SEPTEMBER 2020
sponsored events—one benefit that sprang from the virtual convention. Tis is a great offer, with no cost layout for the chapter, and no worries about losing chapter funds if it becomes necessary to cancel.
During the convention itself, chapters got to connect—via social media, Zoom convention happy hours, “watch parties” to view convention events at the same time, lively email discussion groups and planned Zoom meeting times, and chances for chapters to connect and debrief after a day of convention viewing.
Trough some of these virtual meetings, chapters have shared their experiences in making the shift to online events during this past spring and summer. All used the now ubiquitous Zoom platform, and all offered their events at different times of day to accommodate membership. Te early adapter to this model was the Washington DC Chapter, which held a “Meet and Greet, Share and Pray” event in the spring. Teir meeting began with introductions and a brief prayer service, after which all participants spoke individually in a sharing circle, and took turns answering a series of prompts about how they were coping with the pandemic. Te event concluded with scripture, petitions, and an Our Father, which they sang together in full Zoom cacophony. Participants found this meeting to be an uplifting and supportive experience.
During the summer months, the NPM chapters from Rockville Centre, NY and Portland, OR individually held online meetings that focused on church reopening guidelines, liturgy and social distancing, and the scientific data regarding choral and public singing. Documents and information were emailed to membership for study. Portland held three separate events and invited guest experts to speak on each topic and facilitate discussion. Te Rockville Centre chapter meetings were facilitated by chapter leadership. All the events presented by these three chapters focused on supporting membership during the challenging circumstances we all face. We are all One NPM when NPM National aids its chapters, chapters share ideas with other chapters, and local chapters support the needs of membership and fellow musicians.
—Susan Hugelmeyer, Chapter Director, Rockville Centre, NY
Programming During a Pandemic
Early in the pandemic, our chapter board determined that in-person events were likely not going to be feasible or desirable. Still, software solutions such as Zoom have become more familiar and usable, and they have opened up possibilities not previously considered. NPM’s Virtual Convention not only demonstrated that live and prerecorded video programming could be successful, but it has provided content that we will be able to utilize at the chapter level.
We will offer three educational events this fall, one each in September, October and November. Tese offerings will feature content presented from this year’s convention. Chapter members will moderate the presentations and provide the opportunity for follow-up discussion following the conclusion of the video(s). Tese will be online events, though some limited in-person interaction remains a possibility. I see this as an enormous blessing! Each year, I try to summarize and capture the sentiment of the best plenum addresses and workshops I attended for those who are interested. Utilizing the available video content now will bring those sessions directly to our members.
CONVENTION TO YOUR CHAPTER GATHERING!
On the heels of NPM’s extremely successful virtual convention, chapters leaders can now
take advantage of sharing convention content for their own chapter programming events
through Spring of 2021. If you’d like to share a particular plenum address, MEGA-breakout, or any other event from the convention in a
chapter-sponsored program, the NPM national office can help. Please contact Berta Sabrio (
berta@npm.org) if you are interested.
63 TAKE THE
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