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GUEST BLOG: “Want a Year of ACDA Membership for Free?” by Sundra Flansburg

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WANT A YEAR OF ACDA MEMBERSHIP FREE? by Sundra Flansburg
 
Since joining ACDA’s national headquarters staff in September, I have frankly been amazed with the active, vibrant community that is ChoralNet. My hat is off to you for making this space what it is.
 
If you are one of the thousands of ChoralNet users who are ACDA members, thank you for your membership. Your dues do many things, one of which is provide the entire financial support to keep this wonderful community going.
 
If you are not yet an ACDA member but you have been thinking about it, what about taking that step today? Consider becoming an Active member ($95), which is the right selection if you are a part-time or full-time choral director, or responsible for the administration of a choral program. This is where the vast majority of ACDA members fit, and gives you the full range of ACDA benefits.
 
We also offer special options for retired directors ($45) or students of choir or conducting ($35).
 
Today, I’m particularly excited to tell you about ACDA’s Associate category of membership. We have recently been authorized to drop the price for becoming an Associate to $45 a year. Associate members can review the Choral Journal online and access to a large and growing list of online resources, including exclusive access and discounts on many Naxos recordings. Plus, Associates support ChoralNet with their dues.
 
 
You may take a look at benefits and join online at www.acda.org, or contact us for more information at , or (405) 232-8161 (mention ChoralNet).
 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. John – You should now be able to log-in with the information Leane provided you earlier. As you might imagine, our wonderful IT person has been deluged with all of the conference things and had not gotten to your issue as quickly as he normally does. He just fixed the problem that for some reason had occurred. Message me privately if you need your log-in information – either via ChoralNet or email me at . You are always welcome to call Leane or I if you feel your concern has not been addressed, and we’ll be happy to focus our attention on it. I’m sorry you had to wait so long.
     
    ACDA Associates aren’t actually able to attend national conferences. ACDA Associate is really an online membership that we hope is useful and beneficial for those who are interested in choral music and education, but not conductors or administrators of choirs. People who join as Associates and later decide they want to attend a conference can do that by upgrading to an Active membership. In your case, you could certainly have joined as a retired member, which is now the same price as Associate members but with all of the professional benefits, including conferences. Since it is the same price, you can simply switch member categories, if you would like to do that, by contacting Leane at or (405) 232-8161.
     
    I hope this addresses your concerns and questions!
     
    Sundra
     
    (And a P.S. – we’re very sorry that several international ChoralNet users have had challenges joining ACDA online. It has to do with our (3rd party) credit card processor and security precautions they have in place. All necessary in this day and age. Just contact our office if you’re having that issue, particularly from abroad!)
     
     

  3. Sadly, Sue’s not alone.  I joined as an associate on Jan 18th, but ran into a database error between getting my confirmation number and setting up the login password.  You’ve got my money and I suspect I’m on the books somewhere, but I don’t have a member number or web login.  I emailed Leane on Jan 19th but have only heard that it’s been passed to the webmaster.
     
    Hope things will smooth out soon. I do appreciate the membership nudge via Phil Copeland, especially for all the composers who’ve become very active on ChoralNet but weren’t quite sure where we fit in.
     
    On another note, am I reading you correctly that an associate can attend conferences after paying the difference, or do we still need a friendly sponsor?
     
    Thanks,
     
    – John Ward

  4. Sue – I am so sorry you’re having some technical issues with our online joining process. We are still offering the two years for the price of one! You should be able to use a Mac and do the process from abroad. If you would, please send me a message at so that I can get you connected with Leane DeFrancis, our membership coordinator. She can work with you to get the online process working, or take the necessary information via email. Again, sorry you’re experiencing difficulties, and thank you for posting!
     
    – Sundra

  5. HI
     
    I have tried to join today as an associate member from New Zealand. I have filled in the online form twice and each time I submit it I get  page saying it wasn’t working. I am keen to join if I am able to get to the two years for the price of one. I am using and Apple Mac – is it possible to join online from a Mac? What do I do now to join and still get the two years you are offering?
     
    Thanks
     
    Sue 

  6. Gordon: Welcome! And thank you so much for joining ACDA and financially supporting ChoralNet in that way. In addition to the online journal access, as a member you will also be able to stream choral music online via ACDA Radio and First Listen (links are on our home page at acda.org). The discounts on select Naxos recordings would also be available to you, if those are something you’d be interested in.
     
