Looking Back on the August 20^th Chapter Meeting

There was a huge crowd at this late-summer meeting – chapter musical leaders were thrilled with the turn out.  And more than once, chapter leaders expressed appreciation to the members for stepping up to the plate for the many fall events we have on our calendar for the rest of 2013 and 2014.

There were several men back to sing that have been gone for a while with college work, job changes and family matters and director Joe Cerutti gladly welcomed them (Dave Kohls, Jeremy Knobel, Tom Griffith, Ian Poulin and Pookie Dingle).

Chuck McKeever has begun his 6 pm sessions on the stage again on Tuesday nites to teach new members the stage moves for the contest package.  There are a number of men who will be on the stage with us for the first time. AND we have two Open Audition nites coming up that will likely bring us a few more guys who wanna sing on the risers with us.

Assistant director Will Cox did the warm ups for this week. And then we launched into work for the Dog Days appearance next Tuesday nite, August 27^th.  This is a long-standing tradition where the Manassas Chapter hosts a gathering of choruses from the local area to get together in the dog-days of summer.  Each chorus sings a few songs, perhaps brings a quartet to sing, and leads some tag singing between choruses.

The Harmonizers will appear last, but it is wise to get there by 7 pm, if you can, to show support for the other choruses. The event is in the air conditioned Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 12975 Purcell Rd., Manassas VA 20112.  Chorus will wear the black camp shirt with jeans.  All recent guests and members and families are invited. Greg Tepe is producer of this show appearance. The host chapter provides refreshments and dress is casual for non-singers.

After working on those show songs, associate director Tony Colosimo did another effective barbershop craft session to further expand on the craft maxims we have been given.

And then we worked on some spots in the contest songs.  It was fun to share this with all the many guests and new members who quickly learned how to “dodge” the moving forces on the risers during the uptune!

Operations vp Bob Rhome conducted the weekly chapter meeting.  President Alan Wile started things off with his appreciative remarks for all the men who have stepped up, changed their plans and made it work to sing at the district convention and contest.  Our appearance will be on Friday evening, after the first round of the quartet contest ends.

Alan also reported that Dick Hall had called to report that Carolyn had fallen inside their home. She is up and around but taking it slow and easy. Take care, friend!

Alan also reported that Bob Mattes had eye surgery and had some challenging recovery times.

Chuck Harner spoke to us in his position as chairman of the chapter’s host committee for the contest weekend in Ocean City.  He had sign-up sheets for us to sign in order to cover all the tasks needed that weekend.

Bob Rhome answered questions about registration fees and requirements – and he sent an email after chapter with details. 

Assistant director Terry Reynolds suggested that chorus call time in Ocean City on Oct. 4^th will be about 6:30 pm. The planning team is making arrangements for a warm up room, etc.  Also there will be announcements about housing choices too.  Terry also suggested that the goal is to have all singers attend all September rehearsals and the extra contest rehearsal on Thursday, Sept. 26^th.  Anyone planning to sing Oct. 4, who did not sing with the chorus in Toronto, should speak with Terry ASAP.  His email is Terry.reynolds4@gmail.com for new members and guests who want to push it and sing with us.

Show producer Greg Tepe alerted the chorus of a dessert show job on Sept. 14^th in downtown DC. Again, there will be an email follow up for participation.

Ian Poulin solicited helpers for the NO BORDERS CHORUS event at Carnegie Hall on Dec. 26^th.  Workers are needed on-site, in advance from your home, or participants who can help that day.  This is the third such event for young men with Joe Cerutti as director and some of our members as the support team.

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Ian Poulin for 10 years, Tom Griffith for 26 years, Alan Wile for 32 years, John Santora for 36 years, and Carl Kauffmann for 41 years.  Elliot Roseman is a new member who was given some of his joining materials.  Lou Bergner got his membership renewal card for 8 years (and cards for all the other chapters he belongs to in Canada!)

Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer, with help from Ken White, welcomed a lot of guests again this week which included family members of members, local musicians including the director of the Alexandria Band; several applicants for membership; a couple first-timer guests and members/directors from other area barbershop chapters.

Bob Rhome invited all to break with directions to return for rehearsal of the wedding songs for Joe and Bridgette’s ceremony this weekend.  After that we rushed to load risers onto the Harmo truck for the weekend.

A good crowd made it to the afterglow at La Porta’s and some got in a few tags before they headed home.

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 during the 65^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)