GALA Choruses Annual Report 2015

Empowering LGBT Choruses as we change our world through song

Table of ContentsFrom the President of the Board ............................2

From the Executive Director....................................3

Festival 2016 ...........................................................4

GALA 411 Program .................................................5

GALA Best Practices ................................................6

Leadership Symposium ..........................................7

GALA Staff and Committees ...................................8

Financial Report ....................................................10

2015 marks continued growth for GALA Choruses…

• Membership is up: with 21 new choruses.

• Finances are stable: we had a quarter million dollars in the bank as of year end.

• Our programs and services continue to develop and expand: requests for 411 Advisors and traffic on the online resource center remain high.

• And we’re almost on the eve of Festival 2016, which promises to be even more inspiring and energizing than 2012!

Due largely to our sustained growth and stability, the Board has been able to engage in a series of conversations on a new topic this past year - GALA’s broader role in advocacy and social activism. Many of our member choruses are already engaged in social activism. After all, it is the goal of the arts to inspire. Given who we are, it’s only natural to find synergies and connections with various aspects of social action. But what about “GALA Inc.” itself? Is there an opportunity for GALA to express a collective voice within a larger context than individual member choruses can achieve on their own? And what about singing members? Is there an opportunity to provide resources and assistance to individuals who wish to be more deeply engaged in the work of using art to help create social change?

On the heels of the Supreme Court’s landmark affirmation of marriage equality, I’m very excited about the possibilities. If you are too, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

See you in Denver!

Melinda TaylorPresident, GALA Board of Directors

Letter from the President of the Board

In GALA’s statement of Core Values we say, “We are LEADERS. We offer strategic direction to the movement we serve.” Advocacy seems to be a natural extension of our vision, mission and this value in particular. The challenge before us is to clearly articulate the “what” and the “how”.

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Letter from the Executive Director

A voice can whisper. It can scream. It can rise in song. But all voices demand to be heard. For years the LGBTQ community struggled to find its voice and to be heard in the halls of Congress, the Courts, and state capitals across the country.

What an amazing year it has been – growing up I never thought I would live to see gay marriage legalized in the United States! We can all take great pride in the role that our choruses played in making that dream a reality.

Yet there is still so much to do. We can marry but most of us can still be fired from our jobs, refused housing and denied adequate health care. Everyone, regardless of where they live, should be protected from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression – without broad and harmful religious exemptions that encourage our opposition to disregard those protections. Our choruses will continue to address these challenges.

GALA Choruses helps GLBTQA choruses across North America and around the world to achieve artistic and administrative excellence so they have a voice for years to come. It provides a roadmap to success for emerging organizations, a path to sustainability for mature organizations, and tools for growth for all choruses, big and small. But GALA Choruses does more than that.

The GALA choral community provides a safe haven for people of all ages to be themselves, to stand together proudly, and make their voices heard. We change hearts and minds as we create change through the power of song.

As we approach our tenth festival next summer in Denver let’s recommit ourselves to continuing the work yet to be done, making our festival a welcoming place for all, and sending a message of hope and love to all people worldwide.

Robin GodfreyExecutive Director

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Festival 2016 will be held in Denver on July 2-6, 2016. The magnificent Denver Performing Arts Complex will again be the home of the Festival with its three outstanding performance halls – the Boettcher Concert Hall, Buell Theatre and Ellie Caulkins Opera House. The area outside the halls features a covered Galleria space perfect for informal gatherings and a Sculpture Garden with green space overlooking the Rocky Mountains.

Festival 2016 will include several new elements along with the morning “coffee concerts” and evening “blockbusters” introduced in 2012. Flash mob performances are scheduled in downtown Denver to introduce Festival to the locals. The coffee concerts and Blockbusters will be broadcast live to local audiences and simulcast for our online viewers, providing an opportunity to share Festival with singers and fans worldwide! During the closing ceremonies we will be announcing the location for Festival 2020. Performance spaces for choruses and ensembles are already sold out and we are anticipating another record-breaking crowd.

Festival is GALA’s signature event and is not to be missed!

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GALA 411 Program

“The program is awesome

and really demonstrates the

value of belonging to GALA.

Our work with Eve is not done.

We need her to come back

in June. It was a challenging

experience but,we would

all agree that without her

intervention we would be in a

very different place right now.

