A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Mr. Scott Hedgecock  Southern Section President

 CMEA State and Section Awards

 It is time once again to call on all of our members to recognize those colleagues who give outstanding service to the field of Music Education.  Please visit our state website, www.calmusiced.com, and go to “State Awards”.  It would be great if all Southern Section members took the time to review the awards and then nominated people from our area.  We are one of the larges sections, so let’s also work hard to represent ourselves well by nominating our most deserving colleagues. 

The Southern Section is also asking for nominations for our “Outstanding Section Member of the Year” award.  Nominations should be sent to Scott Hedgecock, President, or any board member by December 1, 2007.  Please include the nominees name and contact information, along with a brief nominating statement.  Note:  All nominees must be CMEA members in good standing.

Southern Section Mid Winter Conference

Your CMEA Executive Board is hard at work in planning for another outstanding Mid-Winter Conference.  Any suggestions you might have for sessions, presenters, and/or locations are always welcomed.  Contact any board member, or email me directly with your thoughts.  Pertinent information to this years Conference will be published shortly, so keep watch on the website here for the details.

All State Professional Development Conference

Sacramento –March 13-14-15, 2008

 Attending the State Conference is a great way to see the bigger picture of Music Education in California.  Meeting with old friends, making new ones, and enjoying the many sessions, performances, and wonderful vendors is a great way to spend three days of Professional Development time.  The State Conference will be held in Sacramento this year, and theme is Score with Music.  I always enjoy the conference in Sacramento, with the Capitol building and the excitement of our state government just around the corner.  I encourage everyone to consider attending this year’s event.  If we have a large enough contingent that pre-registers we just might need to have a Southern Section Reception one night!  I hope to see you in Sacramento with Score with Music, March 13-14-15, 2008.

 Southern Section Executive Board

If you would like to join us on the Executive Board as a Representative you are more than welcome to do so.  Please contact any board member and we will welcome you to our next meeting.  The Executive Board meets six times per year, and our biggest events are planning the Mid-Winter Conference and assisting with the State Conference.  We are looking at other ways in which we might also help to better serve our membership.  Please join us!

 Thank you all for the opportunity to again serve you as your Section President.  I am looking forward to another great year of sharing our musical lives together.

CMEA in the News

Get recognition for your school's fundraising!

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CMEA  SOUTHERN SECTION and MENC MEMBERSHIP

Often many of us belong to musical organizations specific to our teaching expertise and forget about the importance of a national association of music educators. ACDA, SCSBOA, SCVA, Orff and Kodaly Organizations, ASTA, NATS, CBDA are all important and help us get through the daily logistics of our various arts. When you join MENC (the National Association for Music Education) you are connected to a nationwide network of music educators all helping to elevate the importance of music in our nation's schools. And, you receive invaluable information via two national journals, Music Educator's Journal and Teaching Music.

To become a member of MENC/CMEA, go directly to www.MENC.org. 

Winter Inservice Conference '08  CSULA

What a keynote!!

Keynote Presentation by Suzanna Guzman –International Star of Opera and Television, and Music Advocate  

      Suzanna's Bio and Info/Photos

The next event................

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§  All State Professional Development Conference -Sacramento –March 13-14-15, 2008.  "Score with Music."

§  Music and Art Block Grants -AB 1811. Share your Stories!

§  Southern Section Executive Board –Please join us.

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Music and Art Block Grants  AB 1811

Share your stories

In January of 2006, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed one of the largest ever Arts and Music initiatives to support Standards-aligned Arts and Music instruction.  This became the Arts and Music Block Grant (AB 1811) and the Arts, Music, and Physical Education Block Grant (AB 1802 and SB 1131).  Both were passed and became law.  Districts are now in their second year of receiving these funds.  With appropriate implementation, these actions can result in many years of increased funding for Music and Art in our schools.

The next phase of this ongoing project involves communication.  It is necessary to know how these funds are being spent.  What are districts and school sites doing with these funds?  How were the spending decisions made?  What types of long-range plans are in place?   To what extent have all stakeholders in the arts been included in the process?

Please share your Arts Block Grant stories!  If you have a wonderful success story from beginning to current implementation you can be a model for other districts.  If you are on track, but have had a rough start or encountered other problems along the way, then you need to know that you aren’t alone; hearing of your journey in this process might help others.  If you are frustrated, concerned, or have questions that you or your school site administration or district need answers to, please communicate that as well.

The State Board of Directors for the California Association for Music Education wants to know what is happening to you, the Music Educators, with regard to these Block Grants.  Please send me an email, or mail a letter if you wish, and share your stories.  If you are in need of any assistance with implementation or in communication within your district, we want to know and we will offer advice and help.   

CMEA is planning to share some success stories about the Block Grants in an upcoming issue of the CMEA Magazine, but these will only be a few examples.  We know that there are many more situations that could use our help, and in turn could become quality learning examples for others in this ongoing process. 

This is an historic time in our state with regards to Arts funding, and we as Arts Educators have a responsibility to work together, share our expertise and experience, and not be afraid to speak up with suggestions, comments, and/or concerns. 

 I encourage you to send your Arts Block Grant stories to me.  If you just want to share the experiences, that’s great.  If you need some feedback, please let me know so that I may respond appropriately. 

 PLEASE NOTE:  The only action that will be taken will be to contact you first if you ask for help or have any concerns or needs.  Administrators, coordinators, and/or district personnel will not be contacted without your permission. 

Thank you for all of the hard work you do on a daily basis to keep music programs alive and well in the classrooms and schools of California. 

 Please send your Arts Block Grant stories to:      

Scott Hedgecock, CMEA Southern Section President Scotchdir@aol.com      (Please put ARTS BLOCK GRANT STORIES  in the subject area) or mail to:  Scott Hedgecock,  CMEA Southern SectionPresident,             P.O. Box 215, Placentia, CA 92871-0215

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