This third annual report of the growing interaction between AFJS and JEN will be more concise than the detailed four-page one of last year. Sites are given for further study.

JEN in 2011 is healthy and growing exponentially in numbers and impact. The target for this year is 2000 members. It is financially stable, economically staffed but served by a dedicated and experienced corps of volunteers making up their officers, board and committees. From its inception, JEN has recognized AFJS as a partner organization with mutual goals but different means and methods. We mesh nicely without being in conflict.

The board meeting was open to all and I attended with interest. Each officer and chair reported. Of the many, their Mentoring, Scholarship, Marketing and JENerations (under 30 outreach) Committees drew my greatest attention as usable/sharable by us. Their website, www.JazzEdNet.org, details these for those interested to learn more.

At the opening evening VIP dinner reception, to which I was invited by the incoming president, I had an opportunity to network with core people in JEN and in jazz generally. Our past president, Dave Robinson, was there and we were together often to compare ideas. As in most traditional organizations, personal acquaintances count and I value these for the benefit of AFJS.

Of the various sessions I attended, those on the Jazz Audience Initiative, running a jazz camp and using social networks were most helpful to our societies. In addition, I was granted an idea-interchange interview with their past, current and incoming presidents to discuss how best we can work with and help each other. Dave attended this at my invitation.

The well-funded Jazz Audience Initiative (JAI) will be completed by next January’s conference in Louisville and, in fact, will be its major focus. This meeting’s interim report gave a progress update and sample test of 1500 jazz-audience “winnables” in the Columbus OH marketing area where the sponsoring organization is located. Funding is a half-million dollars. See their report and statistics at www.JazzArtsgroup.org/jai. I renewed acquaintance with the project’s leadership and repeated our offer to help by availing all North American jazz societies of their chance to participate in sharing data.

While running a jazz camp is not on our radar, it’s helpful to know about them because societies send young musicians to several on scholarship. Just Googling “Jazz Camp” will show the varied types, levels, locations and costs that are to be found.

Social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are as scary to older generations as new technologies always have been. They are also just as undeniable in their inevitability as the ways we will have to learn to communicate to fulfill our mission, in my opinion. I will be initiating a program of how we can accept this challenge. It will begin with experimenting with a personal Facebook site and also inquiring as to who among us uses any social networks now. I see it as an area needing a program manager on our Board as Dick Baker is our webmaster now.

The JEN board interview, limited to thirty minutes, brought their repeated commitment to assist but not compete. Actually, JEN membership is so inexpensive that we might propose that society members join and give memberships as awards and prizes. I do suggest that to each of you after your perusal of their website and programs. Mentoring, for example, is an area that we can attack together, since I’ve often heard its need expressed among clubs and musicians. JEN will be pleased to add a link to the AFJS website on their own. JEN has the youth audience; we have the seniors - clearly we need each other.

Adding to the enjoyment of JEN Conferences is the wealth of prominent performing musicians, our own Mike Vax among them; trade and music publishers; instrument manufacturers and top educators. Without a working exposure to these elements in the jazz world, I would be less prepared to knowledgeably suggest directions for AFJS to take. The cross-currents of most conversations there boiled down to one key element: how best to perpetuate the joys of jazz. Does that sound familiar?

By knowing personally and networking with these key influences in jazz, I believe we can best serve our societies. I appreciated the opportunity to attend.