I would like to address Tim Trager's comments about this years organ
rally conflict (between the Mid-Am chapter and COAA on 8/2/02).  Three
or more months prior to the announcement of the Mid-Am rally the COAA
had made arrangements with the DeBence Museum group in Franklin, PA,
for a rally on the first weekend of June.  This was tied in with other
local special events to ensure a good attendance.

Then, three months later, after B Bronson had accepted the position of
Organ Rally Chairman of Mid-Am, it was announced that the Mid-Am rally
would be on the same weekend in Dundee, MI, in conjunction with the
local county fair.  As the Mid-Am chapter had no other rally alternatives
this function will serve to be a big draw for the Mid-Am rally.

That put both rallies on the same weekend.  The COAA could not change
its dates because of the other events tied to its rally, and Mid-Am
could not change its dates because the fair would only be on that same
weekend.  Neither group intentionally scheduled a rally at a time when
there was already another and neither group could back out of its
commitment.  This is unfortunate but unavoidable.  Fortunately there
are a lot of organs in the vicinity of both rallies and each rally
should still be a success.

One of the goals when the COAA was formed nearly four years ago was
to prevent such happenings by keeping track of when rallies (of all
groups) were scheduled.  The COAA, through their journal, the "Carousel
Organ," is happy to list any upcoming rally.  As Editor of the
"Carousel Organ" I have offered (to the recent off-MMD discussion group
led by Robbie Rhodes) to publish any rally dates for any organization.
This information can be fed into the COAA web site as well.  Just let
me know the dates well ahead.  The "Carousel Organ" is published in
October, January, April and July.

Ron Bopp