Letter of Commitment Attendance Re: Absences

Letter of Commitment

I had received so many requests for the commitment letters so here it is. Please feel free to use it as you see necessary - either in its original form or altered for the needs of your group. 4 1/2 years ago when we started our handbell program, it was suggested to me by a director that helped us. It has been very useful.

As a ringer in the ___________________ Choir, I understand the following to be the guidelines both for my own growth and development as an individual ringer, and the choir as a musical group:

1. I understand that rehearsals are considered to be mandatory.
2. I will arrive 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled rehearsal time to help set up bells and music, so that rehearsals may begin promptly on time.
3. I will take whatever time is necessary after the rehearsal to care for the bells and put them away.
4. If I know in advance that I am going to be absent from a rehearsal, I will indicate this on the calendar in the choir room. I will arrange for my own substitute from the list provided and let the director know as to who my substitute is.
5. If the absence is unexpected and I cannot sign out on the calendar, I will notify the director by telephone as early as possible. I will arrange for my own substitute and let the director know who my substitute is.
6. Extra rehearsals are sometimes necessary. They are also considered to be mandatory.
7. If I know that I am going to miss any of the performances scheduled, I will arrange for my own substitute and be certain that the substitute will attend all rehearsals regularly to rehearse for the performance I am going to miss.
8. A times, bell ringing can be frustrating. However, I will always ring to the glory of God and have fun!

________________________
--signed--

________________________
--dated--

These are the issues that I found necessary to focus on...the needs of your group may be different. One other point that I discuss is if a particular group is scheduled to ring during a church service and there will be more than 2 ringers absent resulting in the need for more than 2 subs, I will reschedule. I just found that it makes it real crazy trying to remember who is ringing for who.

Written by:

Debbie
Bells4U3@aol.com
25 Aug 1997

Archived original can be found at: Re: HANDBELL-L digest 1252

Attendance

Robb Minter wrote, in part

     > I have heard the argument that, "How can you demand
     > attendance with a volunteer group?"  Well, music is
     > music and should be treated with the utmost respect
     > (not

Written by:

Alice Teter
teter@chem.wisc.edu
Madison Area Concert Handbells (MACH)
25 Aug 1997

Archived original can be found at: attendance

Re: Absences

I agree, Alice. When I took over our adult handbell choir 9 years ago we had considerable problems with lackadaisical attendance/promptness. I had NEVER been in a musical group where people wandered in to rehearsal 10-15 minutes late and there were no repercussions. Or where people just didn't show up, without telling anyone. I was frustrated and so were others.

When I took the baton, at the beginning of the next season, I laid it on the line. I said, "If I do this, I'm going to give it my all. I will be here, I will be prepared for the rehearsal and you can count on me. If you want to be in this choir, I expect the same from you. If that is not the kind of choir you want, tell me and I'll step aside and someone else can do it, because I am not into striving for mediocrity." It was so silent you could have heard a pin drop, but they knew I was being straightforward and truthful with them.

Not one person quit. And I am proud to say that I have kept my promise and so have they. In 9 years there have only been 3 rehearsals that I could not attend. One I became ill late in the day and had the Dir of Music take the rehearsal. The other two I got substitute directors in advance. My ringers return the respect. They are EXCELLENT about finding subs, but above that, they actually take their commitment to heart to the point that they will wait until we schedule our services to schedule their vacations!

There are only two of the 1988 ringers in the choir today. We have had many move over the years (8) and transfer out of the church altogether (2), but the tradition remains without too much being said from the podium. It is a commitment that new ringers are made aware of and then witness. We have had a couple of less committed people in the past 9 years, but they, through peer pressure from the RINGERS, got the subs when needed. I cannot remember ever having a no-show at a rehearsal or service.

I believe children are a whole different ball game...you must get a double commitment: the child AND the parent. Only then will you have a situation where you can count on their attendance.

Sometimes I think we directors are too afraid of communicating our requirements for fear of making someone quit. I guess I think that if knowing the rules of the game they decide they really don't want to play, then it's best to know it from the start and go looking for someone who does.

Written by:

Vicky Vandervort
Paradox616@aol.com
26 Aug 1997

Archived original can be found at: Re: Absences