We have some very exciting things to share from our Board this time around. We established a budget that will be presented to the membership at the Annual General Meeting – a first in a very, very long time.
We have updated our Logo Use policy to include individual teachers – so with your membership renewal you will get access to our logo suite, and can (and are encouraged to) display it on your website! And as you may have also noticed, our newsletter format is looking different these days and so with that in mind, we had to also update our advertising policy to reflect the shift to pixels rather than page size.
We were overwhelmed by the number of applications for scholarship – way to go everyone in embracing your own professional development and pursuing training through online learning! – we accepted the recommendations from the Scholarship Review Committee, and will be awarding 4 scholarships, most of which are being awarded to first time applicants.
The Board heard one SAO Café and two SAO: TEA proposals. We accepted them all! Check out the event notices for all the details and registration information. We are incredibly excited to be hosting these sessions, and can’t wait to share them with you.
With board functionality and succession planning in mind, we also have been drafting updates and edits to the SAO By-Laws. We will be presenting these proposed amendments to be voted on at the AGM.
This was also a bittersweet meeting – we are saying goodbye to two long-standing SAO Board members Laura Nerenberg – 613 Representative, and Susan Beth Barak – 905 North Representative. We thank you for your years of service, passion and commitment to the SAO community. The ‘sweet’ part is that we are welcoming new board member – Jennifer Martyn, your new 416 Representative. Welcome Jennifer!
We now have the following Board Committees, if you would like to volunteer on one of them, please let us know!
- Online Conference
- Diversity Equity Inclusion Access (DEIA)
- Membership Recruiting & Retention
- Newsletter
- Scholarship
- Nomination
- Procedures
The following board positions are vacant:
Vice-Chair
519 West
613 West
613 East
807
705
905 North
Conference planning is well underway for our first online conference. Registration is now open, don’t miss out on the early bird pricing. This year, the conference team is offering full scholarship support for up to 10 students. In recognition of the challenges our community has faced throughout the pandemic, the conference team will be offering 4 partial scholarships to teachers who would be otherwise unable to attend the conference.
Join the SAO Board!
The SAO is an evolving and forward-thinking organisation of artists and educators from across Ontario. We are propelled by Dr. Suzuki’s vision and principles. The SAO’s mission is to support the Suzuki community by nurturing excellence in music education.
The Board of Directors is seeking to fill several vacant positions in November 2021. Presently, we are seeking area representatives for the 905N, 705, 807 and 613 areas. Please consider standing for nomination or nominating a colleague to serve on the SAO Board. Suzuki parents, Suzuki alumni, and other interested members of our community would also be welcome to express interest.
Board members volunteer our time in service to our members and to the greater Suzuki community. As a board member, professional opportunities include shaping the future of our SAA Chapter, building relationships with colleagues, actively engaging in discussions with colleagues about developments in the Suzuki community, receiving sponsored governance training, and accessing special travel scholarships for conferences and retreats. Becoming an SAO board member is also a significant personal accomplishment in the larger Suzuki community.
To inquire about current vacancies, please contact our administrator Claire Motyer at info@suzukiontario.org. To inquire about the work of the SAO Board, or the experience of being a board member, please contact our Chair Debbie Hammond at chair@suzukiontario.org.