MMEA Conference News

FREE MONTHLY VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS
The MMEA Conference Committee is offering free monthly virtual workshops in each specialty area. Save the date for the next set of workshops on:
March 23, April 27, and May 25.
Sign up to attend when you receive the eblast with the link.

Virtual workshops instead of in-person?
As you all know, the in-person 2021 All State Conference was canceled because of the pandemic. However, the indefatigable Conference Committee did not want a year to go by without providing PD to our members, so they have been working diligently to provide monthly virtual workshops. Hopefully, you’ve already attended a few, but in case you haven’t and don’t know how to get on board—read on……

How does this work?
Each month, a google survey is e-blasted to MMEA members where they can register (FREE) for the virtual one-hour workshop they choose to attend. The google survey is also posted on the MMEA website in case the eblast got stuck in SPAM or was lost somewhere in cyberspace. A day before (or day of) the workshop, the registered members are sent the link to the Zoom meeting for the workshop.

What if I want to attend the workshop, but can’t attend on the date it is given?
The virtual workshops are recorded and are available on the MMEA website.

What is the schedule for upcoming workshops?
Save-the-dates: March 23, April 27, and May 25. The times could vary slightly, so check the google survey for the exact time when registering, but plan on early evening. Also, check the MMEA website for updates/additions/cancellations/latest news!

Who are these fantastic organizers in case I might want to contact them?
Margaret Reidy--band and jazz
Joe Pondaco--composition
Tom Westmoreland--innovations
Christine Morgan--general music
Chris Memoli--orchestra/strings
Stephanie Riley--chorus
Chee-Ping Ho--technology
Tony Beatrice--general interest
Rhoda Bernard—teaching students with disabilities
You can find their email addresses here. You can also find “Best Practices During COVID” resources on the Conference page. You can also submit your own best practices that you want to share with members on that same Conference page.

Hey, how come I don’t receive MMEA eblasts?
Here are some possibilities –
1) if your email address is connected to your school system, there might be a block on their end and they go to your spamfolder;
2) maybe you have requested not to receive eblasts in the past for some long-ago-pertinent-but-no-longer-desired reason. If so, you can re-subscribe here; or
3) maybe your membership has lapsed. Contact NAfME to renew your membership!
Please don’t let this FREE PD pass you by! If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me at ndiamondbu@gmail.com.

BEST PRACTICES IN HYBRID AND REMOTE LEARNING -- RESOURCE WEBSITE
A series of videos on this subject is available at https://sites.google.com/view/massmeapd/home?authuser=1.

WANTED: BEST PRACTICES DURING COVID
The MMEA Conference Committee is looking for your submissions of helpful videos, information, how to’s, personal successes, etc. that address: Best Practices During COVID, Tried and True Lesson Plans for Remote/Hybrid Teaching, How to Adapt Lessons to Remote/Hybrid Teaching, Technology How To’s, Helpful Hints, etc. Please submit these on the MMEA website. There is no length requirement -- a great 10 minute lesson is a great 10 minute lesson.