At the December 16, 1971, inaugural meeting of the club in Chicago, your editor was asked to direct the informal flow of ideas. Present were over 35 interested players, teachers and music industrial representatives; many had traveled very great distances to attend.

This issue of "To The World's Bassoonists" was volunteered as the unofficial organ of publication for the club and is being sent to a much larger audience of oboists and music teachers as well as to the regular subscribers.

Accomplished in Chicago was the following:

1. Selection of a forming committee - from widely-scattered locations - to suggest a good name for the club, a possible set of By-Laws and a tentative dues structure. The forming committee members are: Gerald Corey, Maryland, Donald Christlieb, California; Dr. William T. Gower, Mississippi; Richard Lottridge, Wisconsin; Donald Muggeridge, California; Richard Rath, S. Dakota; and Patricia Stenberg, Florida. (The name DOUBLE REED INTERNATIONAL was favored by the forming committee members present in Chicago and will be suggested to the club this summer.)
2. Determination of the location for the club's first summer conference and of official organization of the club, with adoption of By-Laws and election of officers. L. Hugh Cooper, Professor of Bassoon at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, offered the free use of facilities of that school's music department for the club conference on August l, 2, and 3, 1972.
   There will be no charges or fees in connection with the conference. Only room and board, plus any club dues decided upon for those wishing to join the club.
   The business meetings of the club will be for members and those interested in joining. Lectures and performances will also be open to and in conjunction with the University's 24th annual Band Conductors' and Wind-Percussion Teachers Conference.
3. I offered the services of this newsletter to all interested parties as an unofficial publication prior to the Ann Arbor Conference. There was initial discussion of a similar newsletter featuring oboe and English horn or perhaps a larger publication which would serve all the double reeds.
4. We accepted $5.00 donations from those present, and a few others, as "charter memberships" to assist us in paying for costs of announcing the club news and preparation for the conference.
   Since the Chicago meeting, Hugh Cooper and I have contacted leading performers and double reed specialists, inviting them to come to Ann Arbor and speak to the club. We are very pleased to welcome Donald Christleib, Ray Still, William Waterhouse, Lawrence Intravaia and Robert Co Cowart (see pictures). Mr. Cooper will also give a seminar on bassoon repair and voicing.
   If you have not received the University of Michigan brochure describing this conference and are interested in hearing more about it or attending, write to and register with: Mr. George Cavender, School of Music, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105.
   I am confident that the DOUBLE REED INTERNATIONAL will benefit us all in better communication and especially in the areas of encouraging good new music for double reeds and superior standards of performance.

Table of Contents