Saturday Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Planning to Plan: What You Need to Know and Do Before Creating a Strategic Plan

Presenter: David Edelman, Executive Director Big Apple Performing Arts/NYCGMC

Geared toward: Mid and advanced level

Writing a Strategic Long-Range Plan is just the tail-end of a process of internal examination. An effective planning process can help your chorus focus on key opportunities and work towards greater sustainability. Learn how to create a process that gets you ready to put pen to paper.

Benefits:

1. Understand who needs to be involved in creating a good plan.
2. Learn how to engage your stakeholders in a creative process
3. Learn how to assess your current environment.

Effective Major Gifts Fundraising : Creating A Major Gifts Program that Suits Your Organization

Presenter: Peter R Caborn, Director of Major Gifts. Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

Geared to: All levels

70% of all arts funding comes from individuals. This session will help you learn how to build and tailor a "major gifts" program directly to the branding and image of your chorus. In addition, you will learn about some of the most common mistakes that are made in high-level individual solicitations andhow to avoid them.

Benefits:

1. Understand that how ’major gifts’ fundraising is defined from organization to organization often changes.
2. Be familiar with best practices in high-level, individual solicitations and the most commonly made mistakes.
3. Know how to begin to create/tailor a ’major donor’ experience within the framework of their organization.
4. Know how to use current individual support for one’s organization as the foundation for growing a major gifts program.

"Variations on a Theme:" Concepts for Performances

Presenters: Panel of GALA Artistic Directors, Joseph Nadeau, facilitator

Geared toward: all levels

In an age where many of our choruses strive to remain relevant and fresh to our communities, many choruses seek to attract audiences through concerts that surround specific themes. Some of these themes help to promote aspects of glbt rights and experiences, others are just plain fun. A stellar panel of GALA artistic directors will share their ideas on concert themes that work (and perhaps some that don’t). This workshop will include concepts for men’s, women’s and mixed choruses.

Benefits:

1. Get inspiration and ideas to help generate new ideas for concerts
2. Learn about concepts that have worked to inspire chorus members and audiences

Creating a Strategic Plan

Presenter: David Edelman, Executive Director Big Apple Performing Arts/NYCGMC

Geared toward: Mid and advanced level

Writing a long-range strategic plan can be a complex challenge for your organization. Good strategic plans don’t sit on a shelf – they are living documents that help focus your work and resources. Learn how to make this process a truly helpful experience that sets the stage for your future.

Benefits:

1. Understand what goes into writing a good plan
2. Understand what a plan can and cannot do for an organization
3. Understand how a plan can be a practical roadmap

Governance Growing Pains

Presenter: David Streit, Vice Chairman, Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C.

Geared toward: Mid level

One of the greatest challenges for a Chorus is defining its organizational and growth goals. Building a strong Board of Directors is a significant step in securing a healthy future. This institute is geared to looking at ways to put together a Board that transitions from an operational "hands on" Board to a more "corporate" governance Board.

Benefits:

1. Have an understanding of what kind of individuals are needed for Board service and how to go about recruiting them
2. Be aware of the pitfalls and challenges posed by the transition from an operations to governance Board
3. Gain practical insights about getting "buy in" by all key personnel
4. Learn how to deal with some of the conflicts and opportunities within the Board

Copyright. Copywrong. Copyconfusion. Dealing with Copyrights from Commissioning to Mechanicals (repeated)

Presenters: Jennie Morette, Copyright Compliance Officer and Mark J. Morette, President, Mark Custom Recording Service Inc.

Geared to: all levels

Few issues confuse artistic and administrative leaders more than the complex web of issues related to copyright licensing for new music, arrangements, and recordings. Two industry experts will take you through the process of trying to commission music, locating copyright holders and dealing with the mechanical reproduction license process.

Benefits:

1. Know how to locate and contact a copyright holder.
2. Learn how to submit a request for mechanical reproduction licenses.
3. Have an understanding of the importance of following copyright laws.
4. Help eliminate confusion dealing with many different aspects of copyrights.

More Rehearsal Time…Priceless!

Presenter: Andres Cladera, Artistic Director, Renaissance City Women’s Choir

It often feels like there is never enough time! During this session, we will discuss different ways to increase our rehearsal time. It will include discussion of Pod casting, use of Instant messaging, website and mp3 files sent via email. We will also explore new ways to assess your singers’ work outside of your rehearsal.

Benefits:

1. Discover ways to extend your rehearsal time.
2. Learn at least one new way to rehearse during the week via email
3. Get practical knowledge about several recording programs/devices
4. Understand copyright regulations concerning the use of sound files over the web.