May 19, 2005
NEW YORK CITY—The American Guild of Organists (AGO) and its Committee on Membership Development and Chapter Support have launched a comprehensive campaign for membership growth in 2005–2006. "Each One—Reach One" was enthusiastically endorsed by the AGO National Council at its spring 2005 meeting. The campaign is strategically designed to stimulate membership retention and recruitment activities at all levels of the Guild—from the local to the national level.
The Committee on Membership Development and Chapter Support, under the aegis of AGO National Council Secretary Donald Sutherland, creates programs for membership development at both chapter and national levels. It works to identify new sources for AGO membership and to establish goals and strategies for development.
Each One—Reach One is designed to be a grass-roots effort to strengthen Guild membership nationwide by inspiring and empowering local chapter members and officers to focus on membership recruitment and retention. A comprehensive list of initiatives has been developed by the AGO National Council and each of its national standing committees to motivate and inspire local efforts. In addition, all national standing committees of the Guild will focus on ways to build membership in 2005–2006, with a special emphasis on increasing the number of regular voting members. A grants and awards program, initiated in 2003 and administered by AGO National Headquarters, recognizes those chapters that excel in their membership growth efforts. Three chapters that have designed an outstanding and fully conceived membership development campaign for 2005–2006 will be awarded grants in the amount of $500 each. Three chapters that demonstrate the greatest increase in membership will receive an award in the amount of $500 each.
The Committee on Membership Development and Chapter Support began life as a task force in 1994. In 1999, the task force became an AGO national standing committee. Chaired by former AGO National Council Secretary Shirley King, the current committee includes Vincent Alukonis (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Herb Williams (Seattle, Wash.), and Marcia Van Oyen (Ann Arbor, Mich.). Geographical diversity is intentional so that committee members have experience with AGO membership issues in various regions.
For further information about Each One—Reach One, please contact Jennifer Madden at 212-870-2311, ext. 4304, or e-mail jem@agohq.org.
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, it sets and maintains high musical standards and promotes the understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music. The mission of the AGO is to enrich lives through organ and choral music. The Guild currently serves approximately 19,000 members in more than 300 local chapters throughout the United States and abroad. The American Organist Magazine, the official journal of the AGO and the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America, reaches an audience of more than 20,000 readers each month.
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.
