Welcome

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to another exciting year with the Piano Teachers Forum. This is our 27th year. We began in 1981 with the goal of providing teachers in the area with an opportunity to meet, share ideas, and become stimulated about our teaching. Our goal remains the same. We have monthly meetings with wonderful clinicians. Our Festival has grown beyond our expectations. Our Festival Syllabus has become an important musical guide. This past year, we gave two scholarships to students from The College of New Jersey. We have an active performance group, student recitals, and a video lending library. We now have a web site (www.pianoteachersforum.org), and if you have internet access, you can obtain much information there. For example, the website includes Festival information, meeting dates and locations, a complete list of current officers and committee heads, and a link to the Festival Syllabus. If you do not have internet access, information can be mailed to you at your request.

Why wait? Check us out and join today. We want to meet you and exchange ideas, techniques, and friendship. You can find our membership application online: Print and mail this with your dues check by October 15, 2007.

Announcements: In order to increase the time spent at meetings that can be devoted to our guest clinicians, all announcements will be printed up for dissemination at meetings. Please send any announcements to the Announcement Committee head at last one week prior to the general meeting.

A reminder from our Treasurer: Ours is a careful accounting system. As we begin a new season, we also begin a new "calendar" year in the finance department. Our "calendar" year runs from September 1st through August 31st. At this time, the books are closed for 2006-2007. We must insist that all expenditures be submitted to the Treasurer as quickly as possible. These MUST be accompanied by some form of receipt. Without a receipt, you will not be reimbursed. Phone bills or internet receipts are also required. This will enable all bills to be paid promptly.

Members without internet access: Don't worry, we haven't forgotten you. Russell McTague will contact you with any meeting changes, updates, etc.

Volunteers: Any organization is only as good as its members, and ours if no exception. We are always in need of personnel. Please don't hesitate to volunteer your services, we need you!

First Meeting: Our first meeting (October 5) will begin at 9:00 a.m. with coffee at 8:30 a.m. Please remember to bring your copy of the Festival Syllabus with you. All of the pieces from the Syllabus will be played at the meeting, and copies will not be available.

Looking forward to working with all of you!

Lois Bitler, President
August 20, 2007