Looking Back on March 18th Chapter Meeting

Looking Back on March 18th 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.)

Usual gatherings around the hall before meeting time – raffle, many sign up sheets to check, equipment set up, SP workout on stage, guests arriving and guest books being updated by Librarian Dick Dangel, people gathering around all the goodies Ginger Jordan put out to go with the coffee, new members working on getting qualified, and Tom Kern working in back storage area on uniforms.

The first order of business was a new song to do warm up movements with – sounded like Ella Fitzgerald - singing “A Tisket A Tasket.” Designed to help us practice the Swing rhythms.

Will Cox did vocal warm up and used more bubble-lip drills.

A fancy new colorful riser chart was unveiled to help show men where they stand now on the risers. It appears to be magnetic. Work of Mark Klostermeyer.

Plaag and McKeever drilled more of the moves for “Clap” and tried some alternative ideas with Director Joe and Coach Stephanie viewing and deciding which ones they liked best.

Joe reminded everyone about the Spring Tonic theme celebrating our 60th year. He introduced three songs that will be sung by the chorus and any former members who sign up to get the leaning tape and music – “Side by Side” arranged for this event by Bud Arberg (one of our earliest directors), “Climbin’ Up The Mountain” arranged for this event by John Hohl (also a former director of the chorus), and “A Place on The Risers for You” done by Hohl and Bates and used by the chorus over the years. More history on that later.

President Stamps announced that Patrick Kim and Eric Wallen have been named winners of the chapter’s annual scholarship to Harmony University in St. Joseph, MO, July 27th-August 3rd, 2008. If you are new to the hobby, go to the Society website and learn more about Harmony U.

More Tonic announcements included a plug to make sales by co-chairs Steve and Nick Murane and to note the list of your patrons in your folder so you can make contact; Gary Bibens with word that the flyers have gone out to our patrons; and Tom Kraus to get with it on selling ads for the show program.

Secretary Buechler presented Stamps a plaque the chapter received for it collective contributions to the Harmony Foundation. Average of $60.54 per members – Chris says that totals $11,500! Good job gang.

He also presented new member materials to Ian Poulin and Noah Van Gilder; a 30-year service pin to Keith Jones. Other members were given their membership renewals too – Tom Kern for 10 years, Chuck Powell for 14 years and Michael Calhoun for 39 years.

There were several repeat guests this week and some members were back that we have not seen for a while. I heard that one of our guests passed his audition too. Hurray.

The second half of the nite was hard musical workout on contest songs with Stephanie and Joe up front.

Eric Hughes won the raffle again!

And most of the goodies were gone from the coffee table!

Until next time – editorjack!