Meeting Minutes - April 2, 2019

MOA Meeting Minutes from April 2, 2019

Call to order: 
Members in attendance:
Ann Nykiel, Randy Davis, Tim Stafford, Sara Eskins, Aaron and Jennifer Roberts, Matt Yoke, Amy Freeman, Bitzy Murray, Nancy McMillin, Melissa Schnieder
MEETING HANDOUTS
Treasurer report - See Amy’s handouts
February Minutes - Reviewed - Motion to accept by Matt

OLD BUSINESS 
Slate of Board Positions for 2019-20 - President:  Amy Freeman, Vice President: Aaron and Jennifer Roberts, Treasurer:  Bitzy Murray, Secretary: Patty Yoke 

Scholarship Updates - Amy Freeman.  Bitsy, Sara and Michelle will grade scored portions, outside readers will grade the essay portions.  Senior solos will need to be added to applications ( Mrs. Coleman had suggestions about the rubric, particularly the essay portion of the application.  Amy and she will edit in the next few months.  
Mannheim Camp - Registration updates.  Ann and Bitsy are chaperoning.  Their theme decided but will be a secret.  Matt has completed list. About 41 students attending.    Matt will verify confirmation with YSU.
Fundraiser - Mixed Bags Fundraiser has closed, any additional orders received need to be returned and parents have option to order online.    Only 40 students participated. Sales were about $2500 (2-3 students were responsible for about 50% of sales). $50 gift card will be given to Mikinzie (the top seller).  
In Years to Come: 
- Typical sales hit around $4500-5000
- Consider alternating sale options in years to come
- What are other groups doing at the same time? 
NEW BUSINESS
Anyone having reciepts for reimbursement or monies to turn in, please submit receipts to Amy ASAP so that payments clear by June 30th.  

Melissa Schnieder and Linda Dakwar are interested in assisting with  the March, 2020, banquet.  

Summer Activities to look into - Need to decide which to do and need chairpersons to set up

Arrowhead Make Music Day, Kia Car Wash, Picnic Reservations for September, other?  The past fall, the picnic was not well-attended due to weather and schedule conflicts.    Looking in to Veteran’s Park as an option as down payment may be returned if no damages.

Volunteers Needed - Volunteers for final concerts - Link will be sent out via Sign Up Genius. 
Uniforms - Volunteers needed to collect dresses and tuxes immediately following final concert , as well to assist band and choir boosters with restocking inventory (a few days in summer) and distributing dresses and tuxes to orchestra students in the fall (A few mornings one week).  Once everything is in, American Commodore washes all the uniforms.  

Jennifer, Melissa Ruminski,  Nancy McMillin and Randy will help with uniforms at the last concert on May 1st.  

Amy and Jen will handle this in the fall. (Linda Dakwar, Alain and Teresa Eichler assisted last fall - may contact them again for this fall to see if interested in helping again)

These do not necessarily need to be the SAME person, but it would be nice to have one person knowledgeable in all aspects to help direct others

Window signs - Alain has volunteered to take this on over summer / early fall.  Drug Mart has the cheapest poster board. See Aaron to order from Amazon (he found it for less).  Ann will send Alain the ordering info she has used in past.

Director Matt Yoke - Mannheim and Symphony received superior ratings in AA at this years State Orchestra Competition.  This is the first time in school history that either group has achieved this rating in the AA classification.  Thanks to everyone who helped transport instruments and aided in this event. 

1. Symphony and Mannheim auditions have concluded, and lists have been posted to each classes schoology page.  This was easily the hardest year to complete the lists, and many of the students that did not make the group that they wanted would have in years past.  The orchestra numbers have almost tripled in the past 6 years and this has made these ensembles extremely hard to construct. This is a GREAT problem to have, but there needs to be more made of what a group like Sinfonia is able to perform.  They are so close to being able to successfully perform OMEA Class A material, which when I started was exclusively used for Mannheim. 
   
2. ​Last Tuesday, Mannheim combined with MHS Concert Mixed for an amazing concert downtown at The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.  This performing space, and accompanying concert series, is mostly reserved for professional groups and groups that pool auditions from several of the top high schools in the area.  I personally know that the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus was denied a spot this year in order to accommodate our high school program. This is a great example of how our high school programs are very intertwined, and how the high school music teaching staff is a well organized team.  If it weren’t for a choir parent who used her contacts within the diocese of Cleveland, I am not sure we would have been able to book the concert. We hope to book this event again in the future since the promotion staff from the church was very thrilled with the performance level of the students as well as the high amount of audience members. 
3. Middle school solo and ensemble is next weekend and I have many groups attending.  There was something going on with IC when I sent out the payment email, and I have received more than a few emails about collections.  I will send out another email tonight with updated payments.  
   
4. Matt’s contacted 2 different festivals with great locations that are a possibility for next year.  Only the best groups attend these. The Mentor Orchestras are outstanding and should be represented at some of these events.  The expense of these trips, if scheduled through a tour company, is very expensive.  
   

​​Director Kim Driscoll - Kim not present this evening.
Adjourn - 8:30 pm

This is last general meeting of school year.  Updates will be sent your via email list.  Board will meet to review / set budget in late June.

Thank you to everyone for supporting our orchestra program this year!  From volunteering at concerts, assisting with uniforms, helping with special events, supporting fundraisers, attending meetings, etc., your help is very much appreciated!