As we move through April, it's time for members of the PR/Marketing Department to start planning for the next school year. We're having meetings with other departments such as Membership, Student Programs, Editorial, and Production about themes, logos, promotion plans, schedules, news items, new specialty items, member benefits, etc. Any great new ideas we have for the coming year all need to be cost-estimated and submitted with the proposed budgets all departments will be working on over the next few weeks.
We're also deep into the plans for the National Anthem Project Grand Finale, June 14-16, 2007 here in Washington DC and Annapolis, MD. We'd love to have our members and your students join us here! Right after that is MENC's official Centennial Celebration in Orlando, FL, June 25-28. Members are invited to attend this event, too.
Something else we locals look forward to is the summer season at Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts. It's right down the road from MENC. The just-announced schedule features everyone from the Boston Pops and National Symphony Orchestra to opera, ballet, musical theatre, and all sorts of pop music. I've already picked up tickets to a slightly eclectic collection of acts: "Camelot," Vince Gill, the B-52s, and something called "Hippie Fest," which features a bunch of reunited '60s groups like the Zombies and the Turtles. That one should be pretty interesting! MENC's friends at Wolf Trap have helped us over the years by allowing us interview time with performers such as Janis Ian, Trisha Yearwood, Al Jarreau, and Keith Lockhart for our public service announcement series, Why Music?
E-mails are pouring in today so I better get back to answering them. Have a great Tuesday! -- EWL
