In the coming months you will begin to notice both area and national events, as well as some newsletters and other publications, using our organization’s new identity, The Handbell Musicians of America. Instead of seeing an event billed as an “AGEHR Spring Festival,” for instance, you may see an announcement for a “Handbell Musicians of America Spring Festival,” with the tagline, “an AGEHR Sponsored (or endorsed) Event.” Similarly, you may also see a newsletter you are familiar with using the name Handbell Musicians of America with a smaller tagline reading, “an AGEHR publication.”
You will also see increased use of our new logo. And when the identity change is complete, there will be a special logo available for members to use with their own websites and publications identifying themselves as a member of the Handbell Musicians of America.
Eventually the taglines “an AGEHR Sponsored Event” and “an AGEHR Publication” will disappear and we will only refer to ourselves as the Handbell Musicians of America (or The Guild for short). But it is important to understand that while our identity is changing, we will still be the same organization. As John Pfeiffer said in Nashville, the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers is a name we will always honor and by which will always be known. But in an effort indentify ourselves as true musicians and not just a holiday-time novelty, we are taking on a new look and a new name.
So, what does this mean for you as far as registering for events or renewing your membership? Not a thing. You will still register for events the same way as before, and you will still renew your membership like before.
Of course, while our new identity is perhaps the most outwardly visible piece of the entire New Initiatives Campaign, it really is perhaps the least significant. You have already heard much about all the technology improvements, which will allow us to manage the organization better and greatly improve communication not only at the national level but the area and local levels as well. And you will soon begin to hear more about the most important aspect of the campaign, the development of new, first-rate resources for schools, faith-based organizations, and community/professional groups.
Be sure to keep watching this space, as well as E-Notes and Overtones, for further details as the campaign progresses.
"But in an effort indentify ourselves as true musicians and not just a holiday-time novelty, we are taking on a new look and a new name."
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly is being done to move to "true musicians?" Are all the erroneous ways of doing music, playing music, or the conflicting teaching and techniques going to be fixed? Are you going to adhere to standard music practices and not continue to foster incorrect teaching and directing? I assume you are talking about standardization. It would be really nice to see this happen, because I see too many directors who have conflicting information, or were taught things incorrectly, or who stubbornly hold onto some outdated, amateur way of doing music, and insist it is the way the "handbell world" does it, even though it is counter to all other music guilds and standards. Are we going to focus on being musicians rather than trying to make a name for ourselves and get ahead in the handbell community? My biggest pet peeve in the handbell world is that there is no standardization and too many conflicting opinions.