From The Editor

Thomas A. Mosher 732-367-7194 tmosher@njmea.org Website: http://www.njmea.org

This is a big year for NJMEA as we are sponsoring the NAfME Eastern Division Conference in Atlantic City, April 5-8, 2017. It has been a long time since the Eastern Division has held their conference here. This is a great opportunity for all of our NJMEA members to be able to attend one of the largest conferences in the country and we know it will be excellent because Marie Malara is producing it along with her fantastic cadre of helpers.

If you have never attended a National or Eastern Conference, this is your chance. Atlantic City is a lot closer for all New Jersey members than traveling to most of the other states that have hosted it in the past.

Pages 22-35 of this issue will provide you with much of the information you may want to view of what is being offered. You can even see a day by day listing of events by going to www.nafme-eastern.org and clicking on the appropriate links. Rita Moreno will be a featured keynote speaker; New York Voices and The United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants will perform for us; and there will be a special entertaining evening of silent movies with the music performed on the World’s Largest Organ in Boardwalk Hall.

There is no February Conference this year, so this is an event you do not want to miss!

Also in this issue on pages 38-44 is a Special Focus on Arts Education section which has been put together by your Advocacy Chair, Nicholas Santoro and members of “Arts Education Now.”

Nick has been working hard to keep all of our members informed about the advocacy issues in our state. NJ has been extremely fortunate to have a group like “Arts Education Now” working on our behalf to keep music alive and well in our schools.

The emails for Kira Campo, Kristin Wenger, Bob Morrison and Nick Santoro are listed along with their articles. Please take the time to send them an email, thank them for their efforts on your behalf, and ask any questions you may have concerning advocacy and how you can become more involved.

As Nick says in his article, become involved in music advocacy in your district BEFORE problems occur. It is important to illustrate to your parents, school board and administration how important music is in the lives of all of our students and to keep all of our music programs alive and thriving.

Harold Brown Herman Dash

Chester Cable Richard D. Scott Jeffrey G. Ellinwood Chic Hansen