Looking Back on the Jan. 22^nd Chapter Meeting

It was a freezing cold nite, but the troops kept rolling in and the riser crew set up all 11 sets of risers for the growing chorus!!  Some guys stopped in for goodies and coffee before the meeting since they come right from their work place.

At the stroke of seven, we started getting on the risers and associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal and physical warm ups. Then he turned the reigns over to director Joe Cerutti.  Joe was fired up, and fresh back from the mid-winter convention, and from hosting a cruise, with Cindy Hansen, after that.  (YeEd heard that Alan and Patty Wile and Ross and Susan Johnson from here were also on that cruise.)

Joe took a couple minutes to tell some fun stories from his time away. And then it was to work singing.  He kicked off the music portion working on “Drunken Sailor” but you could tell he was eager to hear how we were doing on the contest uptune “Anything Goes” – and particularly after hearing good reports from last week’s rehearsal.

When operations vp Bob Rhome and a helper set up the screen for projection, it brought to mind the almost-incident last week when the screen movers lost control and it came down within inches of the director up front.

We also were reminded to use the new riser placement plan – no official spot for each guy, but a general area for basses on the ends. 

Joe was pleased with the work Tony and the chorus had done on the first part of the uptune.  And then he sent us off to sectional rehearsals for the last part of that song. When we returned to the risers we worked a while using non durational doots for the song.

Then it was midpoint in the evening, and vp Bob Rhome conducted the chapter meeting period.  He relayed announcements for Ken Fess that Ken was collecting White House Ornament sales monies, and was collecting payments for the France trip.

Dick and Carolyn Hall sell 50/50 tickets each week.

The Finance committee met during the break.

Bob Blair is recruiting new team members for the Harmo truck driving operation. And he is seeking a member to ride shot-gun in our truck for the drive to Toronto.  It is a way for a guy to get free transportation. See Bob ASAP.

2013 president Alan Wile had a few items for us: he reported the sad news that Bob Hirsh’s father-in-law died recently; Alan asked to hear from any member who might need financial aid to go to Toronto or to France – see him or Joe, as we have a way to help guys in that situation (someone who was helped when he was younger new guy related how much it had meant to him to get the help); and finally, be selling Singing Valentines as well as prepare to sing in a quartet (take time off from work). One more thing – buy scrip cards to use in paying your hotel room in Toronto.  See Ian Poulin right away to get started.  YeEd spoke with Ian and he confirmed he can sell you scrip cards in increments, so you don’t have to put down the whole $1500 at once.

Secretary Chris Buechler offered to sell new guys a Harmo blue jacket – order thru Chris.

He also presented renewal cards to: Lew Klinge for 11 years; Brian Miller for 16 years; Jeremy Richardson for 16 years; Chuck Powell for 19 years; Tom Griffith for 25 years; Vince Cazenas for 26 years; Keith Jones for 35 years; and Rick Savage for 39 years.  Both Tom and Keith received appropriate lapel pins for their milestone years.

Bob Rhome suggested guys speak with past president Steve Murane during the upcoming break in the meeting nite to sign up for the chapter award nite banquet.  It is only $15 each.  Steve announced later that we are just about sold to capacity, so it will be a good evening. He asked for any guys who can come early to set up the tables and chairs and such.

Noah Van Gilder briefly explained the second January Open Audition nite coming up Jan. 30^th from 7-9:30 pm at Durant.  Encourage your prospects to go to harmonizersauditions@gmail.com to sign up for a report time and to get the details.

Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer invited Ken White to announce the guests this week – another line of applicants and several guys from other chapters interested in joining from Virginia, Texas and Pennsylvania. Assistant director Terry Reynolds, just back from the Seneca Land BHS District, brought greetings from George Azzam.

After a good break for goodies and coffee and visiting with the new guys and guests, Tony conducted barbershop harmony craft – or lessons or classes – to help us improve as singers and thus as a chorus.

Then we worked on some repertoire songs and performance of “Jersey Boys” so newer singers can keep up.

Joe congratulated the chapter guys for taking action and winning a $1000 as the “most liked” nonprofit in Alexandria VA, thanks to Clyde Crusenberry for getting the ball rolling on this and for Scipio Garling and Josh Roots who prodded us all to action..  And he thanked Ken Rub for his leadership and hard work in pulling off the RINGMASTERS fundraiser concert.

At the 10 pm bell, we closed things down and Craig Kujawa helped direct an efficient way to get 11 riser sections and back rails all put away.

A crew of guys did make it over to the Hilton for an afterglow.

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. —YeEd.)