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2025 General Membership Meeting

Welcome to the 2025 MMEA General Membership Meeting!

Meeting Materials Are Available At: www.massmea.org

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2025 General Membership Meeting

  • If able, please rise and join in the singing of the National Anthem (Jared Cassedy)
  • Moment of Silence

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  • Agenda

  • Call To Order

  • Approval of 2024 General Membership Meeting Minutes

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2025 General Membership Meeting

Treasurer’s Report as of January 31st, 2025 (Stephanie Riley)

Total Income (Gross Profit)

  • $269, 239.18

Total Expenses

  • $124,280.22

Net Operating Income

  • $144,956.96

Budget Sheet

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2025 General Membership Meeting

Recognitions:

  • MMEA Executive Board Members
  • Massachusetts Music Educators Journal (MMEJ) Editorial Board
  • Conference & Exhibit Committees
  • Auditions and Concert Committees
  • Treble Chorus Committee
  • Equipment Team
  • Ginny Bailey (Auburn HS), Meredith Lord (Burncoat HS), Christopher Noce (Concord-Carlisle RHS)- Greg Gazolla (Boston PS) -Percussion Instruments
  • Collegiate Ambassadors
  • DEIA Committee and Feasibility Groups

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2024 General Membership Meeting

MMEJ Editorial Board

Rhoda Bernard,

Higher Education

Catherine Iatesta,

New Music

Educator

Brian Gellerstein, Jazz/

Contemporary

Michael Smith,

Instrumental

Kelly Bylica,

Research and Music Teacher Education

Heather Cote, �Music Program Leaders

Allison Lacasse,

Advocacy

Sarah Leahy,

General Music

Stephanie Riley,

Choral

Meaghan O’Connor-Vince,

Technology

Genithia Hogges,

Cultural Responsiveness

Christy Whittlesey, Managing Editor

Allyson Rottman, Large Municipalities

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Collegiate Ambassadors

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President’s Report (Anthony Beatrice)

MMEA 4 Strategic Plan Priorities

  1. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access
  2. Serving the Profession
  3. Organizational Vitality
  4. Advocacy

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2025 General Membership Meeting

Future Music Educators Summit

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Lowell Mason Arts Education Equity Act

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New All State Ensembles in 2026

  • 4 year long process
  • Process involved many MMEA members, leaders, and stakeholders
  • Multiple surveys of the membership
  • Result: Addition of 4 new ensembles in 2026

SSAA Choir

Percussion Ensemble

Jazz Ensemble (including Vocalists)

Contemporary Ensemble (Instrumentalists and Vocalists)

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2025 General Membership Meeting

New All State Ensembles in 2026

  • Outstanding Issues (to be announced between now and the end of school)
    • Audition Materials for Jazz Vocalists and Contemporary Ensemble
    • 2nd Concert Logistics

Questions?

  • NewEnsembles@MassMEA.org
  • MassMEA.org/NewEnsembles
  • Tom and Allyson will be available at 4:30 pm in the Picknelly Room at Hilton this afternoon

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2025 General Membership Meeting

Elections Update (Dr. Heather Cote)

  • Voting is open until April 17th. Vote!!
  • Positions still open
    • Clerk
    • Treasurer
    • Music Program Leaders Chair
  • Interested? Contact Dr.Heather Cote at hcote@westwood.k12.ma.us

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2025 General Membership Meeting

Bylaws Update (Jared Cassedy)

  • Link to 2025 Bylaws Updates per action in March 2024
  • Strike language in Article 4, Section 2 of the elementary coalition chair, middle school coalition chair, and high school coalition chair in addition to Article 6, Section 2, Part 3 of the old coalitions
  • Add language in Article 4, Section 2 and Article 6, Section 2, Part 3 of the new coalition chairs & responsibilities.
    • General Music/Music Technology Coalition Chair - Even Years
    • Chorus/Vocal Coalition Chair - Even Years
    • String/Orchestra Coalition Chair - Even Years
    • Band Coalition Chair - Even years
    • Jazz/Contemporary Ensembles Coalition Chair - Even Years
    • Music Program Leaders Coalition Chair - Odd Years
    • Higher Education Coalition Chair - Odd Years
  • Motion to approve the update of the language to coalition chairs and responsibilities, Second, and Vote

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2025 General Membership Meeting

Advocacy (Allyson Rottman)

Parent Booster Groups

  • Zoom meetings (2-3 per school year)
  • Fundraising, volunteer opportunities, supporting school staff during overrides/budget cuts
  • Band app- communication
  • advocacy@massmea.org

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2025 General Membership Meeting

Beacon Hill Day- May 19, 2025

  • Lobby & advocate for music education in MA
  • 8 student groups performing
  • Arlington, Canton, Chelmsford, Salem, Sturbridge, Westford, Weymouth
  • Grand Staircase
  • Open to the public- join us!
  • Recognition of Hill Day Committee

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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Access (Tom Westmoreland)

  • Audition Feasibility Group
    • Accommodations Form for Auditions
    • Anonymous Auditions
  • New Ensembles Feasibility Group
  • Affinity & Discussion Groups at Conference
  • Pathways into the Profession Subcommittee
  • DEIA@MassMEA.org

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2024 General Membership Meeting

Executive Director Report (Mike Lacava)

New Business

Old Business

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Adjourn

Next Up: Awards Ceremony!