I would and have

recommended the program

to other choruses and would

be happy to speak to anyone

who is considering being in

the program and may have

questions.” Chorus Board Member after

working with

Eve Campbell

GALA created the GALA 411 consulting program in order to facilitate experienced GALA chorus professionals providing assistance to our member choruses. GALA invests over $50,000 annually in the program. The GALA 411 program includes an Artistic Advisor, Chorus Management Advisor, Board Development Advisor and Youth Chorus Advisor. The advisors provide consulting services to member choruses on-site and online. The 411 advisors all have extensive experience in their areas and can serve as year-round sources of consulting assistance for our member choruses. Members of the 411 advisory team include Joe Nadeau, Eve Campbell, Jeff Heine, and Susan Haugh. Any member chorus may request a consultation from any of the 411 Advisors at any time.

Our 411 advisors take on a variety of consulting assignments. Our board development advisor deals with board and staff relationship issues, strategic planning, board fundraising responsibilities, and best practices for perpetuating a board. The GALA artistic advisor can help with mission-oriented programming, vocal technique, incorporating multimedia, choreography and theatrical elements into productions, membership and board relations and rehearsal management. The chorus manager advisor can help a member chorus with designing a fundraising event, working with volunteers, developing social media plans and preparing a development plan. Our GALA youth chorus advisor can assist our existing youth chorus members with all of the challenges unique to a youth chorus as well as advise groups thinking about forming a youth chorus.

The application to utilize the services of a GALA 411 advisor is on the GALA web site. Over 50 of our member choruses have utilized the program over the past two years. The consultations are provided without charge for GALA member choruses; choruses cover lodging, meals and transportation for on-site consultations, clinics and retreats.

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GALA Best Practices Program

GALA developed its Best Practices Program to provide member choruses with a roadmap toward long-term sustainability and the ability to persevere through bumps in the road along the way. Best Practices certification requires the board and staff to perform a rigorous self-assessment to identify areas for improvement. It ultimately enables choruses to achieve stability and financial independence. Participation in the Best Practices Program is entirely voluntary.

The Best Practices Program provides choruses with the tools to assess and improve their Human Resources, Governance and Finance practices. Our 411 advisors team is available to help choruses who are not currently in compliance with the recommended practices develop a roadmap for improvement. Our Online Resource Center includes examples of many of the recommended policies and practices.

The best practices that have been identified are hallmarks of well-managed non-profit organizations and are attainable by any size chorus. Achieving Best Practices certification strengthens a chorus’ funding applications and grant proposals by assuring funders that the organization adheres to the highest standards of nonprofit management.

“The application was reasonably easy to complete

and helped us to focus on the basics of non-profit

organization management that are critical to the

success of our chorus.” Best Practices Program pilot group chorus

Best Practices Program ParticipantsTwin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

Heartland Men’s Chorus

San Diego Women’s Chorus

VOICES of Kentuckiana

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Leadership Symposium

Beginning in 2017 GALA is combining the Managers & Directors Retreat and the Annual Leadership Symposium into a single annual event to be held in late January or early February. The event will include the workshops, roundtable discussions and one-on-one consultations that are valued features of the current leadership symposium but also build in time for the networking which has always characterized the managers & directors retreat. A single event held after the fall and winter season provides a cost-effective opportunity for reflection, discussion and planning.

The redesigned event will continue to include institutes for youth chorus leadership, chorus board leadership and new artistic directors to provide very intensive and focused opportunities to work with GALA’s 411 advisors.

“This was my first GALA Symposium but I have

been to events like this before. The symposium was

wonderfully planned, organized and executed.

Thanks for such a great job!” 2014 Leadership Symposium attendee

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GALA Board and Staff

Board of Directors

Executive CommitteeMelinda Taylor, PresidentAnna Crusis Women’s ChoirPhiladelphia, PA

Ben Riggs, Vice PresidentTwin Cities Gay Men’s ChorusMinneapolis, MN

Martin Brophy, SecretaryLondon Gay Men’s ChorusLondon, England

Kathleen Schneider, TreasurerPittsburgh, PA

Matthew ArnoldFlying House ProductionsSeattle, WA

Beverly AlterDiversity: The Voices of SarasotaSarasota, FL

MembersRon Brunk-ParkerOne Voice Mixed ChorusMinneapolis, MN

Joseph BuchesPhiladelphia Gay Men’s ChorusPhiladelphia, PA

Jeff BuhrmanVOICES of KentuckianaLouisville, KY

Stephen EdwardsAllegrezzaChicago, IL

Rick FisherHeartland Men’s ChorusKansas City, MO

Brian GarrettMiami Gay Men’s ChorusFort Lauderdale, FL

Glenn GellerWest Coast SingersWest Hollywood, CA

Jane MaranhasSeattle Women’s ChorusSeattle, WA

Gianluca RagazziniTone ClusterOttawa, ON

Michael TateSan Francisco Gay Men’s ChorusSan Francisco, CA

John QuillinGay Men’s Chorus of CharlotteCharlotte, NC

Association Management ServicesRobin Godfrey, Executive Director

Jane Ramseyer Miller, Artistic Director

Paul Kruse, Communications Specialist

Sue Bell, Member Services Director

Ryan Tinn, Development Director

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Communications Committee – Steve Smith and Matthew Ramsey, CochairsBen Riggs

