After 14 years as the leader of the Jazz Alliance of Mid Michigan, Lois Mummaw is stepping down as president of the organization that she & her husband, jazz composer and former JAMM Treasurer Gregg Hill, co-founded in 2009.

Lois asked that her letter to the current JAMM Board be shared with all our Founding Members, Supporters, Past Board Members, Honorees, and Scholarship Recipients. Please see below.

Dear Officers of the Jazz Alliance of Mid Michigan–Paulette, Natalie, and Lynne– and the At Large Board Members–Ken, DJ, Stuart, Doug, Ralph, Ian, David, and Beth,

First of all, I’d like to thank Paulette for agreeing to be the Interim President for the rest of 2023. JAMM would not be intact right now if not for Paulette’s relentless promotion of JAMM since my 2017 illness. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your leadership, Paulette.

It is with a mixture of sadness and joyful anticipation that I officially tender my resignation as President of JAMM. Sadness because I have thoroughly enjoyed my interactions with all you Jazz Cats over the past 14 years. Joyful anticipation because of all that lies ahead with my grandson, music & traveling with Gregg, and a couple of (not-so) secret projects I’ve been working on.

It is my hope that JAMM will continue with its original mission of “preserving and promoting the tradition of Live Jazz across Mid Michigan” by supporting the Cafagna/Izenson Scholarship, securing gigs for the JAMM Scholarship Band at festivals and jazz & JAMM events, donating to and volunteering for area jazz festivals and jazz events, hosting one or more Member Mixers throughout the year, and staying involved with International Jazz Day. I also am very confident that you all are very capable of EXPANDING JAMM’s reach by fundraising and writing grants to support things that haven’t even been thought of yet!

If you all decide to continue the tradition of the Annual JAMM Tribute, I would like to suggest that you keep Ian as the Coordinator and Arlene as the Music Director–they both have done an extraordinary job of organizing the Tributes in the past. I would also suggest that you enlist the help of all the Past Honorees–JAMM has quite a roster now and they love to be asked to perform and help.

Doug, Natalie, and Ralph make a dynamic Scholarship Team. I hope they all stay and make progress with a partnership with Everett High School for the Cafagna/Izenson Scholarship and the JAMM Scholarship Band. I hope that every high school kid in that school (and all high schools in Mid Michigan) can’t wait to audition for that scholarship. I hope the JSB becomes the JAMM Scholarship Big Band or Jazz Orchestra someday!

I plan to work behind the scenes until year’s end with Candice and Kate to update and archive the JAMM Website. I will communicate with Paulette as to our needs for copy, etc. She can pass that info along to you all. I also will work with Paulette and the new Treasurer to get addresses changed, etc. I am hoping that if I cc Lynne (AKA best secretary) on these communications, she will take notes.

Gregg and I plan to contribute to JAMM every year and attend as many JAMM events as possible. We both are very proud to have been involved with such a wonderful group of people.

I wish you all the best as you move forward. JAMM is made up of a solid core of Founding Members, New Members, and Jazz Fans–all of whom are very committed to “preserve and promote the tradition of Live Jazz across Mid Michigan”.

It’s been my pleasure and honor to serve as JAMM’s President,
Thank you,
Lois

Peace, Love & Long Live Live Jazz,
Lois Mummaw, President, Jazz Alliance of Mid-Michigan 2009-2023
jammprez@gmail.com   5172421126