October 2018
Treasurer’s Corner

The accounts were reconciled with the bank statement on September 30, and the details of the month’s transactions will be presented to the board at its next meeting for approval. As of this date (30 September, 2018) the current balances of the three accounts are:

Checking $3266.79

Scholarships $4373.07

Reserves $26,176.34

Total   $33,816.20

Those figures include the remittance of dues and contributions from the national headquarters in the amount of $718.00.

Checks were written to Judy Kohl, Royce Eckhardt, and Luke Knotts for the costs associated with the hymn fest and totaled $425.57. There are additional expenses which will be reimbursed when the receipts are turned in.

In addition to chapter dues, usually either $33.00 or $41.00 per year, the chapter is dependent on reserves and additional donations to cover the costs of underwriting programs, the website, and expenses. Your donations are important to the chapter and will be recognized.

Richard Spears, Treasurer

September 2018Dean’s ColumnWe’ll Save a Seat for You!

September 2018
Dean’s Column
We’ll Save a Seat for You!

Can you hear Tom Bodett’s welcoming voice in the Motel 6 commercials – “We’ll leave the light on for you”? That is the message I want to clearly communicate as we begin this new season of programs for our North Shore Chapter.

In the busyness of life, it is easy to make the decision to skip a chapter event. I recently read that these days people tend to stay connected to organizations or other individuals only as long as they are meeting one’s needs at an acceptable cost to that person. In other words, when the benefit diminishes or we don’t feel a personal connection, we “cut our losses” and drop the relationship.

I represent the entire board when I say we hope this isn’t ever the case with you. We encourage you to make this the year you become an integral part of our chapter. We would love to get to know you and those you love, so bring along friends and family to our chapter events.

Please take a moment to look up our webpage which is full of so much pertinent information. You will notice the Olivier Latry concert originally scheduled for October 8 has been changed to October 16.

Our opening event will feature a Hymn Festival, “Let All The World In Every Corner Sing” on September 16th at 4:00 pm. This will take place at the Winnetka Covenant Church at 1200 Hibbard Road in Wilmette. Royce Eckhart will lead us into thinking more broadly about expanding our repertoire of hymns for worship. You are all invited to a welcome reception following the program.

Please plan on joining us – we’ll save a seat for you!

 

Warmly,

Judy Kohl, Dean

 

And an extra note!…..  Look for our new Activities and Events column…….

Starting next month, this new column will report on the activities and accomplishments of the members of the North Share Chapter of The American Guild of Organists.

We hope to be able to rely on self-reporting for this column, so please submit one to three sentence long details of your musical accomplishments over the last year as well as events planned for the near future. Items potentially of interest to other members include recitals given or planned, changes in employment, music or articles published, degrees earned, repertoire mastered, and any other activities relating to the organ and its players.

Please send your submissions to NSAGO.EVENTS@xemaps.com.  

Here is one we have received already.

Grace Presbyterian Church (formerly First Church of Christ, Scientist) in Winnetka, Illinois presents Robert E. Woodworth Jr. in a recital celebrating the 80th birthday of the W. W. Kimball Organ opus #7245 located in the church and featuring the music of Hewitt-Jones, Berg, Bach, Ore, Lidon, West, Harris and Messiaen.  Sunday November 11, 2018 at 3:00 pm

www.gracenorthshore.org

Future events will be placed on our calendar. Do not be shy. Share your interests and accomplishments.

 

September 2018
Membership Matters

This month we have a few new members; we extend warm welcomes to: Barbara Kudirka, Kay Sutton, and Jack Graf. Welcome to the North Shore Chapter!

Just a reminder that some renewals due July 1 are not showing as being received yet.  If you’ve already renewed your membership for the 2018-2019 year, thank you!  If not, you still have time to renew via ONCARD.  Note: Changes in renewal status from ONCARD are not immediate on the chapter roster and may not show renewed until next month.  If you have questions about the renewal process or are having problems with ONCARD, please feel free to ask me. 

As the Registrar, I am your go to if you have any questions about your membership or have any needs or concerns.  Please do not hesitate to contact me and I’ll help you the best that I can.  I can be reached at registrar@northshoreago.org.  

Rich Spantikow, Registrar

September 2018
Treasurer’s Corner

The month of August has been quiet, and there has only been one transaction. The accounts will be reconciled on the last day of the July, and the details of the month’s transactions will be presented to the board at its next meeting for approval. As of this date (30 August, 2018) the current balances of the three accounts are:

Checking $2824.36

Scholarships $4372.86

Reserves $26,174.24

Total.    $33,371.46

Those figures include only one change from the previous report: the monthly  remittance of dues and contributions from ONCARD in the amount of $818.00.

Our year-to-date collection of dues and contributions amounts to $3,892.00. Additional funds will come from participant fees.

Most of the chapter dues and donations are received in July or August and have now appeared in our accounts. No checks were written in August and there are no outstanding checks or other expenses pending.

