$3000 in the "southern" area of Vermont to support the upcoming Opus 30 event.

From: Sandi MacLeod

Hello everyone,

I've been given your contact info by Connie Wilcox as parents who are interested in ensuring Music-COMP is able to continue promoting student composition with online mentoring and live performances. 

I'm hoping she's spoken with you about our financial challenges and the need to raise $3000 in the "southern" area of Vermont to support the upcoming Opus 30 event. That's our short term goal and immediate need. For the future, we'd like to focus on developing a strong local community for support and perhaps expand the number of live performance opportunities in the local area. I've attached an info sheet about establishing the regional friends groups that might give you an idea about the scope of this across the state.

I'd love to chat with each of you individually if you'd like to call the office. I'm employed very part time, so in and out, but we could set up a time for a conversation. It might be good for the local group to come together face-to-face for a meeting to brainstorm ideas and divide up the tasks. I could meet via Skype from my home in Essex Junction with you if you met in person.

Let me know any ideas you have already for your local area. Feel free to contact me via cell phone 802-578-8580 or the office phone 802-879-0065 or send e-mail. 

Thanks,

Sandi MacLeod
Executive Director
30 Steeplebush Rd
.Essex Jct., VT 05452

802-879-0065 sandi@vtmidi.org http://music-comp.org 

 1995-2015 – 20 years of serving students in music composition. FRIENDS OF MUSIC-COMP REGIONAL GROUPS February 2015 Introduction: Over the past few months the Music-COMP Board of Director discussions have focused on the challenges Music-COMP faces in funding the activities of the organization. As we enter our 20th anniversary year, we wonder if the organization is sustainable any longer without curtailing some of the activities or raising the student fees. The Board believes that regional Friends of Music-COMP groups could significantly help address the fiscal challenges. These groups can promote the work and create awareness within local communities. We continue to discover that even though Music-COMP has promoted student composers for 20 years, most people have never heard of us. Every student and every parent has connections with businesses and organizations that would support us if they knew about the work. How do we organize regional groups? 

• Board of Directors liaison contacts participating teachers and outlines goals. 

• Teachers contact key parents including alumni parents, and community members with an interest in student composers.

 • Parents meet with board liaison and teachers once to outline goals, create timelines and divide responsibilities. The participation of teachers in the fund raising should be minimal once the group gets going. The goal is to have the organization continue to raise money on an ongoing basis. Immediate Goal The immediate need is for Opus 30 expenses and online mentoring for this work. Each group will be responsible for raising appropriate amount toward Opus 30 concert expenses: 

• Northeast Kingdom: $3,000 • Central Vermont: $3,000

 • Southern Vermont: $3,000 • Chittenden County: $5,000 It would be expected that the local group create their own fundraising plan, suited to their community and situation. See the attached map for the region divisions and schools list with each group. Target date for fundraising is April 10th. Ideas from the Board of Directors for possible sources of revenue:

 • Opus Sponsorship from individual donors to be listed in program by donation level. • Ads for businesses in Opus 30 program. All ads go on our website along with an image and link to the business. 2 

• Presentations to local service groups showcasing student work. Rotary and Lions Clubs already have presentations on a regular basis. Get on the calendar now!

 • House party for potential donors, with music performed; OPUS participants included. Perhaps student(s) can speak about mentoring, live performance, the new skills they’ve developed since composing and how it provides a creative outlet.

 • Local “Opus” style concert- opportunity for many more works to be performed. • Your locally generated original idea! Further opportunities for the regional group: • PR highlighting and celebrating students from the region

 • Local media including community and school

• Social media

 • Support for local students and teachers in their work 

• Support for local performance of student compositions in the community Procedure and Timeline: Date: NOW

 • Identify and communicate with all teachers in each designated region. 

• Teachers communicate with all parents of current and former student composers in their district and solicit their participation.

 • Supporting documents and materials available in the google doc folder– see list below.

 • Packets of print materials will be mailed to board liaison in each region. Date: as soon as possible, at least by March 10th Organize a meeting with teachers, parents, board liaison, and interested community members (in rural areas can be done by Skype) and discuss goals and expectations. A chair should be elected, who will also serve as Treasurer. All money raised is to be forwarded to the MusicCOMP office. Date: March 1 - April 10th

 • Parents and Community members solicit ads, sponsorships and any other fundraising that they chose to pursue.

 • Send a written report of the planning meeting and outline the fund raising efforts underway including a time line and list of responsibilities taken by committee members. 

• Money should be collected and send to Music-COMP office. Date: April 10th - Deadline for all fundraising activities completed. Supporting documents and materials available: 

• FACT SHEET about Music-COMP to e-mail or hand to potential supporters.

 • Rate Sheet with ad rates and submission requirements as well as Sponsorship levels.

 • Individual donors may pay with a credit card through the Donate button on the website.