MINNESOTA FEDERATION OF MUSIC CLUBS
53rd Biennial Convention All Member
Summer State Meeting and Convention Minutes
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
Minneapolis, MN
August 15 and August 16, 2007

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

8:30 am:
Registration/Coffee/Welcome from Southwest Minneapolis Keyboard Club

Fern Davidson welcomed everyone in attendance.

Cheryl Schmidt called the meeting to order at 9:15 am. The Federation Collect was read by everyone in attendance.

Members Present
Apple Valley MTA: Pat Steege, Betty Olson. Burnsville Area MTA: Kathy Wilson, Lois Erickson. Central Lakes Music Club: Mercedes Hagen, Karen Sue Erickson. Chin Rest & End Pin Society: Karen Moon. Club 88: Dale Degner, Gwen Degner. Duluth MTA: Sheila Shusterich, Liz Raihala, Vicki Ott. East Suburban Music Club: Kathy Martinez. Encore Music: Nancy Fisher. Great River Music Club: Mary Neidermeier, Ann Olcksowicz. Hibbing Musicale: Walter Strasser, Mary Angela Strasser, Nadine Berg. Keyboard SW: Priscilla Jacobson. Music SW: Rennae Petersen. North Suburban Music Club: Jo Franta, Gloria Kroeger. South Suburban MTA: Barbara Thompson. SW Mpls. Keyboard Club: Fern Davidson, Joel Sundsetz, Sharon Kaplan, Elizabeth Erickson, Joanne Minnetti, Sally Nelsen, Cora Barr. Thief River Falls: Kristi LaSalle. Tuesday Music Club: Ruth Wollenberg, Jane Jensen. West Central Music Teachers Club: Judy Zylstra, Marla Adrian, Cheryl Schmidt, Paulette Massa. West Suburban Musicians: Sandee Stenzel.

Special welcome to Carolyn Nelson, National First Vice President and our national guest at our State Convention.

Business Meeting

All attendees introduced themselves and their roles in MFMC. Attendance sheet/club presidents form were completed. Thank you to SW Minneapolis Keyboard Club, State Convention Hosts.

Secretary's Report
Paulette Massa, State Secretary – The web addresses listed at the end of the minutes were incorrect. Minutes were corrected and approved as corrected.

Treasurer's Report
Nadine Berg, State Treasurer - Approved as submitted and filed for audit.

MFMC Membership
Mary Wescott, Chair (absent)

MFMC Insurance Coordinator, Kathy Wilson
Insurance must always be in place by August 1st. Our insurance is liability coverage only. Cost is $17 per event per site. MFMC Festivals and events cannot be held without this insurance.

Correspondence, Mary Angela Strasser
Thank you from Katie Evans, a participant at the International Music Camp. Cheryl Schmidt read a thank you from Calvin Ying, JCI participant, and a thank you from Nathan Knutson, Young Artist Winner in Piano.

Old Business

National Federation of Music Clubs National Convention
Salt Lake City, Utah, June 26 – July 1, 2007
National Board Representative, Cora Barr (entire report on MFMC web site)
• Lana Bailey, National President
Theme: Music… A Gift for all Seasons, Song: America the Beautiful
• Carolyn Nelson, National 1st Vice President
• Mary Angela Strasser, National Chairman Membership/Education Division
• Sarah Twedt, National Arts Advocacy Chairman
• Kathy Wilson, North Central Region Chair, Parade of American Music
• Cheryl Schmidt, North Central Region Chair, Music for the Blind
• Young Artist Winner in Piano, Nathan Knudson from Mankato, MN

North Central Region Days
July 13 & 14, 2007.
( Includes MN, NE, IA, WI, ND, SD, IL)
Junior composers Institute: www.juniorcomposers.org.
North Central Region web site: www.nfmcncr.org.
Carolyn Nelson reported next year’s JCI will be held July 6-12. Cost will be increasing. Pat Steege will be the assistant director of the JCI next year. Several key people are moving from regional positions to national positions and new people are stepping forward to lead this group. Attendance is encouraged. Meetings will be Friday and Saturday, July 11-12, at Augsburg College. Student performances from the JCI are on Saturday morning.

Logowear
Karen Boyce from Chin Rest & End Pin.
No new information at this time. Karen Moon will follow up with the club members.

