This is what I call the "honor event season" when I am trying to create a few more hours each day to meet the practice needs of my four different honor choir groups! It also means that we are fast approaching the KMEA In-Service Workshop and the school year is scooting on by.

Here are a few reminders for all of you who are Tri-M sponsors. Plan now to attend Friday morning, February 22, with fellow Tri-M chapters. You will be entertained and empowered with great new ideas to implement in your own schools. Go to the KMEA website for the Tri-M registration due by February 15, 2013. Attendance is free, but each student will need an official name badge in order to attend any part of the workshop. Please register your students! Be sure to arrive before 8:30 a.m. so you can attend a wonderful presentation by Marcia Neel from Las Vegas, Nevada. She will inspire us to work together to achieve our very best.

We plan to have our 2nd annual "Tri-M's Got Talent" contest. Bring along one entry per chapter of 60 seconds of your greatest talent! It does not matter if your entry is solo or group, serious or not-so-serious. The current winner, Columbus Unified School District, will be bringing back the coveted "M-ee" traveling trophy which will once again be up for grabs.

Each chapter will be asked to briefly share some of their best projects, activities, and ideas. Please bring a hardcopy summary of your successful ideas so we can compile them on the Tri-M webpage for easy access and reference. Our final session of the morning will be interactive. During it Tri-M members will be encouraged to ask NAfME Collegiate students questions about college life and requirements for music related majors.

I have been pleased to witness the growth of the Tri-M Mini-convention morning over the last three years. A great deal of knowledge and inspiration is always shared during our time together. In February, I will be handing over my Tri-M State Advisory position to the capable hands of Solomon music teacher, Hannah Nunnenkamp-Engelman, who has been co-sponsoring with me during this past year. It has been a pleasure to serve as your State Advisor and I hope to see you in February!