Friday, March 27, 2020



Looking Back on the March 24th, 2020 Chapter News
The chapter suspension of in-person meetings of the chorus, boards and committees continues until further notice as well as any small group gatherings. This is in recognition of recent mandates by officials and leaders of the BHS and in cooperation with local health authorities. 

Thus there was not a meeting of the Alexandria Harmonizers on March 24th 2020.  Instead, director Joe Cerutti hosted a Harmonizer Chat at 7 pm via Facebook Live that was purposely morphed into a Zoom video meeting  at 7:15 pm

There were about 45-50 participants in the event which lasted until about 9 pm.

Joe was eager to use this method to keep everyone  informed, to help guys be in touch with each other, to encourage and help singers continue their personal preparation on music – and even choreography.

The music team is eager to receive feedback on the videos created for the chorus and posted on Facebook Live.

Work is about to expand to include “Goodbye” from The Producers.  Associate director Tony Colosimo will be getting out the annotated copy. 

Joe reports that choreo coach Cy Wood has created a plan for “42nd Street” and there will be videos to help members prepare themselves to perform it when the Harmonizers get to reconvene as a chorus on risers.   This work will lead to a method of visual recordings of the singers’ performance.

Joe was also excited that David Wright has just sent the new contest ballad arrangement of “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” from Oklahoma to our music team.  As soon as they have reviewed it they will contract to have the learning tracks produced,  and then post them on Groupanizer.

At this point in the evening, members asked questions or entered in the discussion. 

There were many points made about submitting recordings to appointed listeners.  A detailed chart of those matters and other music releases was previously sent to all members. It was reported that listeners have continued to refine their procedures and schedules and services
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There was a brief chapter meeting period. Executive director Randall Eliason reminded all that Spring2ACTion is coming up soon.  He wanted all members to have it on their calendar – even if we can’t meet in person since that event is our chapter’s largest income producing event of the year.

President Stan Quick encouraged all members to submit their Census form they received recently.

Then Joe and the guys tried some singing – but it didn’t work too well.  So there will be more experimentation before next week’s gathering via Zoom at 7 pm.

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler reported the follow men had renewed their membership recently:  Bob Bowman for 66 years, Terry Jordan for 56 years, Chuck Hunter for 48 years, Tom Hansen for 44 years, Andy Smith for 44 years, Bede Bender for 44 years, Will Cox for 42 years, Dean Rust for 40 years, Rick Wagner for 39 years, Bill Sowers for 38 years, Al Hanenbaum for 34 years, Jim Lucey for 31 years, Chris Huber for 28 years, Brad Jones for 28 years, Peter Frank  for 27 years, Tom Frederick for 27 years, Calvin Schnure for 25 years, Bob Rhome for 19 years, Joe Cerutti for 19 years,  Dave Branstetter for 15 years, Andrew Havens for 11 years, and Chris Odell for 11 years.

In other news, the M-AD has decided to cancel Harmony College East this year. Everyone who has registered thus far will be reimbursed in full.  According to Glenn Phillips, the district education leaders are planning a huge HCE comeback in 2021 where all members can safely gather in fellowship and song. To that end, they intend to resurrect the HCE Facebook page (which has been dormant for several years) in order to provide members, on a regular basis, with educational snippets and instructional segments to glimpse what we have planned for next year.

Harmonizers, let’s stay in touch with each other during this period of no meeting or no singing together. Before the meeting was closed, Steve White shared that from his prospective as an employee at the National Institute of Health – “this pandemic situation is gonna last a long while. Please be safe, sensible and in touch.”

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 71st year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd