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WELS HANDBELL FESTIVALS
REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL CHAIR
April 12, 2008
“The Church’s One Foundation.” “Here I Am to Worship.” “In Christ Alone.” Over the past three years these statements have served as our themes for our handbell festivals. We praise and thank God that he has brought us together to worship him through ringing handbells. Today we are completing the fourth three-year cycle of WELS Handbell festivals since our guidelines and organization structure were adopted in 1996. Our guidelines currently organize us into three geographic regions. For two years regional festivals are held in those three regions. In the third year a national festival is held, such as the one this weekend. The national festivals are rotated between the three regions. Each of the three regions has a representative on the National Executive Committee. Each member serves a three-year term and is eligible to serve a second consecutive term. Next year the Northeast region will hold an election for their representative. In 2010 the Southeast and Western regions will hold their elections for their representatives. In the year of a national festival a national chairperson is elected. This person serves a three-year term and is eligible to serve a second consecutive term.
This is the 29th year of WELS Handbell Festivals. This year’s national festival has representatives from 44 congregations and schools bringing 51 choirs. We are truly blessed to ring with 499 ringers, all ringing praises to our Lord. We are also blessed to have wonderful instrumentalists and vocalists to accompany the ringing. Regional festivals will be held in 2009 and 2010. A national festival will be held in 2011, hosted by the Southeast Region.
Before we meet again for another national festival there will be six regional festivals. Some of you will be asked to serve. We will be in need of site coordinators, festival directors and people to serve on the music selection committee. Please consider volunteering your time and talents. Job descriptions can be obtained from myself or read in the by-laws. None of these tasks are difficult, but without the tasks being completed, it would be impossible to run these uplifting events.
At this time we know of 148 WELS and ELS congregations or schools that have handbells and/or handchimes. We need your help in updating our mailing list.
Please look over the mailing list. If you know of any additions or corrections please write them on the blue sheet. Thank you to everyone who provided an email address. Please print clearly when writing information for this mailing list.
Please use the pink sheet to list your comments about the music for future festivals. You may also use this sheet if you have comments about this festival that you would like to share with the executive committee.
I would like to thank all of the directors who returned their forms and money in a timely manner. The preliminary registration form should be returned by all, even if you are not attending that year’s festival. We use this form to update mailing lists. This sheet also gives those planning the festival an idea of how many choirs will be participating. If you do not return this form it is assumed that you are not attending the festival. You will not receive any more information for that year if the preliminary sheet is not returned.
The final registration form that requires payment for your choir is due in February. The participant registration form that confirms your number attending is due closer to the festival. The site coordinator needs to have as accurate a count as possible when planning for food, folders, supplies, etc. I regret to say that there were several forms returned in an untimely manner. Your cooperation in returning these forms in a timely manner would be greatly appreciated.
I hope that by now all of you have discovered our website, www.welsbells.com. We will continue to use this form of communication. Posting items such as directors’ notes, lodging and other information has saved us money that would have been spent on postage. Although not foolproof, email has served as a way to get information to you quickly. If you change your email please inform the chair so that it can be updated. If you have comments about the website please feel free to write them on one of the update sheets or share them with a member of the executive committee.
Later in our meeting today we will announce the election results of our national chair. I would like to thank all of those who nominated an individual, those who were willing to serve and everyone who voted by returning the ballot.
We have experienced so many blessings through our participation in WELS Handbell Festivals. We hope that you will continue to join us and encourage others to join us.
I would like to thank you for the privilege of serving you as your chair for the past three years. I have enjoyed getting to know you and working with you in ringing praises to our Lord.
In Christ Alone,
Kim Pilz
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