OCDA POST-CONVENTION MEETING
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
Charleston’s Restaurant – Norman, OK

Members present: Brenda Webb, Jan Hulsey, Andria Phillips, Brent Ballweg, Larry Larson, Bill Perring, Nancy Murray, Peggy Shelby, Cynthia Perkins, Steve Curtis, Tony Gonzalez, Justin Ediger, and Suzanne Aylor

· New president Steve Curtis called the meeting to order at 7:15pm.

· The minutes of the spring board meeting were read and approved. (Ballweg/Larson)

· Jan Hulsey presented the treasurer’s report. The balance in the checking account was $2,569.74, prior to the convention. The preliminary end-of-year report shows a net increase of $9,641.91. The Certificate of Deposit contains $7,148.17. Funds may be added after the convention bills have been paid.

Three schools have not paid for their festival participation. Because the board ruling (regarding sanctions for failure to pay by June 15) was not clearly posted, sanctions will not be levied, but Jan will send a letter to the schools involved.
Jan will take a 9-month sabbatical from her secretary/treasurer duties to pursue national certification.

She has asked Beth Berkenbile to take over this position during Jan’s absence. Jan will make herself available to help with the end-of-year report and convention preparations. Beth has tentatively agreed.

· Justin Ediger gave the Jr. High Choir report. He reviewed the new committee set-up and the festival dates. (Oct. 17 – entry deadline, Nov. 25 – auditions, Jan. 8-10 – festival) He stressed the need for the entry forms to be sent to Brent Ballweg by August 1 so they can be included in the next edition of Sooner Style and be made available on the web site.

Peggy Shelby is working on the list of future clinicians.

· Nancy Murray reported on the All-OCDA Women’s Choir. The clinician (Dr. Apfelstadt) and the music are in place. Julie Sheaffer will be the accompanist. Entry forms have been sent to Mike Plunkett for distribution with his fall OSSAA mail-out. Gail Simpson has agreed to serve on the Women’s choir committee.

· The All-State Jazz Choir report was given by Suzanne Aylor. Justin Ediger will be the Jazz Choir chairperson in 2005. Debbie McComb will serve as chair in 2006. Dave Cross from Central Washington University is the 2004 jazz clinician. The audition process has not changed. An information flyer was distributed at the high school round-table luncheon.

· Sooner Style editor, Brent Ballweg proposed that his budget be reduced for the coming year. By using his resources at Southern Nazarene University the cost of producing the magazine in 2002-2003 was only $2,006, with a $9.95 web site charge. He suggested reducing the $4000 budget to $2500.

Brent has sent e-mails to prospective advertisers, offering a 25% discount on ads placed in two issues and giving free advertisement in the third issue.

Articles for the next edition of Sooner Style are due by August 1. The September issue will feature a wrap-up of the summer convention, Honor Choir information, the treasurer’s report, and a bio and picture of Robert Kidd (2003 Director of Distinction).

There was some discussion of the Director of Distinction timetable, but no action was taken. The general consensus concerning the officer candidate timetable was that candidate information should be included in the January Sooner Style, balloting done in February, and the announcement made in the May edition.

· UNFINISHED BUSINESS

– New officers for 2003-2004
Steve Curtis announced that Anne Dawson will run for Southwest representative. The board suggested other possible candidates…. JoAnn Struck has agreed to run for president. The elementary representative ballot is in place. Those being contacted for the Jr. High position are Brenda Mechling, Roland Clifton, and Tricia Powell. Steve will pursue finalizing the ballot.

· NEW BUSINESS

The board needs to officially set the dates of the 2005 and 2006 festivals in order to secure the Renaissance Hotel.

Bill Perring read a letter listing several festival concerns and suggestions:
a. OCDA should set and enforce a dress code for rehearsals;
b. OCDA should address the issue of swimsuits in the hotel;
c. A Friday night social event for the students should be provided;
d. Two-way radios were suggested for the festival.
These matters were tabled until the fall meeting.

Suzanne Aylor suggested that the clinicians be encouraged to keep to the rehearsal schedule and not dismiss early.

Brenda Webb emphasized the need for two people to work the listening room at auditions.

Justin Ediger asked about past discussion regarding purchasing three OCDA laptop computers for the festival choir chairpersons and to be used for scoring at auditions. Bud Hogan may not always be able to loan his school’s computers. Brent Ballweg recommended that we use Lawton’s this year while we research a future purchase. Bill Perring will contact Bud by the October meeting, concerning the kind of computer needed.

Steve Curtis shared a letter from Janis Dawson, OMEA president, regarding moving the Women’s Choir to the Tulsa (OMEA) festival. Much discussion followed. Tony Gonzalez called it a win/win situation because OCDA could then add a Jr. High women’s chorus.  Justin Ediger expressed concern that it might be a negative move for the high school girls because they would then be the “2nd place” group on the program. No decision was made.

· CONVENTION OVERVIEW

Larry Larson expressed the desire to add a church headliner to the 2004 convention program.

Many participants asked that the jazz ensemble continue. The board discussed the banquet entertainment vs the evening concert. Suggestions were made to add a 2nd performing group to the jazz singers for the evening concert, foregoing the banquet entertainment, and also to utilize Mike Plunkett as a jazz resource person/clinician.

Steve Curtis recommended moving the evening reception to the orchestra room or other space in Catlett.

Many elementary teachers were very appreciative of the enlarged elementary offering, but at the same time expressed frustration over having to choose between headliners. Steve will get programs from other states to look at schedulings.

Tony will pursue securing more vendors for next year’s convention.

Brent suggested that the university branch offer a reading session for the high school teachers in place of the university reading session.

Bill Perring suggested the use of more intimate rooms for the headliners rather than the auditorium.

Several participants requested more sessions on conducting.

The fall meeting will be held Thursday, October 16, at 1:00pm, at The Church of the Servant. Lunch will be served. Larry Larson will send more information.

The meeting adjourned at 8:55pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Andria Phillips,
administrative assistant