NorthByNorthwestLynnBrinckmeyer NorthwestdivisionPresident

MeNCisYour Organization!

When I joined MENC as a collegiate student, I never imagined that a “regular” music teacher could have any impact on MENC at a national level. I held the perception that it was a huge corporation, and I gave little thought to the human side of the organization. MENC currently boasts almost 80,000 members including collegiate members and Tri-M members.

As a member of the MENC National Executive Board, I have the opportunity to receive all of the state journals of the entire MENC organization. Both Southern Division President Barbara Geer and Southwestern Division President Gayle McMillen provided a quick summary for their members of their division’s makeup in terms of membership and leadership. It occurred to me that our Northwest membership might appreciate that same information.

The MENC National Executive Board (NEB) is comprised of the President, Mel Clayton; Past President, June Hinckley; President-Elect, Willie Hill; six Division Presidents; and a Music Industries Council Chair (MIC). At this time, the Northwest is one of the healthier divisions. We currently have the fastest growing collegiate membership—many of the other divisions are experiencing a drop in collegiate membership. The Northwest is also making slow but steady increase in Tri-M membership. Your NEB meets three times per year to deal with policy issues, strategic planning, and to approve budgets, etc.

Reston, Virginia, is the home of the MENC national office with its staff of 74. Dr. John Mahlmann serves as the Executive Director. He oversees the staff and is responsible for carrying out NEB directives. When the National Executive Board encounters difficult decisions, they compare them to the MENC

Strategic Plan. The Board measures all new policies or initiatives against these four strategic directions:

1. Music for All

2. Retention, Recruitment and Professional Development of Teachers

3. Music Standards and Assessment

4. Partnerships and Alliances

Each of the six divisions has a board. Like the NEB, they include a president, past president, president-elect, and state presidents. Currently the Northwest Division officers are: Past President Betty Ellis, President-Elect Renee Westlake, and myself as President. The six states and their respective presidents in our division are: Alaska, Ginny Packer; Kelly Caldwell, Idaho; Tom Cook, Montana; John Skelton, Oregon; Ted Christensen, Washington; and Gary Gasser, Wyoming. All six state boards in the Northwest Division are loosely based on the National model. Each brings with it a unique outlook and energy to the Northwest Division.

Only the Eastern and Northwest Divisions hold biennial division conferences. Both the Southern and North Central Divisions interests to the NEB. National initiatives and information are funneled back to the state president, then on to the state leadership. It is important that you stay in touch with your state MENC leadership in order to communicate your state’s important issues, concerns, and projects. Informational items, thoughts, and concerns shared by your state leadership are reported to the NEB officially three times per year. Additionally, they are discussed at the Northwest Board meetings. Many changes occurring over the past few years have been a result of helpful feedback from individuals such as you. Your state leaders are caring individuals who donate many hours of their precious time. piggyback on one of their state’s conferences. The Southwest and Western Divisions do not hold a conference. Division boards usually meet two or three times per year. Input from the individual division boards brings creative energy to the NEB.

Grass roots teachers are a high priority to National MENC President, Mel Clayton. An empty chair is prominently displayed at the conference table of every NEB meeting. All Board members know that the empty chair is there to serve as a constant visual reminder of the music teachers across the nation. When decisions come up for a vote, we are clearly instructed to remember the needs of the teacher in rural Idaho or Georgia, as well as the desires and challenges of teachers in inner-city Chicago or San Francisco.

Your state president is expected to convey ideas and concerns from your state leadership to the Northwest Board. You have a voice at the national level through your state and northwest leadership. I am your liaison to the NEB. As the Northwest Division President, I communicate your specific

I have had the opportunity to visit all of the Northwest state conferences except Montana’s. It will be my pleasure to attend the MMEA conference in October 2002. These visits have energized me and my resolve to continue working for the good of the cause: music education. Watching the talented conductors and clinicians share their knowledge with other conference attendees fills me with delight.

You music teachers are my heroes. Thank you for the tireless, thankless, rewarding, demanding, gratifying job you do each day. I applaud each of your state memberships.