Committee Reports

CommitteeReports

RECLAMATION COMMITTEE William “Bill” Reaney, Chairman

This past weekend I attended our district marching band MPA. It was a beautiful day with wonderful performances throughout. While at the event I enjoyed speaking and sharing with other directors both young and old, as well as music supervisors, a component executive director, and more. During this time, I relished in the human connection I felt with my music colleagues at all levels, from discussing how to improve flute tone to sharing humorous beginning band stories. This human connection is what I believe is so important about FMEA and its component organizations. The opportunity to feel connected to other humans who share our love for music as well as the privilege we have to share it with our students should be celebrated.

Reclamation Committee. Many people have had the same reaction to the committee’s name. What is reclamation? Essentially this committee studies trends across the state as to why music educators become members, as well as why some do not. The committee will also work with FMEA and its component organizations to develop strategies to enhance the “human connection” across our state.

The Reclamation Committee will be providing a session at our January conference titled “The Value of FMEA Membership” on Friday, January 14 at 1:30 pm. At this session we will discuss how each of us can have an impact in strengthening our organization. It is appropriate that this year’s conference theme is Unity in Music Education: Building Communities One Note at a Time. How do we build these communities? We will begin by covering the psychological needs for human connections to enhance the reach of FMEA.

This will be followed by reviewing membership data across the state and how we can strive to reach and recruit more members. The session will conclude with providing tools for FMEA members on how to build connections with music educators who are not members of FMEA and its component organizations.

I look forward to making human connections with each and every one of you at our conference in January. Until then, enjoy making music with your students in the month of December.

Print. Digital. Direct.

Florida Music Education Association offers advertising in:

� The Florida Music Director Magazine � Conference Program � All-State Concert Program � Conference Sponsorships � Direct Sponsored Emails � Website Banner Ads

AWARDS COMMITTEE Sondra A. W. Collins Chairwoman

Along with the rest of FMEA, your FMEA Awards Committee is planning for an exciting in-person FMEA Awards Ceremony in January! This year’s awards recognition at the Second General Session will shine a spotlight on our awardees as you will have an opportunity to hear a short message directly from them. You will get a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the awardees regarding the value of music education and the role they play in assuring that all students, at all schools, receive high-quality music education. And don’t forget to check out the FMEA Professional Development Conference Program, as each awardee will have a spotlight biography and photo so you can get to know them better. I hope you are as excited as we are about celebrating our honorees. Our committee is also currently working hard to award those of you that have applied for the Music Education Service Awards and the Music Education Enrollment Awards—these awesome individuals will be announced in the conference program as well.

And finally, we are excited to announce that your Awards Committee has reinstated the Conference Service Award as a special award for this year. This award has only been awarded one other time in FMEA’s history, in 1995 to Claudia Davidsen. A nomination for the Conference Service Award was brought to the Awards Committee this year, not only for this individual’s amazing service for so many years to our FMEA Professional Development Conference, but specifically for the work of taking our entire conference virtual during the pandemic (and accomplishing that feat in just a few short months’ time). The Conference Service Award is awarded only when exceptional service merits recognition of an individual who demonstrates outstanding and sustained leadership and service toward the annual FMEA Professional Development Conference and who carries the mission of FMEA forward in their service to the FMEA Professional Development Conference. The recipient must have demonstrated notable achievement in serving FMEA and continued commitment in promoting and leading the FMEA Professional Development Conference. This award is not awarded annually.

Please join me in applauding your 2022 FMEA award winners! FMEA 2022 Awardees

Distinguished Service Award in Music Education Head’s House of Music, Marilyn and Gary Wirsz, Proprietors (nominated by Elizabeth Phillips and J. Mark Scott on behalf of FVA)

Elementary Music Educator of the Year Mrs. Beth Ann M. Delmar, Deer Point Elementary School (nominated by Shannon Stem on behalf of FEMEA)

Secondary Music Educator of the Year Ms. Connie Drosakis, Bak Middle School of the Arts (nominated by Jay Dunn on behalf of FVA)

College Music Educator of the Year Dr. Kelly Miller, Associate Professor of Music, Coordinator of Music Education, and Director of Women’s Chorus, University of Central Florida (nominated by Jessica Mongerio on behalf of FVA)

Leadership Award for Music Education Mr. Dale C. Choate, Instructional Specialist for Secondary Music, Duval County Public Schools (nominated by Elizabeth Phillips on behalf of FVA)

Administrator of the Year Dr. Miguel A. Balsera, Principal of Miami Arts Studio 6-12 at Zelda Glazer, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (nominated by Erich Rivero, Band Director, Miami Arts Studio at Zelda Glazer)

Exemplary Model Program/Project Rockestra, Shelby Montgomery, George Jenkins High School, Polk County Public Schools (nominated by Shelby Montgomery)

Project Grow Music, Alexander Busby, Oviedo High School, Seminole County Public Schools (nominated by Zachary Chowning)

Conference Service Award Dr. John Southall, FMEA Conference Planning Chairman and FMEA Past President; Professor, Performing & Visual Arts Department Chair, Music Education/Therapy Chair, and Director of Bands, Indian River State College