Happy August! Can you believe the year is halfway over? Time is flying by and so are the opportunities for collaboration and professional development! Although it doesn’t feel like it with the heat wave, fall is quickly approaching. We have our annual Fall Tune-Up (formally Ringers Roundup) happening throughout our Area in  September. This is a wonderful opportunity to brush up on ringing technique, get ideas for directing/teaching, collaborate with fellow handbell colleagues and catch up with your state handbell friends! This event is open to everyone and it would be wonderful to have a mix of beginning and experienced ringers. Our handbell world is small, but mighty! If you’re attending your local Fall Tune-Up, I challenge you to bring a friend, take a picture and tag Area 11 or email it to me. If you do, it might make an appearance in our next newsletter!

Over the summer, I had an opportunity to attend and present at the annual AzACDA conference in Mesa, Arizona. On the second day of the conference, I gave an hour-long presentation about Handbells and Handchimes to a wonderful audience with a mix of new and familiar faces. My favorite part about conferences, seminars, and professional development events is connecting with my colleagues and like-minded people. Membership is about being part of something extraordinary and staying connected with the members in your organization. Although I only have a small children’s choir at my school, I renew my ACDA membership every year to stay connected with my choral colleagues and be surrounded by people who share the same passion for music. Our area-wide events like Fall Tune-Up are the perfect opportunity to reconnect with others who share our love of handbells. Sometimes it can be difficult to forget our “why” in the bustle of concert season. Most bell choirs take a break over the summer and resume rehearsals in August or September. Fall Tune Up is a wonderful opportunity to get back in the swing of things and remember our “why” before we start rehearsing again with our ensembles.

As you finish out the summer and head into fall, try to remember your “why” and connect with someone who shares your love of music and/or handbell ringing. Remember to send me a picture at Fall Tune-Up! I would love to hear about your experience and share it with our board! As always, if you need membership help or information, I am more than happy to help!