New Business

Senior Club Rating Sheets/MFMC certificate received for participation. Junior Club Rating Sheets – waiting for awards from national.
Nominating Committee – Slate of officers for election: Kathy Wilson, Sarah Twedt, Karen Erickson, Cheryl Schmidt.

• President: Karen Erickson
• First Vice Present: Pat Steege
• Secretary: Gwen Degner
• Treasurer: Nadine Berg
• Historian: Cheryl Schmidt

Motion made to close the nominations by Kathy Wilson, seconded by Walter Strasser. Motion carried. Motion made to accept the nominees into office by Barb Thompson, seconded by Kathy Wilson. Motion carried. MFMC needs a Second Vice President.

Mankato Music Club
Reforming new senior club.

All member e-mail contact system
Karen Erickson would like to establish an all member email list to facilitate communication.

Junior Division

Festivals
Cora Barr, Chair. Approximately 5, 000 participants, about the same as previous years. Cora needs to have an email contact for each club.

Festival Bulletins
Available now from national headquarters.

Festival Cup
Barb Thompson is chair for two years, then Sarah Twedt will take over. Club name changes need to be forwarded to her via email. She also requests email contact information for festival site chairs.

International Music Camp/Summer Scholarships
Mary Angela Strasser, chair. Camp information will be distributed to Festival site managers; please give to students.

State Junior Honors Recital
Mary Strasser has proposed a committee be formed to study how to have an all state junior honors recital every year representing all areas of the state. Perhaps an afternoon event at the Spring State meeting.

Junior Composer Contest
Pat Steege, Chair. This is an annual Festival event. Festival site chairs and club presidents receive information about the Junior Composer Contest. Deadline is January 15.

Junior Composer Institute Scholarships
Pat Steege, Chair. A student must enter the JCC in order to be eligible for a JCI scholarship.

Joyce Walsh Junior Disability Award/ Minnesota Music Scholarships for Challenged Students
Cheryl Schmidt, Chair. Let Cheryl know of any eligible students.

Student/Collegiate Division

NFMC Biennial Student Auditions
Sheila Shusterich, Chair. Students are 19-26 years old. There were 77 applicants from 15 states.

2007 NFMC Biennial Student Auditions
Minnesota winners: Paul Bagley, Strings Winner (Violin), Duluth, Minnesota, student at the University of Wisconsin, Superior $2,500

Amy Hagensen, Woman's Voice Winner, Duluth, Minnesota, student at the University of Minnesota, Duluth $3700

Given Sheila’s national position, she can no longer hold the state student audition position. A new MFMC student auditions chair is needed.

Georgia Chapman Piano Study Award- Sheila Shusterich, Chair. Contact her regarding applicants.

Senior Division

Historian
Judith Zylstra, no report. Cheryl Schmidt will be new chair.

Opera
Roy and Nadine Berg have agreed to be new chairmen.

Arts Advocacy
Sarah Twedt, Chair. Absent, no report.

Rose Zygmanski Teacher Trust Grants
Karen Erickson, Chair. Teachers can apply for $200 scholarship for continuing education. Deadline is April 1st.

Parade of American Music
Kathy Wilson, Chair-November is American Music Month. She encouraged everyone to promote American music in many ways including contacting your mayor to proclaim November as American Music Month.

Adult Composer's Critique
Betty Olson, Chair. No applicants this year. Encourage teachers to submit their own compositions. Information is sent out in January to club presidents.

Half Notes Newsletter & Web Site
Louise Lundin, Editor.

Music in Poetry
Verna Patrick, Chair. No report.

Club Presidents Reports

WCMTC - Marla Adrian
Emily Vomacka gave a talk about her experience at JCI at one meeting. Next year’s meetings include Chris Wolf presenting music from the new Festival Bulletin, a presentation on studio makeover, and Andrew Wilkowski, program for singers and accompanists.

Music SW – Rennae Peterson
They are reorganizing this year. Music Marshall and Music Southwest have combined to be Music SW. Programs featuring Tony Caramia, and Russel Sveningson were highlights of their year. They also commissioned a work by Melody Bober.

Duluth MTA - Liz Raihala
Meet monthly, twenty members, mostly piano, some voice, book reviews on books pertaining to teaching. Two festival honors recitals same weekend as festival.

Burnsville - Kathy Wilson
They present a senior audition-monetary scholarships for seniors. Participate in 2 recitals throughout the year not connected with Festival.

