Looking Back on Feb. 12th Chapter Meeting

Looking Back on Feb. 12th Chapter Meeting

(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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —Ye Ed.)

The chapter met in Jeff Houston School last nite because Durant was being used as a voting place for the Virginia primary.

But to complicate things – an ice storm hit the whole area about 4 or 5 pm. Streets were not too bad, but overpasses like the new ones in Springfield were solid ice and filled with crashes. People walking had to use the streets as brick sidewalks in Old Town were slick too – tough for the guys coming from Metro stop. But as always, the streets were at a standstill.

The record was about 3 hrs. and 45 min. to get to the meeting. And some of the guys who lived closest took a couple hours.

BUT – from a start of 7 guys or so, there were over 50 guys singing when Director Joe told everyone to get home safely at about 9 pm.

He started with a small circle of guys in the school gym and then as the numbers grew, it became two circles. He worked hard on vocal warm up, and offered some great exercises.

When the crowd swelled, he and Tony worked the chorus on some solid singing for “Clap Your Hands” and “Mona Lisa” – including some sectional work.

There were a couple guests present, and Joe Sawyer was back to see us. And some new guys who are making their way thru the membership process were there too. The ranks are growing!

Next week is the official guest nite. Bring some one!! There will be extra refreshments – the cookies each of us are asked to bring. Joe has a plan to entertain and involve the guests. Roger has asked each of us to bring a guest. This is especially true of some of the new men who had not already brought all their neighbors and buddies. And those of you who read this but don’t get down to Durant each week – come on down on Feb. 19th at 7 pm.

The Singing Valentine project was being managed too during the evening. A crew of us wrote the personal messages in cards that would go out with the quartets when they delivered their songs. I think I heard there were 80 Valentines sold. Good job all.

We did have some goodies to share thanks to the Jordans. (And thanks to Dennis Ritchey who made the coffee and set things up for me last week!) Some of the guys gotta turn around and do it all again on Wed. nite for the Board meeting. Thanks to them for making things run smoothly.

Until next time – editorjack!