2011 History

ALLIANCES/PARTNERSHIPS

New affiliation started with Chorus America;
Executive Director begins process of organizing an advisory board for 2012;
Call for 2012 Advisory Board member candidates distributed to many Middle Tennessee executives;
Executive Director interviews three potential advisory board members;
Executive Director contacts leaders of 35 other NPOs to discuss partnering on events and/or programs;
Executive Director attended CEO mixer event to discuss partnering on events and/or programs;
Executive Director attended CNM breakfast for new Executive Directors;
Executive Director represents Nashville Singers in a focus group gathering data for NCAT;
Executive Director attends two networking events at Center for Nonprofit Management
To explore opportunities to partnership on events, projects, or programs, Executive Director Todd Wilson meets with
- Don Schlosser, MD of Nashville in Harmony,
- Margaret Campbelle-Holman, XD of Choral Arts Link,
- Executive Director, Benjamin Smith of Youth Speaks Nashville,
- Board President, Jeff Ockerman of the Nashville Jazz Orchestra,
- Kim Hayes, Executive Director of NCAT,
- Ms. Robinson Regen with the Arts Council of Williamson County;
- Renee Grant Williams, director of the Music City Community Chorus
- Stephen Shaeffer, Academy Coach at John Overton High School to discuss awarding of grant and partnership plans for the back half of the year;
- Grace Thomson (with NSI), Margaret Campbell-Holman, Stephanie Blocker, and Karen Mueller (with the MET Singers) to plan fall concert;
- Dan Hays of the International Bluegrass Music Association
- Lee and Vanessa Lentz to discuss Personalized greeting card program for 2012;
- Lois Moreno, President of the Lost Boys Foundation
- Ramon Cisneros of the La Campana Newspaper to explore partnership and in-kind sponsorship opportunities;
- Nancy Denning Martin and Danny Ray Martin of the East Nashville School of Music
- Nancy Palus of the Metro Nashville Chorus
- Katie Blankenship, Music Director of YEAH!
- Joe Loesch

COMMUNICATION

41,437 electronic newsletters distributed over 52 issues;

COMMUNITY OUTREACH (free performances)

January 1 - Performance at Hall of Fame Park in downtown Nashville for the Resolution Run, benefitting United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee;
February 15 - Performance at Men of Harmony Chorus Valentines Dinner in Goodlettsville, TN
February 21 - National Anthem performance for Belmont University Ladies Basketball Game vs ETSU
April 30 - Recording session schedule at Ocean Way Studios for FiftyForward compilation CD project
April 30 - National Anthem performance scheduled at Lipscomb University Baseball game versus Belmont University
May 12 - Nashville Singers hosts a free "Meet & Greet" event for The SUNTONES, the 1961 International Quartet Champion of the Barbershop Harmony Society. The event drew attendees from Tennessee, Alabama, and South Carolina. The chorus performed new songs Tonight, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Satin Doll, Man in the Mirror, as well as Happy Together. The finale featured The SUNTONES and Nashville Singers performing Danny Boy together, with Bruce and Gene Cokeroft alternating on the verses.
October 1 - Performance at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
October 6 - Performance at First Baptist Church,
October 12 at Whitworth Memorial Baptist Church,

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Solicitations Permit received from the State of Tennessee;
Profiles created on Guidestar and GivingMatters;
2010 annual report published;
Executive Director met with Aaron McGee about fundraising event at Buffalo Wild Wings;
Executive Director attended a "Meet the Funders" event at the Center for Nonprofit Management;
Facebook Cause page launched, generating $73 in donations on the first day;
Advisory Board added to GivingMatters profile;
Board approves Board Giving Policy and Pledge Form,
Friendraiser/Fundraiser event held at Buffalo Wild Wings
Initiated part-time contract with grant writer Beverly Scott

GOVERNANCE

February 7 - Board meeting held
February 22 - 501(C)3 status approved by the IRS
March 7 - Board meeting held
- Executive Director drafts several policies for board consideration and approval;

Executive Director updates 2011 budget to include board-approved line item for a reserve/contingency fund;

