Looking Back on Nov. 4th 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.)
The chorus met in the school last nite since Durant was a polling place for the historic election!
But things were going on as usual – 50/50 sales, WHO sales, candy to snack on, committee members working on things, a board meeting in the corner. Toy soldiers were practicing on the stage in the school under the command of Carl Kauffmann. A quartet was working on a new song in one of the halls.
Here is an idea I heard about when I stopped to buy some script cards: be on the lookout to buy a Honey Baked Ham card (Eckman is planning to stock up on them and others) for your family holiday meals. Also get some cards for staff members or employees or as stocking stuffers or for the newspaper delivery person. How about offering to buy the door prizes for the company holiday party?
There were some empty spaces on the risers, but Director Joe plugged ahead and had the chorus review singing “New York New York” to see who could remember it. Some guys even tried to do the SP! Not too bad on the singing, but a lot of work in weeks ahead.
The plan is to do this song when we do the show with Manhattan Chapter, Feb. 28th, on Broadway.
Chuck Hunter directed one of the holiday songs and Tony Colosimo did another.
The holiday music is on the front burner to be ready for the Dec. 5 and 6 show at First Baptist.
Before break, secretary Buechler presented renewal cards to Roger Day for 20 years and Tom Hutton for 24 years.
Roger introduced 5 guests for the night. He thanked everyone for helping last week for the successful guest nite.
He also put in a plug for each guy to wrap two large empty boxes with shinny paper and bring them to the holiday show. No bows.
During the break, the group who can sing the November 11th daytime show ran thru their songs. They will sing at Oakland Elementary.
For the high school show on Nov. 12th, Joe will send out emails to those who are planning to fill this gig.
President Stamps invited any members of the chapter who are in leadership positions, who expect to be some day or who are just interested to attend the leadership training event this weekend. Three or four guys agreed to attend.
As a reminder, there is a chapter meeting and rehearsal on Nov. 11th. Back at Durant.
After the break and meeting, Joe returned to working on the show songs including the fun song the “singing elves and toys” will sing when they deliver the food at the show.
Until next time – editorjack!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Looking Back on Oct. 28th Chapter Meeting
Looking Back on Oct. 28th 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.)
Last nite we had a very successful guest nite and a great rehearsal in prep for upcoming shows.
There were lots of extra goodies last nite that guys brought in to share with the guests, and left over sodas from the weekend board retreat meeting.
I saw a “Vote Here On Nov. 4th” sign as I came into Durant last nite – so that means we will meet in Jeff Houston school next door on Tues., Nov. 4th.
There were almost 80 guys at the meeting this week, and I think Roger said 18 guests including family members who were visiting. The guests came from all around the DC metro area. Some were former active members of chapters, some found us via our ads on Facebook, and some were family members like Dan O’Brien’s son.
Will Cox did the musical warm ups. Gary Plaag did the physical warm up – as in the past done to the “In the Mood” music. Chuck Hunter did a craft session to reinforce lessons learned from the musical team.
The meeting room was set differently for the guest nite – the risers were backed up to the stage, about 50 chairs were set facing the risers, then admin tables behind them. I liked that set up. Seemed to be more open.
When Director Joe took over up front, he launched a solid work out session on major new songs and reviews of songs the chorus had done in the past. He included the guests up on the risers and it was fun to see them singing along and doing moves.
Congrats to Roger for making the really nice just-for-tonite guest books that had the music for the nite, a letter to the guest, and some things about the chapter.
While Joe worked on the music, he alternated having the guys in sectionals on the risers. He hinted some about the stage décor and plan for the Holiday Show – sounds like a good plan and explains why toys and elves.
Roger had enlisted a crew of guys to help with the guest process – Klinge and O’Brien were greeters. The PR guys were taking pixs for future promos.
Member recognition before break included membership renewal cards to Max Kieba for 8 years, Randy Lazear for 34 years and Jack Pitzer for 43 years. Good to see Patrick Kim, Kyle Blomgren and Jeremy Knobel back.
