In September 2025, the Cleveland and Akron Chapters of the American Guild of Organists proposed a merger to form a chapter named the Northeast Ohio Chapter. Below are answers to questions that may be on the minds of the members of both chapters. There will be an opportunity to ask additional questions at our joint town hall meeting on Zoom on Tuesday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m.
In both chapters, an election will commence on Wednesday, October 15, where the memberships can vote on whether to make the merger. Voting instructions will be emailed individually to the memberships. (Those without an email address will be mailed a ballot.) The elections will close on Friday, October 31st at 5:00 p.m.
A letter from the Dean of the Cleveland AGO, Davis Badaszewski
A letter from the Dean of the Akron AGO, Eric Gastier
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need to merge chapters?
For at least nine years, the Akron Chapter AGO has found it extremely difficult—a decided annual struggle—to find people willing to serve as officers and executive board members. We cannot continue to play “musical chairs” with the elected positions using the same leadership personnel.
Further, both overall membership and attendance at events continues to dwindle. Since the Cleveland Chapter AGO has also begun to experience similar issues, a merger seems the best way forward for both chapters.
What's the reasoning behind the proposed name change to Northeast Ohio Chapter?
Since the Cleveland Chapter AGO has already absorbed other disbanded chapters (like North Central Ohio, Sandusky, and Lorain), it is appropriate to honor those legacies as much as our own chapters in creating an all-inclusive name that neither favors nor diminishes either Cleveland or Akron. Also, since the Cleveland Chapter geographic range already runs from Sandusky to Ashtabula, merging with Akron’s own wide geographic area would seem to demand a new name that better reflects that fact.
What happens to the Akron Chapter finances if we merge?
All monies will be combined. Any earmarked scholarship fund monies from Akron will continue to be honored as such.
How would the leadership roles from the two chapters be reconciled in a merger?
The elected officers and board members from the Cleveland Chapter will continue in the same roles throughout the 2025–26 season. However, because there are current vacancies in the Cleveland governing structure, members of the Akron board would be invited to fill those positions for the remainder of their respective terms.
How would future programming work in a merged chapter?
As always, programming will be scheduled broadly to represent the varied and different regions of the new chapter.
What happens to the Akron Chapter if we *don’t* merge?
The current leadership of the Akron Chapter is unwilling to continue in their present roles in perpetuity. Without other leadership to replace them, the situation is dire. If the merger is unsuccessful, the Akron Chapter will disband.