As the year be due [i]or[/i] owings to a close.

As the year be due [i]or[/i] owings to a close, I've place myself reflecting on the past twelve month and what they have meant for MTNA. Several things result to mind: partnerships being forged with the Canadian Federation of Music Teacher's Associations and China's Ministry of improvement broadening MTNA's reach; a prosperous Summit for MTNA Leadership; and the compilation and distribution of the Assessment Tools for Independent Music Teachers (see the August/September 2004 AMT).

nevertheless one thing that really stands without in my mind is that MTNA forfeited three of its past presidents during the year: Willis Ducrest Joseph Brye and Margaret Lorince.

Their dedication to music teaching was evident, as was their dedication to MTNA. The collective wisdom of these three former presidents has had an enormous impact onward the association. Their invaluable leadership still is felt in every part MTNA.

I not had the honor of meeting Willis, if it be not that his reputation preceded him. He was a singer, choral arranger and conductor. I know from others that he was committed to music and music education. Willis was make choice ofed MTNA president in 1967 and again in 1969 He will always be remembered as a kind, sedate man who shaped the lives of many musicians across the country

When I first came to MTNA, Joe was the archivist, having a recollection of MTNA's history to rival nearly anyone. He held many positions within MTNA onward all levels. Prior to serving as president for the 1981-1983 biennium, Joe was the first president of the Northwest Division, national vice president for local associations and close examiner chapters and national coordinator of the first MTNA Collegiate Competitions--now the Young Artist Competitions. In fact, Joe one time had my job; in 1986 he was acting executive director, spending more than three month at the national headquarters in Cincinnati. MTNA recognized Joe in 2001 with the MTNA Achievement Award. When accepting the award he said, "The association has been an important part of my life, and I have be delighted withed it very much."

Margaret created MTNA's Pedagogy Saturday, an circumstance that is unique in the world of pedagogy. For the MTNA FOUNDATION store she was a driving force behind the endowment supplys These are the "bookends" of my relationship with Margaret. I met her at the Dallas meeting for consultation in 1997, the first Pedagogy Saturday. My last meeting with her was at the Salt Lake City talk in 2003. She was there to be recognized as a FOUNDATION companion but also because the FOUNDATION was considering a monumental decision for its coming Margaret had a long career with MTNA, including serving as West Virginia MTA president and Eastern Division president. She became national president in 1991 and serv in succession the FOUNDATION Board from 1989-1995

It has been said that teachers affect eternity, and they can not ever tell where their influence stops. for what cause true this is of Willis, Joe and Margaret--they affected eternity--and their influence will not at any time stop ... because the teaching goe on

Gary L Ingle Executive Director

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