Looking Back on March 3rd Chapter Meeting

Looking Back on March 3rd 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 set up crew was hard at work right at 6 pm this week. McKeever had a visual class in session on the stage. And guests seemed to be coming in all over the place. One of the guests helped set up the risers too.

After warm ups, Director Joe and his music team worked at restacking or placing the chorus in new places on the risers. Much of this was needed for the Anaheim contest package.

He encouraged guys to record “Second Star” to turn in as part of their self improvement effort.

Then Joe worked on the three songs that chorus will sing in the America’s Got Talent second round, if we get the nod. Each of the three songs needs to be cut down to 90 seconds. We will use “Great Day” again, plus “Kiss the Girl” and “NY NY” for our presentation.

After this quick work, the chorus got a feel for how the soloist and chorus will work together on “Mr. Cellophane” in the spring tonic.

Just before break, Steve White gave general announcements. He was filling in for K12 this week. Secretary Buecher gave Joe Cerutti his fourth Man Of Note award for being sponsor of new member Chris Cunningham. Chris got the usual packet of membership pin, Harmo history, and membership certificate.

Then Chris B. presented membership renewal cards: Joel Golden for 4 years; Bob Rhome for 8; Scott Kahler for 11; TJ Jones for 18; Gerry Levine for 22; Sam McFarland for 22; Ken Ives for 24; and Dean Rust for 29 years.

Dan O introduced the large crowd of guests – a couple applicants; some former members back – Chris Yates and Patrick Kim; relatives and friends of members; 3 or 4 first time guests; and a big row of returning guests.

Then it was break. The coffee went fast since it was so cold last nite. (BTW – we always make Decaf coffee on Tuesday nite, so you can count on that!)

After break and during the announcement time. President Brad Jones awarded additional “You Make The Difference” star awards: to Dan O’Brien for his work on the successful guest nite; and to Dennis Ritchey, Scott Kahler, Dixie Kennett, Mike Kelly, Chris Buechler, and Bill DePuy for their extra efforts in NYC for the show last weekend.

Ken Fess plugged the spring tonic again, AND announced that members could get a stack of unreserved seat tickets to sell on consignment.

Quartet Promotion guy, Ken White, reported on the continued expansion of the ANYTIME QUARTET idea and invited final sign up names.

Then Ken gave the usual chapter checks to quartets who will compete in the International Prelims quartet contest this weekend in Reston. Those who qualify get to sing at the contest in Anaheim. (The chorus already qualified in the International Prelims chorus contest last fall in Wildwood.) Our chapter gives each quartet a check to cover this weekend’s registration fee for each Harmonizer in the quartet. Our rep quartets are FRiDAYS!, YOUTH RECLAMATION PROJECT, FULL TILT, CRUNCH TIME, CLASSIC CONNECTION.

Two chapter quartets will also be the mic testers quartets for the contest sessions. Friday nite’s contest that starts at 7 pm at the Hyatt in Reston will have PRIME TIME as mic testers. Then the Saturday morning contest that starts at 10 am will have LAST KIDS PICKED as mic testers.

For your info, a collegiate/youth quartet contest will run from 12-1 at the Hyatt. The finals Sat nite starts at 7 pm. Tickets will be available at the box off at the hotel. Some of the new guys will want to go, especially now that they have gotten bitten with the fun of tag singing!!

Then it was back to music and singing and hard work on the contest package and a couple of other songs coming back onto the radar to be sung on the spring show.

Hunter won the 50/50 and everyone worked to strike the hall. There was enough time to form some quartets with guests and teach them a tag or two.

And a large crowd adjourned to Southside 815 on South Washington Street for a chapter nite afterglow. Fun time and a lot like the Geno’s of old!!

Until next time – editorjack!