Getting the Most from Your GALA Choruses Membership

1
Getting the Most from Your GALA Choruses
Membership
2
Mailing List 3
Discussion Groups 5
GALA 411 Advisors 6
Festival 7
GALA Leadership Symposium 8
Managers Directors Retreat 9
Web Site Resource Center 10
Chorus Operations Survey 14
Chorus Benchmarking Tool 15
Job Bank 16
3
The first key to getting value from your GALA
membership is to stay current on the events and
programs offered. EBlasts are use to communicate
information about upcoming events and programs.
Details can be found on the GALA web site and
Facebook page.
4
To join our email list go to the GALA Choruses
web site home page and use the Join Our Mailing
List box.
5
The GALA discussion groups are one of the most
valuable aspects of membership. The groups allow
you to obtain instant feedback on a particular
topic or problem from your chorus
colleagues. You can join the discussion groups
using links available on the GALA web site.
6
The artistic director-in-residence program has
been expanded to include advisors on several
additional topics. The current team is artistic
advisor Bob Mensel, chorus manager advisor Jeff
Heine, board development advisor Eve Campbell and
youth chorus advisor Susan Haugh. The GALA 411
advisors are available to member choruses for
mentoring on a variety of topics. The clinics
will be free but the chorus is asked to cover
travel and lodging expenses. Details on the GALA
411 program and how to contact the advisors and
request their services are all included on the
GALA web site.
7
Festival is the signature event of GALA Choruses.
Festival 2016 will be held in Denver July 2-6,
2016.
Denver Banners
Boettcher Concert Hall
Photos courtesy of Denver Visitors Bureau
8
Leadership symposiums are held annually (other
than Festival years) providing an opportunity for
education, inspiration and just plain fun! The
2014 conference will be held August 7-10 in
Cleveland which coincides with the Gay Games.
Check out the web site for symposium details.
9

• Annual Managers Directors retreats are held in
  January of each year. The schedule for the
  weekend includes
•  
• Repertoire reading sessions
• Feedback session and reception with the GALA
  Choruses Board
• Networking opportunities with GALA Board, other
  conductors and LGBT chorus administrators

10
The GALA web site includes an extensive list of
books providing excellent background materials on
running a successful chorus.
11
The Resource Center is the heart of the GALA web
site. Check out the sample section below!
12
GALA is collaborating with Chorus America to
offer the 2014 operations survey. Topics to be
covered will include compensation, operations,
board practices, management practices,
effectiveness measures and performance and
audience measures. All member choruses will be
asked to participate in the survey. The results
of the survey will be free to those who
participate.
13
GALA Choruses has adapted a benchmark study to be
used as an analysis tool for member choruses.
The study covers all aspects of chorus management
and is an excellent starting point for a
strategic planning cycle. It is designed to
gather input from singers, staff and Board
members and assist the chorus in identifying its
most critical areas for improvement.
14
Member choruses can submit job openings in their
choruses to be posted on the GALA Choruses web
site.