What safety and security measures are in place to protect the well-being of my POE participant/student?

The policy regarding POE student/participant safety, set by the national American Guild of Organists, calls for fingerprinting and running background checks of all adult organ teachers, drivers, chaperones, and all those in adult leadership positions during the POE.

How do I register my son/daughter so that they may attend and participate in the Los Angeles American Guild of Organists’ sponsored POE during June 21-27, 2026?

The national office of the American Guild of Organists will receive applications and take in fees for the POE. Their Internet address is: https://www.agohq.org/ The student fee for the LA POE 2026 is $650.

Where will the Los Angeles Chapter’s POE be headquartered during the June 21-27, 2026 running dates?

There are two separate floors of apartments with double accommodations, including bathrooms, in a secured building--the Episcopal Retreat Center (the headquarters complex of the Southern California Episcopal Diocese) located in Los Angeles’ very central Echo Park neighborhood. Boys will reside on one floor with a dedicated boys’ dormitory counselor, and the girls will domicile on a separate floor with a dedicated girls’ dormitory counselor.

How will arrival and departure transportation be managed?

Our airport transportation voluntary drivers will have photos and flight arrival and departure information of our student participants. Your child will be picked up as soon as possible after their airport arrival time. Specific arrival and departure instructions will be provided a few days before the June 21-27, 2026 POE begins.

What precautions are in place to keep from “losing” or stranding one or more of the POE student participants?

The adult leaders and chaperones will frequently have the participating students “count off” several times each day to ensure that the entire group at one or two-hour intervals, is rounded up and no one gets lost or left behind. The bus won’t leave until everyone supposed to go, gets on board.

May local parents (in the Los Angeles & Orange County areas) attend our POE evening recitals and our Saturday final student recital events?

Yes!

What arrangements are there for the POE student participants to dine?

The Episcopal Retreat Center contracts with their well-known, frequently used caterer who provides “kid-friendly” foods. Most breakfast and noon meals will be served at the Retreat Center. Some evening meals may occur in community churches and on one evening, at the Hollywood Bowl.