Board of Directors and Committees

Learn more about

Board Meeting schedule, meeting agendas, submitting member comments, and more: Visit the Board Meetings page

Board positions and upcoming ballots: Visit the Elections page

Interested in serving your fellow members? Visit the Get Involved page for a variety of ways to do so!

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OAKE Committees

To see the full committee roster list, please click here

 

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council is composed of Chapter and Division Presidents and Treasurers. The committee  serves as a network among local leaders, advises the OAKE Board on issues that occur at the local and regional levels, and disburses OAKE rebates and grants.

Committee membership: All Chapter Presidents, Chapter Treasurers, Division Presidents, Division Treasurers, Regional Representatives, OAKE Treasurer, OAKE Deputy Treasurer. The committee is chaired by the OAKE President Elect.

Time commitment: 1-2 hours per month, processing email communication, one-two virtual meetings annually, and an in-person event at the National Conference.

Advocacy and Public Relations

The Advocacy and Public Relations Committee spearheads member recruitment efforts for OAKE and works with the OAKE staff to develop publicity materials and advocacy tools for the Kodály approach.

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee chair is appointed by the President.

Time commitment: 4-6 hours per month, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Bylaws

The Bylaws Committee maintains OAKE’s bylaws and governing documents.

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee is chaired by the OAKE Secretary.

Time commitment: 2-3 hours per month when Bylaws revisions are necessary. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Communications

The Communications Committee works with OAKE staff to develop, review, edit, and curate content of the Kodály Envoy, the quarterly publication of OAKE, currently online.

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee chair is appointed by the President. 

Time commitment: A 1-hour virtual meeting per month, committee check-ins through email, individual email communication with contributors as assigned, some editing of articles.

Equity

The Equity Committee develops inclusive actions for all voices and experiences within OAKE and prompts  and ensures equity and equitable practices throughout all areas of the organization.

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee is chaired by the OAKE Equity Advisor.

Time commitment: 3-4 hours per month, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Executive

The Executive Committee reviews the conduct of the corporation and advises the Board of Directors.

Committee membership: President, President Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President, Deputy Treasurer and Executive Director.

Time commitment: 4-6 hours per month, processing email communication, one-two virtual meetings annually, and in-person meetings in the fall and spring.

Fiscal Advisory Council

The Fiscal Advisory Council works with the Treasurer and the Executive Director to advise on matters of fiscal policy that are outside the general area of expertise of OAKE’s Board of Directors.  Typically, the members of the Fiscal Advisory Council are not members of OAKE, but rather, occupy positions in the public and private sectors (accountants, attorneys, etc).

Committee membership: Typically professionals occupying positions in the public and private sector. The committee is chaired by the OAKE Treasurer.

Time commitment: 1-2 hours per month, depending on needs of the OAKE Treasurer and Executive Director. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Fiscal Planning

The Fiscal Planning Committee develops the OAKE budget and provides oversight for all financial and fiscal activities of the organization.

Committee membership: OAKE Executive Board (President, President Elect, Immediate Past President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer) and Executive Director. The committee is co-chaired by the OAKE Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer.

Time commitment: Seasonally, 3-4 hours per month, virtual meetings and preparation. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Fundraising

The Fundraising Committee works with the Board of Directors to steer OAKE’s fundraising efforts, including capital campaigns and annual giving initiatives.

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee chair is appointed by the President.

Time commitment: 6 hours per month, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

History and Archives

The History and Archives Committee works with the OAKE Archivist to collect and compile materials and develop protocols for materials to be submitted to the OAKE Archives at the University of Maryland.  This committee maintains a chronological record of OAKE and plans for special historical events in the organization, such as major anniversaries.

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee chair is appointed by the President.

Time commitment: 3-4 hours per month, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Instrumental and Secondary Choral

The Instrumental and Secondary Choral Committee works to expand OAKE’s influence in the worlds of instrumental and secondary choral music education, through the programming of sessions at the OAKE National Conference, publication of articles in the Kodály Envoy, and various outreach initiatives.

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee is co-chaired by the OAKE Instrumental Advisor and the OAKE Secondary Education Advisor.

Time commitment: 2-3 hours per month, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

OAKE Leaf Fund

The Leaf Fund Committee oversees the OAKE Leaf Fund and the process for the awarding of grants that support the mission of OAKE and the Kodály movement in the United States.

Committee membership: One representative from each of the four geographical divisions of OAKE (eastern, southern, midwestern, and western) and the OAKE Treasurer. The committee chair is appointed by the President.

