Monday, August 8, 2016


Looking Back on the August 2nd Chapter Meeting

(Many thanks to Clark Chesser for taking notes this week, and Ian Poulin and Walt Page managing refreshments while YeEd was traveling.)

The chorus arrived and found that instead of the normal risers, we had chairs arranged in two circles surrounding director Joe Cerutti at the conductor stand. Joe warmed us up.

 

We had several chapter friends, some of whom we hadn't seen in a while Rick Taylor, Chuck Harner, Chuck Roots and Lou Bergner. Good to see them back!

 

We drilled "Ob la Di" focusing on pitch, shape and style. Then we ran "Hey Jude", and announced that we would not use the overhead projector in the near future - if you need the music, then bring it. Then Joe ran "All You Need is Love" and had volunteer quartets come up and sing some parts of it.

 

At the half time, it was announced that the Harmonizers were invited to a Men’s Night Out Summer Sing on Aug. 3rd hosted by the Washington Men’s Camerata at St. John’s Episcopal Church in DC. Dave Kohls sings with that group as well. 

 

The Market Square concert has a call time of 6:30 pm on Friday - Show starts at 7:30pm.

 

President Randall Eliason announced that Bob Wilson just started chemo and would appreciate notes from guys in the chapter (bobw23229@gmail.com). Also, Alan Kousen has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but that it's been caught early and he's about to start treatment.

 

Randall presented the Presidents Valor Award to Stan Quick for his help with finding places for our various guests that have come to visit us over the past year - he has the nickname Sheraton Stan.

 

Next Rick Taylor (a new staff member of the Harmony Foundation and a long-time Harmonizser), spoke to the members about the Foundation. Joe chimed in with encouragement to join and support this organization.

 

Secretary Chris Beuchler announced the renewals of Jeff Burkey ( 2yrs), Elliot Roseman (4 yrs) and of our newest members Jason Lee (14 yrs!!). \

 

Jeremy Richardson was acting membership VP, as Rich Hewitt had just come back from his adventure in Egypt and Turkey and was recuperating from jetlag. We had lots of potential singing guests this week too.

 

After a quick break we rehearsed music that we're going to sing on Friday at the Market Square concert.

 

Finally we had to say good bye to Doug White, and sang "A Place on the Risers." Doug and his family are moving to Korea for an extended duty assignment. We will miss Doug a lot!

 

Jason Lee won 50/50 so he directed “Keep The Whole World Singing.”

 

In other news, we did our hospital sing on Tuesday, July 26th. (These notes from the Hospital sing were taken by Alan Wile.)  About 30 singers gathered in the lobby of Alexandria Inova Hospital about 7 p.m. Associate director Tony Colosimo directed and warmed up the group on some songs to sing in the hospital wards. This is an annual event for the Harmonizers. Our group sang in five wards before departing about 8:30 pm.

Late word that Burt Stueve is in Inova Fairfax Hospital with inoperable cancer.  Our thoughts are with he and his wife Beryl.

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 68th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd