Before getting to some of the highlights of our official business, the NYC convention was a great success. Despite some of the challenges in planning the event, I am thrilled to report that we had over 300 in attendance in New York. As you probably heard, we were able to present Walt Strony for a once-in-a-lifetime performance at Radio City Music Hall. All of the concert events were very well received, and we have heard numerous positive comments from the attendees!

New Officers and Directors

We are pleased to welcome the new ATOS officers for 2007-2008: Ken Double (President), Craig Peterson (Vice President), Bob Evans (Secretary), and Paul Van Der Molen (Treasurer). Craig Peterson, from the Sierra Chapter (Sacramento area) is joining the board for his first year. Craig brings considerable experience to the table, as he served the Sierra Chapter as President for a number of years. Bob Evans, from the Eastern Massachusetts Chapter (Boston area) is also joining the board for the first time as Secretary. Bob also brings to us a considerable experience, having served for many years in EMCATOS and having chaired two very successful ATOS conventions in Boston in 2000 and 2006.

Three directors were also elected to serve from 2007-2010: Allen Miller, Michael Fellenzer (re-elected), and myself (re-elected for a second term). We also recognize and thank Dr. Ed Mullins for his service from 2001-2006, and John Riester for his service as ATOS Secretary the past year.

Strategic Planning -- Membership Survey

The first part of our board meeting was devoted to Strategic Planning. Over the course of the next month or so, ATOS will be mailing a membership survey to each and every ATOS member in order to elicit feedback on a number of different areas of importance to our organization. The board places a very high value on hearing the thoughts and concerns of all of our members so that we can best chart a course for a productive future. We will also be sending out a separate survey just to chapter officers as well.

Through this feedback, the board hopes to gain invaluable insight into those areas that are of the most importance and concern to our members and chapters. We very much appreciate your support in responding to the survey and providing us your honest thoughts.

Smithsonian Project -- Friends of Wanamaker (Lowell Ayars Organ)

Over the past few months, there has been significant discussion on the board regarding the disposition of funds earmarked for the installation of the Lowell Ayars Organ (2/8 Wurlitzer Style 190) in the Smithsonian museum. Unfortunately, due to personnel changes at the Smithsonian, there is no longer any interest in installing the Ayars organ at the museum. While this is indeed unfortunate, there is nonetheless a very exciting opportunity that exists to install this organ in the Greek Room of Macy's (formerly Wanamaker's) Department Store in Philadelphia.

The Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, a 501(c)(3) organization, under the direction of noted organ technician Curt Mangel, has acquired the instrument from its owner and is very excited about installing the instrument and using it for theatre organ teaching, concerts, and silent films. The organization has also contracted with Lyn Larsen to be a permanent instructor on this instrument.

Thus, while the board is disappointed not to see the installation at the Smithsonian proceed, it nonetheless felt that this was a very unique and exciting opportunity, and has committed $100,000 of funds previously earmarked for the Smithsonian project to support the installation at the Greek Room. Because roughly half of that sum represents private donations from ATOS members, the board will be contacting each of the donors that can be identified in order to seek their support of this new project. While ATOS will honor the request to return money from donors who can establish they gave funds and who would prefer not to support this new endeavor, we are optimistic that most will share our enthusiasm about this new venture.

ATOS Summer Youth Camp

I am also pleased to report that approximately 20 young people have signed up for the Summer Camp, scheduled to take place this coming weekend in Wheaton, Illinois. I would like to thank a number of organ societies and individuals who generously made scholarship funds available to students who needed assistance in covering the costs of the camp. Those donors include the Dairyland Theatre Organ Society, Joliet Area Theatre Organ Society, Chicago Area Theatre Organ Society, Nor-Cal Theatre Organ Society, Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society, Columbia River Organ Club, Los Angeles Theatre Organ Society, Orange County Theatre Organ Society, Valley Of The Sun Chapter, and Bob MacNeur.

Upcoming Annual and Regional Conventions

We are delighted to be able to announce that we have confirmed the next three annual ATOS conventions. In the next few years, we will be hosted for annual conventions in Indianapolis (2008), Cleveland (2009), and Seattle (2010). We are also in talks with a chapter who is interested in bidding for the 2011 annual convention. More information about that possibility will follow shortly. In addition, we have been working with the Alabama Chapter to host a regional convention in Birmingham, possibly in 2009.

Increase of Chapter Profits for Conventions

Beginning with next year's convention in Indianapolis, ATOS will increase the profit-sharing percentage for chapters that host conventions from 50% to 60%. The board felt that this was a fair decision to compensate chapters for the significant amount of hard work that they do in planning annual and regional conventions.

With the increased profits to chapters who host conventions, there has never been a better time to host a regional or national convention. Hosting a well-organized convention can be extremely profitable for your chapter -- and now it will be even more profitable than before. By all means, talk this over in your chapter, and please feel free to contact me (or anyone else on the board) if you are interested in discussing plans to host a convention in your area.

Those are some of the many items we discussed at the recent board meeting. We are currently in the process of preparing the official minutes of the meeting. As soon as those are completed and approved, they will appear on the ATOS website at www.atos.org.

Once again, thank you for your support of ATOS and its activities. If you or any of your members have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me, or any member of the ATOS board, at your convenience.

Best wishes and I'll look forward to hearing from you soon!