Time commitment: Seasonally, 2-3 hours per month, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Membership

The Membership Committee offers training and support to chapter leaders. By monitoring metrics of chapter success and struggle, the committee is a clearing house for proven strategies relating to successful chapter recruitment, retention, and organization. 

Committee membership: All OAKE Regional Representatives, Division Presidents, President Elect, Higher Education Advisor, Immediate Past President, Newcomer Program Chair, and Executive Director. The committee chair/co-chairs are appointed by the President.

Time commitment: 8-12 hours monthly, virtual meetings, email and phone communication with chapter leaders, and other committee projects.

Newcomer Program

The Newcomer Program, a part of the Membership Committee, focuses on welcoming first-time conference attendees and develops activities to help newcomers connect both during the conference and throughout the year. 

Program Chair: The program chair is appointed by the president.

Time commitment: 4-6 hours per year, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

National Conference Choirs

The National Conference Choirs Committee oversees rehearsals, auditions, and the organizational processes of the National Conference Choirs.

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members who have previously sponsored students in the OAKE National Conference Choirs. The committee chair/co-chairs are appointed by the President.

Time commitment: monthly meetings, approximately 2 hours per month; screening auditions during October, approximately 4 hours of audition screening within a 2 week period; virtual meetings with teachers of singers, approximately 2 hours during January and February; arrival at the conference one day before rehearsals begin to set up rooms, etc.; attendance at the conference to supervise and manage choir rehearsals, approximately 24 hours over 4 days. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

National Conference Program Team

The National Conference Program Team spearheads the organization and development of all OAKE National Conference events and programming.

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee chair/co-chairs are appointed by the President.

Time commitment: Three-year term with a maximum of two terms and an in-person event at the National Conference.

Nominating

The Nominating Committee reviews all nominations for the OAKE Board of Directors, research potential candidates, builds the electoral slate, and oversees OAKE elections.

Committee membership: All OAKE Regional Representatives and Division Presidents. The committee is chaired by the OAKE President Elect.

Time commitment: 4-6 hours per week, approximately 4 weeks per year. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Personnel

The Personnel Committee maintains and develops procedures and policies for all OAKE employees.

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee chair is appointed by the president.

Time commitment: 4-6 hours per month, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Planning and Development

The Planning and Development Committee works to foster the growth, success, and sustainability of OAKE, including the development and oversight of the OAKE Strategic Plan.

Committee membership: OAKE Executive Board (President, President Elect, Immediate Past President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer), Executive Director, and any OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee is chaired by OAKE President Elect.

Time commitment: 2-3 hours per month, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Recognitions and Awards

The Recognitions and Awards Committee develops and implements criteria for the recognition of outstanding contributors to the work of OAKE and Kodály-inspired music education, reviewing all nominations for OAKE’s annual awards, and making selections based upon those nominations.

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee chair is appointed by the President.

Time commitment: Seasonally, 2-3 hours per month, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Research Panel

The Research Panel serves as a subcommittee to the Recognition and Awards Committee. The Research Panel reviews research papers submitted for recognition. The panel reviews the nominated papers via a double-blind process. 

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee chair is appointed by the President.

Time commitment: Seasonally, 2-3 hours per month, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Research

The Research Committee supports the research of OAKE members and those interested in the Kodály philosophy and interpreting research findings for use in elementary and secondary classrooms. 

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee chair is appointed by the President. 

Time commitment: 2-3 hours per month, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Scholarships

The Scholarships Committee administers OAKE’s professional scholarships, including the annual Jenö Ádám, Denise Bacon, and Katinka Daniel Scholarships. 

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee chair is appointed by the President.

Time commitment: 4-6 hours for one month per year, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

Teacher Education

The Teacher Education Committee oversees the Endorsed Teacher Training Certification process, reviewing all endorsed training programs annually, updating standards for continued endorsement, and providing support to teacher education institutions attempting to establish Kodály training institutes.  

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional, student, and retired members. The committee chair is appointed by the President.

Time commitment: 4-6 hours per month, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms. 

Educating the Teachers of Teachers

The Educating the Teachers of Teachers Committee is a subcommittee of the Teacher Education Committee. The committee provides opportunities and guidance for professional development and continuing education to those engaged in training others in the Kodály approach. Committee projects include the programming of sessions at the OAKE National Conference, publication of articles in the Kodály Envoy, and various outreach initiatives.

Committee membership: Open to all OAKE professional and retired members with interest in and/or experience teaching in undergraduate and post-secondary Kodály education programs. The committee chair is appointed by the President.

Time commitment: 2-3 hours per month, virtual meetings and committee projects. Three-year term with a maximum of two terms.

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