Dean's Message March 2001

For the past two years, the Cleveland Chapter has been able to give a significant amount of scholarship money to aspiring organists. In 1999, we gave $3,000, and in 2000, we gave $4,000. This money came from two sources: The Gladys Hanabeck Scholarship Fund and interest from our Magellan Fund Account (which was established with funds earned and subsequently invested from the 1974 national AGO convention hosted by the Cleveland Chapter.) As anyone who follows the stock market at all knows, those years of high investment return were followed by this year of little or no investment return.

If the Cleveland Chapter is to continue giving annual scholarships, this fund must be replenished. Many of us want to encourage the study of organ. The scholarships have been awarded to junior high and high school musicians, to college organ majors and to older students wishing to improve their skills. Few chapters have been able to give even this amount of aid. Let's work to ensure that our chapter will be able to continue to offer some level of support for years to come.

We will be receiving an offering to benefit our scholarship fund at our March 4 meeting at the Church of the Covenant. If you are unable to attend or prefer to send a check, you may do so by making it out to the Cleveland AGO and sending it to Treasurer, Juanita Schubert. All who send checks will be acknowledged at our annual meeting.

I hope to see you at the March meeting.

Fern Jennings