Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The annual meeting of the Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Association (SHMHA) was held at Jefferson State College on Saturday, November 23, 2013. Approximately 50 members were present. Henry Johnson, Vice President, called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. Henry 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 2012 was $9,061. The current Minutes Book fund balance and estimated future deposits were noted. Judy stated that the printing and shipping costs for the 2014/2013 minutes book are presently estimated to be $8,756.00. Judy stated that 269 singings have submitted minutes, including the two sessions of Camp Fasola. This included 228 one-day singings, 40 two-day conventions, and 1 three-day convention. The number of singings requesting not to receive Minutes Books next year was 66. Judy pointed out that 2,700 books were ordered last year, and estimated an order for 2,300 this year, which will mean that the price per book will increase. Judy expressed her heartfelt thanks to Angela Myers, Joan Aldridge, Carolyn Deacy, and Chris Thorman for their assistance with the production of the Minutes Book.

David provided and reviewed an information sheet that summarized 2013 activities, and the 2012 financial summary. 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 eleventh consecutive year. David expressed gratitude to the Sacred Harp Publishing Company for its continued financial support ($5,000) of Camp Fasola in 2013. The Publishing Company voted in October to increase its financial support to $6,000 in 2014. In September 2013, the Alabama Arts Council paid $5,000 for singers from Alabama and Georgia to go to the National Endowment for the Arts event. Pam Nunn congratulated David on his N.E.A. Fellows Award. David stated that the United Convention has asked SHMHA to handle the income and expenses of the convention.

David reported that SHMHA completed its eleventh year of Camp Fasola operation. Eighteen camps have been held since 2003. SHMHA has offered both Youth and Adult Camps for the past six years. Two sessions of Camp Fasola were held in 2013. Adult Camp, 2013 enrollment was 77 attendees, up from 55 in 2012. Youth Camp, 2013 enrollment was 118 attendees, up from 108 in 2012. The camp dates for 2014 are: Adult Session—June 8-12, 2014, and Youth Session—June 30-July 4, 2014. The next Camp Fasola Europe will be held September 22-26, 2014, in northern Poland in Chmielno at the Wichrowe Wgorze facility. David thanked Gosia Perycz and Steve Helwig for their help in arranging the 2014 dates and location. The cost of camp will remain at $450 for ages 30 and over and $250 for ages 29 and younger at Adult Camp, and $400 for ages 30 and older and $200 for ages 29 and under at Youth Camp. Camp Europe fees will be the same as the Adult Camp fees. David described the camp in Poland as more like a resort than a camp. When asked if Camp Europe was always going to be in Poland, David said he could only say it was going to be in Poland in 2014. It is difficult to find a location where SHMHA can keep the fees low for campers.

Jeannette DePoy, Camp Registrar, shared that 87% of campers rated their overall camp experience as “Excellent”, with the remainder rating camp as “Good”; 86% of campers rated the classes as “Excellent”. There was a very positive rating of teachers, with 91% scoring them as “Excellent”. At Adult Camp, half of the campers said the Rudiments classes were most important to them; at Youth Camp, half of the campers said the leading classes were most important. An addition this year to the Adult classes was a one-on-one leading class that was very well received. David mentioned that we might begin giving scholarships to those Youth who attend ten or more singings in a year.

Lauren Bock gave a report on the new App created by Mark Godfrey. This app raised $451.55 for SHMHA this year so far. Approximately 131 people downloaded this app, mostly singers from the USA, but also singers from the UK, Canada, Germany, Poland, Ireland, and Taiwan. There was a 67% retention rate (singers who used the app multiple times).

David thanked Pam Nunn for her work as Treasurer of SHMHA. Pam gave an interim report on 2013 financials and stated that a complete 2013 financial report would be available on February 2, 2014.

There being no further business, Henry Johnson adjourned the meeting at 3:15 p.m. The meeting was dismissed with prayer offered by Richard Mauldin.

SHMHA is a non-profit 501(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.

Vice President—Henry Johnson; Secretary—David Ivey