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Date: November 15, 2009
From: Jonas Nordwall
Subject: Second Annual ATOS Fund Drive

Dear Theatre Organ Supporter,

Over the past few months, I’ve looked back on my life with the theatre pipe organ. While some things seem like they happened yesterday, it really has been more than 45 years of music making. This includes playing concerts, performing at the Organ Grinder Restaurant, plus having fun and sharing musical inspirations with colleagues and members of ATOS at various conventions and other events.

Those 45-plus years have seen a lot more changes than just the graying of my hair. ATOS allowed colleagues and me to develop and share our musical gifts and love for a most remarkable instrument with a variety of audiences. Without ATOS, those opportunities would have not occurred and many of us would have moved on to other avocations.

Since my first concert appearance for the new Oregon Chapter in 1964, ATOS has done more than just change its name from the American Theatre Organ Enthusiasts. The organization has grown to more than 70 active chapters around the world. Some chapters have assisted in the transformation of theatre organ equipped movie palaces into performing arts centers. Many members created theatre organ entertainment venues in pizza parlors, which contributed to the biggest resurgence of the instrument’s popularity since the silent movie era.

The most recent surge in interest of the theatre pipe organ we experience today gives us the opportunity to position the instrument in its rightful place—as a true American musical art form. Through the dedication and hard work of enthusiasts and professionals over the many years since ATOS was organized, the theatre organ has earned the right to be more than just a casual hobby.

Recently your ATOS Board of Directors has taken some very definitive steps through:

  • the establishment of the Summer Youth Camp Program, providing educational opportunities for young organists
  • the creation of a Technical Camp for those interested in learning about the “care and feeding” of the theatre organ
  • the creation of programs to increase membership and concert attendance
  • the improvement of marketing/promotion/exposure of the theatre organ
  • the generation of fund raising activities and opportunities
  • improvements of the general operation of the organization, with new energy and focus

These activities and the Board’s dedication renewed my personal waning interest in ATOS, inspiring me to accept the invitation to head the ATOS Summer Youth Camp Program. One year ago the Fund Raising Committee embarked on its first Annual Drive in an effort to seek supplementary support for many new ATOS programs. As with any new endeavor, there was no way to predict support for this effort. The ATOS Fund Raising Committee and Board were delighted when hundreds of ATOS members generously responded with over $23,000 in special gifts.

These dollars directly contributed to:

  • the ATOS Summer Youth Camp Program, which just completed its third successful year, offering opportunities to nearly 50 young organists
  • ATOS Theatre Organ Radio, spectacularly successful in providing a radio station-like experience via our ATOS website
  • the ATOS Touring Shows, which help bring concerts to areas where concerts have not been a mainstay, or to help chapters generate interest in an organ or a program long dormant—much like the successful Community Concerts concept
  • the membership campaign, whereby letters were sent to several individual chapter members who are not members of ATOS in an effort to encourage their participation in ATOS on a broader scale
  • the opportunity to contract Kathy Riley, an experienced, professional and successful grant writer, to work directly on behalf of ATOS

In addition, Ken Double and the Fund Raising Committee began the serious work of seeking large, individual donations in the form of Estate Planning gifts. These are absolutely vital for ATOS’ future. Two such gifts were announced, which eventually could generate hundreds of thousands of dollars to continue our work and goals.

I am very familiar with fund raising activities. My job as the Music Director for Portland’s First United Methodist Church involves continual fund raising to ensure the perpetuation of our quality music program. Like many other churches and arts organizations, we supplement our annual budget with special gifts and endowment funds.

I encourage all of you to consider making a special gift to ATOS. Nearly ten percent of our members participated last year, and it is our hope that even more members will participate this year. Our goal is $40,000.

While many of us may still experience financial concerns during this economic period, I know ATOS is very important to you. The future of ATOS is also important to me, and that is why I am writing to you today. Our mutual goal is to perpetuate the theatre organ to the best of our abilities. We must all be serious about the work of ATOS and the perpetuation of the theatre organ and its art form.

Along with the ATOS Board of Directors and the Fund Raising Committee, I add my thanks to those members who participated with our first special fund drive last year. We hope you will consider donating to ATOS once again this year. For those who consider a first-time special gift, know that your gift—large or small—can make a huge difference. Please join with me in this most worthwhile campaign.

Best regards,


Jonas Nordwall .

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