    With regard to ABCD, I’ll need to get back with you on any partnerships that currently exist, since I’m much less aware of our international relationships. If we have something interesting going, I’ll let you know! Again, thank you from all of us at ACDA for your membership.

  7. Hi Sandra,
    Thanks for making the Associate membership available on a two-for-one basis as a limited offer.   As someone who has enjoyed being a member of the ChoralNet community for some time, I have taken advantage of this offer, and am hoping that this will prove worth while, even though I don’t live in the USA or Canada.  I’m a member of the ABCD in the UK (Association of British Choral Directors) and also compose a bit of choral music.  I suppose the main advantage of being an associate member of ACDA will be gaining access to your online journals.  If there are other benefits I have overloooked, I’d be grateful to know what they are!
    I was also wondering whether any sort of partnership exists between ACDA and ABCD, which could be of mutual benefit to members.
     

  8. It looks as though “Active” members, in your words, “would receive all of the above, plus the print Choral Journal, be able to attend the national conferences”, but in the next sentence it is stated that one should join as an International member (at 3 x the fee) “if you plan to take advantage of conferences and so on.” It looks as though one can attend conferences regardless of what status membership. Maybe it’s the ‘so on’ (?) that one could not take advantage of–

    Q.6: What would this ‘so on’ be?
     
    I think, perhaps, that I basically answered this in the previous response. But to confirm (if my response to Chris was indeed confusing), International members are basically Active members outside the U.S. and Canada. International members have access to all of the Active benefits but just can’t or wouldn’t likely be able to take advantage of all – for example state activities. The difference in membership price between Active and International is due entirely to the postage costs for mailing the Choral Journal.
     
    Associate members would not be able to attend ACDA conferences unless they paid the difference in price between the Associate membership and Active membership – $50.
     
     
     

  9. Q.3: Can I join as an Associate member as a composer? . . .
    Q.4: What does a FULL member receive from membership that an Associate member would not receive? In other words, what would be the benefit of being a FULL member (not being a conductor) rather than an associate member. I guess this is in response to Jack’s suggestion that ‘ACDA should consider a full membership option for composers of choral music.’.
    Q.5: Why would a composer opt to join as a FULL member if the same benefits accrue as an Associate?
     
    You may certainly join as an ACDA Associate. You may also join as an Active member.
     
    A “full” or Active member is the category for members who seek the professional status that ACDA gives. In some ways, ACDA Associates are basically online members, and have access to all of our online resources, music, discounts on a variety of things, etc.
     
    On the other hand, Active members have that plus the print copies of the Choral Journal, and all of the benefits that professional choral conductors often wish to take advantage of, like the ability to sponsor students for ACDA Honors Choirs, membership in your state chapter and division for their communications, meetings, and conferences. Active members can, and are highly encouraged to, come to ACDA conferences (Associates would have to pay the difference in price between Associate and Active status to be able to attend). Active members can, and are highly encouraged to, hold leadership positions at the state, division, and national levels. Active members may apply to receive graduate credit or Continuing Education Units for select activities at conferences. Are you getting the picture? Does that answer those questions?
     

  10. Q.2: Now that the Choral Journal is provided only online to Canadians (if I am correct in this) what would be the reason for a price difference between the rest of the (choral) world and Canadians? . . . As a member of Composers Community, I would hope that Composers could (if they wished) be considered Full members, or at least Associate members.
     
    To clarify, the Choral Journal will still be provided in print form to Active members in the United States and Canada – and electronic versions will be accessible to all member categories anywhere in the world. Associates – wherever they live, will get it online only. Active members will get print copies and have electronic access.
     
    Composer are warmly welcomed with open arms as ACDA Active members, or as Associate members – whichever best fits your aspirations for your relationship with ACDA and benefits interests.
     

  11. Donald, thanks for your questions and thoughts. Let me take this in chunks.
    Q.1: What does ‘retired’ mean in this context? (‘not conducting anymore’? or ‘receiving retirement income from a full time job not related to being a conductor, but still conducting’?)
    Q.1a: Can I become a ‘Retired full member’ without having been a full member? (I have been a choral conductor off and on, but only since I stopped conducting have I been aware of ChoralNet and the amazing resources it offers to composers.)
     
    “Retired” for ACDA means that you have retired from any paid choral conducting position. So even if you are retired from your day job but continue to conduct and be paid for it, you would join/renew as an active member. The by-laws the members ratified at inception say that you shall have been an active member prior to taking shifting to the retired status. In real life, many personal situtions aren’t as clear cut as a set of guidelines will cover, so I’d look into my heart and do what you think is right. How’s that?
     

