I hope 2013 greets and treats you well. The year 2012 offered us interesting times. The climate, whether natural, economical, or political, has not been as good as we would like and has tested our patience. My wife tells me that it is good for me. However, coming up in 2013 we have some opportunities to improve in areas where we have control. It is not all bad news.

First of all, we currently have enough money in the KMEA Fund to fully underwrite four of our scholarships. We have been able to increase our Fund balance at a measurable degree each year it has existed. To achieve the rest of our goal, we need to get the finances necessary to underwrite the remaining scholarship. After that, we will be able to start awarding grants to deserving music programs and music educators. The news sources say that the economy is on its way back, but there is still a question about how that will translate to schools and school music programs. With the Kansas political leadership in a restructuring mode, it is unsure right now how school funding is going to look in the next couple of years. It would be good if KMEA were in a position to be able to help.

Secondly, we will be offering a clinic at KMEA on various ways you can give to the KMEA Fund. The session is entitled "Your Legacy: The Beat Goes On" and will be at 8:00 AM on Saturday, February 23, in Century II, Room 208 Walnut. This session will show you how you can contribute to the KMEA Fund with cash, stock, property, as a living donor, or through an estate. The clinician is Betsy Wearing from the Greater Salina Community Foundation.

Thirdly, the Greater Salina Community Foundation is having a "Match Madness" on March 12 where they will match up to 50% of all money donated that day. I will be representing the KMEA Fund. Here is how it works - you give me a check made out to "GSCF" with "KMEA Fund" in the memo line. It can be any amount from $1 up to $1,000. I will deliver all the collected checks on March 12 for the matching funds to apply. You will have a receipt in the mail within a week. This will let you get more value from your donation and benefit the KMEA Fund all in one event.

I am offering a challenge to each member of KMEA. I would like for each and every one of you to find a category in our giving levels that fits your pocket book and then give to the Fund. I am not asking that you do it by yourself. As a matter of fact, I am asking just the opposite. If each of us can participate in this endeavor, we will be able to benefit the music students in Kansas.

Donor Level	Contribution	Thank you
Maestro	$10,000+	Scholarship naming option
Composer	$5,000 - $9,999	KMEA Fund memento
Virtuoso	$1,000 - $4,999	Listed in the All-State Program
Soloist	$500 - $999	Listed in the Kansas Music Review
Musician	$100 - $499	Listed in the Kansas Music Review
KMEA Friend	$25 - $99	Listed as a donor on the KMEA website

I am also making a specific challenge to two of the sub-groups of our membership. To the retired members and to the Past Presidents, I offer a "legacy" challenge; join me in contributing AT LEAST $500 to the Fund. You have already demonstrated your love for the profession and now you can expand your influence new ways. If we can band together on this, we can get closer to achieving our goal.

Join me in supporting our profession financially through the KMEA Fund. Please make your tax-deductible checks to the "KMEA Fund" and send them to John Taylor, KMEA Executive Director, 614 N. Parkdale, Wichita, KS 67212.