Immediate Past President’s Message

SCOTT TOBIAS

Greetings National Band Association. It’s that time of the year when we find ourselves busy with end of the year concerts, exams, band banquets, and other such activities. And thankfully after a year of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these activities are once again taking place. I hope you and your students have been able to enjoy a return to some form of normalcy in recent months and are eagerly making plans for the fall. At the same time, however, we must acknowledge that there is much work to do to re-establish our programs to their previous levels. This will not happen quickly. Instead, it will require patience and will be the result of many small steps. Most of us are probably familiar with the saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” but the less familiar second half of that saying states, “but they were laying bricks every hour.” By following a similar plan of steady, consistent work, I have no doubt that we will be able to slowly reestablish that which we enjoyed prior to the pandemic.

As the NBA’s 2020-2022 biennium comes to a close so does my time as an officer and member of the Executive Committee. It has been a privilege and pleasure to serve the National Band Association these past eight years. I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet and work with so many of you and to see the great things that are happening in band rooms across the nation.

The success of an organization such as ours is only possible through the combined efforts of many individuals. To the members of the Board of Directors, committee chairs and members, division chairs, and state chairs, thank you for your many contributions to the NBA. To Rebecca Phillips, congratulations on your successful term as President. The association is stronger as a result of your tireless work over the past two years. Thank you also to Randall Coleman and Matt Temple for your service on the Executive Committee. Additionally, best wishes to Randall as he moves into the role of President for the next biennium. The NBA will be in great hands under his leadership. An individual who is not often seen but has done so much for the NBA is our office manager, Terri Daniels. Thank you, Terri, for the many hours you spend managing finances and keeping the affairs of the association in order. And of course, thank you to Linda Moorhouse who is more than just our Executive Secretary. In many ways, she is the National Band Association. Thank you, Linda, for your guidance, counsel, advice, and friendship.

And last, but certainly not least, thank you to all of you. Thank you for affording me the opportunity to serve the National Band Association. Thank you for the work you do on behalf of bands and band music. And thank you for the difference you continue to make in the lives of students and within your communities. The world is a richer place because of the work we all have a privilege to do each day.

Best wishes for an enjoyable summer!

The success of an organization such as ours is only possible through the combined efforts of many individuals.

Scott C. Tobias Immediate Past President National Band Association