JAVS Summer 2000

39

EXPANDING AVS CHAPTERS

by William Preucil

Chapters of the American Viola Society are the big news this year! Chapters are the local, regional groups of active AVS members who meet and sponsor live happenings of interest to all violists in their vicinity. These events range from the educational and artistic to the more social and even zany. When one of these organizations brainstorms a wonderful idea and gets behind it to make it a big success, other Chapters can adapt it to their locale and further the benefit to even more violists. Take a look at the map and see if there is an AVS Chapter near enough for you to join (I am a member of the Chicago Viola Society even though I live 200 miles west of the city). You can belong to as many Chapters as you wish,

but if none seem geographically dose enough to you, then (you guessed it), it is time to begin your own. We have included the AVS General Information Sheet for Chapter Start-up on page 44 of the Journal. Contact me if you have questions or need additional information. It just takes ten members to get started, and you can be a pioneer in opening up a new section of the country to viola camaraderie. I~

William Preucil 31 7 Windsor Drive Iowa City, lA 52245 319-337-2558 Fax: 319-337-0601 email: preucil@avalon.net

THOMASTIK DOMINANT THE NEW STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE HEN great artists like Pinchas Zukerman, Itzhak Perlman and the Fine Arts Quartet choose their strings, they choose the best. That's why they use 'Dominant' strings for violin, viola, and cello. They have a rich powerful tone, unmatched response and they stay in tune unlike old fashioned gut strings. They last far longer and are the closest thing to a perfect string ever made. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now available in Full, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16 sizes. Sold in Better Music Stores For further information or the name of your nearest dealer contact the exclusive U.S. Importer JOHN M. CONNOLLY & CO., INC. P.O. BOX 93 • NORTHPORT, NEW YORK 11768