Year End Board Mtg
May/03/2019 20:57 Filed in: Member News
Dear Woodbridge Music Club Members:
The WMC Committee to review submission of the PWC Arts Council Grant met on April 12. Committee members included Debora Madsen, Zuill Bailey, and Cynthia Elmore. After review of the application requirements and procedures necessary to successfully qualify for the grant, the committee recommended not to pursue a grant from the Arts Council this year. Grant money has helped us continue many of our programs in the past, however the committee determined that the effort necessary to submit the application did not justify the amount of money the WMC would qualify to receive. As president of the WMC, I accepted the recommendations of the committee and we ceased all work on the Grant Application.
During this meeting we analyzed the current status of the Woodbridge Music Club and our ability to continue the activities and programs we have provided the Woodbridge community in the past. This has been a very successful year for the Woodbridge Music Club with respect to the success of our concert series (much better attendance than in the past), participation in our scholarship competitions, and participation in student recitals. We provide tremendous opportunities to the community and we can be very proud of this.
That being said, we looked at our current membership which has fallen by 33 percent in the past two years. About half of the former members moved out of the area or passed away, so this attrition is understandable and expected. Others have chosen not to continue membership for various reasons. Our biggest challenge remains in attracting new members despite our efforts in this area over the past several years.
As our small group at the April 12th meeting reviewed the WMC membership status, we discovered that out of our 34 current members, only 12 members are actively engaged in responsibilities associated with running club programs. Out of those 12, four have indicated a desire to reduce their involvement with the club due to other commitments. Another three hold very involved and demanding positions in the Virginia Federation of Music Clubs in addition to what they do for the WMC.
The bottom line is that the WMC cannot keep up our current activities with so few members available to do the work. Although financially the club remained solvent this year through donations and dues, future years at the same level of offerings will eventually drain the club treasury. I believe we need to look seriously at the future of the Woodbridge Music Club. We cannot continue status quo.
I have put together three proposals for the future of our club based on discussions at the April 12th meeting. These proposals will be discussed and voted on at the next WMC Board meeting on May 9th. These proposals impact all members of the club, so I invite all of you to attend and participate in the decision.
Proposal 1: Dramatically reduce activities of the club:
· Eliminate or reduce to only one “paid” concert per year. Perhaps sponsor one concert featuring local talent
· Hold one Scholarship Competition per year, perhaps combining piano, vocal, and instrumental into one competition, with fewer divisions (levels), hence fewer monetary awards. Perhaps include one separate award for a graduating senior. Use WMC members as judges (without reimbursement) providing they do not have a student participating in the event.
· Eliminate student recitals or hold only one end of the year recital.
· Eliminate House Concerts.
· Drop membership in the Prince William County Arts Council
· Continue the webpage, teacher referral, and publication of the yearbook, however the yearbook can be moved to the website only.
This proposal is contingent on members volunteering to hold club officer positions and volunteers to chair the Scholarship Competition, Student Recital, and Events Coordinator positions. It also depends on Bill Riski, or someone else, volunteering to continue managing our webpage. Without volunteers to fill these positions this option is not available.
Proposal 2: Become a Festival Only Club:
· Eliminate all programs and scholarship competitions.
· This proposal will require someone to function as the “President” with limited responsibilities as well as someone to fulfill minimal treasury duties. We eliminate all board meetings, the yearbook, reports to VFMC or NFMC, the website, and periodic newsletters from the president.
· Student participation in Festival, with appropriate fees, will continue.
· Disperse most of the current treasury funds according to the provisions of the WMC Bylaws.
This proposal also requires at least one person to volunteer for the position of “President” in order to be the point of contact for VFMC and NFMC.
Proposal 3: Dissolve the WMC according to the provisions of Articles XII, XV, and XVI of the WMC Bylaws. Current members can become members of one of the other clubs in the State, or they can become individual members of NFMC to allow for participation in Festival and other NFMC competitions and programs.
I will coordinate actions necessary to implement one of these proposals based on the decision of the board. If you wish to participate in the decision of the board, please attend the meeting on May 9. The meeting will be held at my home, 6842 Lochmere Drive, Manassas, starting at 10:00 am.
We will be entertained at the Board Meeting by the winners of the Senior Scholarship Competition, and the meeting will include a potluck lunch. Please let me know by Tuesday, May 7, if you will be attending, and what you plan to bring for the Potluck.