Club 88 - Gwen Degner
Eight members. Meet once per year. Chamber music(ensemble) in November, festival in February, honors concert, awards program in May to present gold cups. Special award in honor of Pat Kadlacek.

Tuesday Music Club – Jane Jensen, Ruth Wallenberg
Oldest club, 73rd year; 16 diverse members. Special guest does a performance every May. Scholarship money is raised for student scholarships. Doubled festival entrants this year. American music program, Scott Joplin, and a program on opera.

Chin Rest & End Pin Society – Karen Moon
Ten teachers, 150 students, mostly string players.

Central Lakes Music Club – Karen Erickson
Piano, string, voice, flute teachers. Three meetings per year, 300 students registered. Honor recital grades 5-12 following the Festival. Work closely with MMTA and held a joint workshop on learning styles.

North Suburban – Gloria Kroeger
Ten members, 100 students in Festival piano, voice, theory. Honors recital is one week following Festival. Judges select students who perform in honor recital.

Great River Music Club – Mary Neidermeier
New teachers and more students participating in Festival. 369 students participated. Shared meetings with MMTA. Piano recital given by Andrea Helm who also spoke about her experience in obtaining a PHD.

Encore Music Club – Nancy Fisher
Festival is main focus. Most teachers have their own recitals.

Thief River Falls - Kristi LaSalle
Festival is main focus. Ten teachers; 3 active. Cover a large geographical area; 316 entries/ 60 theory entries.

East Suburban - Kathy Martinez
Festival main focus.

Keyboard SW - Priscilla Jacobson
Wide geographic area and do not meet very often. Festival is focus.

Willmar Musicale
Written report submitted. Meet monthly and are actively involved in local arts council as advocates for all the arts in our schools and concert halls. Scholarships given to graduating senior musicians.

Apple Valley – Pat Steege
Fifty-six teachers. Meet monthly with topic of discussion appropriate to all types of music teachers. Participate in National Music Week in May with essay contest. Brain Gym activities.

West Suburban Musicians - Sandee Stenzel
Small club and wants to stay that way. Festival is main focus.

SW Mpls Keyboard Club - Fern Davidson
Festival 350 participants, teachers also members of MMTA. High School senior award of $50 after 4 years of participation.

South Suburban - Barb Thompson
Different locations for festivals - 20 teachers and 247 students, first voice student, one adult piano student. Recital participation encouraged with award of medallion after two recitals. Held a workshop with Paul Worth on pedal technique.

Hibbing Musicale – Nadine Berg
Festival is focus. Chris Wolf did festival bulletin workshop this summer. They are sponsoring an associate group, a small chorale ensemble.

Other business

Karen Erickson, incoming president, will notify everyone of future meeting dates. Kathy Wilson requested minutes, dates, etc., be archived on the website.

Barb Thompson asked if the cost for adults entering Festival need to be so expensive; can MFMC reduce the dues to help with the cost? This also affects college age students. Adult and college age students entering festival activities need to become a member at $4. Motion made by Walter Strasser, second by Barb Thompson. Motion withdrawn by Walter Strasser after further discussion. Table this issue.

Sandee Stenzel asked why the local teacher isn’t listed on the Festival certificates. MFMC awards the certificate, not the teacher.

Meeting adjourned at 11:30 am.

Please take time to visit these web sites and find out about all the scholarships available!
Web Sites: Minnesota www.mfmc.net National www.nfmc-music.org

11:50 am: Performance Sonja Johnston, Virginia Kendrick Scholarship Winner, Adult Composer’s Critique participant
12:00 pm: Luncheon
1:00 pm: Wildkats! Performance
2:00 pm: New Festivals Bulletin Music Workshops
5:45 pm: Break Dancing Demo by Bryce Davidson
6:00 pm: Banquet (Greek meal, speaker Carolyn Nelson, national first vice president, and installation of officers)
8:00 pm: Young Artist Concert – Mela Dailey, Soprano.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

8:30 am: Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00 am: Ethnic Music of Cyprus
10:00 am: Festival Honors Recital
11:00 am: Tom Linker on Musical Diversity
12:00 pm: Luncheon
1:00 pm: Festival Guidelines and Rules Meeting.

Submitted by: Paulette Massa, MFMC State Secretary.

Page Updated • August 22, 2007