Photos from the conference of 2010 - Hot Springs

Incredible conference; meeting with friends and wonderful sessions with Denise Gagne

By Christine Graham, R&S Chair for Elementary Music

We had another incredible summer in Hot Springs!

It is always so much fun to meet up with friends, and find out who is new in the field. I want to say a big “thank you” to our in-state teachers (Donna Rose, Janine Eubank, Anissa Manasco) who took the time to prepare potpourri sessions. I’m always on the lookout for people willing to take on such a task.

And what a time we had with Denise Gagne! Even though it was a little longer trek to get to the sessions in the Convention Center, it was well worth it. Having taught band, choir, and general music, Denise certainly has a wealth of information to share, and is very generous in doing so. It was like Christmastime, having all those resources to peruse. One teacher especially felt that way—she left on Thursday with the entire Musicplay curriculum (K-5). I really appreciated the material that she donated for door prizes.

Whether it was in playing recorders, doing assessments, or playing musical games, I hope you had a chance to talk with Denise over the two days, and if not, she is quick to respond to emails!

It's a privilege to serve Arkansas ACDA

by Howard Meharg, Web/Editor, AR ACDA

My thanks to Rhonda Hawley, your president, and the AR ACDA board for allowing me the opportunity to serve you as your web/editor. It's been fun developing a site unique to this organization. I hope and believe you'll find it helpful.

I've been a member of ACDA since the mid-1960's when one day during my third year of teaching I got a call from my college director, Bernard Regier, from what was then Western Washington College of Education in Bellingham, the college from which I had graduated just a few years before. He said, "you're going to want to join this new organization. It'll help you with your career." Regier actually understated it. ACDA has been a lifeline, a source of knowledge, a means of networking with colleagues. Many of my most cherished friendships were made, and continue to be made, because of ACDA. In short, I believe in ACDA!

Already I value my contacts with Rhonda as she has supplied me with material with which to build the site. Cliff Ganus, your "Accent" editor, I already count as a friend for we've had numerous email converations that began with my contacting Cliff about reprinting a great article he wrote on use of the spiritual and how it's considered an American art form around the world.

But here's the kicker...it turns out that Cliff knew exactly where to find the now tumble-down house that I lived in as a child in Little Red, Arkansas (a few miles outside of Pangburn) and not far from where I was born. He even took photos of the old place and mailed them to me. (These places just a bit north of Searcy...for those of you who don't know where Pangburn is located.) And, yes, I'm very proud to say I was born in Arkansas. While I have few family members living there now who know who I am, I fully expect to connect with many of you and make claims on you as my extended ACDA family!

As to the website, my pledge is to keep it up-to-date and accurate. However, that's where you come in. First, if you see errors, broken links, inaccurate information, or you find that material that should be on the site is missing, please make sure I know about it. If you write directly, include Rhonda with a Cc of the memo. Part of the service is keeping the site updated, but I definitely need your help. I can post no information unless I get it from you...normally through an officer or your newsletter editor. My email address is: hkmeharg@comcast.net
Howard Meharg, Vancouver, WA