It has been quite some time since we collected one of these (even longer if
you count COVID), and it will be helpful information in both searching for
and determining whether we are qualified for grants and other funding. I'm
seeing a lot more diversity among our membership than we've had in the
past, which is wonderful!
A large part of compliance and transparency with data collection is
anonymity. We might prefer to collect this info as physical paper forms in
a folder. If we give a few minutes of rehearsal time to fill them out,
we'll have a greater response than letting people do them "later" and
getting them back to us. We'll also find out who carries a pencil in their
folders to write performance notes in their music! 😄
We should not include any identifiers (e.g. "What instrument do you play?"
or "How long have you been an ACWE member?") Ideally one or two board
members will compile the data and share only the overall results with the
rest of the board, and optionally, the membership at large.
If you'd like to read an in-depth manual on demographic data collection,
there's a free resource here: MORE THAN NUMBERS: A Guide Toward Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Data Collection
<https://schusterman.widen.net/s/rrcfkzdxtn/deidatacollectionguide>
I'm attaching a document that I wrote up. Please feel free to use it in
whole or in part. Let me know if you have any questions!
Kat Brotherton
*ACWE / TCMF Liaison, Herbterpreter*
Austin Civic Wind Ensemble (ACWE) --------- www.ACWE.org
<http://www.acwe.org>
Texas Community Music Festival (TCMF) --- www.TCMFestival.com
www.MsKatsMusic.com