WSMTA’s Board of Directors and Education Board recently met for their January meetings. The leadership team, elected by members of WSMTA, is serving you well. The hours were filled with collegiality, healthy discussions, some wrestling with items in order to serve the membership and its events in the best, most productive, and financially astute way possible. The team which includes the seven District Directors who represent our chapters across the state truly have your best interests in mind. This year’s nominating committee worked diligently in the fall to prepare a slate of nominees that will be presented for election at the annual general meeting at our state conference in June. A few transitions will bring new ideas and perspectives, but the same collaborative ethic and collegial leadership will continue.
At each board meeting our roll call is taken by answering a question or two. Last year I asked, “What led you to WSMTA/MTNA? Who or what was your influencer?” This year I asked, “How do you connect others with WSMTA? What is your favorite WSMTA moment?”
Take a moment and reflect on these questions. The mentors, teachers, friends, colleagues that come to mind will bring a recollection, a story, and usually, a smile. Most of the time board members shared stories of other WSMTA members who paid attention to them: asked them to a meeting, took them out for coffee, invited them to a conference, asked them to serve in a small or maybe larger way, offering trust in strengths and abilities and a willingness to come alongside as an encouraging mentor. We relived the stories from the perspective of our own unique and individual backgrounds. We recounted teachers who shared WSMTA with us, living out the benefits, engaging in the events, and sharing friendships.
The African philosophy of Ubuntu is about the interconnectedness of individuals. It says: “I Am Because We Are.” It is what we aim to live out. We do make a difference in our everyday teaching and collaborating. We make a difference with our students and with our colleagues, in WSMTA and in our community. Highlighting our association in our activities supports our professional connection and strengthens our connectedness.
Congratulations to our Washington State winners heading to the national competitions in Minneapolis in March! Congratulations to their teachers! We wish them all the very best! I look forward to attending and hearing their performances. And I look forward to hearing our winners again at our state conference in June.
As we move deep into the season of competitions, performances, MAP, and many other musical opportunities, embrace our mission of giving and sharing, of bringing depth and richness to life through our music; of living out: “I Am Because We Are.”
Ever grateful for you!
Colleen Hunter, NCTM
WSMTA President