  12. Jack, we are so delighted to have the revised ACDA Associate category in place and approved – so thank YOU. I very much appreciate your suggestion about composers. We are very aware how committed choral composers are and really do see a full partnership between conductors, composers, and choral administrators. We actually have a number of composers who are full members under our Active category, and welcome any composer who wishes to be a full, active member. So, bravo! And just to let the cat out of the bag for a second, we’re excited that we have just finished negotiating a great discount with My Score (http://www.jwpepper.com/myscore) that will be part of the benefit package for ACDA members. Announcement to come in about a month!

  13. Hello Sandra,
     
    I’m confused! I would like to become an Associate member, or maybe a Retired full member. I am a ex-conductor composer, though I may well find myself conducting at some point, particulary ‘guest conducting’
    Q.1: What does ‘retired’ mean in this context? (‘not conducting anymore’? or ‘receiving retirement income from a full time job not related to being a conductor, but still conducting’?)
    Q.1a: Can I become a ‘Retired full member’ without having been a full member? (I have been a choral conductor off and on, but only since I stopped conducting have I been aware of ChoralNet and the amazing resources it offers to composers.)
     
    Q.2: Now that the Choral Journal is provided only online to Canadians (if I am correct in this) what would be the reason for a price difference between the rest of the (choral) world and Canadians?
     
     I note THE ACDA states amongst its purposes

    • To foster and encourage choral composition of superior quality.
    • To foster and promote international exchange programs involving performing groups, conductors, and composers.
    As a member of Composers Community, I would hope that Composers could (if they wished) be considered Full members, or at least Associate members.
    Q.3: Can I join as an Associate member as a composer?
     
    One more thing is not quite clear to me –
    Q.4: What does a FULL member receive from membership that and Associate member would not receive? In other words, what would be the benefit of being a FULL member (not being a conductor) rather than an associate member. I guess this is in response to Jack’s suggestion that ‘ACDA should consider a full membership option for composers of choral music.’.
    Q.5: Why would a composer opt to join as a FULL member if the same benefits accrue as an Associate?
     
    One more thing – maybe I’m reading it incorrectily: You state in reply to a question:””Active” members outside the U.S. and Canada would join as international members, and would receive all of the above, plus the print Choral Journal, be able to attend the national conferences, and be a part of the bigger community. In your case, you could join as an Associate with all of those benefits, or as an International member if you plan to take advantage of conferences and so on.” (end of quote)
     
    It looks as though “Active” members, in your words, “would receive all of the above, plus the print Choral Journal, be able to attend the national conferences”, but in the next sentence it is stated that one should join as an International member (at 3 x the fee) “if you plan to take advantage of conferences and so on.” It looks as though one can attend conferences regardless of what status membership. Maybe it’s the ‘so on’ (?) that one could not take advantage of–
    Q.6: What would this ‘so on’ be?
     
    In the meantime I’ll send in my $45 as I appreciate tremendously what the ACDA has done, is doing and will do. If I can’t logically become something it should be considered a donation. I have learned much from my association with the Composers Community, and hope I have made some useful contribution. My music has often been performed at ACDA conferences (mostly J’entends le moulin but hey– maybe that will change!) and I have been a choral conductor off and on for most of my life, though not currently.
     
    Thanks!
     
    Donald (Quebec, Canada)

     

     

  14. Sundra, I would like to thank you and ACDA for coming up with a reasonable membership type that members of the Composers of Choral Music Community on Choralnet can sign on to.  I believe since promoting new composition is one of the core goals of ACDA, ACDA should consider a full membership option for composers of choral music.  We share almost all of the purposes of ACDA as declared on the ACDA website.   We eat sleep and breathe choral music just as conductors do.  We are the creators just as conductors are.  It is what we produce that conductors take and interpret through their choirs.  We are equal partners.  

  15. Great question, Chris! Canadian members are, of course, included as full members with full benefits. For those outside the U.S. and Canada, all of the benefits listed for ACDA Associates would be available since they are online benefits. “Active” members outside the U.S. and Canada would join as international members, and would receive all of the above, plus the print Choral Journal, be able to attend the national conferences, and be a part of the bigger community. In your case, you could join as an Associate with all of those benefits, or as an International member if you plan to take advantage of conferences and so on. But stay tuned on the international member category – we’ll have some news on that in April. Does that answer your question?
     
    Sundra

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