For several years MENC has worked with Mrs. America, Inc. on music education advocacy initiatives. The Mrs. America organization has adopted music education is its official platform, and delegates talk about its importance at appearances around the nation.
Recently several delegates have visited state music educators association conferences to collect signatures on the Petition for Equal Access to Music Education and donations for the Change Drive to Change Education.
“Mrs. Minnesota” Wendi Russo visited the annual conference of the Minnesota Music Educators Association in Minneapolis February 12-14. She reported, “I had a great time there and got several hundred signatures–I kept coming over [to the MENC booth] to get more pages of petitions!”
Mrs. Minnesota Wendi Russo with MENC Director of Membership Betty Cook at the MENC booth at MMEA.
“Mrs. Colorado” Christina Sacha attended the Colorado MEA annual conference January 22-24 in Colorado Springs. “I had a great time at the Colorado conference,” she reported. “[The teachers seemed] very appreciative of the Mrs. America organization and our goals for music education. I gathered over 150 signatures on the Petition for Equal Access to Music Education, and I sent one of my local title holders, Mrs. Denver, out the next day to represent us — she gathered about 150 signatures as well.”
“I enjoyed meeting several music teachers, musicians, and instrument distributors who supported the cause,” said Sacha. “What a great experience!”
—Elizabeth Lasko, February 24, 2009. © MENC: The National Association for Music Education
