A good crowd of Harmonziers and
their guests attended the Award Banquet at Durant Center on Jan. 28, 2011. This year’s banquet was used to present both
the 2010 and 2011 major chapter awards. (The 2010 banquet was not held.)
President Steve Murane and his team organized the event. The chapter provided the main course, bar b q
chicken breasts, as well as stocked an open bar. The rest of the meal was potluck and thus
good homemade goodies and plenty of it.
Steve
enlisted a crew of volunteers to set up early that afternoon. Immediate past president Brad Jones helped with many of the details. Brian
Ammerman and Clyde Crusenberry helped
decorate and set up. Robyn McQueen was bartender. Chapter secretary
Chris Buechler helped with ordering
the awards. Bob Rhome made arrangements with the Rec Dept. for use of the hall
and obtained the proper permits for our usage. Scott Kahler had the sound set up for the evening. Alan Wile was official photographer.
The FRIENDS of HARMONY helped too. Social
hour began at 6, dinner at 7 and awards at 8.
Steve’s
three nephews helped check in all the guests, collected $20 each, and waited on
tables as needed. The hall was decorated with balloons and table decorations. Barbershop music was playing in the
background.
There were some quartets formed
during the social time and after the program, as you might expect. The guys also sang tags with Steve’s nephews too. Before the program
got underway, the chorus guys stood in place and sang “Heart of My Heart” with Terry Reynolds directing.
Steve
was emcee for the nite and started the program with an installation ceremony
for the 2012 board. Executive Vice
President for the M-AD, Bill Colosimo,
conducted the ceremony. He shared that
this was a great opportunity for a district leader to ensure the continuation
of the grand traditions going of the Alexandria Harmonizers. Bill
and several of our guys had hurried back from a district meeting in PA in order
to attend the banquet.
Steve
thanked the past presidents for their service to the chapter and recognized
those present: Jack Pitzer, 1973; Chris
Buechler, 1995; Alan Wile,
1997-98; Ken Fess, 2004; Ric Wagner represented by his wife Peggy, 2005; Mike Stamps, 2008; and Brad
Jones, 2009.
Here are the major Harmonizer
awards and who received them for 2010 and 2011:
New Note of the Year Award
(Nominated by the President,
VP-Membership/Chapter Development, and VP-Operations; selected by the Board of
Directors). Given to a Harmonizer who has contributed outstanding service
to the Chapter in his first year of membership. All new members for the
previous 18 months prior to October 31 of the current year will be
considered. Attendance, attitude, and accomplishments of duties, both
volunteer and assigned, shall be considered.
2010 recipient –
Steve Lingo
The 2010 recipient arrived with a bundle of energy and
a willingness to dive in and help whenever and wherever he could even going so
far as to host the Harmo Hospitality Suite at International followed by
accepting the nomination to be the VP Marketing.
2011 recipient –
Clark Chesser (presented on Tues. Jan. 31st)
The 2011
recipient also was eager to help and was there his first week to help with the
risers, new member programs and became editor of THE ECHO, our chapter bulletin and important document sent to all
friends and customers and members.
Spirit of Harmony Award
(Selected by the Board of Directors).
Presented to the Harmonizer who during the past year best exemplified the
fundamental Society membership qualities of congeniality and good character and
worked hardest to encourage participation in vocal harmony by Chapter visitors
and members. The awardee must reflect the spirit and ideals of O.C. Cash (Society
founder) by his enthusiasm for good fellowship and good harmony and by his
unselfish dedication to and obvious joy in barbershopping.
2010 recipient –
Jack Pitzer
The 2010
recipient is an obvious choice given his untiring behind the scene efforts to
make every member of the Chapter feel welcomed, while constantly seeking to get
every member, new and old, involved in Chapter activities. He has also been a
never ending source of information and assistance to me personally.
2011 recipient –
Bob Blair
The 2011 recipient is also a behind the scenes kind of
guy. Always smiling and giving
encouragement. Always willing to help and above all always ensuring that all
the tools and resources the Chapter needs to practice our wonderful hobby
arrive safely in the Harmo Truck.
Ibbianne and Wilbur Sparks Award
(Selected by the Board of Directors).
Given to recognize the important contribution of Harmonizer family teams to the
success and well-being of the Chapter. The award will be made only to a
truly outstanding team which has contributed greatly both in volume and quality
of services over a period of time. The team can be a Harmonizer and any
family member or significant other.
