Looking Back on the July 22^nd Chapter Meeting and John Carlyle Show

It has been a busy week since last Tuesday nite.  The board met on Wednesday July 16^th.

 

Thursday nite July 17^th was our outdoor concert at John Carlyle Square Park in Alexandria by the Patent Office.  A big chorus 70 guys was there to entertain and perform for a nice audience of fans and family who had brought chairs and blankets to sit on the lawn.  One couple, who had seen some of us at the afterglow last Tuesday and to whom a quartet sang “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” was right down front cheering for us.

 

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the warm ups behind the stage as cars drove by looking at us and facially wondering “what is going on?”.  Greg Tepe, show producer had things lined up and the show ran smoothly.  We were welcomed to the stage by a city staffer.  Emcees for this show were Ross Felker, Terry Reynolds and Chris Huber.  Mike Kelly did his bit in “Jersey Boys” too and Tony and Doug White did the solos in that song.

 

Director Joe Cerutti was back from Nashville for the show and was joined up front by the assistant directors for some of the songs.  Our a cappella group, TBD, sang on the show featured one of their new members Josh DesPortes. Thanks to John Pence for the song boards up front so we would know what song was next! 

 

Thanks also to the crew who came early to set up the risers – thankfully it was not terribly hot this year: Phil Ashford, Bob Blair who drove the Harmo truck, Dave Branstetter, Peelee Clark, Clyde Crusenberry, Josh DesPortes, TJ Donahue, Randall Eliason, Gerry Fuller, Paul Grimes, Bob Rhome, Ben Roberts, Todd Ryktarsyk, Shawn Tallant, Harold Weinberger and Doug White.  Doug, Josh and Todd helped Mike Kelly with the sound equipment set up too.

 

Then on Friday morning, we gathered to say farewell to Roger Day at his memorial service at National Memorial Park in Falls Church.  There were 65 current Harmonizers there to sing for Roger including some guys we don’t see regularly like Burt Stueve, (who is recovering from his surgery and the loss of part of his leg), Michael Calhoun, Al Herman, Al Hanenbaum, Mike Everard, Geoff  Berman, Tom Kraus and Bill Colosimo.  Former Harmonizers Royall Geis, John Hall, Dean Schienbein and Larry Silva also attended. What a wonderful tribute! Joe served as master of ceremonies for the memorial service and the interment with Terry Reynolds directing at the graveside ceremony when we sang “Danny Boy” which Roger has requested.  Roger was buried with his gold medals and “I Sang with the Harmonizers” button.  His email address said it all – onegr8rday.

 

Tuesday nite July 22^nd was another busy one as many guys were trying to get in a rehearsal or sing-thru at least with their quartet for the Harmonizer Put Together quartet contest on Tues. July 29^th.

 

Quartet promotion chairman Calvin Schnure reminds everyone to push on with forming a quartet for the contest at Durant.  He especially needs to know the name of the quartet and who is singing in it. Hopefully, you found all four parts at this week’s rehearsal. This contest has always been fierce competition for those all important trophies!!!  Get you one.

 

Musically, the chapter worked on the new ballad a bunch and did some review of “Anything Goes” for contest this fall too.  Chuck McKeever did visual reviews on the stage before chapter to help new guys catch up.

 

Tho we didn’t work on songs for the upcoming summer concerts, everyone should mark their calendar  for the one at Market Square in Old Town Alexandria on Friday, Aug. 15^th; and the very important gig on Tuesday Aug 26^th.  It is called Dog Days of Summer and hosted by the Bull Run Troubadours, Manassas Chapter at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 12975 Purcell Rd., Manassas 20111. 

 

Important to be there for this one as several other chapters in the NoVa area come to sing on the show with us as the last chorus to do a mini show for our fellow barbershoppers.  There are refreshments, tons of parking and it is a fun nite.  Plan ahead for carpool rides – especially from Metro stops.  The traffic can be tough, but we sing last so you can make it. 

 

The event is designed to add a special event during those hot dog days of summer for barbershoppers.  It is a blast.

 

Ops vp Bob Blair ran a chapter meeting this week.  Shawn Tallant reminded guy of the need to make a hotel reservation in the next week or ten days at Blue Palms.   Alexandria Harmonizers is the code to the get the rate.

 

Project manager Ken Fess gave some updates, and promised an email, about the Harmony on the Harbor show, Nov. 3^rd, just prior to the Sweet Adelines International convention.  His main point was that tickets are already selling fast and if you or your patrons wanna go, get online an place an order.

 

President Terry Reynolds announced a generous gift from the Federal Lodge #1 to the chapter.  The presentation to us was done at the John Carlyle show. 

 

Terry also offered to collect any donations to the Harmonizers in honor of Roger Day.

 

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Steve Szyszka for three years; Craig Kujawa for 11 years; Martin Banks for 31 years; and David Welter for 38 years.

 

Membership vp Jeremy Richardson thanked Rich Hewitt for his dedication to welcoming and introducing guests in recent weeks while Jeremy’s work taking him away.  We had another long line of guests this week.

 

After the break (where we consumed Scipio Garling’s birthday cake), it was back to work on the contest ballad.  We had a sectional too on the new song.

 

A good crowd were at the afterglow again

 

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