SisterSingers Network Minutes from 9/4/99 [taken by Amy Moore] GALA Leadership Conference Washington, DC   The meeting was facilitated by Dr. Catherine Roma, (MUSE: Cincinnati's
Women's Choir) and Velma Wagner (Calliope Women's Chorus, MN).  Approximately 75 people were in attendance.

The meeting began with a brief history and explanation of the organization of
SisterSinger's Network, its purpose and an introduction to the need for revitalizing the network.   Several issues of a clerical nature were addressed.  First, there is a substantial amount of money that was raised for the last festival.  It was never used because the festival never took place. The question of what to do with that money was put to the meeting.   There was minimal discussion about any direct uses, in part because the people in attendance were not sure they had the agency to act on behalf of the network.  Second, the member contact list needs to be updated.  Velma circulated a sheet to capture the names and contact information of the people in attendance.  Third, the importance of archival work was addressed as an important component of preserving the history of SSN.

A roll of choruses represented in the meeting was taken.  It illustrated the numbers of women potentially effected by SisterSingers activity and also demonstrated potential cross-over interests between SSN and GALA Choruses.
Implications of a some of theses interests were articulated in more detail.

Salient features of the discussion were:
1. Are there ways to "contract" GALA Choruses for some organizational needs:
e.g. newletter, mailing lists, conferences etc.
2. Women in GALA Choruses often find themselves in teaching roles.
Women-only events enable women to assume learning roles.
3. Participation in GALA Choruses events is often financially prohibitive for women.
4. Grass roots vs. Corporate models: compatibility, feasibility, usefulness,
appropriateness, desire
5. The viability of GALA Choruses as a political organization that speaks to
womens' interests

Cathy announced a meeting of the SSN hosted by Artemis Singers to be held
October 9-10.  Several people voiced concern about the relatively late notice
of the weekend - especially  if it were to be the body of people empowered to
take the next action on behalf of the network.  It was posited that there was
not mechanism in place to empower a gathering of network members to take
action and that this was a problem.  People wondered what type of
representation from the GALA Choruses  meeting would be possible at the
Chicago gathering.

It was agreed  clear lines of communication could be better established to
help address this concern.  One means of improved communication was via the
internet.  Eileen Stone (Atlanta Feminist Women's Chorus) stated that the
choruswomen list currently had over 150 subscribers.  Carol Wheeler (Bread &
Roses, Washington, DC) volunteered to set up a SSN webpage to serve as a
clearinghouse for information. She said that she could have it up within a
week.  A concern was raised that people without access to the internet would
be excluded.  It was suggested that people without their own internet access
could take advantage of computers at their local libraries.

There was consensus that this discussion should be continued at lunch on the
following day.

Amy Moore and June Huelskamp agreed to collaborate on providing meeting
minutes to Carol to be posted on the new webpage.

The meeting ended with a viewing of a videotape on the history of women's

choruses.