A Message to Our Lynchburg Pops Family
We, the board of directors of Lynchburg Pops, are writing to you to address a series of tensions that have been building for quite some time that have intensified in recent weeks. It has become clear to the board of directors that action is needed from us to restore trust between the organization’s leaders and stability to our community. The following statement clarifies the board’s position and announces a set of upcoming changes that will be put in place within the next 60 days.
Clarifying the Board’s Role and Our Artistic Vision
The board’s primary role is to ensure the long-term health and stability of the Lynchburg Pops. This means that in addition to day-to-day operational duties, we are required to be focused on big-picture issues like finances, fundraising, and advertising. We are not, and should not be, involved in the day-to-day artistic decisions of the band.
Jim Meredith has the trust of the board to choose the repertoire, gauge our music’s complexity, and guide the musical direction of our performances. We believe in his expertise in these areas and are committed to supporting him as he continues to do what has given Lynchburg Pops its current success.
We have immense respect for the artistic opinions and musical backgrounds of our band and board members. Ultimately, however, the board has placed its trust in Jim to make the final artistic decisions, a role which requires him to carefully consider the enjoyment of our audiences as well as the varied goals, tastes, and skill levels of our band members.
A Stance on Religious Tolerance
The Lynchburg Pops is a community organization. We believe that music has the power to bring people together, and we are committed to being a safe and welcoming space for everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs or non-beliefs.
This means we champion religious tolerance, which allows individuals to openly express their beliefs while respecting the beliefs of others. This is a different approach than secularism, which would require the complete removal of religious influence from our organization. By embracing tolerance, we can be a community where no one has to feel compelled or suppressed by the views of other members. We value every person for their unique contribution to our shared passion for music, and we encourage you to be a part of our family exactly as you are.
Adoption of a New Code of Ethics
To ensure our leadership pursues the highest level of integrity and respect, the board is adopting a new Code of Ethics for all leaders and board members. This document will serve as a clear guide for our interactions, establishing standards for respectful communication, ethical behavior, and effective conflict resolution. Our goal is to create a gracious culture of openness and respect that will help us avoid future tensions.
A Formal Agreement with Our Artistic Director
To ensure a clear and professional working relationship and to reinforce our confidence in Jim Meredith’s artistic leadership, the board will be creating a written agreement with him for a duration of 24 months. During this period, the board and future boards will commit to fully supporting the Artistic Director’s decisions regarding musical repertoire and artistic direction. This agreement will allow Jim to continue his work with confidence, and it will give the board a structured and professional way to support his leadership.
The 24-month duration of this agreement is intentional. It provides a stable and professional period for us to move past recent tensions. At the end of this term, we will work together to draft a new agreement that reflects the progress and maturity of our young organization, allowing us to adapt to what we learn over the next two years.
Confidentiality and Transparency
The board will seek to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct, ensuring that all communications, especially those within closed sessions, remain confidential. This call for confidentiality is not a call for less transparency; rather, it is a commitment to ensuring that sensitive discussions are handled with the discretion they require. The board believes there is a time for transparency in open sessions—where we share progress and collaborate on public-facing matters—and a time for confidentiality to protect the privacy of individuals and the integrity of the board.
To that end, the board commits to adopting a more traditional approach to documenting our board meetings moving forward. Meeting minutes will accurately and fully reflect the substantive discussions, reports, and decisions made, in addition to the formal motions. This will create a clearer, more complete record of our work for all band members.
We believe these steps will create a stronger, healthier future for our band. Thank you for your continued dedication to making music with us.
Sincerely, The Board of Directors The Lynchburg Pops
Approved Code of Ethics For Band Members and Leaders
For All Band Members
We’re thrilled to have you in the Lynchburg Pops Community Band! Our goal is to create a warm, welcoming environment where everyone can enjoy making music together, regardless of age, gender, lifestyle, or personal beliefs. We ask all members to approach each other’s differences with mutual respect and patience, ensuring our rehearsals and performances are productive and fun for all.
- Be Prompt and Prepared: Rehearsals begin promptly at 7:00 PM. Arriving on time shows respect for your fellow musicians and helps us make the most of our practice. Similarly, follow performance schedules, including curtain call times, to keep things running smoothly.
- Stay Attentive and Respectful: Keep your focus on the conductor during rehearsals, avoiding distracting behaviors like loud side conversations or excessive phone use, keeping phones on silent. Please limit visible content on your personal devices to what might be considered “family friendly” or “suited for mixed company” to avoid an unintentional offense. Use kind, appropriate language to maintain a positive environment.
- Allow Others Their Creative Space: Create a supportive atmosphere by embracing the unique musical experiences, tastes, and ambitions each member brings. Avoid negativity or judgment while remaining comfortable with your own contribution to Pops — whatever that is — to ensure everyone feels accepted.
- Respect Perspectives and Beliefs: Show respect for people with differing beliefs and opinions, recognizing that our band may collaborate with a variety of organizations with religious or political affiliations for various purposes. While we are not a religious organization, we strive to be tolerant and supportive of religious individuals and organizations, and ask members to approach such collaboration with openness and respect.
- Practice Patience: Every member of Lynchburg Pops, including conductors and leaders, are volunteers, just like you. Show patience and understanding as we collaborate together to create something special.
Band members should hold each other accountable to these principles with compassion and self-discipline.
For Band Leaders
As a band leader—whether a board officer, board member, artistic director, associate conductor, or section leader—you play a role in shaping a culture where everyone, including fellow leaders, feels welcome, regardless of age, gender, lifestyle, or personal beliefs. Lead with enthusiasm, integrity, and a commitment to fostering mutual respect.
- Support the Band and Each Other: Champion the band’s purposes and uplift fellow leaders. Collaborate to ensure every member feels valued and inspired, fostering an environment where differing perspectives are respected.
- Foster a Fun Culture: Embrace the variety of perspectives within our band regarding musical complexity, style, personal challenge, and personal beliefs. Lead with flexibility and enthusiasm while promoting patience and understanding to make every meeting, rehearsal, and performance a joyful experience for everyone.
- Serve Others: In a volunteer organization such as LPCB, none of our leaders are in a position to control anyone else. View leadership in LPCB as an opportunity to serve and influence others, not to control them.
- Maintain Professional and Respectful Communication: Engage in respectful and constructive dialogue. Leave personal conflicts out of band activities, and avoid raising your voice or using disrespectful language. Encourage open dialogue and early resolution of disagreements to maintain a positive space. Uphold the band’s mission by attempting to represent it positively in all interactions. Do not fan the flames of negative attitudes.
- Respect Confidentiality: Treat all board communications, especially emails and internal discussions, as confidential. Do not share these communications with non-board members unless explicitly authorized by the board. This protects the trust and privacy of all members and allows for open, honest conversations.
- Act with Integrity: Our organization thrives on trust. Uphold the roles and decisions made by the board or Artistic Director even when you disagree. All concerns and disagreements should be addressed through established channels, such as a private conversation with the individual or a discussion with the full board. Your actions should consistently reflect loyalty to the organization and its mission.
Leaders should hold each other accountable to these principles with compassion, self-discipline, and respectfulness.
Kudos to the board for tackling many thorny issues with a concise and unified stance that should strengthen the band and focus the board on its tasks. The above document is well crafted and comprehensive.
Steve Aiello