Sigma Alpha Iota

P IOTA HA LP D ILANTHROPIE The following is a Sept. 30, 2010 letter from Daryle Gardner-Bonneau, Ph.D., Chairman, SAI Philanthropies, Inc. to the alumnae and collegiate chapters of SAI: PH sUPPORTING pUBLIC sCHOOL pROGRAMS N T HR O ILA H A SIGMA A S ear Sisters, The last couple of years have been financially difficult ones both for SAI and for music education. SAI W AR Philanthropies, Inc. has seen little income from investments, and chapter donations have been less than we would hope. At DS 2010 the same time, public school music education is on the "chopping block" in many places, and school music teachers are simply trying to survive, with fewer and fewer resources at their disposal. As members of Sigma Alpha Iota, we have pledged to support music in its many forms, and the Board of SAI Philanthropies, Inc., at its summer Board meeting, decided that it was time for SAI to make a concerted effort to "stand up for music education" by initiating a major fundraising campaign to support the Music Education Outreach Grants this year. Philanthropies currently budgets $15,000 annually to give three grants of $5,000 each to public school music teachers (SAIs or teachers sponsored by an SAI chapter or member) who have tremendous needs for resources to keep their programs operating in these times. We want to do more, and we need to do more. Therefore, we are asking all SAI chapters to join together to achieve a significant goal: RESOLVED: That each of the 8 Regions of Sigma Alpha Iota will raise enough funds this academic year to sponsor at least one Music Education Outreach Grant. If we can meet this goal, SAI Philanthropies, Inc. will be able to award eight $5,000 grants to public school music teachers with the greatest needs and, in the process, make our voices heard that music education is vital to all of us! And yes, we can do it! Sadly, it was the case that 46% of our collegiate chapters made no donation to Philanthropies last year; the same was true for 20% of the alumnae chapters. On the flip side, there were many small collegiate chapters that raised $1,000 or more for Philanthropies, so it can be done!! If every chapter raises a few hundred dollars this year in support of these grants, we can meet the goal to support eight worthy teachers around the country with significant funding that may mean the difference between a program's growing or being eliminated. The Philanthropies Board will be doing everything it can to keep this program in your minds and hearts throughout the year, and you will receive periodic updates about how your Region is doing in SAI publications and through other media. And that is not all that will be happening! The Philanthropies Board is designing a campaign to garner corporate sponsorship, allowing us to give still more awards to worthy teachers. The Music Education Outreach Grant Director, Brenda Smith, will be personally promoting this program to teachers and potential corporate sponsors through MENC and other music education organizations. We know also that our unaffiliated alumnae will be interested in supporting this program, because they, too, know that what happens now with music education will affect us all down the road. We will be telling them too, about the campaign, and any contributions they make will add to the appropriate Region's total. So, please do reach out to unaffiliated local alums and invite them to contribute to your fundraising efforts. I know there are some who believe all "good" SAI members should be members of a chapter, but I feel compelled to counter that sentiment with a personal story. For 10 years of my life as an alumna member, I lived in places where SAI wasn't — central Nebraska, southeastern Ohio, south New Jersey. SAI was lost to me until I moved, finally in 1993, to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Our Alumnae Association now makes it possible for members to stay involved and stay in touch, no matter where they are. The point? There are many reasons that alumnae can't or don't affiliate with chapters, but it doesn't necessarily mean they don't care! So please, consider embracing your unaffiliated alums and inviting them to become involved in this worthy campaign for music education. Also note that we are conducting this campaign in addition to our regular annual campaign for funds. Thus, we ask EACH chapter not only to make a donation this year specifically to the Music Education Outreach Grants campaign, but to make a general donation to SAI Philanthropies to help support our other grants, scholarships and projects. It takes all of us — the WHOLE VILLEAGE (!) to continue the wonderful work accomplished in the name of SAI by our charitable arm. Finally, I want to end with yet another story. This year's winner of the National Alumnae Chapter Achievement Award — the Des Moines Alumnae Chapter — was so honored for many reasons, but one in particular especially impressed the National Executive Board. When public school music education was threatened in Des Moines, the Des Moines alums didn't just lament it, complain, and go about their business; THEY LET THEIR VOICES BE HEARD! Their advocacy for and defense of music education in their community did not go unnoticed — not in Des Moines, and not by the NEB. They should be an inspiration to all of us. This year's fundraising campaign provides the opportunity for all SAI chapters to make a significant difference to an outstanding music teacher and a stressed public school music program. Please take this challenge to heart and help us to meet our tremendous goal in furthering the cause of music. Fraternally, Daryle J. Gardner-Bonneau Chairman, SAI Philanthropies, Inc sai-national.org FALL 2010 PAN PIPES 25

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