UMEA Members, Our exciting mid-winter conference is quickly approaching. Please note the following: 1. The last day to register online or to have your registration postmarked is January 26th. 2. Those attending the choral reading session can submit the $5 packet fee with mailed registrations or pay the fee when you pick up your registration packet at the conference center on Friday morning. 3. In addition to the outstanding Utah Wind Symphony concert with Allen Vizzutti at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, the conference is extending into Friday evening with a 7:00 p.m. choral performance at the Dolores Dore' Eccles Recital Hall on the campus of Dixie State College. Because some may not have transportation, Pineview High School has graciously arranged for a school bus to leave the Convention Center/Hilton Garden Inn, leaving at 6:30 p.m. and returning after the concert. 4. Our ballot for new officers consists of these outstanding educators: President-elect Vance Larson, Snow College Greg Wheeler, Utah State University Orchestra Kirsten Candland, Washington Co. Schools Deanne Helquist, Mapleton Jr. High School Jazz Todd Campbell, Woods Cross High School Bill Mattingly, Alta High School Elementary Shauna Johnson, Utah Valley University Leslie Timmons, Utah State University Further information and their bios can be found at: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8EQ4NU7aynlLVFkTHhPZENhUHM/edit or on our UMEA Facebook page--the information will also be included with ballots in the conference packets. 5. We are embarking upon a new statewide mentorship initiative. If you are either a retired music educator interested in helping us OR a newer member of our profession who would like to receive help from a mentor, please email donald_peterson@byu.edu<mailto:donald_peterson@byu.edu> to let us know of your interest. Sue Thompson is helping organize this valuable resource 6. A number of you are in districts where teacher evaluations and teacher assessment are being discussed. You may find this link from our national NAfME website helpful as you join in these discussions: http://musiced.nafme.org/news/legislative-memo-nafmes-advocacy-team-offers-t... We look forward to seeing all of you in St. George as we "warm-up" and "recharge" for our great jobs as music educators!! Don L. Peterson, D.M.A. Director of Bands School of Music C-550 HFAC Brigham Young University Provo, UT 84602 (801) 422-7275 http://bands.byu.edu<http://bands.byu.edu/> President, Utah Music Educators Association http://www.umea.us