Congratulations, Milestones & Best Wishes - Fall 2019
Cammi MacKinlay – 2019 Sweet Adelines International Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Submitted by Elizabeth Minish, Lions Gate Chorus
At the recent Sweet Adelines international competition in New Orleans this past September, Cammi MacKinlay of Lions Gate Chorus was recognized by current president Patty Cobb-Baker for her outstanding contributions to the organization over her 33-year membership. She joins just 21 other women to have received this prestigious award since its inception in 1998. The list is a veritable who’s who of the Sweet Adeline world and we at Lions Gate Chorus, and I am sure all of Region 26, could not be more proud of her for this well-deserved honour. If you missed the presentation on the webcast, you can still see it in its entirety at the provided link and I encourage you to check out this wonderful tribute to Cammi.
Highlights of that presentation:
Of her contributions at the International Board level, it was noted that “she has done just about every job invented by the inventive Sweet Adeline mind.” She was first elected to the international board in 2004 and rose quickly through the ranks to ultimately serve as president for the 2010 – 2012 term. She is currently serving in her final year on the board which will end May 1st, 2020 after sixteen productive and eventful years. Her talents are many and varied, possessing that magic combination of administrative and creative skills, but it is her passion for education where she has done some of her best work. Administratively, she shepherded the organization through its governance structure change from Management Team to CEO Leadership at International Headquarters. And, confirming her passion for the ever-evolving art of performance, she oversaw the process which created the new Open Division and changes to the International Finals Competition Package format. In her acceptance remarks, Cammi assured us all that she is not finished yet. The fact that she is co-chair for the upcoming IES in August 2020 is testament to that happy scenario.
At the regional level, Cammi’s contributions are numerous and well documented with stints in PR & Marketing, Events, Education, Convention chair and ultimately, Vice Regent. In fact, she is a past winner of the Spirit of 26 Award which honours those who exemplify leadership skills and a passion for the organization.
The members of Lions Gate Chorus were also canvassed to send anecdotes or remembrances when Patty Cobb-Baker was putting together her remarks. Here are some of them:
“Among her numerous contributions to Lions Gate chorus, we can perhaps be most thankful for the fact that it was Cammi who found and secured our beloved director, Sandy Marron.”
“Cammi has been involved in so many different aspects of chorus life that it is almost impossible to speak about Lions Gate without mentioning Cammi in the same breath.”
And finally, my contribution to Patty’s request.
“Cammi wears a string of pearls virtually every day of her life. They were a gift from her mother and, I think, the perfect analogy for Cammi herself. Just like pearls, most of Cammi’s contributions to the world of Sweet Adelines and the greater world around her, have been created by daily, incremental, often unglamorous toil, far away from the limelight. A single pearl is definitely beautiful in its own right, but a string of pearls, perfectly matched in colour and selected for size that must diminish from centre to end, creates a whole different dimension and magnitude of attention to detail and overall impact. Just like Cammi herself.”
Please join us in congratulating Cammi for this prestigious Life Time Achievement Award!
Congratulations to Desert Sounds Chorus on the occasion of their 40th anniversary.
The chorus chartered in September 1979.
Alberta Gold wishes sister choruses of Region 26, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!