Clearinghouse of Corroborative Materials for IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Booster Session at the Annual PMEA Conference
We hope you had the opportunity to attend our booster brainstorming session on Saturday morning at the 2026 PMEA Annual Conference in Kalahari/Poconos. This previous blog-post references the IT TAKES A VILLAGE workshop’s description, objectives, and “hot topics” to help lead collaborative discussions among the attendees. It is our hope that in future conferences, we will schedule additional venues to share local strategies and “best practices” to build numbers and the engagement of its booster members, improve their overall effectiveness and efficiency, “re-energize” their support groups’ mission, vision, goals, and action plans, and provide tips and tools to guide their associations’ motivations, actions, and legal compliance.
Dr. Robert Dell and panelists address attendees at the IT TAKES A VILLAGE Booster Sharing Session on April 25, 2026 during the PMEA Annual Conference.
These were the handouts and samples distributed on April 25, 2026. They are reprinted here with the permission of the authors, members on the session’s guest panel (and many of whom have presented on this subject at past conferences).
If you would like to sign-up to receive future emails of additional music parent/director support group resources, please click here. If there is sufficient interest, we will send out communications with additional research, forms, workshop handouts, etc.
Finally, if you have something you would like to share with the stakeholders (parents, directors, community members) of the PMEA music booster affiliates, send an email with Word or PDF files to paulkfox.usc@gmail.com (use subject line “boosters”).
The return of in-person gatherings of PA music educators and students!
Here’s a “sneak preview” of the upcoming annual professional development convention for members of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) and Pennsylvania Collegiate Music Educators Association (PCMEA).
After being “hunkered down” for two years of online workshops, virtual conferences, digital music industry exhibits, and Zoom rehearsals of PMEA All-State ensembles, we can now “crush COVID-19” with “face-to-face” meetings of the PMEA TOGETHER CONFERENCE on April 6-9, 2022 at the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos.
Not just a “play on words,” this LIVE event brings TOGETHER the awesome and inspiring vision and efforts of the PMEA Professional Development Council, state officers, and staff, along with a twist from tradition – offering a place to getaway from it all!
Ask your spouse or “significant other,” children or grandchildren, nieces or nephews, other fun-loving family members, or close friends if they are available to join you for a three-day escape to the Poconos – “the world’s largest indoor waterpark” at Kalahari Resort! Experience great music, career development sessions, catching-up with colleagues, reconnection with your loved-ones, and entertainment for all ages – all wrapped up in one location.
Bring the family? Each spacious hotel room comes equipped with two double beds, a pullout sofa, microwave, and refrigerator, and the discounted $149/night conference rate allows you to register up to four people with access to all the resort’s amenities for no extra charge!
What resort amenities? Enjoy rides and slides (lots to “splash in” or just relax on the lazy river), a “big game” room, mini golf, mini bowling, 7-D motion theater, gourmet restaurants, spa, salon, fitness center, and amazing shopping and sightseeing excursions in PA’s northeastern region. While YOU are attending PMEA keynote sessions, clinics, concerts, and exhibits, the rest of your party could be “living it up” on as many as 29 waterpark thrills (from “mild” to “wild,” check out all of them on their website):
A joyful car trip to local scenes and attractions? The word “Pocono” means “the stream between two mountains.” This region encompasses 2,400 square miles of lakes, rivers, and woodlands just waiting to be discovered. Just how adventurous are you?
Explore numerous opportunities to hike, bike, bird watch, ski, fish, and photograph the wildlife, waterfalls, and other breathtaking landscapes.
Peruse the various exhibits of local artists at the White Mills Art Factory, 736 Texas Palmyra Highway (Route 6) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Wednesdays).
Try your luck at the Mount Airy Casino Resort Spa.
Or be a “wandering tourist” and visit nearby Stroudsburg, Milford, Jim Thorpe Honesdale, Lake Wallenpaupack, Hawley, Skytop, Bushkill, Lake Harmony, or Tannersville.
Now down to the business of professional development! In your free time from the above refreshing and re-invigorating moments of “down time,” you won’t want to miss the PMEA general sessions featuring keynoters David Wish of Little Kids Rock and Lesley Moffat, author of Love the Job, Lose the Stress. After opening the music industry and collegiate exhibits, numerous workshops, interactive demonstrations, and panel discussions will be hosted on a variety of “state-of-the-art” and timely topics:
Sandwiched in between these clinics and meetings of PCMEA, PA Society for Music Teacher Education, PMEA Council for Teacher Training, Recruitment, and Retention, PMEA Retired Members, Pennsylvania-Delaware String Teachers Association, and others will be opportunities to observe rehearsals and performances of the PMEA All-State Band, Chorus, Jazz, Orchestra, and Vocal Jazz, and attend concerts of guest performing ensembles – among “Pennsylvania’s finest.” Congratulations to:
Looking for that new classroom accessory, concert selection, educational travel group, fundraiser, instrument, technology tool, or uniform, or seeking to talk to representatives from music schools? Take time to visit the exhibits. PMEA thanks the continuing support of its PMEA Corporate Sponsors.
Yours truly (blogger) is proud to announce he is presenting three sessions at the conference:
CODES, CASE STUDIES, and CONUNDRUMS – The Challenges of Ethical Decision-Making in Education
THE INTERVIEW CLINIC – Practicing and Playacting to Improve Your Performance at Employment Screenings
RETIREMENT 101 – The Who, What, When, Where, Why, & How of Preparing for Post-Employment
PMEA will need volunteers to assist as presiding chairs or to serve at the INFO BOOTH near registration. In addition, the PMEA Retired Member Coordinator is seeking retirees to help serve on a guest panel of “semi-experts” for the retirement session.
It’s still a little early for much additional detail. However, check out this MOVIE TRAILER preview of the 2022 Conference, featuring The Pennsylvania March composed by PMEA retired member Ron DeGrandis.
As of January 17, 2022 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), Kalahari Resort room reservations are open! The link to conference registration will be coming soon. For more information, please visit the PMEA website. Keep your eye out for revisions in future PMEA News, UPDATES, and other e-publications.
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