We are so excited about the overwhelming support and great feedback we've received for this plan and the announcements made at Pinnacle this week. As part of this announcement, those attending Pinnacle were asked to show their support by making a contribution to our capital campaign supporting the project.

President John Pfeiffer started the fundraising effort by offering a $10,000 personal contribution and Presidential Challenge to event attendees to collectively match it. Pinnacle participants came through in a big way and pledged over $92,000 in three days. Add this to pre-event pledges collected by the National Board and that brings the total raised to $138,395!

The complete Honor Roll of those who have invested in the future of The Guild will be posted soon.

Check back often for updates to the list and to learn more about the project and our progress in acheiving these new goals.

Handbell Musicians of America

The wait is over and the proposed new look for the organization has been revealed. AGEHR will be the Handbell Musicians of America.

A big part of the new direction being undertaken by the Guild is to recognize ourselves as musicians to be taken seriously by the music world at large. The fabulous concerts at this year’s Pinnacle have proven that we hold a solid place as musicians to be respected. And the name of the organization will reflect that attitude.

More information about the exciting new future for our art and our organization will appear on these pages as the news evolves.

Extra! Extra!

This just in from Pinnacle 2010: Some new and exciting changes are on the horizon for our organization and the art of handbell ringing.

At lunch on Day Two of Pinnacle 2010 in Music City, Nashville, Tennessee, AGEHR president John Pfeiffer announced the beginnings of some major changes which will serve to transform the face of the organization and become the catalyst for handbell musicians to build a lifetime of ringing.

In his keynote address at seminar last year, John indicated the need for the organization to move in a bold, new direction if it is to survive. Since then the board has been working on a plan to achieve that move. He said that the Guild will invest a good deal of time and money into the future of the organization by concentrating on three areas. The board has embarked on a capital campaign which has already raised more than $40,000.

First will be a complete overhaul of technology, which will bring handbell musicians and directors together like never before, truly recognizing ourselves as the voice of the art.

Second will be a restructuring of the organization’s membership and the introduction of faith based, educational, and community emphases from which members can choose to get the content necessary to fill their needs.

Third is a major rebranding effort designed to go along with the direction our organization and art form need to take in order to take its rightful place in the music world. The rebranding, however, he left as a cliff-hanger, and he promises to tell us more at the capital campaign reception tonight, Tuesday, July 20, at 7:15 in the Nashville Ballroom Salon E of the Marriott before the Vivace concert.

There are still tickets left to attend the reception. Find a board member to get one!

What's This...?

AGEHR has some exciting announcements about the future coming very soon. Board president, John Pfeiffer will be sharing details with the attendees at Pinnacle 2010 in Nashville next week (July 18-21). Watch this site for the details of that announcement. Updates will be posted Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during the event.

Visit here to see the news and tell us what you think.