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Organ Historical SocietyMichigan Chapter Minutes of the September 22, 2007 Meeting |
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Chapter
President Carl Balduf called the September 22,
2007 meeting of the Michigan Chapter of the Organ Historical Society to order
at 9:45 a.m. at Plymouth Congregational Church,
Lansing, Michigan. Present were Carl Balduf, MaryAnn Balduf, Steven
Ball, Trevor Dodd, Gary Dodd, Leonard Feerick, Brian Sweetman and James
Wilkes. Balduf began the meeting by thanking Steven Ball
for arranging the day's meetings at Plymouth Congregational Church and St.
Mary Cathedral. The minutes of the April 21, 2007 meeting were
then approved as corrected, changing the date in the first line from March
10, 2007 to April 21, 2007. In the absence of treasurer Terry Jankowski,
Balduf presented the Treasurer's Report which was accepted as read. The
Report is posted below. Old
Business
Balduf said that the Chapter Bylaws have been
completed in draft and explained the ratification process. "In November, the draft will be posted on the chapter Website and mailed to those active members without email. Ratification will be by the return of a postcard ballot mailed to the active members of record on October 31, 2007. For the purposes of ratification, an active member is one who is on the [previously posted] list ... or whose dues have been received by the Membership Chairman by October 31, 2007." A motion was made and seconded that the
ratification process be approved. The motion carried. New
Business
Balduf asked for ratification of a change of the
annual dues period from January through December to September through August
of the following year. This makes the membership year correspond with the
Chapter program year. A motion to that effect was made and seconded. The
motion carried. In a related issue, Balduf announced the issuance
of membership cards to all active members whose dues were paid on or after
the October 28, 2006 meeting. All present agreed that the cards have been
received. The issuance of membership cards was met with general approval. Balduf then announced the appointment of member
Diane Hiltner as Membership Chairman, with duties of receiving dues and
issuing membership cards. Dues can be sent to her at the following address. Diane
Hiltner, Membership Chairman 3457
Gettysburg Rd Ann Arbor, MI 48105-1504 A discussion than followed regarding the
possibility of a Chapter excursion to the western side of the state, to
explore many interesting and historic instruments in Grand Rapids and the
surrounding area. No conclusions were reached but the idea was greeted with
no small measure of enthusiasm. The Battle Creek area was also considered
with interest. In response to a question from Steven Ball,
Balduf affirmed that a Chapter mission can be that of identifying and
submitting instruments worthy of an OHS Citation of Historical Merit. He then
cited the Casavant, Opus 1200 at the Detroit Institute of Art, which we are
currently evaluating for a Citation. Ball said he also had an organ or two in
mind in the western part of the state. Following these discussions, a motion for
adjournment was made and seconded. The motion carried and the meeting was
adjourned at 10:06 a.m.
Following the meeting, Steven Ball (above left),
Organist at Plymouth Congregational Church, gave an informative overview of
the Church's 1975 Casavant and it's differentiation from earlier instruments.
Following a demonstration by Steven, a 90-minute open console was enjoyed by
players and listeners alike.
Following lunch at Clara's at the Railroad Depot in
downtown Lansing, the group moved to The Cathedral of St. Mary (RC) and it's
1930 Casavant (1403), restored and enhanced by the Fowler Organ Company.
Brian Fowler was graciously present to explain and demonstrate, via midi
recording, the extraordinary tonal range of this highly romantic
French/English sounding instrument. Respectfully submitted, Carl Balduf President |
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