Paul Kruse

Michael Tate

Education and Networking – Ben Riggs, ChairBrayton Bollenbacher

Jeff Buhrman

John Quillin

Elven Hickmon

Rick Fisher

Scott Ramsey

Stephen Edwards

External Relations – Martin Brophy, ChairHsien Chew

Jeffrey Ayres

Charles Beale

Gianluca Ragazzini

David Hardy

Ian Doyle

Festival – Teddy Basham-Witherington and Matthew Ramsey, CochairsBob Mensel

Brian Garrett

Eve Campbell

Jane Maranhas

Joe Buches

Joe Nadeau

Glenn Geller

Daniel Ruacho

Patrick Roehrenbeck

Rick Fisher

Sid Galton

Steve Smith

Finance – Kathleen Schneider, ChairJeffrey Ayres

Joann Usher

John Quillin

Ron Brunk-Parker

Governance – Bev Alter, ChairBrian Garrett

Mindy Taylor

Ron Brunk-Parker

Membership – Jane Maranhas, ChairGlenn Geller

Dustin Cates

Michael Tate

Joe Buches

Gianluca Ragazzini

Jeff Buhrman

Stephen Edwards

Ron Brunk-Parker

Resource Development – John Quillin, ChairJoann Usher

Steve Smith

GALACommittees 2015

Bringing the skills and expertise needed to manage our organization.

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GALA Choruses Financial Update

The Board of Directors authorized Grossman, Yanak & Ford, Certified Public Accountants, to perform a review of GALA Choruses financial statements for the calendar years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. Summarized financial information from those financial statements are shown here. A complete copy of the reviewed financial statements and/or the related Form 990 filing with the Internal Revenue Service are available by request to info@galachoruses.org.

The quadrennial festival creates a cycle to GALA’s finances where net assets increase in the year of festival and are drawn down over the following three years. Targets are established for the balance in temporary investments at the end of each year between festivals to ensure financial stability. As of the end of 2014 our remaining temporary investments exceeded our target.

Support and Revenue for the Years Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

