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Note from the District Governor: Club specific information is typically not published in the District eBulletin unless it presents a project idea that can be replicated by other clubs. This is one such idea.The Madison Area Music Association and Madison West Rotary are sharing a used musical instrument drive to support struggling middle school music programs in the Madison Schools. These programs have been cut repeatedly and are in need of instruments for those who cannot afford them.
Madison West Rotary has taken a leadership role with this organization to improve the opportunity and outcomes as budgets continue to decline. The Madison Area Music Association [MAMA] believes that music is a gift that every child deserves the opportunity to experience – your donation of those unused musical instruments collecting dust your home puts them directly in their hands.
Don’t just look for that old flute, acceptable instruments cover traditional band brass, woodwinds, string, percussion and electric/electronic instruments in whatever useable condition they are. Recipients include Whitehorse, Wright, O’Keefe, Badger Rock and Jefferson middle school students.We can’t do it alone. With the help of you, other Madison Rotarians and refurbishment services of Heid, Ward-Brodt and Guitar Shop of Wisconsin stores, we will be able to provide much needed instruments in support of school music programs in the Madison area. This program will significantly increase the number of instruments that we put in the hands of children this year and years to come.
If your club finds this a worthy enterprise, the drive occurs easily over 3 weeks. Curt Davies, MAMA’s executive director and a MWR committee member will visit and share the program with your club through a 2-3 minute announcement, table tents, reminder cards and a donation pickup on the subsequent meetings selected. Your part is merely to place the table tents out the second week as a reminder. Donations receive a MAMA instrument receipt which is further used for music stores’ assessment and refurbishment process.
The Madison Area Music Association is responsible for hosting the annual MAMA Awards that elevate Madison’s musicians, venues and ethos, supporting MAMA Cares, Teacher of the Year awards, Between the Waves conference and a host of other smaller events throughout the year. MAMA would like to thank your club for consideration and the services of Heid, Ward-Brodt and Guitar Shop of Wisconsin stores for their pro-bono refurbishment work to bring donated instruments to playable condition.
Contact Jim Zirbel (608) 800-2775 or facilithon@gmail.com with scheduling or procedural questions