Wed, Dec 1, 1999

AGO NATIONAL COUNCIL EXPANDS BENEFITS OF EUROPEAN TRIP Approves Fund-Raising Opportunity for AGO Members' Churches and Related Organizations NEW YORK CITY — The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS (AGO), in cooperation with Matterhorn Travel, is pleased to announce a new fund-raising incentive for religious and educational organizations. Now you can help your church, synagogue, academic institution, or other organization raise funds by obtaining passengers for the newly expanded AGO trip to Europe next summer. AGO members' churches and other organizations will earn $150 for each passenger traveling on one of the three AGO trips. Clergy, congregants, friends, and family members are all eligible to participate in this program designed to support AGO members' religious institutions or other employers. In addition, each participating organization will receive one free trip for every 20 revenue passengers. The AGO is fortunate to have as educational specialists on these trips several of America's leading organists and authorities on Johann Sebastian Bach. Our "lineup" will be as follows: July 17 departure Michele Johns, University of Michigan July 24 departure Richard Benedum, Dayton Bach Society August 3 departure Margaret McElwain Kemper, AGO Immediate Past President. The trip next summer will commemorate the 250th anniversary of Bach's death. Participants will follow in the footsteps of Bach and visit famous Baroque organs associated with the great composer. The guided tours will include five organ recitals and visits to the Eule organ factory and the Silbermann Organ Museum. Participants will have an opportunity to play several of the organs on the tour. Most of all, everyone on the tour will enjoy a grand holiday in Europe. "We hope AGO members will encourage their church, synagogue, or other organization to participate in this unique fund-raising opportunity made possible by their association with the American Guild of Organists," said James E. Thomashower, AGO's Executive Director. "Even if Guild members are unable to travel to Europe, I hope that they will advise their employers of this revenue generating opportunity and promote it in their organizations' newsletters." For further details, please contact: Matterhorn Travel 914 Bay Ridge Road Annapolis, MD 21403 1 (800) 638-9150 or (410) 224-2230 Fax (410) 266-3868 www.matterhorntravel.com E-mail: holidays@matterhorntravel.com 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.>