ABOUT PNWSHS, Inc.
The
Pacific Northwest Sacred Harp Singers, Incorporated was
established as a non-profit corporation in Washington state on
27 October 1992. It has also qualified as a state charity
with the Secretary of State. It is not a 501(c)3 corporation with
the IRS.
MISSION
Its
Mission is
to organize, improve, expand, and encourage community shapenote
singing in the Pacific Northwest through singing school classes,
singings, and conventions. It serves as the umbrella
organization for all shapenote singings in Washington state, and
provides help as needed to shapenote singings in Oregon, Idaho,
Montana, British Columbia, and Alaska.
Officers
& Board
For
the year 2023–2024 the directors are:
Karen Willard, President
Adam Berey, Vice President
David Wright, Secretary–Treasurer
Marla Elliott, member-at-large
Susan Helf, member-at-large
Rosie Sokolov, member-at-large
From
its beginning, PNWSHS Inc. has underwritten All-Day Singing
expenses, often fronting the deposits needed for renting venues,
and serving as a safety net should the freewill offering
collected at the event not prove generous enough to cover all
expenses incurred. The two biggest expenses at all-day singing
events are the rent for the venue, and the cost of enough loaner
books for everyone. Since 1992 PNWSHS Inc. has shouldered this
financial burden, for the all-day singings in Seattle, Buckley,
Olympia, Portland, and Eugene. As these events have grown and
matured, the need for underwriting by PNWSHS Inc. has
diminished, making funds available for new events.
PNWSHS Inc. purchases Denson Sacred Harps and Cooper Sacred
Harps, and makes them available for sale or for loan to any of
the local monthly singings needing them. A supply of books is
also always provided to the All-Day singings and conventions.
Any start-up singing may approach PNWSHS and request help
getting a supply of books.
PROJECTS
See
the link in the column on the left, Projects, for details of
these:
Travel Grants for singers wishing to attend Camp Fasola
in Alabama (either the Adult Camp or the Youth Camp) are
available.
4-shape
Music Camp: We have held two local music camps, and
welcome requests from any group along the West Coast, British
Columbia, or Alaska.