Mar 8, 2001

AGO EXPANDS E-COMMERCE WITH NEW ONLINE STORE NEW YORK CITY - The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS (AGO) announces the grand opening of the newly expanded AGO Online Store. All AGO educational resources and gifts may be purchased by members and friends of the AGO over a secure server. Items available for purchase are identified with a brief description and graphic image. AGO members receive a 10% discount on all merchandise. Driven by a state of the art storefront development and management program, the new online store allows users to select items for purchase, add them to a shopping cart, and complete their transaction using a major credit card. The store was designed by Len Levasseur, the AGO's Web master and director of the NEO Press. "The AGO's online store is attractive, informative, and easy to use," remarked AGO Executive Director James Thomashower. "It provides ready access to books, monographs, pamphlets, video and audio recordings, and specialty items hand-picked by the AGO's Committee on Educational Resources. Now anyone can purchase our bestsellers like Pulling Out All the Stops, A Young Person's Guide to the Organ, and The Organist's Book of Days at any time. The online store is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." "The opening of our new store is part of our overall strategy to strengthen the AGO's presence on the Web and heighten our visibility in the e-commerce marketplace," Thomashower added. "The ongoing enhancement of the AGO Web site is vital to our communications and outreach efforts." The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. Founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization, the AGO seeks to set and maintain high musical standards and to promote understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music. The mission of the AGO is to promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles, to encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music, and to provide a forum for mutual support, inspiration, education, and certification of Guild members. The Guild currently serves more than 20,000 members in 340 local chapters throughout the United States and abroad. This information is submitted by F. Anthony Thurman, Director of Development and Communications at the National Headquarters of the American Guild of Organists and the American Organist Magazine. For further information, please contact Dr. Thurman by TEL (212) 870-2310, FAX (212) 870-2163 or E-MAIL <fathurman@agohq.org.>