American Guild of Organists

“As a result of our strategic planning process, the ago changed its by-laws in april 2024 to address changes in its nomination and election processes as well as its governance structure. Beginning in 2025, the ago will have annual (rather than biennial) elections with three national council positions, elected by the full membership, up for election each year. Council members will serve a maximum of three terms. New term limits were established. Councillors may serve two consecutive three-year terms with the option of a third three-year term if the councillor changes position for a possible total of nine consecutive years on council. The national nominating committee shall nominate one or two candidates for each position on the national council to be elected by the full membership and for each regional ambassador position. Effective in july 2026, the names of national councillors for membership, education, and conventions will be changed to national council members-at-large. The title of regional councillor was changed to regional ambassador. Council removed stipulations for specific portfolios from the vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The reference to national subscribing members was removed from the bylaws along with references to district conveners.”

“The ago is a voluntary membership association with approximately 11,000 dues paying, voting members. All of these members are eligible to participate in the organization's governance as they can all be elected to serve on our governing board which is known as our national council. Academic members have earned academic certification. Other classes of members include "regular," "special, and "young organist."”

“The national council is elected biennially by the voting members of the ago.”

“If any by-law regulating the number of members or method of electing the national council is adopted, amended, or repealed by the national council, such by-laws must be approved by vote of the members.”

“Management reviewed the 990 prior to filing. It is available to all of the organization's officers, directors, and voting members upon request.”

“Once per year all members of the national council along with the executive director, editor and director of development are given a copy of the conflict of interest policy and are required to certify their compliance during the fiscal year.”

“The ago's volunteer executive committee studies comparable data and deliberates thoroughly on the executive director salary. Although there are no compensated officers, comparability data are studied for all staff.”

“Ago makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“In 2023-24, we offered a monthly, virtual study group for candidates for the service playing certificate. We also offered a series of upper level exam preparation webinars in the spring.”

“The ago discontinued its committee on continuing professional education and reassigned its work to a new committee on educational programming. The organ scholar program was removed from the ago young organists budget and given its own two budget lines. The work of the certification program advisor was managed by a volunteer following the untimely death of the incumbent. The position of district convener was discontinued.”

“Personnel costs: the ago headquarters staff of 14 provides essential support to all programs of the national organization, as well as over 250 chapters and more than 11,000 members and subscribers throughout the u.s. And internationally. The staff edit and publish the american organist magazine, both in print and online; publish a monthly e-newsletter disseminated to all members and a separate e-newsletter for chapter leaders; and support ongoing strategic planning activities year-round. Staff also oversee and manage operations for a five-tier certification program; six scholarship programs; three performance competitions; five composition competitions including a student commissioning project; the world's most extensive and widely used online job board for organists; a website describing all program services; an active presence on several social media platforms; periodic webinars; a comprehensive listing of institutions of higher learning that confer degrees in organ studies and organ performance; a diversified fundraising program; the work of more than 20 committees; a $3 million budget; and assorted member services providing career development and support.”

“Competitions and conventions. The american guild of organists manages a robust program of competitions, conventions, and scholarship programs. Our eight competition programs include three in performance (nyacop, ncoi, and rcyo) and five in composition (ago/ecs award in choral composition; ago/marilyn mason award in organ composition; pogorzelski-yankee annual competition, woman composer sunday, and the student commissioning project.) we conduct up to three medium-sized conventions in odd-numbered years and a large national convention in even-numbered years. The 2024 national convention in san francisco had an attendance of approximately 1,000 registrants. National conventions include world premiere performance of organ and choral music, final rounds of performance competitions, as many as 20 recitals by leading concert artists, 50 or more workshops, and an exhibit hall with dozens of exhibitors. The six ago scholarship programs include the pogorzelski-yankee undergraduate scholarships; the pogorzelski-yankee organ scholar program for a student with an undergraduate degree; salisbury scholarships for students enrolled in master's or doctoral degrees in sacred music; scholarships for approximately a dozen or more pipe organ encounters students, and two scholarship programs, the anderson and houston scholarships, for students and young professionals attending national ago conventions.”