Friday, March 1, 2013


Looking Back on the Feb. 26th Chapter Meeting

There was a huge crowd at Durant early this week – like at 6. The stage was full of guys reviewing the moves for the contest uptune with our trainer Chuck McKeever.  The growing front row was hard at work in the lobby learning and drilling their very exciting uptune package. Guests were rolling in and many members offered a hand to set up the hall for our rehearsal and meeting including the cameras used by Chuck and TJ Jones to make the learning review materials we receive after the meeting .

 

Last week after the meeting, we all got the following note from operations vp Bob Rhome: There was an unfortunate incident at the Durant Center Tuesday evening in which someone apparently threw a brick through a parked car window and a cell phone was stolen. It didn't happen to a Harmonizer, but it has been a very long time since we have seen incidents of vandalism around our home at the Durant Center. Forewarned is forearmed. Please do not leave items of value in plain sight in your car while parked - - anywhere. If you see suspicious activity around the Durant Center on Tuesday nights, please notify me right away.

 

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal and visual warm ups this week.  He turned the
“ready to go” chorus over to director Joe Cerutti.  And Joe was eager to welcome some SPECIAL FORCES guys with us this week – Bob Wilson, Mike Geipel, Kevin McKenzie, and David Ellis.  Joe also welcomed Geoff Berman back.

 

Next Joe welcomed Tom Lee, executive director of the National Theater in DC who was with us  to  evaluate the chorus for an exciting opportunity in the near future.

 

And finally, we welcomed with loud cheers and excitement Cindy Hansen who came to drill our uptune.  She also brought us David Ellis, her husband, to sing with us!

 

We went right to work on the uptune and sang and did as much visual as we had learned for Cindy. She quickly endorsed the work and creative plan we have gotten from our own member Carlos Barillo. She also complimented the work done by Chuck McKeever in teaching us the details of the plan.

 

When we broke from singing, operations vp Bob conducted the chapter meeting. President Alan Wile was first up. He welcomed Martin Banks as new chapter historian. Alan presented a framed photo of the chorus from the fall M-AD chorus contest to our director in appreciation for his hard work every week.

 

Alan presented checks to chapter treasurer David Welter that came from the Singing Valentine program – and especially from the work done by FOUR FROM THE HEART quartet.  Thanks Bruce Lauther and his fellow singers!!

 

Secretary Chris Buechler presented Harmonizer history books to newer member who did not have one yet. And new member Josh DesPortes received his first nametag from his Dad, David.  Great to have them both onboard with us.   Membership renewal cards were presented to Clyde Crusenberry for 3 years and to Bob Watcher for 61 years!!  That earned him a standing O from his fellow Harmonizers.

 

Bob Rhome reported that we have two riser rentals this week – thanks to those guys who haul and lift them.  He thanked Martin for the Harmo History board display this week.  And Bob suggested that during the upcoming break, guys get their contest pixs, get some 50/50 tickets, or get in an order with Chris Buechler for Harmo logo clothing items.

 

Membership vp Mark Klostermeyer and Ken White welcomed and introduced the guests this week. 

 

After the break, we did several runs of the contest ballad.  Then back to work on reps of the uptune.  Part of the time the front row worked with Carlos and the chorus with Joe, Cindy and Chuck.  The drills were making a big difference as we all learned more of the details.

 

During the nite we also implemented the self evaluation and recording and review process with the help of assistant director Terry Reynolds. Seems to be working pretty well so far.

The Alexandria Harmonizers are proud to offer 2-3 scholarships for our members to Harmony University. This legendary experience in Harmony education will be held July 28- August 4, 2013. The University is held at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, MO. You can get more information at http://www.barbershop.org/harmony-college.html.

There is one month before the March 26th deadline for quartet registration for the Southern Division contest... there's still plenty of time to form a quartet and get two songs ready for the competition in April, but you should be starting NOW! We have some chapter members with GREAT quartet credentials who are volunteering to help coach any foursome that wants to get on stage--and that by itself is a good reason to consider singing! Let Calvin Schnure know if you are in a quartet planning to enter the contest, or are looking for the 4th man (or 3rd man... or 2nd man) for that quartet. If you are a new quartet and have questions about registering, song selection, or anything else, please ask--if I can't help you, there are plenty of men in the Harmonizers who can.

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

Wednesday, February 27, 2013


 Looking Back on the Feb. 19th Chapter Meeting

This week’s set up crew had to add the “mirror” panels to the wall facing the risers for our use during stage presence work.  And a huge crowd of guys came early to work with visual trainer Chuck McKeever on the stage in review of the new contest uptune.

 

Assistant director Will Cox did the warm up session.  Jim Lake was on duty, as always, was our pitch man.

 

Director Joe Cerutti got us right to work on the contest songs. Then he dismissed the sections to work with their section leaders in separate rooms.

 

After we all returned to the risers, we worked with our own Carlos Barillo to learn the rest of the choreo for the uptune.  The front row worked in the lobby of the building.  It was another great session. At some point we put the front row guys in and did a run thru a couple times.

 

Next week we will have Cindy Hansen with us to coach and offer help with polishing the choreo.

 

Operations vp Bob Rhome conducted the chapter meeting. Jack Cameron has contest photos for those who ordered them. Secretary Chris Buechler is collecting orders for Harmonizer jacket for anyone who wishes one.  Chris also presented name tags to two new members Sean Devine and Mike Ibay.

 

Ike Evans was set up to take new or replacement photos for the display board of all members that is hung in Durant each week. See Ike if you pix doesn’t look like you on the board!!

 

Mark Klostermeyer, membership vp, with help from Ken White, welcomed this week’s good number of guests – some new applicants, some guys from other chapters and relatives and friends of members.

Word from music and performance vp Brad Jones: The Alexandria Harmonizers are proud to offer 2-3 scholarships for our members to Harmony University. This legendary experience in Harmony education will be held July 28- August 4, 2013. The University is held at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, MO. You can get more information at http://www.barbershop.org/harmony-college.html.

After our coffee break, the meeting continued. President Alan Wile reminded members of his desire to hear from any members willing to offer financial or travel or housing assistance for members who might need support to go with us to Toronto.  See Alan or Joe.

Alan also displayed an auction item (print with an Joanne Woodward autograph) given to the chapter and hinted that it is never too early to be on the lookout for items for our next auction.

Earlier in the evening, there was a boot camp session for the MANY members who have never sung with us at International – to help them prepare and know what to expect.  In the second half of the meeting, those members were reminded that if they don’t have a room reservation in Toronto, see Craig Kujawa.  If those members don’t have a convention registration, which they must have to sing, they should see Bob Rhome. Actually that applied to any member planning to sing in Toronto.

Calvin Schnure offered to help any members who want to sing in a quartet in the Southern Division contest in Reston, April 26-27 at the Reston Hyatt.  See Calvin right away.

Associate director Tony Colosimo presented another great barbershop craft session with major emphasis on body posture.

Then assistant director Terry Reynolds initiated a process for vocal evaluation, assigning singers to specific evaluators. We sang the uptune for each evaluator to listen to a singer in his group and try out the system. Everyone else was on the risers in those groups and most all were preparing their personal recording.

Back to regular riser positions for more training with Carlos. We ended the evening with a drill of “Hello My Baby” before putting everything away.

 

After the meeting a special note came out from operations vp Bob Rhome to all members: Forewarned is forearmed! Do not leave items of value in plain sight in your car while parked - - anywhere. If you see suspicious activity around the Durant Center on Tuesday nights, please notify me right 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 during the 65th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)