Dates to Remember:
July 1-5***Convention at Sacramento Hyatt Regency

Remember next year to CORRECT your student information on the database when it opens up in September!!! Our information comes directly from your input.

AGAIN, I urge you to go on-line and look up the CM Newsletter to read up on the latest information regarding CM. When you see the webpage, look on the left column for Certificate of Merit, click on that. Then you see newsletter on the top of the next page. Click on *click here*. Then you will see all the different months of newsletters. PLEASE check that out. This year there were a lot of panel errors, which could have been avoided, if the teachers had checked that site. REMEMBER, I am going to make mistakes, because there is SO MUCH I have to do and remember. It would help me, if you were better informed, so that you could catch my mistakes.

New work schedule for the year 2005-2006 CM So. Alameda County Branch
1-10 students participating - one day of work
11-20 two days of work
21-30 three days of work
30 to 40+ four days of work

It was reported that the south region Branch Honors Recital was poorly attended. Many students who were scheduled to play did not show up. Because it was a chronic problem for almost every recital, a lot of time was wasted, which means a lot of money was wasted reserving the time for the recitals. It is very unprofessional and discourteous of the teachers not to inform the Branch Honors programmer (Ling Lee) that their students are not going to play. The board is seriously considering putting every teacher on probation whose students did not show up and who did not inform the Branch Honors coordinator. If this occurs again, the teachers* students will no longer be allowed to play on the Branch Honors recitals.

Also with the mistakes that were made this year, I am finding that many teachers are STILL not reading their syllabus and knowing what they need to know to participate in the Certificate of Merit program.

The most serious one this year is senior award. The rules for senior award are:
Must take and pass the CM examination for THREE years in HIGH SCHOOL.
The last of the three exams must be taken on their SENIOR year of high school.
You must be at least at level 7 on your senior year to receive the award.

The branch now has excellent records of the last 4 years, so can check on the validity of the claims by teachers.
If your student is a transfer from another teacher, and you did not go through the proper channels of transfer*read your syllabus to find out how*then in order for your student to receive the senior award, you must send to me copies of the evaluation forms and front page of the theory exam as proof of the year(s) they took the examinations with the former teacher.

CONVENTION:
The materials and festival chairpersons has informed us that they will only be taking the 5 and 5+ rated students to play in the convention this year, so there may be more rejections than expected.

Congratulations to the students who get accepted! And teachers, please attend the convention to hear excellent performances, get educated by master teachers, and find good deals on music products!

Gloria Ho