Yours,
Paul Brady
President, Woodbridge Music Club
The WMC Committee to review submission of the PWC Arts Council Grant met on April 12. Committee members included Debora Madsen, Zuill Bailey, and Cynthia Elmore. After review of the application requirements and procedures necessary to successfully qualify for the grant, the committee recommended not to pursue a grant from the Arts Council this year. Grant money has helped us continue many of our programs in the past, however the committee determined that the effort necessary to submit the application did not justify the amount of money the WMC would qualify to receive. As president of the WMC, I accepted the recommendations of the committee and we ceased all work on the Grant Application.
During this meeting we analyzed the current status of the Woodbridge Music Club and our ability to continue the activities and programs we have provided the Woodbridge community in the past. This has been a very successful year for the Woodbridge Music Club with respect to the success of our concert series (much better attendance than in the past), participation in our scholarship competitions, and participation in student recitals. We provide tremendous opportunities to the community and we can be very proud of this.
That being said, we looked at our current membership which has fallen by 33 percent in the past two years. About half of the former members moved out of the area or passed away, so this attrition is understandable and expected. Others have chosen not to continue membership for various reasons. Our biggest challenge remains in attracting new members despite our efforts in this area over the past several years.
As our small group at the April 12th meeting reviewed the WMC membership status, we discovered that out of our 34 current members, only 12 members are actively engaged in responsibilities associated with running club programs. Out of those 12, four have indicated a desire to reduce their involvement with the club due to other commitments. Another three hold very involved and demanding positions in the Virginia Federation of Music Clubs in addition to what they do for the WMC.
The bottom line is that the WMC cannot keep up our current activities with so few members available to do the work. Although financially the club remained solvent this year through donations and dues, future years at the same level of offerings will eventually drain the club treasury. I believe we need to look seriously at the future of the Woodbridge Music Club. We cannot continue status quo.
I have put together three proposals for the future of our club based on discussions at the April 12th meeting. These proposals will be discussed and voted on at the next WMC Board meeting on May 9th. These proposals impact all members of the club, so I invite all of you to attend and participate in the decision.
Proposal 1: Dramatically reduce activities of the club:
· Eliminate or reduce to only one “paid” concert per year. Perhaps sponsor one concert featuring local talent
· Hold one Scholarship Competition per year, perhaps combining piano, vocal, and instrumental into one competition, with fewer divisions (levels), hence fewer monetary awards. Perhaps include one separate award for a graduating senior. Use WMC members as judges (without reimbursement) providing they do not have a student participating in the event.
· Eliminate student recitals or hold only one end of the year recital.
· Eliminate House Concerts.
· Drop membership in the Prince William County Arts Council
· Continue the webpage, teacher referral, and publication of the yearbook, however the yearbook can be moved to the website only.
This proposal is contingent on members volunteering to hold club officer positions and volunteers to chair the Scholarship Competition, Student Recital, and Events Coordinator positions. It also depends on Bill Riski, or someone else, volunteering to continue managing our webpage. Without volunteers to fill these positions this option is not available.
Proposal 2: Become a Festival Only Club:
· Eliminate all programs and scholarship competitions.
· This proposal will require someone to function as the “President” with limited responsibilities as well as someone to fulfill minimal treasury duties. We eliminate all board meetings, the yearbook, reports to VFMC or NFMC, the website, and periodic newsletters from the president.
· Student participation in Festival, with appropriate fees, will continue.
· Disperse most of the current treasury funds according to the provisions of the WMC Bylaws.
This proposal also requires at least one person to volunteer for the position of “President” in order to be the point of contact for VFMC and NFMC.
Proposal 3: Dissolve the WMC according to the provisions of Articles XII, XV, and XVI of the WMC Bylaws. Current members can become members of one of the other clubs in the State, or they can become individual members of NFMC to allow for participation in Festival and other NFMC competitions and programs.
I will coordinate actions necessary to implement one of these proposals based on the decision of the board. If you wish to participate in the decision of the board, please attend the meeting on May 9. The meeting will be held at my home, 6842 Lochmere Drive, Manassas, starting at 10:00 am.
We will be entertained at the Board Meeting by the winners of the Senior Scholarship Competition, and the meeting will include a potluck lunch. Please let me know by Tuesday, May 7, if you will be attending, and what you plan to bring for the Potluck.
Yours,
Paul Brady
President, Woodbridge Music Club