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The Virginia Beach SPAH Convention was a great success and in no small part due to Tom McCraig, the Cardinal State Harmonica Club, Southside Harmonica Club, and the Newport News Harmonica Club. Despite the state of the economy, harmonica enthusiasts showed up to take part in festivities. Many vendors were there to exhibit their wares as well as our Corporate Sponsors, Hohner, Seydel and Suzuki.
The Virginia Beach Holiday Inn was very accommodating and was there for our every need. They just couldn't be nicer. The entertainment was excellent and seminars abounded. If anything, there may have too much of both and we will have to take a look at that.
I was quite pleased to see a good turn-out for the SPAH General Meeting on Saturday. There was a good exchange between the members, the board and the administration. Some new ideas were presented and we are looking at them.
In August 2012, my second term as President will expire. I am very pleased that two candidates have stepped forward to run for president of SPAH. I am sure that either candidate, Winslow Yerxa or Bob Cohen, will be able to lead SPAH into the future. Be sure to follow their campaigns and to vote in April. You will see their campaign statements in the Winter & Spring issues of Harmonica Happenings. By the way, there is still room for more candidates to declare themselves. Let me know if you have an interest. We have lots of ideas coming in on how we could better run SPAH and perhaps some of those making these suggestions could join in and run for office. Let me know if you have an interest.
Bob Cohen has announced his resignation as our Webmaster. His work on the website is greatly appreciated and it would be nice to let him know. Three Stone Media’s Kent Allen is our new Webmaster and is donating his services. We dearly appreciate this. Manfred Wewers has been appointed the new position of Web Content Manager. His job will be to keep the SPAH Website current. Our website will change a lot as soon as we integrate it with our new Membership System.
Roger Bale and I are working on a new Web Based Membership Program with Timberlake Systems. We hope to have this done in early 2012. An integrated website system will provide all of us with many benefits such as the ability to access all of your information and update or change it as needed and most of all, it will be a standard system that any new Membership Director can easily use. This is very exciting for us. By the way, we will be looking for a new Membership Director soon. If you are interested, please contact me.
We are also in the process of transitioning to our new Treasurer Deb Anderson. Deb is a CPA and comes to us with a wealth of experience. Gene Hansen will step back, after many years, but will be here as Deb progresses.
The other areas of SPAH administration also have "shadows" working to learn those jobs at SPAH. We are so thankful for these volunteers. They really help us keep SPAH moving along for now and the future.
In 2012, we will hold our convention in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The great HOOT organization will be our host. Get ready for great time. We are also already working on the location for our 50th. Anniversary Convention and have visited hotel sites; but, more on this later.
That's all for now. Drop me a line or two when you like, or even call. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Tom |
