News Bulletins

May 12, 2010

NEW YORK CITY—The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is proud to offer a new membership category for individuals who wish to make a commitment to the AGO for life. Lifetime Membership was approved by the AGO National Council as a pilot program in 2009. The opportunity to enroll in Lifetime Membership is now extended to all at the start of the 2010–2011 membership year.

This new category was created in order to provide a membership option for those who wish to declare their timeless support of the Guild by making a commitment to Guild membership for life. Lifetime Membership is available for $3,000, either as a lump sum or payable over six years. "Lifetime members never have to write a check for AGO membership renewal again," declared Herbert Buffington, director of the AGO’s Committee on Membership Development and Chapter Support. "AGO National Headquarters will credit the chapter portion of the Lifetime member’s dues to the local chapter of the member’s choice on an annual basis." Lifetime members designate the corpus of their Lifetime Membership dues for one of the following funds at the end of their life: the AGO Endowment Fund, New Organist Fund, Nita Akin Fund, or National Council-Designated Fund, which supports general operations.

Eleven individuals became Lifetime Members during the pilot program in 2009; many more are expected to enroll as Lifetime Members during the 2010–2011 membership renewal campaign. Lifetime Members are listed on the AGO Web site, www.agohq.org, and honored in THE AMERICAN ORGANIST Magazine annually.

Complete information and an application to become a Lifetime Member are available online at www.agohq.org/membership. For further information, please contact AGO National Headquarters at 212-870-2310 or e-mail members@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.