Group Classes need a new Home!

9/4/2009

We want to say “Welcome Back” but are dealing with a major dilemma instead! We have a problem and we need your help. Over the summer we teachers have spent countless volunteer hours trying to find a suitable location for our group classes and concerts. We also need teaching space for Barbara, Karla and Megan.

We were hopeful that LifeBridge would be the workable venue. Because of recent changes in our faculty lineup, we can no longer afford the rent at LifeBridge.

This church has also been somewhat inflexible with our scheduling needs, and there is a lack of pianos we can use. We are not able to teach at Westview Presbyterian or Long's Peak United Methodist because we are not a non-profit organization. This is also the case with many other churches. Faith Baptist School and Church has expressed an interest in having us there, but we have no contract in place for our imminent future.

At the beginning of the year, we teachers should be full of energy and enthusiasm. Instead, we are worn out and discouraged. We have decided to suspend our group classes for now and teach only private lessons. We need to be able to focus on teaching your children since this is what we are qualified to do. Time and energy are running out to devote to this issue. We have had countless phone calls, e-mails and meetings. We are absolutely spent. We need your help and we need it now!

We come to you as likeminded teachers in the Suzuki philosophy. We all support the notion that every child can learn! Our Suzuki community is unique in our chosen method of music education. We are very fortunate to be able to come together regularly in learning, creating, sharing, teaching, and nurturing.

What can you parents do?

Form a cohesive parent group to keep your music program alive and functioning.
Find a workable location for Longmont Suzuki Strings group classes and private lessons. A pdf outlining our specific needs is attached.
Locate venues for our solo recitals and group concerts. The solo recital dates are October 3 and November 7. The December 5 group concert will be at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park.
Form a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization for Longmont Suzuki Strings. We have learned that Longmont Council of the Arts may allow us to use their non-profit status and will assist us in the arduous 501(c)(3) application which can take 4-12 months.

All ideas and communication should be kept within the parent group. We teachers cannot keep up with the volume of e-mails and calls as it is. Please use the comments section of the News blog on our website (www.longmontsuzukistrings.org) so that you can communicate among yourselves. And, please do not take up your child's lesson time to discuss your ideas with your teacher! We want to teach!

We four teachers are dedicated to our students and want to offer them the most comprehensive Suzuki program we can. We want our fledgling organization to survive and will help in any way we can. We four can't do it alone so we are appealing to you for your help. Now is the time to voice your opinion, expertise, and network in order to shape the way Longmont Suzuki Strings moves forward.

Have a wonderful weekend. We look forward to hearing your ideas and solutions!

Sincerely,

Barbara Barber
Erron Lacy
Karla Smart-Hickman
Megan Titensor

lss_building_use_request.pdf
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12 Comments

Katie

9/8/2009 03:32:55 am

When will we know if the Longmont Council of the Arts will let us use their status? Do we need to be non-profit for the Baptist Church?

Mary Kirker

9/8/2009 06:06:18 am

If there is a contract, an old one that could have the details whited out, might give Faith an idea of what to go on.

Liza Holdorf

9/9/2009 02:11:11 am

Has anyone considered holding classes at a public school in Longmont? Is there a facility that is available after school lets out for they day?

Kim Rapp

9/9/2009 02:51:38 am

Liza, I was thinking the same thing regarding public schools. Maybe a problem with that idea is the availability of space and conflict of schedules with a school? Would it be possible for the teachers to give us a list of places that HAVE BEEN contacted already?

Greg Rapp

9/9/2009 03:37:03 am

I used to deal w/Kristy Foster at SVVSD to rent space for Cub Scouts. Just got off the phone w/her and they WILL rent space to Suzuki for a pretty good price. She is looking into Monday after-school space. I told her 4-6pm, 40-50 kids. Let me know if I've got any of these details wrong so I can correct it ASAP. Space is also available for individual lessons; contact me for Kristy's info so you can work w/her directly.

Megan Titensor link

9/9/2009 04:22:20 am

Thanks for all of the efforts thus far. We've got some good ideas going. Katie, we are still waiting to hear back from members of Longmont Council of the Arts, but are hopeful things are moving in the right direction. Faith Baptist doesn't have an issue with our lack of non-profit status (yet) and we can certainly use our old contract with Westview as an example. Erron Lacy has a copy of that. Kim, we do have a spreadsheet of our location search efforts with a variety of details we could pass along. Greg, thanks for getting the ball rolling with Kristy at SVVSD. Feel free to pass along the building use request attachment for any specific information she might need.

Parents: Would it be helpful to set up a LSS community meeting to discuss our leads and options? We all have Monday afternoons set aside! Can someone host this at their home?

Would it be helpful to use an online discussion group (something like google or yahoo groups) for email communication and location discussions? That could easily be set up.

Emily Maeda

9/9/2009 09:23:35 am

I would be willing to host a meeting at my home in Mead. Let me know when and i think I can work it out.

Emily Maeda

9/9/2009 10:38:58 am

My husband would be willing to work to find a space but he needs more info on where LSS has looked, what LSS is willing to pay, what the needs are in terms of space, etc... He called Guitars Etc. and they seemed to be very willing but were not interested in talking with him because their contact was Erron. Maybe there needs to be a transition time and a transition team from the teachers to the parents so we can all be on the same page. I think a meeting would be very helpful. Once again, my home is available.

Neda Leonard

9/10/2009 04:17:47 am

I am sending an email to Twin Peaks Charter Academy (the school our kids attend). This facility is pretty large and has a great, huge auditorium that could be used for our recitals. Maybe we can rent space from them. Will keep everyone posted.

Liza Holdorf link

9/13/2009 08:51:41 am

I spoke with a friend who lives in Longmont and she suggested trying Rocky Mtn Christian Academy in Niwot or Longmont Christian School. Both, she said, have nice facilities that could accommodate our group. I have no idea the cost for either, but they are some places to consider.

Greg Rapp

9/14/2009 02:26:12 am

Still waiting to hear back from Kristy at SVVSD. Just tried and she's out of the office until tomorrow afternoon (Tues, Sept. 15). I'll check back then.

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5/14/2014 01:25:26 pm

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Longmont Suzuki Strings

Group Classes need a new Home!

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