To: Parish Priests, Parish Council Chairpersons, Choir Chairpersons, Choir Leaders, Organists
From: Dr Socrates Boyajian, Chair, Central Council
Date: August 22, 1999
Subject: Amendments and Proposals
In accordance with the Bylaws of the Choir Association, any amendments or proposals to be considered at the forthcoming Annual Assembly in Richmond, VA, were to have been submitted to the Central Council ninety days prior to the Assembly date.
This is to advise that no amendments have been received to date.
But one proposal has been received by the Central Council (enclosed with this bulletin) and will be presented at the 53rd Annual Assembly to the assembly delegates for consideration.
The proposal has been submitted by the parish choir of Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Cambrige, MA.
Please review the enclosed proposal and be prepared to discuss and vote on it when we meet in Richmond, VA, later this year for our Annual Assembly.
Any amendments or proposals submitted after this notice will be considered at the 54th Assembly in the year 2000.
Proposal submitted by Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Cambridge, MA:
Whereas, the Armenian Church Choirs in the Diocese need to be strengthened with more youthful members,
Be is resolved that the Choir Central Council immediately develop a "Junior Choir Program," in conjunction with the DRE, to be implemented by all the Parishes in the Diocese by the year 2000.
-a) by establishing a committee comprised of CC members and DRE staff
members to integrate the liturgical music into the Sunday School Curriculum.
-b) by utilizing Sunday School children in the development of Junior
choirs (i.e. grades 4-9).
-c) by allowing a certain portion of time on Sunday mornings to be set
aside for rehearsals with the Sunday School Children in all parishes to learn the Badarak songs and sharagans.
-d) develop a schedule with the choir directors, so that junior choirs can
periodically sing the badarak, with the sr. choir.
-e) the CC submit a letter to the DRE requesting that the DRE advise the
Sunday School Superintendents to incorporate the "Junior Choir Program" into the DRE curriculum.
Rational:
In the majority of churches in the Diocese, our church choir members are aging, and the membership is diminishing. Therefore, we need to develop a "Junior Choir Program" to infuse our choirs with younger members to keep our church choirs vibrant and alive!
Any amendments or proposals submitted after this notice will be considered at the 54th Assembly in the year 2000.