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GALA Board & Committees

Board members are elected to three-year terms. The current roster of the GALA Choruses Board of Directors is below. To contact the Board of Directors, please send an e-mail to info@galachoruses.org.

Officers

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* Maria-Elena Grant
President
Lavender Light Gospel Choir
New York, NY

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Jeff Chapdelaine*
Vice-President
Boston, MA

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* Michael McDonald
Secretary
Portland Gay Men's Chorus
Portland, OR

Karen Lane

Karen Lane
Treasurer
Seattle, WA

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Doug Althauser
Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus
Columbus, OH

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Tim Blanchard-Modisette
New York City Gay Men’s Chorus
New York, NY

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Jared Brayton Bollenbacher
Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus
Columbus, OH

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John Carrion
New York City Gay Men's Chorus
New York City, NY

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Miriam Davidson
Anna Crusis Feminist Choir
Philadelphia, PA

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Chipper Dean
Gay Men's Chorus of Wash. DC
Washington, DC

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Justin Fyala
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington
Washington, DC

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Abdullah Rasheen Hall
Trans Chorus of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

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Steve Milloy
Men Alive, Orange County's Gay Men's Chorus
Santa Ana, CA

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Joe Nadeau
SingOUT KC
Kansas City, MO

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Carol Paskulin
Sacramento Women’s Chorus
Sacramento, CA

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Jeff Smith
Phoenix Gay Men's Chorus
Phoenix, AZ

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Kristen Stinnett
Common Woman Chorus
Durham, NC

Oscar Urtusástegui

Oscar Urtusástegui
Coro Gay Ciudad de Mexico
Mexico City, Mexico

* Executive Committee Members

GALA Committees

Finance Committee
Karen Lane, Chair

Specific Responsibilities

  • Review of the annual operating plan for the corporation prior to its submission for full
    Board approval.
  • Review of monthly financial reports containing an analysis of actual vs. budgeted results
    and a forecast of cash flows for the remainder of the year.
  • Annual review of the internal control and investment policies.
  • Annual review of the corporation's annual financials with the auditors and of the Form 990
    filing with the IRS.
  • Annual review of the corporation's insurance program.
  • Annual review of the corporation's banking and credit arrangements

Membership Committee
Chipper Dean and Tim Blanchard Modisette, Co-Chairs

Specific Responsibilities

  • Oversight of the process for supporting new member choruses and training existing members
    on the use of GALA programs and services.
  • Assistance with the recognition of member chorus anniversaries
  • Oversight of the process for obtaining and disseminating survey information to member
    choruses.
  • Assistance with identifying options for support of transgender singers and youth
    choruses.

Education and Networking
Brayton Bollenbacher, Chair

Specific Responsibilities

  • Oversight of the annual leadership symposium and the manager's and director's retreat.
  • Oversight of the 411 program.
  • Oversight of the online member resources programs including webinars and podcasts, the
    resource library and online chorus management educational materials.

External Relations
Steve Milloy, Chair

Specific Responsibilities

  • Participation in the Global Alliance of Queer Choirs
  • Oversight of relationships with mainstream music organizations such as ACDA and Chorus America
  • Oversight of work with schools, universities and communities of faith

Resource Development Committee
Justin Fyala, Chair

Specific Responsibilities

  • Provide oversight and assistance in the development of the annual individual donation
    campaign which includes board contributions.
  • Provide oversight and assistance in the development of the corporate sponsorship
    relationships.
  • Provide oversight and assistance in the development of foundation relationships and grant
    applications.

Festival Committee
Joe Nadeau and Kathleen Hansen, Co-Chairs

Specific Responsibilities

  • Provide oversight of the planning and budgeting for the quadrennial Festival and critical
    review of the final festival report.
  • Assist in the development of a database of cities capable of hosting Festival.

Communications Committee
Miriam Davidson, Chair

Specific Responsibilities

  • Assist in the development of strategies to keep the membership engaged via social
    media.
  • Provide oversight of the development and maintenance of the organization's web site.
  • Assist in the creation of a strategy and plan for electronic communications.

Governance Committee
Michael McDonald, Chair

Specific Responsibilities

  • Establish a matrix of skills, geographic location and chorus type to guide the Board in
    achieving an appropriate diversity of representation.
  • Identify individuals to recruit to the Board and make the appropriate contacts to determine
    their interest in Board service.
  • Prepare a slate of candidates for nomination to the Board.
  • Coordinate the orientation of new Board member

New Harmony Taskforce
Maria-Elena Grant, Chair

Specific Responsibilities

  • Produce and update of the New Harmony Workbook
  • Advise member choruses on DEI issues as requested through the 411 Program.
  • Advise the Board of Directors on matters of equity, access and belonging.