AFJS enjoyed a growth year of service within our core mission of supporting jazz. Here are some of the highlights.

• We grew substantially in membership and financial health, enabling the Federation to better support the jazz community into the future
• Autonomous operation occurred by year’s end as we took over internal control and operation of all Federation management, finances and communications
• Our website was migrated to a more user-friendly expandable format and host
• Our Annual Conference, “Keeping Jazz Alive,” was held in Costa Mesa CA. Six speakers and panels covered the future of jazz societies, music’s lore in song and story, a club operations seminar, big-city jazz support, a youth-jazz panel of experts and an interview with legendary arranger Frank Comstock
• We facilitated four one-hour call-in teleconferences on helpful topics
• Our Board added three new directors and approved a Six-Step Master Plan
• Two CDs and matching sheet music of twenty play-along jazz standards were created as training and practicing aids to musicians at all levels
• Many active and prospective jazz societies were given direct counsel by our Panel of Advisors and the use of our eight How-To Manuals to recruit and train
• We conducted an email survey of known jazz societies to assess their needs
• We have announced our expanded 2008 Annual Conference, “Jazz Crossroads-2008,” hosted by NJJS in Morristown NJ on June 5/6

A midyear Board meeting will be held in late winter to further this year’s plans. We have moved beyond recovery into a healthy ability to attract and serve members. Working together, we can speak with one clear voice in serving and saving jazz.

Jim Jones