2014 2013Contributions $ 40,753 $ 52,218

Registration Fees 32,600 39,729

Merchandise 845 2,173

Membership Dues 65,037 77,318

Other 4,220 14,137

Investment Income 43,592 47,547

Total $187,047 $233,122

Expenses for the Years Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

2014 2013Festival $ 35,565 $ 50,835

General and Administrative 93,225 78,804

Association Services 161,735 73,973

Leadership Symposium 65,020 94,951

Resource Development 28,100 22,958

Total $ 383,645 $ 321,521

Statement of Financial Position as of December 31, 2014

AssetsLiabilities and Net Assets

Cash $ 10,192 Accounts Payable $ 22,648

Temporary Investments

234,525 Deferred Revenue 5,400

Accounts Receivable

7,662 Funds Held for Others

8,001

Prepaid Expenses 12,396 Board Designated Net Assets

100,000

Fixed Assets 4,820 Undesignated Net Assets

133,546

Total $ 269,595 Total $ 269,595

Albany Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Albany, NYAllegrezza SATB Chicago, ILAnna Crusis Women’s Choir SSAA Philadelphia, PAAnother Octave: Connecticut Women’s Chorus SSAA Hamden, CTAtlanta Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Atlanta, GAAtlanta Women’s Chorus SSAA Atlanta, GABarberEllas SSAA Calgary, ABBayou City Women’s Chorus SSAA Houston, TXBeijing Gay & Lesbian Chorus SATB Beijing, ChinaBoise Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Boise, IDBoston Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Boston, MABuffalo Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Buffalo, NYButterfly Music Transgender Singers SATB Boston, MACalgary Men’s Chorus TTBB Calgary, ABCalliope Women’s Chorus SSAA St. Paul, MNCantaria - The Gay Men’s Chorus of Asheville TTBB Asheville, NCCapital City Men’s Chorus TTBB Austin, TXCapital Pride Singers TTBB Albany, NYCentral PA Womyn’s Chorus SSAA Harrisburg, PACHARIS - The St. Louis Women’s Chorus SSAA St. Louis, MOCharleston Gay Men’s Chorale TTBB Charleston, WVChicago Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Chicago, ILCincinnati Men’s Chorus TTBB Cincinnati, OHCity of Festivals Men’s Chorus TTBB Sun Prairie, WIColumbus Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Columbus, OHCommon Woman Chorus SSAA Durham, NCConfluence: Willamette Valley LGBT Chorus SATB Salem, ORConnecticut Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB New Haven, CTCor Flammae SATB Vancouver, BCCoro Allegro SATB Boston, MACoro Gay Ciudad de Mexico TTBB Mexico City, MexicoCouncil Oak Men’s Chorale TTBB Tulsa, OKCrescendo: The Tampa Bay Women’s Chorus SSAA Tampa, FLDayton Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Dayton, OHDenver Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Denver, CODenver Women’s Chorus SSAA Denver, CODes Moines Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Des Moines, IADesert Voices SATB Tucson, AZDiverse City Youth Chorus Youth Cincinnati, OHDiverse Harmony Youth Seattle, WADiversity: The Voices of Sarasota SATB Sarasota, FLDreams of Hope Youth Pittsburgh, PAEmpire City Men’s Chorus TTBB New York, NYEnsemble Vocal Extravaganza SATB Montreal, QCEquality Rocks! Chorus SATB Thunder Bay, ONFargo / Moorhead Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Moorhead, MNFort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Ft. Lauderdale, FLGateway Men’s Chorus TTBB St. Louis, MOGay Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA) Men’s Chorus TTBB San Francisco, CAGay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte TTBB Charlotte, NCGay Men’s Chorus of Honolulu TTBB Honolulu, HIGay Men’s Chorus of Houston TTBB Houston, TXGay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles TTBB Los Angeles, CAGay Men’s Chorus of South Florida TTBB Fort Lauderdale, FLGay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC TTBB Washington, DCGenOUT Youth Chorus Youth Washington, DCGolden Gate Men’s Chorus TTBB San Francisco, CAGrand Rapids Women’s Chorus SSAA Grand Rapids, MIHamilton Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Hamilton, ON

Hampton Roads Men’s Chorus TTBB Norfolk, VAHarmony: a Colorado chorale SATB Denver, COHarrisburg Men’s Chorus TTBB Harrisburg, PAHartford Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Hartford, CTHeart of America Men’s Chorus TTBB Wichita, KSHeartland Men’s Chorus TTBB Kansas City, MOIn aChord Men’s Ensemble TTBB San Diego, CAIndianapolis Men’s Chorus TTBB Indianapolis, INIndianapolis Women’s Chorus SSAA Indianapolis, INJubilate! The Women’s Chorus of Corvallis SSAA Corvallis, ORKansas City Women’s Chorus SSAA Kansas City, MOKnoxville Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Knoxville, TNLanSINGout Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Lansing, MILas Vegas Men’s Chorus TTBB Las Vegas, NVLavender Light Gospel Choir SATB New York, NYLesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco SATB San Francisco, CALive Oak Singers SATB San Antonio, TXLong Island Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Selden, NYLouisville Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Louisville, KYMaine Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Portland, MEMano a Mano: Coro Gai de Havana TTBB Havana, CubaMen Alive - The Orange County Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Laguna Hills, CAMiami Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Miami Beach, FLModern Men- the Coachella Valley Men’s Chorus TTBB Palm Springs, CAMontana Women’s Chorus SSAA Helena, MTMUSE - Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir SSAA Cincinnati, OHNashville in Harmony SATB Nashville, TNNevada Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Reno, NVNew Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Manchester, NHNew Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Princeton, NJNew Mexico Desert Sky Mixed Chorus SATB Albuquerque, NMNew Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Albuquerque, NMNew Mexico Women’s Chorus SSAA Albuquerque, NMNew Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB New Orleans, LANew Wave Singers of Baltimore SATB Baltimore, MDNew York City Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB New York, NYNorth Coast Men’s Chorus TTBB Cleveland, OHOakland-East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Oakland, CAOmaggio Youth Chorus Youth Phoenix, AZOne Voice Chorus (Calgary) SATB Calgary, ABOne Voice Chorus (Detroit/Ferndale) SATB Ferndale, MIOne Voice Chorus Charlotte SATB Charlotte, NCOne Voice Mixed Chorus SATB St. Paul, MNOrlando Gay Chorus SATB Orlando, FLOur Song: The Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chorus SATB Atlanta, GAOut Loud Chorus (Ann Arbor) SATB Ann Arbor, MIOut Loud: The Colorado Springs Men’s Chorus TTBB Denver, COOutside Voices Youth Los Angeles, CAPalm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Palm Springs, CAPerfect Harmony Men’s Chorus TTBB Madison, WIPerformOUTKC Youth Kansas City, MOPFLAG Juneau Pride Chorus SSAA Juneau, AKPhiladelphia Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Philadelphia, PAPhoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus TTBB Phoenix, AZPhoenix Women’s Chorus SSAA Phoenix, AZPort City Men’s Chorus TTBB Mobile, ALPortland Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Portland, ORPortland GSA Youth Chorus Youth Portland, OR

