Voices Newsletter
Thursday April 9, 2026 |
|
Spring Semester 2026
It Takes a Village
|
|
Rehearsal and Performance Schedule... |
Rehearsal Dates:
Rehearsals Mondays run from 7:00 to 8:45PM
April 13, 20, 27
May 4, 11
Performance Dates:
April 19: First Baptist Church of Ithaca.
Call time ~9:00am
May 10: Unitarian Church of Ithaca.
Call time ~9:00am
Concert:
Saturday, May 16, 2026 3:00pm
First Baptist Church of Ithaca. Call time 1:00pm
Dress Rehearsal:
Friday, May 15: First Baptist Church. 7:00 to 9:00pm
|
Ross' Refrain
It's great to be back in the swing of rehearsals! Thanks to those
of you who spent some time with our pieces before last rehearsal...the
extra work did not go unnoticed!
I had a couple
members talk to me about some of the confusion they're having around
following some of our music; rest assured, I will address those "road
maps" in more depth in upcoming rehearsals. Thanks for your patience
around this.
We will end next rehearsal with a run-through of "Ukrainian" and "Everybody" with just those members who WILL be in attendance at our First Baptist church "gig." Come prepared to hold
your own...can't wait to hear it!
Until Monday!"
|
|
Mike's Measure
Chorus Leadership
When
Sherrie and I invited nominations for new Steering Committee members
and officers, someone asked whether officers must be active chorus
participants. The ACI bylaws don’t require it. Still, for the chorus President, it’s difficult to imagine otherwise. The President needs to
stay closely connected to chorus operations and be available for
members’ questions, suggestions, and concerns.
The Treasurer role, on the other hand, is mostly procedural—handling
routine deposits and payments, reporting transactions to the bookkeeper,
and preparing and monitoring the budget. Those responsibilities could
be managed by a non‑participating affiliate.
The time involved is several hours per week during semester startup and closing; a half hour or less weekly at all other times.
If
you’re interested, have suggestions for potential candidates, or simply
want to understand how the chorus operates, Sherrie and I would be glad
to meet with you. You’re also welcome to sit in on a Steering Committee
meeting to see the scope of the work and the collaborative spirit of
the group.
|
|
A note of THANKS:
Mike’s dedication has truly helped VOICES evolve over the many years
that he has donated his time and expertise. I can say first-hand that
Mike's organizational skills and attention to detail will ensure a
smooth transition for any incoming Treasurer. He does
so much for us quietly behind the scenes, and I hope he knows how
appreciative we are. I encourage you to truly dig deep and consider
whether you or someone you know could transition into the Treasurer's position through the coming semester.
The President’s position is primarily about organization and
keeping your finger on the pulse of the chorus to stay aware of what is
needed and make sure those matters are being addressed. Holding Steering
Committee meetings, attending four ACI zoom
meetings per year, addressing input/concerns from Ross and the membership and contributing to the weekly newsletter as necessary are
the tasks that remain consistent.
The time commitment for the President's
role averages about 30 minutes per week. At semester start up and near
the concert it can sometimes take longer but during the rest of the
semester it can be as little as 15 minutes
As you consider our call for a new President of VOICES, realize that we
continue to have a wonderful, capable group of people on our Steering
Committee. In some instances, it might make sense for certain tasks to
remain with the President for consistency, but
most items can be shared among the Steering Committee members, ensuring
no one is overwhelmed. That collaboration ensures that we can
accomplish so much more than any one of us could alone.
Please remember that both Mike and I are willing to chat with you and answer any questions you have...... so just reach out.
Thank you sincerely for your consideration.
Sherrie
|
|
The Voices Newsletter is sent out every Thursday during the semester. Sometimes, it may be a day late depending on glitches and brain cramps. In normal times, it will appear in your email in-basket sometime during the day on Thursday. It will also be posted on the website - click HERE to go to that page.
If you have a question about Voices, a comment or suggestion about the newsletter, or if you have an item for the newsletter (items should be related to the chorus or the local musical community), send it to voicesnews@acithaca.org. PLEASE - if you have an item that you want to appear in the newsletter, send in in plain text completed form so we can copy and paste - we do not write material for you. |
Affiliated Choruses of Ithaca, Inc., acithaca.org |
|
|
|
