Annual Meeting 2024
Called to order at 8:00PM
Welcome
Elections - Christian Montes + J.J. Pearse
Many thanks to everyone who served on the Election Committee: Christian Montes, Jeanine Asay, Eric Holt, Christina Graber, Christina Carroll, Lucas Testin, and myself
We were blessed to have many submissions for the board this year, and we cannot thank everyone enough for their time. We encourage future submissions, and committees are open to anyone interested!
As mentioned via email, we are filling four vacancies, and the election committee has proposed to the following slate, as approved by the current board: Lisa Klockenga, Nick McWilliams, Shelly Alexander, and Debbie Farrell. Information on these candidates was included in the email sent to membership
You will receive another email during this meeting with a link to vote, please reach out to Christian immediately! Voting will close in one week.
Lastly, we would like to send our many thanks to our outgoing board members for their dedicated service: Treasurer Nathan Brown, Membership Committee chair Rose Rodriguez, Webmaster Erin Trampel, and Board Chair Alex Welch
Organizational Update - Ian Bradt
Board Updates - J.J. Pearse
Delivered alongside Elections announcements
Financial Report - Nathan Brown
Available upon request.
Next Season Mighty Mo - Jessie Davis
Beatlesmania 4/19 7:30 pm FREE
Mighty Mo Jazz Orchestra - all shows at the “Lavender Flamingo”
Early October “Echoes of the Greats”
Classical mashups, jazz standards from 20s-40s
Mid February “Modern Threads”
Fusion/Funk/Contemporary/Hip Hop
Mid June “Harmonious Horizons”
NEW! Third Concert added to season (from previously doing 2)
Featuring all works by Maria Schneider
Additional Performance Opportunities
Currently working on revamping our “for hire” pricing
If you know of any local events that would like live music, connect me!
MMJO Auditions
We currently hold auditions when we have an open spot.
If you would like to be put on a “call list” for subs, email Jessie
Next season we will need additional auxiliary percussion. When the need arises for additional players for a chart or two (expanded brass sections in a Kenton chart, for example), we will announce it in concert band rehearsals.
Next Season Concert Band - Lee Hartman
Concert band - Season 22 - Musical Mosaics - Every Note Has A Place
Late October at the Gem “Ghost Story”
Julia Perry - Symphony No. 6 - 100th Anniversary
Nick Omiccioli - New Work for Electric Guitar and Band - 70s Funk Inspired
Randall Standridge - Symphony No. 1 “A Ghost Story” - Co-commission
December 14 at the Lyric “Hallmark Holidays” OPTION FOR 2ND PERFORMANCE
Josh Trentadue - Wild Christmas Nightcap [if ya wanna try it - have faith you can do it]
Patric Standford - A Christmas Carol Symphony
Abdo Timejardine-Zomeno - New Sleigh Ride - Pride Band Alliance Member (fandango style)
William Henry Fry - A Santa Claus Symphony - With vintage Hallmark card projected
May 2 at the Folly “Yellow Roses and Green Hills”
Nancy Galbraith - Symphony No. 1 for Winds
Jenn Jolley, Anthony R. Green, Olivia Kieffer - New Timpani Concerto
Julie Giroux - Symphony No. 1 “Culloden”
Other Performances
Late September/Early October at the Plaza Library “Variations on Democracy” (Sept 21)
Twenty confident players needed 2 flutes (one piccolo doubler), 2 oboe (one english horn doubler), 1 bassoon, 2 b-flat clarinet, 1 bass clarinet, 1 alto sax, 1 tenor sax, 2 b-flat trumpets, 2 f horns, 2 trombones, 1 euphonium, 1 tuba, 2 percussionist (no timpani, only 1 percussionist has mallets)
Louis Andriessen - Workers Union - whomever wants to
Lee Hartman - Variations on Democracy - world premiere - full group
Jorge Sosa Ortega - I Dissent Mvt III - potentially full group
Carol Erion - Humming and Whooping - one rehearsal
John Dante Prevedini - In the Balance - one rehearsal 4 players
Spencer Arias - Freedom as the Waves - brass and percussion
Ethel Smyth - March of the Women - full group
Jenn Jolley - MARCH! - Full group
Zoo performance - Most likely similar time frame
Other Items
Long-Haul Model
StoneLions most likely joining us for May concert with their giant puppets of insects and birds
Already registered for KC Pride Parade (within first 15 minutes)
MMEA in January?
