FROM THE DEAN

Friends,

What an eventful 2024 it has been so far, and it’s only May! The Clearwater Chapter continues to grow and re-imagine new ways we can reach the thriving organ community of the Tampa Bay area. I must begin by thanking the performers on our Tuesday Lenten recital series: Timothy Belk, Scott Garrett, Kevin Johnson, Gabriel Johnston, Tom Kurt, Linda Pointer, and Edwin Taylor. The chapter received a collection at each concert. Your executive committee voted, in the spirit of the Lenten season, to donate a portion of the proceeds to back to the host churches with instruction to apply funds to a feeding or justice ministry. A contribution of more than $250 was divided among St. Jerome Catholic, Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Calvary Episcopal IRB, Clearwater First UMC, and Prince of Peace Lutheran.

The Clearwater Chapter website will undergo a complete redesign over the next several months. Chapter member Michelle Klima Thomas sits on the AGO national committee on Information Technology and will lead this project. Our chapter website is set to become the standard model for all AGO chapters. I encourage you to explore other chapter websites and reach out to Michelle directly about things you like or hope to see on our site.

Finally, we end our season on June 2 with an installation dinner at St. Anne of Grace Episcopal Church in Seminole. All members and officers from both St. Peterburg and Tampa chapters have been invited to our second annual Tri-chapter gathering. I have been in contact with the deans of the St. Petersburg and Tampa chapters and am hopeful for a great crowd! We are thrilled to welcome James Thomashower, executive director of the AGO, who will install officers and give a keynote address to the three chapters. See details on page 1 and be sure to get your RSVP in by Monday May 27: shawn@poplargo.org.

See you on June 2!