AMC Directions Meeting – January 06, 2025

Notes from a Zoom call to discuss and share ideas about choristers helping with the second half of the 2024-2025 AMC season and planning the Chorale’s future beyond that.

In attendance:  Karla Allingham, Sue Blakely, Sarah Costanzo, Anne Diamos, Grace Johnson, Steven O’Donnell, Kim Schaller, Kathy Yoder, and Bob Altizer.

• Slides from the meeting (5 pages)
• AMC Operational Areas (1 page)
• AMC Glossary (Nine pages, including some general items; financial items; organizations AMC deals with; services and technology we use; and advertising and social media,)

The meeting recording and summary are courtesy of Bob’s Fathom Notetaker. Click links below to view the video recording.

VIEW RECORDING – 103 mins (No highlights)

Overview of AMC and strategic plan @ 0:00

Bob provided an overview of AMC, including its status as a member-managed charitable corporation, its mission to inspire and enrich the community through choral music, and its strategic plan focused on artistic and operational growth. He highlighted AMC’s “products” such as concerts, outreach, and contracted services.

Programming and artistic growth @ 8:32

The group discussed AMC’s programming, repertoire, and artistic growth under the leadership of Artistic Director Scott. There was general praise for the quality and uniqueness of the music, though some audience members have found certain programs “boring”. The group agreed that the singers find the work fulfilling and challenging.

Marketing, fundraising, and operational challenges @ 23:00

The group identified key operational areas needing improvement, including marketing, fundraising, and board growth. They discussed challenges with audience engagement, ticket sales, social media presence, and securing grants. The group acknowledged the need for a more coordinated approach across programming, development, and marketing.

Next steps and volunteer opportunities @ 1:27:52

Bob encouraged the group to get involved in addressing AMC’s needs, whether through grant writing, content creation, donor management, or recruiting new board members. Karla and Sue volunteered to take on specific roles. The group agreed to leverage AMC’s email database and social media channels to drive engagement and find new volunteers.

Recap and closing @ 1:41:52

Bob summarized the key discussion points and thanked the group for their participation. He encouraged everyone to continue collaborating to address AMC’s operational and marketing challenges, while maintaining its artistic excellence.