American Guild of Organists

iMIS Site

2013-2014 Grow the Guild Guidelines

The Campaign will consist of three categories of awards:

  •  Increase in Chapter membership by 5%.
  •  Increase in Chapter membership of those aged 30 or under.
  •  The Creative Programming Award.

All chapters are automatically registered for the Increase in Membership award. The Increase in Chapter Membership of those aged 30 and under and the Creative Programming awards require information to be submitted by the chapter

  • The campaign concludes on May 31, 2014.
Increase in Membership by 5%
  • All chapters should contact National to confirm their membership totals as of the end of the 2012-2013 Membership Year.
  • Please note that when you receive new members into your chapter that Dual Members and Chapter Friends are not to be considered in this campaign. The only membership categories that can be counted in your chapter totals are voting members (Regular, Partner, Special, Student, and Lifetime).
  • If you have lapsed members that have not renewed with your chapter for one year or more they can be considered as a new member and will be counted as part of the campaign.
  •  At the end of the campaign all chapters that have achieved the net growth of 5% will be eligible to participate in the cash drawings.
  • Each chapter based on the final count of membership will be entered into one of the following three categories:
    • Chapters with 1 – 25 members (approximately 105 chapters)
      • 1 member
    • Chapters with 26 – 75 members (approximately 149 chapters)
      •  1 – 3 members (based on size of chapter)
    • Chapter with 76 and over members (approximately 60 chapters)
      • 3 – 18 members (based on size of chapter)

• One chapter from each category will be randomly selected to receive one of three $425 prizes.

Increase in Young Members Award
  • Any Chapter that adds three or more new members aged 30 or under will be eligible to participate in the cash drawing for this award.
  • The Chapter must submit names and birthdates of those new members who are 30 years of age or younger with the signature of the Chapter Dean or Secretary by May 31, 2014.
  • Please note that when you receive new members into your chapter that Dual Members and Chapter Friends are not to be considered in this campaign. The only membership categories that can be counted in your chapter totals are voting members (Regular, Partner, Special, Student, and Lifetime).
  • If you have lapsed members that have not renewed with your chapter for one year or more they can be considered as a new member and will be counted as part of the campaign.
  • At the end of the campaign all chapters that have added new members who are 30 years of age or under will be entered into a drawing for one prize of $500.
Creative Programming Award
  • A Chapter wishing to be considered for the Creative Programming award must send their list of Chapter sponsored meetings and events for the 2013-2014 season to Leah Semiken at leah.semiken@agohq.org by May 31, 2014.
  • The Chapter with the most creative programming will be selected based on the following criteria:The Winning Chapter will be awarded $500.
    •  The programming appeals to a variety of demographics, i.e. professional organists and choral directors, church musicians, young people, part-time organists, organ enthusiasts, general public etc.
    • The programming includes a mixture of large events to attract the public to the organ and smaller events geared towards chapter members or a specific demographic.
    • The programming reflects various aspects of the Guild’s mission to:
      • Encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music;
      • Inspire, educate, and offer certification for organists and choral conductors;
      • Provide networking, fellowship, and mutual support;
      • Nurture future generations of organists;
      • Promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles; and
      • Engage wider audiences with organ and choral music.
    • The programming exhibits evidence of the chapter’s leadership thinking creatively and “outside the box” by coming up with a new type of program or a creative twist on an old idea.

If you have any questions please contact Leah Semiken, 212-870-2311 (ext. 7512), or leah.semiken@agohq.org