Robert Peterson

Past President Memories

Robert Peterson (1987-1989)

I followed Tom Rossin as President—we were still hurting for funds to keep the organization going. Both Roger Tenney and I had contributed our own funds to keep ACDA-MN in the black! I began looking for ways to improve this situation.

I had just attended a National Convention and observed how the honor choir was working by charging for entrance tickets. When I got back home, I contacted Linda Berger, elementary music teacher in Edina at the time, and we talked about a children’s honor choir for a future fall convention program. ACDA-MN was able to initiate our first children’s honor choir during the convention located at the University of Minnesota in 1988.

Also in 1988, we were hosts for the ACDA North Central Division Convention. Our entire board was extremely busy organizing and running this fabulous convention. This convention increased our state membership to around 600 members. It was certainly a major event for our organization – as it was again in 1998 (also in 1978 and 2010). ACDA-MN always set the standard for other divisional conventions!

I believe Summer Dialogue started in the mid 1980’s…it was 1985. Axel Theimer was completely in charge of all program events and facilities located for the first five years on the campus of St. John’s University. Attendance was intimate for the first several summers, but still a lot of fun. Great memories and laughs of Stan Carlson (Staples) and Carlin Berg (Elbow Lake) telling endless Ole and Lena jokes.

In those years, nearly all of our board meetings were held at the home of Katherine Doepke in Golden Valley. She was such a fabulous host (and cook) that NO ONE missed these meetings. Tom Rossin continued to bring the computer into our lives. I kept everything on “floppy discs” that we thought would last forever! Where are they now? There were several items that were passed from president to president – green three ring binders with complete records and “end of the year” reports, plus the picture boards of FMC recipients. All records of the organization could be moved around in my car trunk!