Conventions
The AGO typically organizes Regional conventions (one in each Region) during odd years and a National convention during even years. Listed below is the North Central Region Convention. For the other Regional conventions, see the AGO Conventions page. For a hands-on learning experience, see the Pipe Organ Encounters+ page. As a courtesy to the Organ Historical Society, held here in central Minnesota this year, its convention is listed, below.
Regional AGO Convention
This summer's Regional AGO Convention for the North Central Region will be held in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, Iowa from June 19 through June 22, 2017. Find more information at NorthCentralAGO2017.org!
The last Regional Convention for the North Central Region was in St. Louis, Missouri from June 22 to 24, 2015. Prior to that, it was in Springfield, Missouri in 2013.National AGO Convention
Upcoming National AGO Conventions:2018: Kansas City, July 2-6
Lynn Bratney, Convention Coordinator
Email: l.bratney.ago.2018@gmail.com
Convention website: www.agokc2018.com
2020: Atlanta, July 5-10
Scott Atchison, Convention Co-Coordinator
Email: scotta@prumc.org
John Brandt, Convention Co-Coordinator
Email: jbrandt@saintlaw.org
Organ Historical Society Convention
The Organ Historical Society 2017 Convention will take place in Minnesota (August 5-11, 2017). It will be an exciting week, featuring instruments throughout the Twin Cities, in the Saint Peter-Mankato area, Stearns County, western Wisconsin, and Duluth.
We encourage you to share awareness of and information about this Convention far and wide, and to plan to attend the Convention, in part of whole. Single-Day registrations, which include transportation and meals (see schedule for specifics), will be available. Individual admission to daytime events will be limited only to OHS registrants and local parishioners.
Since at-church parking opportunities in many venues (particularly in the Twin Cities) will be extremely limited, we encourage you to travel on the designated OHS coaches during those days for which you register.
Individual public-admission tickets will be sold for most evening concerts where sufficient additional seating is available.
A small committee has been working on preparations for this event over the past two years. Much has been accomplished, but much remains to do. We invite you to consider participation in two areas…Financial Support and Voluntary Support.
Remember, every monetary contribution to the OHS is tax-deductible!
Categories for support:
Young-artist Scholarships ($1500): in numerous cases, we have invited young and very capable student organists to perform, offering them the standard OHS fee for the length of concert they will give. Unlike older OHS member-performers, these students often are living on restricted budgets, and we are seeking to minimize their financial burden by finding sponsors for their related costs of transportation, lodging, and convention registration.
Basic Artist Support ($500-$1000): every OHS performer receives a modest honorarium for their performance, based on the length of their program, though these players generally pay their own registration, hotel, and transportation costs.
General/Friend of the Convention ($50-???): contributions in any amount are welcome, as there is always something that needs to be paid for.
Categories for Volunteerism:
Volunteer Coordinator:
- Inevitably, in an all-volunteer organization, someone needs to be able to align the workers and, as needed, crack the whip (or dangle the carrot).
- We’ll be needing numerous helpers before and during the convention, and in particular one person who will help coordinate the (we hope) many others.
- Compensation – our undying respect, possible other benefits.
Promotion:
You all can help by spreading the work of the convention, sharing web information via social media, alerting your congregations and/or parishes. But specifically we could use someone to coordinate press releases to local daily and weekly publications, social media, and to churches throughout the region where their instrument will be played.
Bus Captains (needed on a per-day basis):
- Responsibilities - herds cats, keeps the group on schedule, helps people on and off, provides some ‘commentary’ concerning the places to which we are going and the areas through which we are travelling.
- Compensation – complimentary registration for your day of participation, admission to all events and related meals.
Pre-registration (one day only, at the hotel):
- Responsibilities – help arrange convention materials, stuff tote bags
- Compensation – infinite appreciation from the OHS
Registration (needed on a per-day basis, mostly mornings at the hotel):
- Responsibilities – process new registrants and get them aligned with the program of the day
- Compensation - infinite appreciation from the OHS
Program Ushers:
- Responsibilities – hand out programs, orientation; awareness of restroom locations a must!
- Compensation – free admission to the event you staff
Hosts/Drivers:
- Responsibilities – pick up and deliver artists to/from the airport, hotel/place of residence, and place of performance
- Compensation – unique face-time with interesting musical personalities
We encourage you to do your part to promote and support the organ culture of Central Minnesota and this important event. Your involvement…with moral, voluntary, or financial support…will help make this 2017 OHS Convention a great success!
Thank you!
Michael Barone & Robert Vickery, Convention Co-Chairs
PLEASE CONTACT:
mbarone@mpr.org (651-290-1539)
rfvmn@aaahawk.com (612-702-6431; 612-822-8406)