Maine Motif Issue 3, Vol. II (Spring 2018) | Page 5

From the President
April 2018
Happy Spring!
It is my hope that when you are reading this that everyone from Kennebunk to Caribou
will have snow and winter weather in the rear view mirror. Spring is a time for
renewed energy, I suspect that you had a very musical March and that the longer days
and warmer weather are a welcome sight. Do enjoy!
Preparations are in full swing and the wheels are moving in preparation for the In
Service Conference and All State Music Festival to be held in May at the University of
Maine in Orono. Hats off to Kristen Thomas, Chris White, Nancy Cash-Cobb, Ben
Potvin, Becca DeWann and Beth Labrie and their team of volunteers who are dotting all
of the I’s and crossing all of the T’s to insure a great festival and conference.
Please be sure to register early, online (@mainemmea.org) so we can be ready for your
arrival! Denese Odegard, the NAfME President will be at the conference. Denese will be
presenting workshops and sharing her knowledge. She is a North Dakota native who
specialty is strings education. Make the time to say hello and give her a Maine welcome,
she is very approachable and knowledgeable.
This is my last conference in the role of President. Ben Potvin is ready to step into the
Presidency and will serve you well. Please make an effort to attend the all member
meeting celebrate the successes and learn of the challenges that we as an organization
are navigating.
I close with a heartfelt thanks and appreciation for each of you, the members, and all
that you do to insure that the students in the State Maine have equal access to Music
Education. Each and every day I witness, what I believe in my heart, that music does
make a difference.
With gratitude for you,
Sue Barre