Chamber Groups?
Rehearsing/Recording over Summer?
Consortium ask
Instrument care and maintenance
Hearing protection
Season 23 - Mythology (Here Be Dragons, Of Myths and Monsters)
Pride Bands Update - Jessie Davis
Explain what Pride Bands is for those who don’t know
2024 Conference in Columbus, OH! July 17-21st.
Concerts are Sat. evening, so Sunday is travel/goodbye brunch time
https://pridebands.org/2024/ to register
Scholarships are now open!
Due by February 15th EOD
Don’t forget the letter of recommendation, required to move your app. Forward!
New Board of Directors Terms began Jan 1.
New President David Doan (Los Angeles), all other Exec leaders stayed the same (Jessie, Zef, Amy)
Committees Help
Always looking for more committee members! Current committees are:
Communications Committee
Conferences Committee
Development Committee
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
Membership Committee
Special Events Committee
A TON of Special Events coming up in 2025! World Pride DC, President Inaugural Parade, and something extra special!
If interested, send me an email and I can connect you directly with the committee lead
Working on writing up committee descriptions, meeting frequency, etc. at our Board Retreat in February. Most committees meet once a month for an hour.
Marketing Committee - Joy Hope
Ran radio ad for May 2023 concert on Classical KC from May 13-19
Tabled at KC Pride June 8-10
Tabled at KU Medical’s Pride event June 23
Formed marketing committee (thank you Cory, Addylyn, Ashton and Laura)
Ran radio ad for Season 21 opener on Classical KC from Sept 9-15
Submitted concert dates to local online calendars (KCUR/Classical KC, Arts KC Go, KC Studio, Kansas City Magazine, and The Pitch)
Created template for MAFB press releases, working on one for Mighty Mo
Sent out press release via email to our media contacts December 5
For this year:
Hold regular marketing committee meetings
Create a calendar for marketing releases
Look for more avenues for promotional purposes
Membership Committee - Rose Rodriguez
Goal is for membership retention and to keep members involved outside of performances!
Currently looking for more members to join, meetings occur once a month, in person or virtually.
Interested in planning social events? Let’s talk! We’re always looking to get to know each other better.
Past activities include:
Season opening cookout
Holiday cookie exchange
Outdoor movie night
National Anthem at Pride Night for the Royals game
Aids Walk
Brookside St. Patrick’s Day parade
KC Pride Parade
Stonelions Blue Marble Parade
Mid MO Pride Parade in Columbia MO
Fundraising Committee - Rameka Jennings
Thank you to everyone that has supported fundraising initiatives throughout the year, whether it be sharing and or donating. It takes a lot of consistent exposure to influence people to donate, so thank you!
We still have two active fundraising campaigns for the bari sax and quilt raffle that we will continue to push throughout this season.
Looking towards 2024, I am excited to dial in and focus on a couple initiatives:
Fundraising Committee - It’s happening! Thank you to all the current committee members, Ashton, April, Jennifer, Jeanine, and Lucas. If you are interested in participating in our first meeting will be on Monday, Feb. 5th at 7pm. Please reach out to me if you would like to join to find out more info!
The Donor Sponsorship Program has been drafted and I will be presenting it to the board at our next meeting for approval to publish. This program allows individual/families and corporate entities to donate with exposure for their financial commitments. In addition, I am working on designing a ‘Conductors Club’ that will recognize donors who give at a certain level and drafting new content for a stronger call to action to encourage company match initiatives, with a ‘how to’ guide.
Signature Event - I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about our traditional ‘bad drag’ event and think there is an opportunity to rebrand this event (with a less negative connotation towards drag). I would love anyone interested in helping with this to reach out to me. I have approached a couple people and may “volenforce” a couple of you. But I think this is the year to re-emerge with a live event.
Merch - I appreciate everyone being so enthusiastic about the merch. The plan will be to continually bring in “exclusive” items in ~50 pieces, so we don’t sit on a lot of inventory. If you have ideas or want something, please let me know! (Current considerations, fan, fanny pack/cross body bag, water bottle/tumbler)
My call to action: If you are interested in being a part of any of these initiatives, please reach out to me! You don’t have to be involved in all these facets, tell me what you are interested in! If anyone has talents in design (merchandise), copy writing, etc. I could use your help there!
Q&A, Closing remarks - adjourned at 9:09PM
