Make your plans now to be in SanAntonio July 26-29, 2009! President Gary Robbins, Executive Director Mike Brashear and the Board of Directors are busy planning a fantastic convention. I know many directors were caught off guard last year by the change to the traditional TBA calendar of Sunday through Wednesday causing conflicts with summer rehearsals. This year, arrange your schedule for the last week of July to allow time for the convention. The information garnered from the clinics, the products and services provided by our great exhibitors, the networking and the fellowship will all prove more beneficial in helping you and your students have a successful year than two or three additional days of new marchers and beginner master classes.

The Board of Directors is very aware of the cost of attending the convention and the impact it has on your school, booster and personal budgets. This past year, TBA negotiated an agreement with one of the major hotel chains with multiple properties in San Antonio to put a cap of no more than a one percent increase in room rates per year through 2016. Hearing this, other hoteliers responded with similar agreements. Thanks to retired Executive Director Al Sturchio, TBA has built a strong professional relationship with the city and the convention center. We intend to provide a valuable convention each year, and also one that is a good value as well.

Throughout the school year, we all work constantly to support each other’s programs and students. The time spent organizing, hosting, and judging the various district, UIL and TMEA events is an act of service that strengthens all of our bands and the individual students in them. We depend upon each other to accomplish educational goals we could not reach alone. Your support of TBA through membership and convention attendance works the same way. Your participation insures that our association will continue to grow, improve, and always play a major role in assisting Texas band directors achieve the highest standards of instrumental music education.

The TBA Convention/Clinic is a better convention when you are there. Your input and questions at the clinics add to the learning experience. The time you spend in the Exhibit Hall visiting with our Business/Sustaining Members encourages them to continue to provide and refine their product and to return summer after summer. The directors that meet you from around the state go home feeling better connected to their colleagues who face the same challenges and enjoy the same rewards.

Join us at this great event; the largest annual bandmasters convention in the world.

Brian Merrill