April 4 - Board meeting held led to approval of:
- Reserve Fund Policy,
- Conflict of Interest Policy,
- Document Destruction & Retention Policy,
- Whistleblower Policy,
- Job Descriptions for Executive Director, President/Board Chair, and Vice Chair;
May 2 - Board meeting held led to approval of:
- 2012 Advisory Board Candidates,
- Name Tag Replacement Fee Policy,
- Music Folio Replacement Fee Policy,
- Booking the Chorus Policy,
- Leaving the Chorus Policy,
- Use of Chorus Name Policy,
- Leave of Absence Policy,
- Media Release Agreement Policy,
- Use of Drugs & Alcohol Policy,
- Confidentiality of Roster Policy,
- Copyright/Use of Learning Media Policy,
- Suspension of Membership Policy,
- Audition/Re-Evaluation Policy,
- Conflict Resolution Policy,
- Attendance Policies,
- 2011 Concert Budget & Ticket Pricing,
- Guest acts on the concert,
- Sponsorship Giving Levels,
- Annual Giving Levels,
July 15-16 - First board retreat held in Cadiz, KY, and hosted by Ed Luke; the board approved a
- Member policy on ad/ticket sales,
- Strategic Planning Policy,
- Governing Purpose,
- Governing Style,
- Board Member's Code of Conduct,
- Board Committee Principles,
- Cost of Governance,
- Executive Limitations policies including:
  - Executive Constraint,
  - Treatment of Members,
  - Treatment of Staff,
  - Financial Planning and Budgeting,
  - Financial Conditions and Activities,
  - Emergency CEO Succession,
  - Asset Protection,
  - Compensation and Benefits,
  - Communication and Support to the Board,
  - Ends Focus of Grants and Contracts,
- Several Board-CEO Linkage Policies, including:
  - Global Board-CEO Linkage,
  - Unity of Control,
  - Accountability of CEO,
  - Delegation to the CEO,
  - Monitoring CEO Performance;
- Several documents were also approved, including:
  - board (as a whole) job descriptions,
  - board member job descriptions,
  - board member commitment,
  - board orientation,
  - board meeting guidelines,
  - board operations questionnaire,
  - capturing/distribution of board minutes,
  - single and multiple board meeting evaluation tools,
  - board recruitment - expertise rating document
  - board recruitment profile,
  - board effectiveness factors;
August 3 - Due to new demands at work, Paul Gentry asked to step down as Treasurer. Board Secretary Ed Luke agreed to add the treasurer duties to his plate.
September 13 - Board meeting led to approval of:
- 2012 Board & Staff Committee Structure,
- Governance/Board Development Committee Description,
- Development/Fundraising Committee Description,
- Membership and Outreach Committee Description,
- Marketing and PR Committee Description,
- Executive Committee Description,
- Music Education & Program Development Committee Description,
- Events Committee Description
September 29 - Governing Board teleconference with Advisory Board;
October 3 - Board approved the following policies:
- Budget Preparation Policy,
- Late Fee Policy for members delinquent on their dues;
- Policy change: Student (under 25) dues category to read Youth Membership (under 22); grandfathering the 3 existing members in the Student category until they turn 25;
- Conflict of Interest forms signed by all board members;
November 7 - Board approved:
- Amendment to vision statement
- Formerly adopted leadership and philanthropic missions
- modification of attendance policy

December 15
- Amended bylaws to eliminate Immediate Past President position, and change one of our membership status levels from student to youth
- elected 2012 board members

ANNUAL CONCERT

Revenue doubled from previous year
Attracted 391 attendees (293 paid) from 37 cities in seven states
Program doubled in size from 12 to 24 pages
24% increase in ticket sales
Ad revenue 217% over budget and 433% greater than 2010
Silent Auction generated $1080 in un-budgeted income
Total concert revenues 7% over budget,
Total concert net profit $1300 over budget,

FUNDRAISING

Executive Director met with Todd met with Beverly Scott to finalize grant contract;
Executive Director met with Hal Partlow from the Tennessee Arts Commission to explore grant opportunities available;
Profile for Nashville Singers created on www.idealist.org

GRANTS

$400 Matching leadership development grant awarded to Nashville Singers by the Center for Nonprofit Management;
Executive Director interviews six potential grant writer candidates;
Executive Director applies for a $5000 grant from the National Society of Collegiate Scholars on April 30;
Executive Director applies for Google Grant for free advertising;
Bev Scott applied for HCA grant
Bev Scott applied for a grant from The Phillips Foundation.

