Friday, May 9, 2008

Looking Back on May 6th Chapter Meeting

Looking Back on May 6th Chapter Meeting

(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —Ye Ed.)

Room set up took a new direction this week – the tables for coat/briefcase drop off were set up along the wall behind the risers. And the mail folders and sign up sheets for events were set up under the Harmo Photo Board.

Then sales and admin desks were set up along the wall where coats used to go. Goal was to increase flow to admin tables, coffee station and general networking area.

As usual, there was a class on stage for SP. And a number of guys worked to get out risers, AV equip, membership station, director’s music stand.

After warm up session, Director Joe introduced former Harmonizer (in 1992) Steve Tramack. Steve is director of Granite Statesmen in Northeast District. He came to lead a Barbershop Singers Boot Camp for our chorus. It was sold hard work for the first half of the evening. There were demonstration groups called out, and there were break outs of small groups to try and experiment with the concepts. Plus he had AV presentation too.

The chapter meeting started with President Stamps accepting a check for the recent sing out from Bruce Lauther. And a reminder to the board of their rescheduled meeting now on May 21st.

The Chapter is hosting the Southern Division Contest May 22-23 in Reston. (For new guys: a division contest is where quartets and choruses earn the right to move up to our district contest in the fall.) Bill DePuy is back stage manager for us and is already seeking names of guys to set up risers and such. See him to help.

Chapter Secretary Buechler reported a phone visit with Baker Collins, who was asking about paying his dues. Baker has been a member for 50 years and so gets free membership. Chris sent the card to Baker in FL. Joe Cerutti was given his 7 year card tonite too.

Roger Day announced the guests present. There was a good break; everyone was busy.

After break, Steve conducted 15 more minutes of his class. Then Joe worked the chorus hard on contest songs, and took them thru “First Star on the Right” a couple times.

Note: if you turn in Campbell Soup labels into the big can on the admin table, be sure you have gotten the Bar Code off the can or container. Otherwise they do not count. We give these coupons to the school next door for them to turn in for rewards.

Until next time – editorjack!