Thursday, January 13, 2011

Looking Back on the Jan. 11th Chapter Meeting

The chapter meeting was certainly hit hard by weather this week. President Murane was on-top of weather alerts to the guys all day on Tuesday. And in the end, he and his board decided to go ahead and have the chapter meeting, as there was no snow.

Then at 6 pm a quick rain and ice came down. Then calm til about 7:30 when it started to snow.

In the end, 35 or so guys made it. Director Joe was fresh off the airplane from England. He did a great job, even with jetlag, to prompt excitement in working on the contest songs. Tony Colosimo did the vocal warm ups and Terry Reynolds did the computer work to project the music.

Joe reported on the coaching and training events he conducted in England. One weekend was totally chorus director development. And then he spent a chunk of time with the Bristol chorus who will compete in Kansas City in July. (They are staying at the same hotel as Alexandria, and we will likely do things with them.)

Joe shared his pride of being our director which was an important qualification for his being asked to come over. He shared many examples of how we do things, and they were received with excitement.

Before the chapter meeting started, we did have about 10 guys on the stage for the stage presence refresher classes taught every week from now on at 6 pm by Chuck McKeever.

Joe asked about the hospital sing. There were about 20 guys who made it and it was a good crowd for the little areas where we can sing. Terry Reynolds was director. Then about 50 folks made it to the Heat Glo at the Pitzer home. Good to visit and get to know our fellow members and their significant others. Geri and Royall Geis were there too.

Ken White organized the show and Martin Banks was coordinator with the INOVA Hospital.

Tonite we did have a brief business meeting. We introduced Steven Moore who was a first time guest who sings with CAPITAL FORCE.

President Murane reported the memorial service plans for Chuck Hunter’s partner, Trent Royster, who died last week. The service will be Friday, at 1 pm at All Souls Episcopal Church, 2300 Cathedral Ave. NW. If a small ensemble can be created at the Thursday rehearsal this week (see below), they will sing.

Chapter admin leaders and musical leaders have asked us to try to attend an extra rehearsal on Thursday, Jan. 13th, at 7 pm at Kena Shriners annex, 9001 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax (VA Route 50).

In order to let guys get home before it got worse, the meeting was ended at 8:45 pm, guys grabbed coffee and some goodies and crews put every thing away.

YeEd reports other Harmonizer news: Steve and Lise Lingo made The Washington Post real estate section this past weekend in a feature about how DC area folks use their hot tubs in the winter.

Alan Wile was absent this week in order to conduct an officer installation for another chapter in the DC area.

Several guys were absent this week because they had no voice from colds/flu.

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.)