A letter from the President
of the SCBDA, Connie Grantham.

Other Letters

South Carolina Band Directors Association

"2001: The Odyssey Begins"

2001 Audio File (Real Audio) | (Mp3) - For My Gamecock Friends

Happy summer! I hope that everyone is enjoying the remaining days of summer, and I hope that you have been able to enjoy time with your friends and family by getting away and resting before the busy school year begins. It will not be long before our high school band students will return to campus and begin the fall ritual of drum lines drumming, color guards spinning, and horn lines making music for our fall marching shows. Each year the marching season seems to creep up on us a little sooner than the year before and each year our students never cease to amaze us at their musical talents and creativity. I hope for each of you that the fall season is successful.

As I write my first letter as SCBDA president, I am amazed at the magnitude and talent that is in our association. I have spent the last two years in preparation of my term, and I enter it with excitement and honor. The SCBDA is a strong organization that touches and influences so many lives, both young and adult, regionally and nationally.  It is our responsibility as music educators to make sure that our students and parents learn an appreciation for music that is life long.  It is important that all facets of our programs are balanced. I hope that everyone will set high goals for your students and programs this year that will reflect learning and development.

We enter this new association year with many new faces on the Executive Board. The SCBDA is going through some growth and adjustments as we have several veteran teachers who held committee chairs and have moved to new positions in the SCBDA as a result of our recent elections. We also have new faces on the board due to appointments.  I want to introduce the Executive Board to you:

Officers:

President - Connie Grantham, Fort Mill Middle School

Vice-President - Robert E. Wertz, III, Camden High School

President-Elect  - Tom Finigan, Walterboro High School

Corresponding Secretary - Debbie Jordan, Drayton Hall Middle School

Executive Treasurer/Secretary - Lorraine Paris, Retired, Newberry High School

Committee Chairpersons:

Marching - Phil McIntyre, James F. Byrnes High School

Finals Retreat Coordinator and Assistant Marching Chair - Joe Gulledge, Rock Hill High School

All State - Joe Meshach, Walterboro High School

Concert - Pam Sweer, South Middle School

Jazz - Michael Foxworth, Myrtle Beach High School

Solo and Ensemble - Martin Dickey, Fort Mill High School

Awards - Marshall Kirby, Spartanburg High School

SCBDA Directory - Nancy Neal, Camden Middle School

Parliamentarian - Dr. Leslie Hicken, Furman University

Feel free to contact these people if you have any questions regarding their events during the year. 

Remember that this year we are moving our annual SCMEA conference to Charleston. The site is beautiful and the conference as we know it will have a very different schedule. Make plans now to attend in February. Tom Finigan has done an outstanding job in planning the band division events. I know you will want to hear his report to the membership during our fall meeting in September.

I want to encourage everyone to be as active in the SCBDA as possible. If you do not serve on a committee, we have several openings on each committee for you to serve. We are entering a time period when our programs face budget cuts, teacher shortages, and state assessments with school report cards. Our association can be a strong force in helping administrators, parents, and communities understand how music can increase knowledge and enhance every other discipline in school. We need to be “proactive” to current educational trends rather that “reactive”.   Also if you want to see change happen in the SCBDA, be active, voice your opinion, and vote when appropriate. If you do not vote on issues presented at our business meeting, then don’t complain.

I look forward to the coming year. I am starting a “new gig” in Fort Mill, and look forward to the challenges ahead. If you ever need to talk to me, feel free to contact me at any time.  Remember that we have three meetings as an association during the school year: a September meeting at Ridge View High School, our annual February business meeting at the SCMEA conference, and a March meeting during the All State Band Clinic at Furman University. Plan now to attend the meetings, most notably the February meeting.

Enjoy these last few days of summer! Take care and see ya’ on the road!

Connie Grantham
President
South Carolina Band Directors Association