Membership Matters
Monthly reports from the NSAGO registrar.
Membership Matters | March 2021
This month, North Shore Chapter extends a warm welcome to Eunice Son who joined our chapter. Welcome Eunice, we hope to see you at an upcoming event!
As always if you need help with your membership or need help navigating our website or even the national site, don’t hesitate to reach out and I’ll help you the best I can.
Did you know that your AGO membership gives you the benefit of joining the Church Music Institute for only $35?
By action of the AGO National Council on June 11, 2019, the American Guild of Organists entered into a partnership with the Church Music Institute to provide discounted CMI membership rates for AGO members. AGO members can have access to all Church Music Institute member benefits with a discount of $40 off the $75 individual membership, less than half the cost of regular CMI membership, which include access to its online Sacred Music Library with over 18,000 choral selections and over 13,000 organ compositions. Please log in to ONCARD and click on “Update Personal Information” to get the members-only link to join CMI.
Be well everyone!
Rich Spantikow
Registrar
Membership Matters | February 2021
This month we’re excited to welcome four new members to the North Shore Chapter!! The warmest of welcomes to Helen Raymaker who has joined the North Shore chapter this month via transfer from New Jersey. Also welcome to Rachael Boeke, who was our latest scholarship student! Also welcome to Mark Lee and the Rev. Padraig McGuire who gave us wonderful demonstrations of their instruments in our virtual organ crawl. We’re glad you joined us and it was great to meet some of you at our Epiphany Party and hope to see you at our next virtual event!
Just a reminder, that if you have any questions about your membership or need help with renewals, don’t hesitate to reach out. I can help.
With the new year, it’s a good time to remind everyone to be ambassadors for the guild. If you know someone who is an organist or organ lover, or even a student; reach out to them and invite them to join the guild. There are a variety of membership levels suitable for everyone. There really is something for everyone!
Also a reminder that when renewing your membership, that’s the perfect time to consider making a chapter gift. These gifts ensure that NSAGO is able to continue offering quality programs and services to serve our membership now and for years to come!
All the best,
Rich Spantikow
Registar/Membership Coordinator
Membership Matters | January 2021
A warm welcome to Patrick Casali who has joined the North Shore chapter this month via transfer from Ft. Lauderdale. We’re glad you joined us and look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!
Just a reminder, that if you have any questions about your membership or need help with renewals, don’t hesitate to reach out. I can help.
With the new year, it’s a good time to remind everyone to be ambassadors for the guild. If you know someone who is an organist or organ lover, or even a student; reach out to them and invite them to join the guild. There are a variety of membership levels suitable for everyone. There really is something for everyone in the guild!
Also a reminder that when renewing your membership, that’s the perfect time to consider making a chapter gift. These gifts ensure that NSAGO is able to continue offering quality programs and services to serve our membership now and for years to come!
Happiest of New Years to you!
Rich Spantikow
Registar/Membership Coordinator
Membership Matters | December 2020
A warm welcome to James Janssen who joined the North Shore chapter this month. James, we’re glad you joined us and look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!
Just a reminder, that if you have any questions about your membership or need help with renewals, don’t hesitate to reach out. I can help.
Also a reminder that when renewing your membership, that’s the perfect time to consider making a chapter gift. These gifts ensure that NSAGO is able to continue offering quality programs and services to serve our membership now and for years to come!
Warmest wishes for a peaceful holiday season!
Rich Spantikow
Registar/Membership Coordinator
Membership Matters | November 2020
All has been pretty quiet in the membership department this month. There are a few memberships that are coming due for renewal in the next couple of months. If you are unsure when your renewal is and don’t recall receiving an email from national headquarters, send me an email and I can check for you. Likewise, if you have any questions regarding your membership you can ask and I’ll be happy to help you out.
Be thankful and grateful for all the blessings in your life!
Rich Spantikow, Registar
Membership MattersFebruary 2020
We would like to take a minute to officially welcome our three scholarship students to the North Shore Chapter. Solomon Davids, Davis Redman, and Jiyoun (Hailey) Jun all received one-year memberships to the American Guild of Organists as part of the organ scholarship initiative we sponsored over the summer. Welcome to the North Shore Chapter, we look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!
