JAM: October/November 2000 Issue: President's Corner

Mike Fitzgerald

Big Benefits From a Successful Crawl
I am extremely proud that the Jazz Ambassadors had another successful Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl (R) this year. I am even more proud of what we have been able to do to benefit area not-for-profit organizations.

Before the June event, we stressed to the participating clubs that profits this year would be given primarily to support music education. At the September 21st KCJA meeting, it was my honor to present checks totaling $15,000 to support jazz education. This represented virtually all of the net profit of this year's successful Pub Crawl. The recipients of Pub Crawl proceeds were selected by your KCJA Board to recognize those efforts to educate our youth as well as the public about jazz in particular and good music in general.

We did intend, as you will see, to have these proceeds make a broad-based community impact. This year's recipients are:

Jazz Education Fund, Kansas City, Kansas Community College
Paseo Academy Jazz Education
Overland Park South Rotary Youth Jazz Band
Johnson County Community College Jazz Scholarship
The Mutual Musicians Foundation
KC Blues & Jazz Festival ("Soul School")
Musicians Emergency Assistance Fund (MEAF)
Folly Theater Jazz Series
GEM Theater Jazz Series
Coleman Hawkins Neighborhood Festival (Topeka)
Kansas City Jazz Workshop Scholarship
UMKC Jazz Scholarship Fund
The Dick Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund Foundation

I want to again thank the participating 2000 Pub Crawl clubs and let them know again how much their support of the Crawl benefited jazz education this year. We couldn't have done it without them.

MEAF Gets a Boost From "The Battle"
All those who were at the "Battle of the Saxes" on August 17 at the Grand Emporium know what an outstanding jazz program it was. Once again, a special thanks to the musicians: Bobby Watson, Jim Mair, Gerald Dunn and Hal Melia, Tommy Ruskin, Gerald Spaits and Paul Smith. A special tip of the hat to our Program Director, Bill Williams, who organized the event, and to Roger Naber who provided the venue and advertising support. With this event we were able to add over $1,000 to MEAF, the Musicians Emergency Assistance Fund. This is the fund we maintain for local musicians who might come upon hard times. We welcome any additional donations. Please send your check to MEAF/KCJA, P.O. Box 36181, Kansas City, Missouri 64171-6181.

2001 Officers
We are actively soliciting your interest in becoming leaders of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors. The Nominations Committee for officers and directors for 2001 consists of Mike Fitzgerald (816-333-1113), Wayne Davis (913-831-0168), Bev Mann (813-492-5207), Dorothy Edwards (816-471-6507), and Grace Santua (913-458-9482). I encourage all who are interested to get in touch with us to discuss service as an officer or director. The election will be at the December KCJA meeting.

15 Years!
And speaking of the December meeting... That night will be the kick off to the KC Jazz Ambassadors' 15th year, and we are planning a combination Holiday/Birthday celebration. Look for the specifics in the November Whole Notes and the December/January JAM.

In the meantime, I hope to see all of you at the many concerts, benefits and jazz club events this fall, as well as our monthly meetings on October 19 (American Jazz Museum) and November 16 (The Grand Emporium).

RETURN TO OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2000 MAIN INDEX

© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		Mike Fitzgerald Big Benefits From a Successful Crawl I am extremely proud that the Jazz Ambassadors had another successful Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl (R) this year. I am even more proud of what we have been able to do to benefit area not-for-profit organizations. Before the June event, we stressed to the participating clubs that profits this year would be given primarily to support music education. At the September 21st KCJA meeting, it was my honor to present checks totaling $15,000 to support jazz education. This represented virtually all of the net profit of this year's successful Pub Crawl. The recipients of Pub Crawl proceeds were selected by your KCJA Board to recognize those efforts to educate our youth as well as the public about jazz in particular and good music in general. We did intend, as you will see, to have these proceeds make a broad-based community impact. This year's recipients are: Jazz Education Fund, Kansas City, Kansas Community College Paseo Academy Jazz Education Overland Park South Rotary Youth Jazz Band Johnson County Community College Jazz Scholarship The Mutual Musicians Foundation KC Blues & Jazz Festival ("Soul School") Musicians Emergency Assistance Fund (MEAF) Folly Theater Jazz Series GEM Theater Jazz Series Coleman Hawkins Neighborhood Festival (Topeka) Kansas City Jazz Workshop Scholarship UMKC Jazz Scholarship Fund The Dick Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund Foundation I want to again thank the participating 2000 Pub Crawl clubs and let them know again how much their support of the Crawl benefited jazz education this year. We couldn't have done it without them. MEAF Gets a Boost From "The Battle" All those who were at the "Battle of the Saxes" on August 17 at the Grand Emporium know what an outstanding jazz program it was. Once again, a special thanks to the musicians: Bobby Watson, Jim Mair, Gerald Dunn and Hal Melia, Tommy Ruskin, Gerald Spaits and Paul Smith. A special tip of the hat to our Program Director, Bill Williams, who organized the event, and to Roger Naber who provided the venue and advertising support. With this event we were able to add over $1,000 to MEAF, the Musicians Emergency Assistance Fund. This is the fund we maintain for local musicians who might come upon hard times. We welcome any additional donations. Please send your check to MEAF/KCJA, P.O. Box 36181, Kansas City, Missouri 64171-6181. 2001 Officers We are actively soliciting your interest in becoming leaders of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors. The Nominations Committee for officers and directors for 2001 consists of Mike Fitzgerald (816-333-1113), Wayne Davis (913-831-0168), Bev Mann (813-492-5207), Dorothy Edwards (816-471-6507), and Grace Santua (913-458-9482). I encourage all who are interested to get in touch with us to discuss service as an officer or director. The election will be at the December KCJA meeting. 15 Years! And speaking of the December meeting... That night will be the kick off to the KC Jazz Ambassadors' 15th year, and we are planning a combination Holiday/Birthday celebration. Look for the specifics in the November Whole Notes and the December/January JAM. In the meantime, I hope to see all of you at the many concerts, benefits and jazz club events this fall, as well as our monthly meetings on October 19 (American Jazz Museum) and November 16 (The Grand Emporium). RETURN TO OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2000 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.