LEADERSHIP

Sloan Yarborough promoted to Associate Director
Taylor Wilson appointed as Visual Performance Coach;

MARKETING

Facebook ad impressions 1,232,006
Facebook click throughs/visits to website 421
Facebook CTR (click through ratio) 0.034%
Facebook advertising expense $227.67
Facebook CPM cost per 1000 impressions $0.18
Facebook cost CPC per click $0.54
Print advertising published in the Nashville Scene and the City Paper promoting Free Singing Lessons Program
Nashville Singers sponsors the business luncheon at First Baptist Church, promotes our programs and events to 300 people present;
Display ad sent to La Campana promoting Season of Harmony;
Display ad sent to Dixie District of Barbershop Harmony Society for insertion in their Fall Convention program;

MEDIA COVERAGE

TV - Our video"wake up call" jingle running on WSMV TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqmC9nvodLY
RADIO - A 30-minute interview on WAY-FM yesterday morning and broadcast throughout Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. http://chirb.it/7CLJtB
WEB - An online article in the Tennessean
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110909/DAVIDSON09/309090050/Weekend-events-Nashville-Singers-present-concert-donation-school
Metro Nashville Public Schools website
www.mnps.org/Page76595.aspx%3FPanel=Reading%26EntryID=373753
PRINT - An article in the Tennessean; An article in the Nashville PRIDE newspaper (the largest African American paper in Middle Tennessee)

MEMBERSHIP

29 Membership inquiries
25 Guests attended meetings
Three new members joined: Rodney Turner, Brandon McCaddin, Sandy Derrick
Three members have left: Tom Armstrong, Pierre Boulogne, and Brandon McCaddin

MERCHANDISING

The Harmony Marketplace becomes the first wholesale distributor of The Journey Begins;
Acappella.com becomes a wholesale distributor of The Journey Begins;
Nashville Singers CD sold at the International Convention of the Barbershop Harmony Society in Kansas City;

MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM

12 new songs learned
- America the Beautiful
- Christmas Stays the Same,
- Coventry Carol,
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing
- Holiday Road
- I Love You Truly
- It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year;
- Lost in the Stars
- Man in the Mirror;
- Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,
- Over the Rainbow
- Satin Doll,
- Teach the Children to Sing
- Tonight,

14 songs retired
- America the Beautiful
- Angels We Have Heard On High
- Auld Lang Syne
- Carol of the Bells
- Caroling, Caroling
- Coventry Carol
- Dear Hearts and Gentle People
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing
- Home on the Range
- I Love You Truly
- Impossible Dream
- Irish Blessing
- Lost in the Stars
- Over the Rainbow
Meeting held between Todd Wilson, Sloan Yarborough, and Grace Thomson to finalize curriculum for Free Singing Lessons Program;
Free Voice Lessons program announced and promoted;
Print advertising published in the Nashville Scene promoting Free Singing Lessons Program
Updated Free Singing Lesson page of website;
Grace Thomson, Sloan Yarborough, and Todd Wilson conduct Free Singing Lesson program. The program attracted nine participants from seven cities in Davidson, Cheatham, Robertson, and Williamson Counties in Tennessee, and one gentleman who traveled 300 miles round-trip from his home in Arab, Alabama.
Todd Wilson served as Guest Artist at MET Singers summer event
Grace Thomson and Todd Wilson served as Guest Artists at Singing in the City event, preparing the MET Singers for participation in our November 19 concert;
Four-hour extra rehearsal held on Saturday September 10, with coaching by Grace Thomson;

OPERATIONS

The chorus receives sales tax exemption certificate;
Draft of 2012 budget created;

PAID PERFORMANCES

3/20/2011 at Walter Hill First Baptist Church
3/29/2011 at FiftyForward, hosted by Channel 5's Leland Statum and attended by Nashville Mayor Karl Dean
6/13/2011 at Buffalo Wild Wings
6/18/2011 at Morningside of Belmont
7/17/2011 at Rutland Place
9/10/2011 at Priest Lake Presbyterian Church
9/22/2011 at First Baptist Church
Quartet consisting of Sandy Derrick, Bruce Cokeroft, Mike Casper, and Rodney Turner performed at Walter Hill First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, raising $468 for Nashville Singers;
11/19/11 at First Baptist Church Donelson
12/9/11 at Lebanon Road Church of Christ
12/10/11 at Lifepoint Church in Smyrna;
12/11/11 at Walter Hill First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro

