2010-1-15

OCDA Board Meeting
January 15, 2010
Cox Convention Center, OKC

1. Charla Dedmon called the meeting to order at 2:15pm.

Members Present
Charla Dedmon, Darla Eshelman, Randa Mitchell, Lisa Cullison, Doris Lambert, Tony Gonzales, Ramona Cummings, Brent Ballweg, Ginger Meyer, Rebecca Lindley, Kelly Martin, Wes Singleton, Ralph Duncan, Julie Hester, Darin Chapin, Becky Martin, Nancy Murray.

2. Minutes from the October 15, 2009 board meeting were read and approved with the following correction:
add Wes Singleton to list of members present. The motion was made by Doris Lambert and seconded by Ralph Duncan.

3. The 2010-11 board meeting dates were reviewed and confirmed as follows:
a) March 27, 12:00 p.m., First Baptist Church OKC
b) July 11, 5:00 p.m., University of Oklahoma
c) October 14, 1:30 p.m., Oklahoma City University
d) January 14 (2011), 2:00 p.m., OKC Cox Convention Center

4.   Ramona Cummings gave the treasurer’s report and stated that OCDA presently has a balance of $33,000.

5. Sooner Style
Charla Dedmon began a discussion of the on-line newsletter and everyone agreed it is working well.
The following suggestions were given:
a) deadlines should be announced for articles from board members (Brent Ballweg)
b) OCDA should give John Gerber a plaque to thank him for his services as editor (Ramona Cummings )
c) pictures of singers and guest clinicians in rehearsal could be taken to include in the newsletter (Julie Hester)

6. OCDA Festival Reports
All-OCDA chairs reported that the festival is going well. There was a discussion concerning clinicians dismissing students early from rehearsals. Kelly Martin commented that students are well prepared and clinicians think rehearsals are too long. Lisa Cullison suggested that breaks be scheduled within each rehearsal time. Julie Hester asked if we could consider scheduling the free time on Friday afternoon rather than the evening. Charla asked that the three choir chairs discuss this issue and bring a recommendation to the next board meeting. She noted that this would change the board meeting time to the evening. Tony Gonzales stated that the jazz clinician suggested a one hour rehearsal be scheduled with the rhythm section. The above topics will be discussed further at the summer convention.

7.   Charla reported on discussion raised during the membership meeting. The following topics were included:
· offering a session on retirement with Gail Simpson as clinician
· consideration of elementary and middle school focus for the 2011 summer convention
· directors jazz chorus - Jim Graves from SNU is willing to coordinate this; it was suggested that this be offered to
all directors

8. 2010 Summer Convention
Charla reported that everything seems to be in place for the summer convention (July 12-13 at the
University of Oklahoma).

9. Regional representatives reported as follows:
· Ginger Meyer, NE- they are considering raising fees
· Barbara Meyers, NW- Charla reported that Barbara’s health is improving, and she would like to stay
on the board until her term is over
· Darin Chapin, SE- no report at this time
· Kelly Martin, SW- no report at this time

10. Repertoire and Standards - present chairs are:
· Boy Choirs: Casey Cantwell
· Children’s: Lisa Cullison
· Ethnic/Multicultural:   several suggestions were given including Mary Kay Henderson (Cherokee Children’s Choir) - Fort Gibson
· College/University: Kim Childs
· Community: Doris Lambert
· Jazz Choirs: Tony Gonzales
· Junior High/Middle School: Randa Mitchell
· Male Choirs: Ralph Duncan
· Music in Worship: Cheryl Tarter, Boyd Fees and Patti Drennan were suggested to fill the position after
the summer convention when Mark Powell’s term will be over. Brent Ballweg suggested that the person
should be a full time music minister in a church
· Senior High: Wes Singleton will be going off the board and Mindy Bettridge was suggested
· Show Choirs: Becky Martin
· Two-Year Colleges: Mary Susan Whaley
· Women’s Choirs: Julie Hester
· Youth & Student Activities: Mark Lucas

11. 2011 All-State
Mixed chorus chair is Ginger Meyer; junior high treble chair is Nancy Murray; Lisa Cullison will be mixed chorus
chair for 2012.   Charla stated that names need to be submitted for upcoming high school jazz chorus chair.

Julie Yu Oppenheim and Joshua Oppenheim are the suggested clinicians for 2011. Tony is gathering names for 2011
jazz clinician.

Quad auditions will be on Oct. 30 at Southern Hills with final auditions on Nov. 16. The following sites and chairs were noted:
NE quad - Broken Arrow, Tracy Watson
SE quad -McAllister, Susanne McDaniel
SW quad - Lawton Central Middle School, Lisa Cullison & Charla Dedmon
NW quad - Enid, Jeanine Gully & Angie McKenna

12. Old Business
Mark Powell reminded the board of the opportunity to use the postal training center in Norman for future festivals.
Board members will visit the facilities during the summer meeting. Charla stated that First Nazarene Church in Bethany, as well as the Cox Center are confirmed for 2011 and 2012.

13. New Business
Charla expressed sympathy for the family of Joyce Steeples. She passed away this morning after a long battle with cancer.

A letter of concern from Mindy Bettridge (Owasso High School) was presented regarding all-state jazz chorus tenor Zachery Taylor. He was judged to be unprepared with his music, and therefore sent home and replaced with an alternate. Tony Gonzales noted that the All-OCDA festival agreement form was signed by Zachery Taylor (student), David and Patricia Taylor (parents) and Mindy Bettridge (choir teacher) upon initial selection for the chorus. The signed agreement states it is understood that if the child is selected for the All-OCDA Jazz Chorus and does not know the music satisfactorily upon arrival at the festival, he/she will be sent home. The issue will be researched and discussed at the next board meeting. No action was taken at this time.

Darin Chapin began a discussion regarding selection of the festival music. Complaints have arisen about the level of repertoire being selected.    All agreed that the tessitura has been unreasonable in some of the selections. There will be further discussion at the next board meeting.

14. A motion to adjourn was made by Ralph Duncan and seconded by Lisa Cullison. The meeting was
adjourned at 3:50pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Darla Eshelman