Like many of you, I belong to MENC, ACDA, and now, NCCo. Some of you also belong to the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Each organization is unique; each provides something of great value to us as choral musicians. What concerns me, as a longtime ACDA member, is that there are choral conductors who do not regard us as a necessary part of their professional landscape. What can we, as members, do to change their perceptions and encourage those colleagues to join forces with us? What will they gain in exchange for their membership fees? A subscription to the Choral Journal; access to ACDA-sponsored events at the state, divisional, and national levels; exposure to various activities we sponsor such as choral festivals, honor choirs, and workshops; and most important, connection with colleagues who share their commitment to the choral art-all these are among the benefits of ACDA membership. What is our responsibility as members to bring our colleagues into the fold? It is considerable. Each of us needs to recruit. If we have colleagues whom we know would benefit from and contribute to ACDA, we need to encourage them strongly to become a part of our organization.”
(from the Choral Journal President’s Column, by Hilary Apfelstadt)
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