Then Roger had the fun to introduce all the guests. Dennis Ritchey did the honors of passing out First Timer Buttons – ala Vanna White.
The break was busy with guys getting goodies. Ornament sales are moving – but we can’t let up or we won’t beat last year’s record. Same with '09 Coupon Books.
During announcements, Roger asked for guys to get to work on their toy or elf costumes. And he asked each man to wrap two large empty boxes with shinny gift wrap (no bows) for the show.
The guests met with music team members and learned a tag or two and got some info about the chapter. While they were out, the chorus practiced the songs to sing for them. Joe let the guys vote if they should sing “Music” or “Soldiers.” “Music of the Night” won.
The chorus sang “Great Day,” “Music of the Night.” Then CAMERON STATION sang a couple of the good songs. And chorus ended their package show with “Clap Your Hands.”
After that it was back to work on show songs with the guests back on the risers.
Looks like several of the guests are singers and expressed some interest in checking us out further. Hope so.
We went close to 10 pm and so the crews worked hard and fast to load the truck for next week, and put things away.
Until next time – editorjack!
(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.)
Last nite we had a very successful guest nite and a great rehearsal in prep for upcoming shows.
There were lots of extra goodies last nite that guys brought in to share with the guests, and left over sodas from the weekend board retreat meeting.
I saw a “Vote Here On Nov. 4th” sign as I came into Durant last nite – so that means we will meet in Jeff Houston school next door on Tues., Nov. 4th.
There were almost 80 guys at the meeting this week, and I think Roger said 18 guests including family members who were visiting. The guests came from all around the DC metro area. Some were former active members of chapters, some found us via our ads on Facebook, and some were family members like Dan O’Brien’s son.
Will Cox did the musical warm ups. Gary Plaag did the physical warm up – as in the past done to the “In the Mood” music. Chuck Hunter did a craft session to reinforce lessons learned from the musical team.
The meeting room was set differently for the guest nite – the risers were backed up to the stage, about 50 chairs were set facing the risers, then admin tables behind them. I liked that set up. Seemed to be more open.
When Director Joe took over up front, he launched a solid work out session on major new songs and reviews of songs the chorus had done in the past. He included the guests up on the risers and it was fun to see them singing along and doing moves.
Congrats to Roger for making the really nice just-for-tonite guest books that had the music for the nite, a letter to the guest, and some things about the chapter.
While Joe worked on the music, he alternated having the guys in sectionals on the risers. He hinted some about the stage décor and plan for the Holiday Show – sounds like a good plan and explains why toys and elves.
Roger had enlisted a crew of guys to help with the guest process – Klinge and O’Brien were greeters. The PR guys were taking pixs for future promos.
Member recognition before break included membership renewal cards to Max Kieba for 8 years, Randy Lazear for 34 years and Jack Pitzer for 43 years. Good to see Patrick Kim, Kyle Blomgren and Jeremy Knobel back.
Then Roger had the fun to introduce all the guests. Dennis Ritchey did the honors of passing out First Timer Buttons – ala Vanna White.
The break was busy with guys getting goodies. Ornament sales are moving – but we can’t let up or we won’t beat last year’s record. Same with '09 Coupon Books.
During announcements, Roger asked for guys to get to work on their toy or elf costumes. And he asked each man to wrap two large empty boxes with shinny gift wrap (no bows) for the show.
The guests met with music team members and learned a tag or two and got some info about the chapter. While they were out, the chorus practiced the songs to sing for them. Joe let the guys vote if they should sing “Music” or “Soldiers.” “Music of the Night” won.
The chorus sang “Great Day,” “Music of the Night.” Then CAMERON STATION sang a couple of the good songs. And chorus ended their package show with “Clap Your Hands.”
After that it was back to work on show songs with the guests back on the risers.
Looks like several of the guests are singers and expressed some interest in checking us out further. Hope so.
We went close to 10 pm and so the crews worked hard and fast to load the truck for next week, and put things away.
Until next time – editorjack!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
