Meeting Minutes

Arizona Opera - AGMA AZ
Annual Membership Meeting
August 26, 2006

• John Cleveland
• Barry Stein
• Ray Funk
• Dorothy Hemmo
• Rene Summers
• Amy Street Williams
• Rachel Velerde
• David Morden

John Cleveland, AGMA Steward, called the meeting to order at 1pm and declared that proxy votes and members present constituted a quorum of 50% of all AGMA members required by the AGMA-AZ By-Laws.

John provided a handout on the “State of AGMA-AZ” and the accomplishments and successes of the 2005-2006 season. John presented a history of AGMA membership in the chorus and growth trends over the years.

The following AGMA-AZ officers were elected for the 2006-2007 season:

• John Cleveland - AGMA Steward
• Barry Stein - Phoenix Vice-Steward
• Renee Summers - Tucson Vice-Steward
• Ray Funk - Member at Large
• Rachel Velarde - Secretary Treasurer

The following AGMA-AZ members of the chorus were elected to chorus secretary positions for the 2006-2007 season:

• MacBeth
• Production Secretary: Rachel Velarde
• Phoenix City Secretaries: Rachel Velarde and Paul Gallegos
• Tucson City Secretaries: Amy Stree Williams and Ray Funk
• Marriage of Figaro
• Production and City Secretary: Dorothy Hemmo
• Madama Butterfly
• Production Secretary: Amy Street Williams
• Phoenix City Secretary: Rachel Velarde
• Tucson City Secretary: Amy Street Williams
• Susannah
• Production Secretary: David Morden
• Phoenix City Secretary: Rachel Velarde
• Tucson City Secretary: David Morden

John Cleveland reported that there are 11 new choristers this season, more than any other season in recent past history. Dates were set for the new chorister auditions. John will host the Phoenix orientation on September 9th at his home and Beverly Gibson will host the Tucson orientation at her home on September 10th.

John reported that the company has agreed to sponsor an “Era Blitz” period stage movement workshop for the chorus with JoAnn Yeoman from ASU as the instructor. John proposed an AGMA-AZ sponsored audition preparation workshop for choristers to prepare them for the required biennial chorus auditions to be held during the 2006-2007 season. All present agreed with the proposal for this workshop.

The membership approved the following activities and initiatives for the 2006-2007 season:

• Chorus Dinner Meetings during the productions of Macbeth and Susannah.
• AGMA-AZ sponsored and funded audition preparation workshop for all choristers.
• Publication of a Chorus Newsletter three times each season with electronic access.
• Creation of a new Chorus Website
• Production of the third annual chorus fundraiser for Arizona Opera, “Backstage at the Opera,” to be held again in both Phoenix and Tucson.
• Revise AGMA-AZ By-Laws
• Strict enforcement and collection of the $25 AGMA –AZ members activity fee.
• Survey of all choristers to evaluate recommendations for the 2008 Agreement negotiations with Arizona Opera, and to survey non-AGMA members on attitudes toward union membership.

The following choristers were appointed to serve on the Backstage at the Opera – 2007 planning committee for this season:

• John Cleveland
• Amy Street Williams
• Rachel Velarde
• David Morden
• Bev Gibson
• Karina Cole
• Renee Summers

Barry Stein made the following recommendations:

• A minimum of the first 90 minutes of the first staging rehearsal for each production should be devoted to a chorus music rehearsal.
• There does not seem to be equitable casting between the choristers from Tucson and Phoenix – John will research and report back to the membership.
• AOC should not be casting choristers who have no means of transportation to music rehearsals. He noted that one new Phoenix chorister had no personal transportation.

There being no further business the membership meeting was adjourned at 3:15pm. Chorus secretaries were asked to stay for a brief orientation.