PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear fellow PADESTA members and colleagues,
I hope this correspondence finds you well and eager for Spring. Here are a few items that I’d like to share.
First, a tremendous thank you needs to be extended to past-president, Dalinda Bohr for her leadership while president of PADESTA. Her devotion of time and energy along with her passion for this organization goes beyond measure. Thank you!
Second, reach out and encourage new members to join ASTA (and PADESTA). View these pages from the chapters in Alaska andMichigan as well as the ASTA homepage for benefits of membership. If you're attending any festivals, recitals, conferences, events, etc. please engage others and ask them to join, and if they decline, find out why and let me know.
Third, here are three events for your calendar.
For those who will be at the ASTA National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 18-21, 2015, say hello to fellow PADESTA members. Please take in everything you can, and share it with your string teaching colleagues when you return.
On Thursday, March 26, 2015, we’ll have our annual luncheon at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Assoc. (PMEA) Annual State Conference to be held at the Hershey Convention Center in Hershey, PA. The luncheon will begin at 12 noon and I hope you can attend. More details can be found on the PADESTA website.
We'll again be hosting an ASTACAP event. Mark your calendars for the 2nd Annual ASTACAP Adjudications, Sat. May 16, 2015, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM at St.Paul's Lutheran Church, 250 Trinity Rd, in York, PA. This is a great learning experience for students. If anyone would like to host an event in your area, please let me know. We can guide you through the process and there are materials from ASTA to get you going.
Fourthly, please consider nominating a high school senior for the PADESTA Scholarship. Last year's recipient was Blair Cunningham from Abington HS. More information is available here.
Lastly, I want to find ways to vigorously engage our membership with new ideas, resources, expanded website, and learning opportunities. As always, please send feedback and thoughts on how you think we can better our organization, and ultimately, provide more for our students and consumers. You can contact me or any of the PADESTA Board members via our new contact page on the PADESTA website.
Peace and Enjoy!
Joe Brennan
PADESTA President
LUNCHEON & GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Going to the PMEA In-Service Conference? Join us at the Annual PADESTA Luncheon & General Membership Meeting, Thursday, March 26 from 12:00-1:30 in Magnolia B of the Hershey Lodge. Registration and pricing will be sent through a separate email soon. Watch your inbox for details.
ORCHESTRA EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
Each year PADESTA awards our Orchestra Education Scholarship to one deserving graduating high school senior who will be attending college for a degree in music education. If you have a qualifying student, encourage them to apply. Application deadline is May 9. Information on requirements and the application can be found on the website.
MINI-GRANTS
NEW WEBSITE & TWITTER
Over the past 6 months, you may have noticed a little dust on the PADESTA website as the PADESTA executive board has been renovating and redesigning our website. We're very excited about the changes and the flexibility that we have to grow our site to reflect our organization. The new site launched last week! Take a moment to check out the new site.
We also are now on Twitter as well as on Facebook. If you are on Twitter, follow us @PADEStrings and throw us a Tweet as you make beautiful music!
NEWS EDITOR NEEDED
Are you a great word smith? Are you a closet newspaper editor? The PADESTA Executive Board needs your assistance! You would be assisting the webmaster with content on the website, newsletters, and emails. No web experience is needed, just writing skills and Word. If you are interested, please contact Ryan Williams, Webmaster or Joe Brennan, President.