Membership is holding at 98 members, this reflects the addition of the three scholarship winners. If anyone knows of someone in our area that is not a member of the AGO but could possibly be interested in joining, please let us know so we can reach out to them. It’s the dreaded “E” word….Evangelism. You can either steer them to the national website to sign up or you can just submit a name and someone I can reach out to them and let them know what the Guild can do for them.
Rich Spantikow
Registrar
Membership MattersMarch 2020
Evangelism: Spreading the word.
Many of us dread that “E” word we often hear in church….Evangelism. Evangelism can be described as a zealous advocacy of a cause. As organists and organ lovers, we’re all pretty passionate about our craft and enthusiasm for organs and organ music. Why not spread the word to other organists and organ enthusiasts. If you know someone that you think may like to join the Guild (who either may not know about us or knows about us and has not joined yet), invite them to one of our events, guests are always welcome! Others can be influenced by your enthusiasm for the guild and want to join us as well. Share with them the many benefits to being a Guild member, from the TAO to educational resources to fun and fellowship. There’s something in the Guild for everyone. Be an evangelist and invite a friend or colleague today!
Submitted by Rich Spantikow
Membership MattersApril 2020
While we’re all facing unexpected downtime due to unforeseen circumstances that shall not be named. We’ve come to realize that we have a lot more time on our hands. How do we cope with sheltering in place? We’re used to going to our respective churches to practice multiple times a week, participating in weekly worship and coordinating face to face with other staff and colleagues.
There was a nice response to COVID-19 published by national headquarters that offers a lot of information that could be valuable to some out there. I’d encourage you to give it a browse. https://www.agohq.org/responding-to-covid-19/
Rich Spantikow, Registrar
NSAGO 2020 Board
Presented by Adrienne Tindall, chair of the nominating committee.
Terms begin on July 1, 2020.
Judy Kohl
Dean
Term 2020-2022
(serving a second term)
Richard Clemmitt
Sub-Dean
Term 2020-2022
(serving a second term)
Robert Woodworth
Secretary
Term 2020-2022
David Hiett
Treasurer
Term 2020-2022
Linda Cerabona
Board Member
Term 2020-2023
Paul Cochran
Board Member
Term 2020-2023
Sharon Peterson
Board Member
Term 2020-2023
Membership MattersMay 2020
Just a friendly reminder, there are a lot of chapter memberships that are due for renewal between now and July. National headquarters usually emails you about your upcoming renewal 2 months before your membership is due to expire. Unfortunately, there are no extensions or delays granted for renewals at this time.
The ways to renew are listed below, recommended by National Headquarters:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and by order of our governor, our New York City office has been temporarily closed. The AGO staff is now working remotely and mail has been suspended. For the time being, we are sending all renewal notices by email, even those to members who have previously requested a printed invoice sent through the postal mail. We apologize for the inconvenience. The quickest way to renew your membership is payment by credit card.
Instructions to renew on line by Credit Card:
1. Go to www.agohq.org
2. Click on Member Login (in top right hand corner).
3. Enter your username and password (for help with your login credentials, click the word “here” in red).
4. Click on “Renew Dues and Subscriptions.”
5. Follow the prompts.
Payment by Credit Card over the Phone:
Please call us at (212) 870-2311 and we will be happy to assist you in renewing your membership.
Should you choose to renew by check, there will be a substantial delay in processing your renewal that may also affect the timeliness of receiving the monthly delivery of TAO.
1. Note any changes to contact or membership information on your invoice.
2. Include your date of birth if you are a Young Organist (29 and under) or Special (65 and over or disabled).
3. If you wish to opt out of the printed copy of THE AMERICAN ORGANIST Magazine, check the box at the bottom of the invoice and subtract $8. You will then have access to the magazine online only at https://www.agohq.org/current-issue/.
4. Please make your check or money order payable to the American Guild of Organists.
5. Return both invoice and check/money order to national headquarters by the due date.
I encourage you to review the information on our website regarding the resources for organists during the pandemic found here. (https://www.agohq.org/responding-to-covid-19/)
If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, and I’ll help you the best that I can.
Rich Spantikow
Registrar/Membership