In addition to chapter dues, usually either $33.00 or $41.00 per year, the chapter is dependent on reserves and additional donations to cover the costs of underwriting programs, the website, and expenses. Your donations are important to the chapter and will be recognized.

Richard Spears, Treasurer

September 2018Dean’s ColumnWe’ll Save a Seat for You!

July 2018
Dean’s Column
A Warm Greeting

We’ve had a wonderful year celebrating our 60th anniversary as the North Shore Chapter of AGO. Hopefully you have been able to join us for at least some of the events as they have included such a variety of programs.

This year, we had the opportunity to hear wonderful performances from our own colleagues, as well as nationally acclaimed artists. As important as this musical enrichment is, these events also gave us a place to share our common interest in the organ. I imagine for most of us it is far deeper than an interest, but instead a lifetime passion.

There are a variety of programs planned for the coming year. Our opening event will feature a Hymn Festival  “Let All The World In Every Corner Sing”  on Sept 16th. Royce Eckhart will lead us into thinking more broadly about expanding our repertoire of hymns for worship. Royce is not only a wonderful musician, but he exudes creativity and humor.

Be thinking about who you might invite to this – perhaps beginning with your ministers and choir members.  This is a program you won’t want to miss.

Whether you play the organ or just enjoy listening, as a board, we hope you will be an active part of our chapter. It is important to us that you not only support these events by coming, but we want to get to know you.  Who you are is just as important to us as your musical credentials, so please introduce yourself to me when you have the opportunity.

Meanwhile, have a wonderful summer enjoying music and spending time with those you love.

Warmly,

Judy Kohl, Dean

July 2018
The Finale of Our 60th Anniversary Season

Recitalists Andrea Handley, Jill Hunt, Peggy Massello, Randy Manges, David Lornson and Robert Neuenschwander

On Sunday, April 29, nearly 200 AGO members and guests gathered at 4pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Evanston, IL for a recital by six deans, current and former, of the North Shore Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. This included Peggy Massello, David Lornson, Robert Neuenschwander, Randall Manges, Jill Hunt, and Andrea Handley.  This recital, besides demonstrating the skill and talent of the organists, also celebrated the 60th anniversary of NSAGO, the 60th anniversary of the Aeolian-Skinner organ at First Presbyterian as well as the 150th anniversary of the church! The wide-ranging program pleased the audience and raised expectations for a banquet to follow.

After the recital, there was a short walk to The Crystal Ballroom in Evanston where the remainder of the celebration continued for the nearly 70 attendees. Following an opportunity for the assemblage to enjoy drinks and mingling, The Crystal Ballroom served a buffet supper on an Italian theme. The taste and quality of the food and the level of service in The Crystal Ballroom were excellent!

 

Some faces from the dinner….

Lee Nelson, Jill Hunt, Bev and Don Sheridan

Steve Potter, Tom Coombs, Rich Spantikow, Gary Wendt

Adrienne Tyndall (longest-term member in attendance!), Alice Challinor, Peggy Massello, Steve Folkers

Sharon Peterson, John MacKey, Mark Mackenben, Kristina Nyberg

Randy Manges, Judy and George Kohl

Great Lakes Regional Councillor Karl Bruhn, Rich Leasure, Sharon Phillips

The core of the program that followed was a skillfully assembled video slideshow showing program highlights, officers, members, guest artists, and many once-youthful members throughout the entire history of the chapter. The slideshow continued right up to the moment, with pictures of the concert and banquet taken just minutes before. You can view the slideshow at this link: https://youtu.be/t0RtiE5RVrE

John and Maggie Kemper, Mary and Morgan Simmons

Morgan Simmons then delivered a rich set of reminiscences, Maggie Kemper received special recognition for her past service as National AGO president, Regional Councillor presented the chapter with a certificate honoring our anniversary, and Andrea Handley was honored for her five years of service as dean. Outgoing officers and board members were recognized, and the new officers and board were presented to the membership. Each attendee was given a copy of the events planned for the coming year.

Deans in attendance – Front row: Maggie Kemper, Peggy Massello, Andrea Handley, Mary Simmons; Back row: Randy Manges, Lee Nelson, David Lornson, Morgan Simmons, Jill Hunt

Members of the chapter demonstrated the richness of their shared love for, and lifelong devotion to the goals and standards of the entire AGO, by singing Peter Lutkin’s The Lord Bless you and Keep You, conducted by Morgan Simmons. A picture of the former deans in attendance was taken for posterity!

Thanks are owed to the outgoing and continuing board for planning the event and making it work. Special recognition goes to Richard Clemmitt who handled the local arrangements, Rich Leasure who managed reservations, and, of course, Andrea Handley who conceived of and executed the entire celebration.

Richard Clemmitt

Richard Spears

Submitted by Richard Spears and Richard Clemmitt