May 2024
Dear Chapter Members and Friends,
It is with mixed emotions that I write my final Dean’s Letter to our Chapter. While my time as Dean has provided me with many areas of musical growth, it has also been a commitment of much time. I am looking forward to stepping down from the position, in order to pursue other life-long interests and hobbies. The older I get, the more I realize that time is one of our most precious possessions and that we all have a limited supply! My husband and I hope to be able to enjoy some activities together, such as traveling to the AGO National Convention in San Francisco this July. If any of you plan to attend, please look for us and we will get together to enjoy refreshments!
After suffering through the Covid epidemic during 2020-2022, my tenure as Dean (2022-2024) gave me ample opportunity to “jump-start” the Chapter back into action. I am thankful for the input of former Dean Michael Petrosh at the beginning of my duties, with regard to the ins and outs of the Dean’s position. I am also thankful that Dr. Boyd Jones has been elected to serve as Dean for the next two years. His top-notch musicianship will be a valuable asset to our group. My Sub-Dean, Mark Ayers, has been a dream come true. Never in my 50+ years of working with Guild members have I seen such a multi-talented, hard-working and all-around great person. He never seemed ruffled or upset, no matter how many our best-laid plans went somewhat astray! If I seemed at all to have been a successful Dean, I owe it all to Mark! In addition to Mark, I would like to thank all my colleagues who have served with me on the Executive Board…both Officers and Members-at-Large. In order not to leave anyone’s name out, I will just say a group “THANK YOU” for all the time and talent that they gave to make our organization so vibrant and alive!
We will meet for our final 2023-2024 event on May 14 at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Longwood, for our Annual Meeting, Dinner and Rising Stars Concert, when our new Officers and Board members will be inducted. As we close out this year and look forward to the next, let’s all promise ourselves to be even more supportive of the Chapter in the coming year. There is so much darkness in our present world. We need the beauty and inspiration of our music and music-making now more than ever. I hope that you will join with me in a renewed commitment to the Central Florida Chapter and to the American Guild of Organists!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Charlene Cranmer CAGO
Dean CFAGO