PHILANTHROPY

Executive Director creates Music Makes a Difference grant program;
Nashville Singers "Music Makes a Difference" grant application created and sent to MNPS to be disseminated to needy Nashville-area schools/choral programs;
Custom newsletter sent to 110 MNPS principals and assistant principals to encourage applications for grant;
Board approves John Overton High School as first recipient of Music Makes a Difference Grant;
Testimonials received from MNPS school officials thanking Nashville Singers for funding the Music Makes a Difference Grant presented to Overton High School; Overton's choral director Kiera Crite, and MNPS' Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator Carol Crittenden have agreed to be on hand on September 10 for the presentation of the check;
Nashville Singers presents $500 Music Makes a Difference music education to Ciera Crite, choral director at Overton High School.; presentation attended by Carol Crittenden with MNPS;

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Leadership development class for new board presidents attended by Bryan Patrick on January 19, presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management;
Executive Director attends Metro Nashville Arts Commission Grant Workshop on February 3
Executive Director attends a "Meet the Media" event at the Center for Nonprofit Management;
Executive Director attends all-day Bridge to Excellence event presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management, takes classes in board and financial development;
Executive Director participates in leadership development training at Center for Nonprofit Management (Developing a Dynamic Board);
Executive Director participates in Guidestar-sponsored webinar about how to maintain compliance with IRS rules to protect non-profit status;
Executive Director attends classes on how to conduct an effective Live/Silent Auction, and Strategic Planning at the Center for Nonprofit Management;
Executive Director attends a class on how to leverage the power of LinkedIn;
Executive Director attended a Young Nonprofit Professionals – Personalities and Leadership class at the Center for Nonprofit Management;
Executive Director attends a "CEO Network Series ~ Work - Life Balance: It's Not Just a Survival Skill" event at the Center for Nonprofit Management on September 13;
Executive Director receives "Fundraising Certification" from the Center for Nonprofit Management's annual Salute to Excellence event on September 20;
Executive Director attends a class Managing a Nonprofit: Roles and Accountabilities of the Chief Executive
Executive Director attends a class CEO Network Series ~ What is the Value of Social Media for Nonprofits?
Executive Director attends a class Meet the Funders
Executive Director attends a class CEO Network Series ~ The Magical-Science of Building Your Business

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Nashville Singers profiled on One Nashville to Support Metro Schools website as a supporter of Music Education in Davidson County;
Release about Music Makes a Difference grant presentation announced to 217 media contacts and 110 principals and assistant principals;
Release recapping Music Makes a Difference grant presentation with photo and quotes sent to 217 media contacts and 110 principals and assistant principals;
Several releases were distributed regarding the Season of Harmony Concert
- Nashville Singers 2011 Concert Draws Attendees from Far & Wide
- Three Generations Singing in Perfect Harmony 2011
- Erica Lane Joins Nashville Singers for a Season of Harmony
- Lunch Break Combines Humor and Harmony to Astound Audiences
- Two Youth Ensembles Given Their Chance to Shine

RECOGNITION/SOCIAL

Annual Awards event scheduled for January 13 at Pie in the Sky Pizza in Cool Spring;
Bruce Cokeroft named 2010 Member of the Year;
Bryan Patrick named 2010 Rookie of the Year;
Golfapalooza event held at McCabe Country Club, representatives from three local choruses participate;
Christmas party held on December 15

SPONSORSHIPS

In-kind sponsor partnerships finalized with Collins Imagery, La Campana Newspaper and Ambassador Formal Wear;
First media sponsorship – Fox 17, spot ran 82 times on three stations, valued at $18, 521 or $225 each

STRATEGIC PLANNING

First draft of 2020 Strategic Plan created;

VOLUNTEERISM

Executive Director interviews begins process of securing a college intern, interviews one candidate;
Executive Director conducts three training sessions with college intern;

WEB DEVELOPMENT

Main page of website redesigned;
Updated performance locations on website;
Updated members locations on members only page of website;
Main page of site redesigned, many other pages updated with photos from recent session;

If you would like to make some history with Nashville Singers, send an email to membership@nashvillesingers.org

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2011 History