InCider Press, August 2004, page 9

whom to contact for assistance. [A revised contact list is also located at www.spebsqsa.org/contacts .] Our CEO Don Harris will soon be hiring staff to fill the few open positions, and those appointments will be announced in LiveWire and in The Harmonizer.

As part of our plan to help the Society prosper in the future, the Society Board endorsed the marketing plan submitted by Clarke Communication Group as a guide for Society marketing efforts. I invite you to read the plan by going online to

http://www.spebsqsa.org/id_062759 and clicking the link to "Strategic Marketing Plan- June 28, 2004.pdf." As a part of our ongoing marketing effort, the Board has asked the Society Laws and Regulations Committee to prepare, for action at the next Board meeting, amendments to existing Standard Chapter Bylaws to make the Marketing and Public Relations Officer a mandatory position in chapters in excess of 25 members and a recommended position in all other chapters. We simply need to stop being "the best-kept secret!"

In addition, I am pleased that Todd Wilson will serve as our new staff Director of Marketing. Todd is a 33-year Society member who has won multiple chorus gold medals with the Vocal Majority as well as a quartet gold medal with Acoustix. He was a Certified Instructor for Marketing and PR for COTS for two years prior to joining the Society Board, on which he served as Planning and Program Development Chair and a member of the Board Management Council. Todd's success in marketing and barbershop at the highest levels will better position our organization to enjoy increases both in membership and in our exposure to the communities we serve.

Your Society staff and your Society leadership are committed to helping all our members make their barbershop harmony experience become even more rewarding and enjoyable in the years to come. You can help accomplish that goal by sharing your love of barbershop singing with those you meet, and encouraging other male singers to join a Society that will positively change their lives! Thank you for everything you do to make our Society great and for the encouragement and support you give me and the rest of the Board of Directors and staff.

Let's keep the whole world singing!

Gentlemen:

In June I wrote to say that we must change if we are to grow and flourish in a bright and prosperous future. Several changes have occurred recently to help us on that path, though one of those necessary changes--a reduction in staff--was exceedingly difficult and painful. Nevertheless, with the help of our members, we will move ahead and create a brighter future.

At its June 29th meeting, the Society Board reaffirmed the action taken in July 2002 whereby the Board adopted the practice of regularly representing the Society as the "Barbershop Harmony Society" while maintaining the Society's legal name as SPEBSQSA, Inc. A professional marketing survey of members and prospective members ages 18-54 revealed that both prospective members and our own members preferred "Barbershop Harmony Society" to "Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America." The Board encourages chapters, effective immediately, to use "Barbershop Harmony Society" in all communication and promotions activities.

The Society Board did not adopt a new logo, but one will be prepared for consideration in the near future. The slogan "Keep the Whole World Singing" will be maintained, given that it has the overwhelming support of both members and prospects in the professional marketing research that was conducted.

A recent and very difficult change was necessary to address our chronic budget problems. We have done what we could to reduce costs and maximize assets over the past few years without reducing staff size significantly. It became clear that we could not continue to ignore the facts: we have been running deficits, and the largest portion of our costs is a result of personnel. The Society Board asked our new CEO, Don Harris, to streamline our current operations in order for the Society to regain a solid financial footing. Sadly, we cannot afford as large a staff today as we have had in the past, and a significant reduction in force on July 15 meant that we had to say goodbye to some very dedicated employees. This was an absolute economic necessity. No further layoffs are anticipated at this time.

Our Society staff is dedicated to serving you and meeting your needs. Attached (on the next page) is a new staff organization chart so that you will know