeting locations.  This is another issue that the board will discuss at a future board meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Karin Hartman, Secretary