SupportMusic Coalition Commendation and Conference Calls – a monthly touchstone

As I write, a new press release has just been posted to the NAMM website announcing that the SupportMusic.com Coalition has received a special commendation as part of the Musical Rites Awards presented by the International Music Council that has just ended its biennial gathering in Tunisia. Accepting the award on behalf of NAMM was Gary Ingle, President and CEO of MTNA (Music Teachers National Association), a SupportMusic Coalition affiliate. At the awards ceremony, Gary said, “the SupportMusic Coalition has met the critical need of engaging the Coalition affiliates in active dialogue and collaboration with individual citizens, especially parents.”

We are grateful for this commendation and we share it with MENC, the national association for music education that has been a key collaborator in re-igniting the Coalition. This is also an award to all Coalition affiliates whose collective energy and participation make the Coalition what it is – a learning organization continually seeking ways to inform about the benefits and importance of music education and working to advance access to music education as part of a complete and quality education for all children.

I appreciated that Gary used the words “active dialogue” when accepting the commendation because that’s why the Coalition hosts a monthly conference call that is happening today, Tuesday, Oct. 20. If you want to check your time zone and call info, you can email ChareseW@namm.org – or check in with Charese to affiliate and receive notice of the next Coalition call on Nov. 19; Coalition affiliates check in from various international time zones.

While Coalition conference calls post a planned agenda, most of the value in the call, I think, is the “listening and learning” that takes place as best practice for advocacy and tips on strategy and tactics are shared. After every conference call, several of us reflect on the effectiveness of this virtual meeting and that there is ongoing value to hearing each others voices; periodically meeting at conferences where the conference call is hosted “live” from the event (stand by for “live” calls in December and January). All in all, the conference calls inform about activities, opportunities and keeps people moving forward with relentless efforts to assure access to music education.

Join us!

More soon – would love to hear from you.

MaryL

NAMM/NAMM Foundation