Chorus Chorus Type Location Chorus Chorus Type Location

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Member Choruses

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galachoruses.org

Portland Lesbian Choir SSAA Portland, ORPride of Greenville Chorus SATB Greenville, SCProvidence Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Providence, RIPuerto Vallerta Men’s Chorus / Coro Varonil de Puerto Vallarta TTBB Puerto Vallerta, MexicoQuarryland Men’s Chorus TTBB Bloomington, INQueen City Voices SATB Springfield, MORainbow Chorus Waterloo-Wellington SATB Guelph, ONRainbow Harmony Project SATB Winnipeg, MBRainbow Women’s Chorus SSAA San Jose, CARenaissance City Choir SATB Pittsburgh, PAResonance Women’s Chorus of Boulder SSAA Boulder, COReveille Men’s Chorus TTBB Tucson, AZRichmond Men’s Chorus TTBB Richmond, VARichmond Women’s Chorus SSAA Richmond, VARiver City Mixed Chorus SATB Omaha, NERochester Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Rochester, NYThe Rochester Women’s Community Chorus SSAA Rochester, NYSacramento Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Sacramento, CASacramento Women’s Chorus SSAA Sacramento, CASan Diego Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB San Diego, CASan Diego Women’s Chorus SSAA San Diego, CASan Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB San Francisco, CASeattle Men’s Chorus TTBB Seattle, WASeattle Women’s Chorus SSAA Seattle, WAShirli L. Hughes and Ovation! SATB Takoma Park, MDSilicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB San Jose, CASine Nomine SATB Denver, COSing Out Detroit LGBT Chorus SATB Livonia, MISinging Out LGBTA Chorus SATB Las Cruces, NMSinging OUT!: Toronto’s LGBTQ Chorus SATB Toronto, ONSistrum Lansing Women’s Chorus SSAA East Lansing, MISound Circle SSAA Lafayette, CO

Sound of Light Choir Atlanta SATB Atlanta, GASouth Coast Chorale SATB Long Beach, CASouthwest Florida Gay & Lesbian Chorus SATB Fort Myers, FLSteel City Men’s Chorus TTBB S. Birmingham, ALStonewall Chorale SATB New York, NYSyracuse Gay & Lesbian Chorus, Inc. SATB Syracuse, NYThe BEARatones TTBB Seattle, WAThe Choral Project SATB San Jose, CAThe Cuddlers TTBB Los Angeles, CAThe Esoterics SATB Seattle, WAThe Quire SATB Iowa City, IAThe Rainbow Chorale of Delaware SATB Wilmington, DETone Cluster - quite a queer choir SATB Ottawa, ONTrans Chorus Los Angeles SATB Los Angeles, CATriad Pride Men’s Chorus TTBB Greensboro, NCTriangle Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Raleigh, NCTurtle Creek Chorale TTBB Dallas, TXTwin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Minneapolis, MNUna Voce: The Florida Men’s Chorale TTBB Largo, FLVancouver Men’s Chorus TTBB Vancouver, BCVoices Lesbian Acappella for Justice SSAA Oakland, CAVOICES of Kentuckiana SATB Louisville, KYVoices of Pride of the Palm Beaches TTBB Lake Worth, FLVoices Rising SSAA Jamaica Plain, MAVox Femina Los Angeles SSAA Culver City, CAWest Coast Singers SATB West Hollywood, CAWest Michigan Gay Men’s Chorus TTBB Grand Rapids, MIWindy City Gay Chorus TTBB Chicago, ILWindy City Treble Quire (formerly Aria) SSAA Chicago, ILWithout Apology TTBB Portland, ORWomen Singing Out! SSAA Portsmouth, NHWomen with Wings Southern Oregon SSAA Medford, ORYouth Pride Chorus Youth New York, NY

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Member Choruses