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Your 2018 Barbershopper of the Year for the Rocky Mountain District
Jim Clark
Our Barbershopper of the year has attended nearly every International Convention since 1983 and has participated in five choruses and five quartets in both the Central States District and the Rocky Mountain District. One of those quartets was the second RMD quartet to join the AIC–Storm Front.
In that quartet’s first year of existence they were the founding music clinicians for Summer Harmony Camp (and also served the second year of Summer Harmony Camp), and now he will be returning to direct the men’s Summer Harmony Camp chorus in 2019. (You can find the rest of Jim’s accomplishments HERE.)
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Leadership Academy Report

2019 RMD Leadership Academy sessions were held January 12th in Utah and January 19th in Colorado, and were a big success. We had over 60 attendees representing 14 of our own chapters as well as guests from two groups outside our district. Feedback received from RMD attendees about the four tracks (Governance, Music, Internal Operations, and External Operations) was universally positive, thanks to great faculty who were willing to share their time and experience with us. We also received good ideas and suggestions that we will use to improve leadership training activities in the future.
Some of the comments included “This was the best track I have attended over the last 4 years” and “It was my first time and as a new officer, I highly recommend it to everyone. I can’t wait to go again next year!” Comments about our faculty included “excellent teacher”, “Most knowledgeable and helpful”, and “Excellent knowledge base”.
As the new district VP of Chapter Support and Leadership Training, I want to help your chapter succeed. Leadership Academies are a great way to learn from peers and experts, as well as to get enthused about the work of running our chapters. But they’re just one tool. There are lots of resources that can be utilized at any time. I hope to get to know each chapter more fully in the coming months and to learn more about what you’re doing right, what you’re excited about, and what challenges you’re facing that the district might help you with. And if you have questions or problems you’d like some help with, please contact me so I can help connect you with the right resources. We all get stronger together.
While Leadership Academies are a great way to get broad information about the four categories of chapter leadership positions, there is a lot more information, details, and ideas available. Rocky Mountain Harmony College in April includes a whole bunch of course offerings that will dive deeper into more specific subjects that can improve your chapter. Please explore all the options at RMDSing.org and come join us!
ASCAP and Financial Review
Tony Pranaitis
RMD Secretary
Thank you for serving your chapters as the governance team on your chapter boards.
This is a review of Compliance Reports and also show licensing procedures.
Let’s start with show licensing.
ASCAP for 2018 was due on Dec 31, 2018 unless your show income (gross) exceeded $30,739.80 in 2018 in which case you need to submit as soon as you have all of your show income from last year calculated. If your show income was less than $30,739.80 for the year, the ASCAP fee for 2018 was $250. This covers ALL performances throughout the year including any charitable benefits or free performances. Complete the attached form and send with your check directly to BHS. There is no additional reporting, either to the Member Center or to the District Secretary.
BHS prefers that ASCAP filings (paying the standard annual fee if you do not exceed $30,739.80) be done in September as there is the least amount of paperwork congestion at BHS headquarters during that month.
BMI /SESAC license is due before each show, and in most circumstances (use the calculation table at the bottom of the application) the fee is $28 per performance. Only one paper copy of this form is necessary to submit (per show date…you can have two shows on one date and can list both on one form) and it is sent, along with your check payable to BHS to the District Secretary (me)…address as follows:
RMD Secretary
c/o Tony Pranaitis
12713 West 8th Ave
Golden, Colorado 80401-4646
I will scan the form (and your check) to PDF and send a digital copy to you (print if you need a hard copy) and will keep a digital copy in the District files. The paper copy and your check will be sent to BHS.
There is an accessory form where you can provide additional links for locating show information which will be added to the District calendar, so other barbershoppers can access this information more readily.
BMI / SESAC licenses are the ONLY forms sent to the District Secretary.
The remaining Compliance Reports are posted to the Member Center directly by one of you (the District Secretary no longer has authorization to access chapter web pages on the Member Center, so if you need help, ask Customer Service at BHS headquarters).
1. Financial Review
See attached explanation of why and how. This form is due May 15, which is also the due date of your IRS 990.
2. IRS 990
Due May 15. For most chapters this is a simple postcard. Due to the 2019 government shutdown, the process of getting these mailed to the chapter agent of record has been slowed. Watch for notices from BHS about further developments.
3. Periodic Report with your Secretary of State (maintaining your non-profit corporation status)
This is due on the anniversary of your corporate filing. You can check online with your Secretary of State for current status. Usually when the Periodic Report is due the Secretary of State will send an Email to the agent of record. Filing the Periodic Report is usually done online and requires a minimum of effort and cost (in Colorado it’s $10).
You should upload these three documents (Financial Review, IRS 990, Periodic Report or Certificate of Good Standing) onto the Member Center in the Compliance Filings and Reports (there is a section for each) which not only verifies that these have been completed but serves as a repository of the records for proof if needed or for reference by your successors.
Uploading is simple and there are tutorials available for “how-to” of all Member Center functions. If you are still stuck, contact Customer Service at BHS and they will help you.
Please make sure all the gears are turning in your chapter so you stay compliant in all of these areas. It is very simple and it keeps you legal, which is important for you personally as a chapter fiduciary.
Let me know if you have any questions about the above. I’m happy to help, however I’m limited in what I can do on your behalf. Thanks for staying on top of this.
Tony Pranaitis
RMD Secretary
(303) 233-6234
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Our 2019 High School Quartet contest winners … “Stratus” from Grandview High School. The Denver area High School contest, sponsored by The Denver MountainAires, was held at Arvada High School on Feb. 18th. Video at: https://youtu.be/Le- |
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Remember when?
Joker’s Wild from our 2014 RMD Spring Convention: Video at: https://youtu.be/REFjn1L0a4Y |
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