Dear G-A Chorus Member:
:By now you’ve all received my 17-page “marketing plan” for the Chapter. I hope you’ve had time to read and digest it. It’s been suggested that I prioritize the most important of the many action elements included in that plan; priorities that I believe are the most critical and deserving of timely implementation. Here, then, are those top priorities that were identified by me and other Board members at the special chorus strategy meeting/”peprally” held prior to last week’s rehearsal.

1. Brochure. A professional hand-out, leave-behind tool for distribution at rehearsals and during performances by the chorus and quartets. This probably will be a simple, multi-fold sales piece promoting membership and awareness of our Chapter -- either in simple black and white or, budget permitting, in color.

2. Chapter newsletter/bulletin. This will be designed perhaps as an 8 ½ x 11 one- ortwo-sheet doc that can be emailed to members, placed on our website and otherwise mailed to guests, etc. I envision such a publication prepared b-monthly or quarterly. Most Chapters across the country have such a doc and we should too The key to its success will be Board and member input.

3. Press kit/guest handout packet. This could contain several pieces...including the brochure, most recent newsletter/bulletin, roster of members/Board (with phone number sand emails), some photos, schedule of past/projected performances by the chorus and quartets,some letter testimonials (saying how great we are!), any news clippings we can generate,etc. This will be made available to the media, prospective members and to organizations and performance site prospects.

4. News releases and feature articles. These will be developed by me from input by you on a variety of topics...gigs by the chorus and quartets, any other types of community giving/support types of things we do, profile pieces with photos on our members who have unusual stories to tell either in their profession, retirement or Chapter roles. To this end,I’m attaching a member questionnaire. I’d appreciate it if you’d please fill it out as completely as possible and return it to me ASAP. What I’m looking for is a “news or feature angle HOOK” that will catch an editor’s eye enough to want to write a story involving you AND the Chapter. Get my angle?

5. Media contacting. I plan to soon start contacting “entertainment/special section”editors of local media (newspapers and magazines) to introduce myself and leave behind some information about the Chapter. If they don’t know us, how can we expect them towrite or air anything about us? I’d welcome having come members accompany me!

6. Media list building. If such a list does not already exist, one will be built so we cansend our stories/gig schedules, news about out organizational activities out to them.

7. Website. Our website needs to be brought into the 21st Century. I’m told Rich needs better tools with which to continue his yeoman service as Webmaster. So let’s give him the tools and help/input he needs The site should be error free, easy to traverse, informative and current.April XX, 2008

8. Set up committees: I, for one, could use some creative support and shirtsleeve help. And I think there probably are areas in the Chapters for committees that could attract the help of other members. There’s more to maintaining -- AND GROWING -- this remarkable Chapter with a long legacy of serving Las Vegas. Rich and others have been vocalin urging members to pitch in and help and many of you have. So, if the shoe fits and you feel you can offer an elbow or your creativity to the cause, please step forward. If you’d like to work in the PR/Marketing area, gimme a call or email me...likewise if you’d enjoy working with Rich on Chapter Development and membership, contact him instead.Either way, let’s all get marching in synch with the drummer.

9. Seeking gigs! They way I see it, it’s EVERYONE’s responsibility to go out and uncover potential performances for the chorus and, yes, even our fine quartets. I uncovered four or five gig leads last week...that’s not a brag, it’s a fact and now I gotta help Rick reel‘em in. You can do the same thing. All you need to do is TALK US UP so folks out there know we can put on a pretty darn good show and don’t even have to get paid for it. It’s VISIBILITY we’re primarily after now...the bucks will com automatically when we become famous! Sources for exposure include local trade associations, service clubs, companies(you many have one or more contacts...so use ‘em)...plus schools, churches, etc.* * *Okay...that should do it for now. Thanks for taking the time to look this over andthanks, in advance, for getting more involved than merely coming to rehearsals and lettingthe Board do all the work. We’re all in this together...to have fun, to sing a lot, to sell us tothe community...and to grow. Let’s turn the corner and show ‘em what we’re made of.And, thanks in advance for filling out the attached member questionnaire!

Larry