Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The annual meeting of the Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Association (SHMHA) was held at Jefferson State Community College on Saturday, November 24, 2012. Approximately 30 members were present. David Ivey called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. David welcomed the assembly and thanked the members for their support this year.

Judy Caudle provided a report for the “Directory and Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings” (Minutes Book) project. The total of expenses for the project in 2011 was $9,667.38. The current Minutes Book fund balance was $12,609.91. Judy stated that the printing and shipping costs for 2012 are presently estimated to be $8,800, and she projected an approximate end of year balance of $3,800. Judy stated that 267 singings have submitted minutes, including the three sessions of Camp Fasola. This included 37 two-day conventions, 1 three-day convention, and 44 singings have requested not to receive Minutes Books. Judy expressed her heartfelt thanks to Angela Myers and Joan Aldridge for their assistance with the production of the Minutes Book.

David provided an information sheet that summarized 2012 activities and the 2011 financial statement. He stated that SHMHA, as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, files an IRS Form 990 report annually. David reported that SHMHA has received funding from the Alabama Council for the Arts for the tenth consecutive year. David expressed gratitude to the Sacred Harp Publishing Company for its continued financial support ($4,000) of Camp Fasola in 2012. The Publishing Company voted in October to increase its financial support to $5,000 in 2013.

David reported that SHMHA completed its tenth year of Camp Fasola operation. Sixteen camps have been held since 2003. SHMHA has offered both Adult and Youth sessions for the past five years. Three sessions of Camp Fasola were held in 2012, including the first Camp Fasola Europe. Adult Camp enrollment was 57 attendees, and Youth Camp enrollment was 108 attendees. The Camp Europe session was a great success and took place in northern Poland in Chmielno at the Wichrowe Wgorze facility with 58 campers from seven countries. David thanked Michael Walker for his advice in selecting Poland as the country for Camp Fasola Europe and expressed gratitude to Gosia Perycz, Kuba Choinski, and Justyna Orlikowska for their tremendous help in arrangements and coordination that made the camp so successful. It is anticipated that the next Camp Fasola Europe will be held in 2014 or 2015. There will again be two Camp Fasola sessions in 2013: Adult Camp at Camp McDowell, June 9-13 and Youth Camp at Camp Lee, July 1-5. It was necessary to increase fees for Camp Fasola in 2012 as the cost of the camp facilities has increased each of the last several years. The Youth Camp fee was $200 for ages 29 and under and $400 for adults age 30 and over. Adult Camp fee was $450 for adults and $250 for youth. It is expected that camp fees will remain level in 2013.

Jeannette DePoy, Camp Registrar, shared that 85% of campers rated their overall camp experience as “Excellent” with the remainder rating camp as “Good.” There was a very positive rating of our teachers with 90% scoring them as excellent. Three additions to camp this year were: on-line registration with payment through PayPal, a description of classes on the back of the schedule to help campers decide what classes to attend, and a youth orientation session at the beginning of Youth Camp.

David thanked Pam Nunn for her work as Treasurer of SHMHA. Pam gave an interim report on 2012 financials and stated that a complete 2012 financial report would be available on February 1, 2013.

There being no further business, David Ivey adjourned the meeting at 3:00 p.m. The meeting was dismissed with prayer offered by Adrian Eldridge.

SHMHA is a non-profit501(c)(3) organization, incorporated in Alabama, whose purpose is the perpetuation and preservation of Sacred Harp singing and its traditions. SHMHA publishes the Directory and Minutes of Sacred Harp Singing, operates Camp Fasola, sponsors the fasola.org website, and supports other activities related to Sacred Harp.

President—Jeff Sheppard; Secretary—David Ivey