Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Delta Omicron Receives PFA Awards

Delta Omicron was recognized with three awards at the 2006 Conference of the Professional Fraternity Association in Palm Springs, California in September. One of the Fraternity’s national projects, the Triennial Composition Competition, was recognized with the PFA Outstanding Program Award. Judith Eidson, Chair of the Composition Competition, won the PFA Outstanding Volunteer Award, and Kay Calfee Wideman received the prestigious PFA Career Achievement Award.

International President Jonny Ramsey accepted the Outstanding Program Award on behalf of Delta Omicron. Dr. Ramsey noted the Composition Competition’s history, beginning with small composition awards given to Delta Omicron members at fraternity conferences as early as 1920. By 1944, the First Annual Composition Contest was established as a competition to encourage Delta Omicron women composers. By 1946, the Competition became triennial to coincide with national conferences. In 1953, the first premiere of the winning composition was held at conference. The project progressed to include both men and women composers when the Fraternity became coed, and it has continued to develop first as a national competition and more recently into the international composition of today. The latest Competition winning composition, Songs for Emmy—A Song Cycle for Mezzo Soprano and Piano by Dr. Jay Anthony Gach, premiered in July, 2006 at the Fraternity’s 2006 conference.

In her acceptance of the Outstanding Volunteer Award, Judith Eidson spoke about the high level of volunteer work exemplified by all the PFA members assembled in the room. She spoke about how the members of Delta Omicron have “been such a great benefit and blessing” to her in her life and an inspiration to her own volunteerism. Judith described her work with the Triennial Composition Competition and also her work in planning and coordinating musical programs in the Denver area. She closed by saying, “… to be able to share and support something that you believe in or love to do is what volunteering is all about.”

Recipient of the PFA Career Achievement Award, Dr. Kay Calfee Wideman was recognized for her lifelong achievements in improving the education of public and private school students and the fine arts in the state of Georgia. Currently retired, Dr. Wideman served the state of Georgia as teacher, college instructor, principal, instructional supervisor, curriculum specialist, and program director. While working for the Georgia Department of Education, she managed K-12 programs for Georgia public schools, implementing the Quality Core Curriculum, developing the online QCC and Georgia Learning Connections and writing the business plan for statewide online courses. As Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in Georgia’s Cobb County School District, she managed K-12 schools in the areas of curriculum, instruction, alternative schools, counseling and guidance, rant programs, textbook adoption, Title programs, Head Start, just to mention a few areas of expertise. She received the Distinguished Service Award from the Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instructional Supervisors in 2004 in recognition of her extensive work in Georgia.

Her service to Delta Omicron also contributed greatly to the award. Dr. Wideman has served as Chapter President, Province President, Chapter Adviser, National Historian, National Treasurer, Chair of Finance, Alumni Area Chair, as well as international President (1974-1980). She represented Delta Omicron as a founding member of PFA, serving as PFA’s Secretary on its Board from 1979-80. In her acceptance speech, Dr. Wideman spoke about the importance of fine arts in the education and lives of children.

The awards were presented at the PFA Awards Banquet on the evening of September 8. The Conference also featured instructional sessions for delegates on publicity, contract negotiations for conference planning, concerns of “the Millennium Generation,” and exhibits by the associate member organizations of PFA.

From left, 2006 PFA Award recipients, Dr. Kay Wideman holding the PFA Career Achievement Award, Judith Eidson with the PFA Outstanding Volunteer Award, and Dr. Jonny Ramsey with the PFA Outstanding Program Award.