Looking Back on the November 15th Chapter Meeting

Looking Back on the November 15th Chapter Meeting

This was a busy Tuesday nite meeting with concentration on preparations for the holiday shows Dec. 2 and 3 at First Baptist in Alexandria.

Lots of guys arrived early to get in line to buy and pick up tickets from our ticket chairman, Ian Poulin.

When the 7 pm bell rang, the chorus went right to work on the risers. Will Cox conducted the vocal warm ups. Director Joe Cerutti jumped right in to work on the newer holiday songs. The assistant chorus directors also conducted the rehearsals for the songs they will do in the show.

Scott Kahler filled in for ops vp Mark Klostermeyer and conducted the start of the business meeting period. He did a promotion about the sale of our new CDs and encouraged guys to get some for gifts or to sell. They can be picked up from the FRIENDS table along with the White House Christmas ornaments the chapter is also selling. Lots of guys need to get on that task soon.

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Josh Roots for 5 years, Ken Henderson for 8 years and Len Dornberger for 27 years.

Membership vp Phil Ashford introduced the 8 guests present—six are applicants and the other two were first timers.

After the break for coffee and goodies and business matters like tickets and sales items (and audition or vocal placements for guests), it was back on the risers for the second half of our chapter meeting which K12 was back for.

Alan Wile gave his annual plug for the Tuba Christmas event at the Kennedy Center, Wed. Dec. 7th at 6 pm.

Tony Colosimo thanked all the guys who bought tickets for the Dundalk show which supported the CAPITAL FORCE. He also expressed thanks to the guys who sing in the CF.

Holiday show producer Bob Mattes reviewed a few points (that were not in his lengthy assignment sheet). Ian reported that the Sat. afternoon and evening shows are all but sold out, so switch sales to Fri. nite. (The web site will alert customers to consider Fri.)

Drew Fuller volunteered to head up a silent auction for the shows. So – that means we all need to be hunting for some items to donate, or making contact with suppliers or firms we deal with for donated items or services. In the past several members have donated services like voice lessons, piano tuning, meal preparation, picture framing, web design.

Roger Day showed us samples of wrapped boxes to bring for the show – two per member. He also needs a working crew on Friday morning, Dec. 2 between 10 and 11 am at the church.

Jack Pitzer reminded all to bring four dozen holiday cookies to use for the dessert platters.

Then it was back to work on the Christmas music. Joe used every trick in the book to get the guys fired up about learning the songs, new words/ parody for “Jingle Bells” and stage moves for a couple songs.

Earlier in the evening, Joe recognized Clyde Crusenberry who was back after a heart attack last week! He welcomed Brad Jones back. Good to see Lew Klinge back on the risers after his knee operation. Great to have John Hohl and Gary Plaag in the hall too.

Word is that the memorial service for Alan Durick will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26th, at Unity Church, 2825 Hydraulic Circle, Charlottesville, VA 29901. The “chorus” of barbershop singers present will sing “There Will Always Be a Place On The Risers for You” with members of ALEXANDRIA’S RAGTIME BAND, 4-MAN VOCAL BAND, and the Harrisonburg Chapter. Hope we’ll have a good Harmonizer presence, as well.

Reporters indicate about 25 men attended the Veteran’s Day singout at Oakton Elementary School. Their students were involved and the crowd of parents and military folks appreciated the Harmonizer presence. Greg Tepe was producer. Many of our men went out to lunch afterward and those who were retired military took advantage of the free-lunch offer at Chili’s restaurants for veterans.

Saturday nite, Nov. 12th, was the Dundalk, MD, Chapter show featuring our guys in MAD HATTERS (Steve White and Rick Taylor), and Tony Colosimo and our guys in CAPITAL FORCE. Headliner quartet was STORM FRONT who won gold at the International contest in 2010. They were a riot on stage. Rick Taylor is director of the chorus and some of our guys sang on this show – Chris Yates and Bob Hirsh. The chorus had sold a lot of tickets and the crowd was a typical cheering bunch of folks who love good singing. About a dozen Harmonizers and family members were in the seats – many had purchased their tickets in support of CF.

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 at an Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter meeting. —YeEd.)