President
Craig Manteuffel
Director of Bands
Hays High School
Greetings from your KMEA President! As I type my final President's message, the beautiful white snow is falling outside my kitchen window... what a picturesque view. Although the snow is coming down, all of our wonderful holiday concerts are a thing of the past and the six KMEA District Mini-Conventions were spectacular. Congratulations to all district presidents, ensemble chairs, and district leaders for providing music teachers and students in our great state these superb opportunities for musical growth!
It is now time to look forward to our February convention. KMEA leadership is once again preparing for a magnificent 2013 In-Service Workshop! Our convention will be held in Wichita and the dates are February 21-23. I am thrilled to announce that Michael Butera, National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Executive Director, and Shannon Kelly, NAfME Advocacy specialist, will attend our ISW. Each will present a clinic session and speak with our members numerous times throughout the weekend. Make sure you are present for the 1:00 p.m. Opening Session on Thursday. Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser will be our keynote speaker. Dr. Tim is an inspiration to all. He will have us laughing hysterically one minute and pulling at our heart strings the next. Also, our very own John Taylor, KMEA Executive Director and NAfME SW Division President, will be in attendance as he finishes his tenure on the NAfME National Executive Board. Congratulations John, you have represented Kansas with poise and dignity!
KMEA Wins NAfME Advocacy Award
In June, 2012 at the National Assembly in Baltimore, Maryland, NAfME presented the Kansas Music Educators Association with the 2012 Advocacy Award for "Music In Our Schools Month." This outstanding award was received through the dedication of many music teachers in Kansas. I would like to personally thank Mike Quilling, KMEA Vice-President, for his advocacy vision and for taking time to fill out the NAfME application. I would also like to thank Fred Burrack, KMEA Advocacy Co-Chair, for his exceptional work with the "Impact of Budget Cuts on Music Education in Kansas." These surveys empower KMEA leaders with "black and white" results to prove to our Kansas and federal government leaders the devastating effects of these education cuts in our state. KMEA will be celebrating this NAfME Advocacy award at the opening session on Thursday. As a member of KMEA, we all share this national award, so please help KMEA celebrate on Thursday, February 21, at 1:00 p.m.
Other highlights of the ISW will be a Community Folk Dance on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. Holly Taylor, KMEA Elementary Chair, has organized this event the past two years and it is enjoyable for the entire family. So, put on your dancing shoes and come join the fun. This year's President's Concert will be amusing and entertaining for all. "Storm Front" was the 2010 Barbershop Harmony Society Gold Medal International Quartet Champions and they are AWESOME! These four gentlemen are sure to delight everyone in attendance and remember this is a free concert and open to the public. These two events will certainly be a great way to kick off the first night of our convention.
Our annual In-Service Workshop is a great way to connect with colleagues, meet old friends, make new friends, listen to some outstanding concerts and clinicians, and visit our many wonderful exhibitors. Once again, I promise at the end of our convention your teaching energy will be boosted and you will be a better music teacher for attending! Don't delay, pre-register online at ksmea.org.
Since this is my last message and second and final ISW as your KMEA President, there are numerous wonderful people to whom I owe a great amount of gratitude! Four years ago after being elected as president-elect, I contacted an amazing group of music educators to help me during this journey. These folks do an enormous amount of work to organize and run the KMEA All-State Ensembles. They are: Larry Brownlee, 1234A Band; Craig Gray, 56A Band; Dwayne Dunn, Choir; Holly Taylor, Elementary; Mike Jones, Jazz; Jeffrey Bishop, Orchestra; and Deb Hill, Middle Level Choir. Thank you All-State Chairs, I appreciate your dedication to our profession and value our friendship!
Next, I would like to personally thank our awesome KMEA employees. KMEA would not exist without their commitment and devotion to our great profession! They are: John Taylor, Executive Director; Cathy Hunt, Kansas Music Review Editor; Troy Johnson, Web and Technology Manager; Robert Lee, KMR Advertising Manager; Randy Fillmore, Festival Ensembles Manager; Kevin Findley, ISW Local Arrangements, Dana Hamant, ISW Exhibits Manager; Mary Rose Biltz, Recording Secretary; Michelle Postier, ISW Registration Manager; and Amber Ives, On-Site Registration Manager. I realize KMEA does not pay you for what you are worth to our organization, but please know that you are appreciated, respected, and significantly valued!
I would also like to thank my three families. First, I thank the administration and my music colleagues, especially Marcus Bishop of USD #489, Hays, for giving me the support and assistance to serve as KMEA President. Secondly, thank you to my KMEA family who has helped guide me through these amazing two years as KMEA President. John Taylor, Mike Quilling, Jean Ney, Avian Bear, and Rick Ives, I have the ultimate respect for all of you and I thank you for always being in my corner! Beginning March 1, 2013, KMEA will be in excellent hands with Avian Bear calling the shots! I wish Avian all the best as she serves her next two years as KMEA President! Last but definitely not least, I thank my immediate family and that certainly begins with my beautiful wife Paula for her unending support during my tenure as president. Thank you to my sons Michael and Matthew, daughter-in-law Kayla, and my parents Walter and Winnie for allowing me to serve and give back to KMEA.
Lastly and as always, if I can ever be of assistance to you, do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your continued support and I will see you all at the In-Service Workshop in February!
Respectfully,
Craig L. Manteuffel