2010 recipient –
Bob and Maggie Eckman
The 2010
recipients worked tirelessly and consistently over a very extended period to
time to support almost every facet of our Chapter’s and the Friends In Harmony
financial activities, Scrip sales, and running the Usher program for our
performances
2011 recipient –
the Colosimo family – Bill and his
wife Linda, daughter Catherine, and Tony and his wife Elizabeth
The 2011 recipients could replace the definition we
use to determine who will receive this award. They are truly a family team
helping out through all aspects of Harmonizer activities. Directing the
chapter, coaching, assisting in production of shows and afterglows and shows.
Harmonizer Honor Award
(Selected by the Board of Directors).
Given to a Harmonizer for service which is above and beyond the usual service
expected of members during the past year. It is not intended as a reward
for discharging a single specific duty, but for continuous service in several
activities.
2010 recipient –
Brad Jones
Our 2010 recipient is another obvious choice among all
the obvious choices we’ve presented awards to so far. It seems that no matter what the Harmonizers
are doing this individual has his fingers involved in it. Probably though, the most important activity
he is known for is his nearly single handed running our annual Youth Festival.
2011 – Scott Kahler
Our 2011 recipient is also a guy who is always
everywhere when it comes to Harmonizer activities. Helping out in running our weekly rehearsals,
involvement in show production, hosting extracurricular social activities,
ensuring that our Chapter leaders can be heard at all times and even
occasionally singing a solo at our Holiday show.
Oz Newgard Memorial Award
(Nominated
by the President, VP-Music & Performance, and Musical Director; Selected
by the Board of Directors). Presented in memory of Oz Newgard
(Musical Director 1962-70). It is given to the Harmonizer who has
made a significant contribution to the musical program of the Chapter during
the past year. The awardee's contribution need not be highly visible or
of a technical musical character, but it must be related directly to the
musical program. It should show the intent to make the musical program
superior and enjoyable for all members. The awardee should be a dedicated
Harmonizer who has endeavored to improve the Chapter image in the Society and
in the Alexandria community through musical excellence. Any Harmonizer
who has been a chapter member for more than one year shall be eligible for the
award.
2010 recipient –
Tony Colosimo
The 2010 recipient came to the Chapter somewhat
recently and has grown to be an integral part of the Chapter’s music team. From
filling in as director when needed, leading the chapter through technical warm
ups to improve our overall sound and always imparting his knowledge of good
vocal technique.
2011 recipient –
Ken Ives (presented on Tues. Jan. 31st)
The 2011
recipient is a long time baritone section leader, advocate for learning your
part, learning quartet and audition quartet singer, and often a member of a
registered quartet representing the chapter.
Harmonizer Memorial Award
(Selected
by the Board of Directors). Presented in memory of those men who died
while members of the Chapter. It is the highest recognition which the
Chapter can bestow on a member. It is given to the Harmonizer who, during
his entire period of chapter membership, has devoted himself most unselfishly
in rendering outstanding service to the Chapter. The award is made only
to a truly outstanding member who has regularly attended Chapter activities and
who has contributed greatly both in volume and quality of services over a long
period of time.
2010 – Mark Klostermeyer (presented on Tues. Jan 24th)
The 2010 award
was presented to the recipient at our Chapter meeting last Tuesday because he
was not going to be able to make this evening’s festivities. For those of you
who were not in attendance and did not get a chance to hear who that was I am
pleased to tell you that it was a very obvious choice for a guy who kept the
wheels of the chapter oiled and everything moving forward in lockstep.
2011 – Bob Rhome
Our 2011 award recipient is also somebody who plays a
very key role in keeping this organization moving forward. I know that once I start listing his
accomplishments you will probably guess immediately who I’m talking about so
I’ll try to do this quickly and hopefully some of you will have had enough to
drink tonight that I can get through them before you catch on. Our 2011 recipient is known for his
administrative skills and attention to detail in the tasks he does for the
chapter. And at times although he might
sound a bit gruff when reminding folks when he needs to get certain information
from them in order to get everything done on time he always ends up smiling about
it. He is good at ensuring the Harmonizers
Board always has a place to meet, the Harmonizers always have a place to
rehearse not only in our own backyard but also during our competitions and also
keeping the liaison with the city of Alexandria cordial when we start worrying
about air conditioning in the summer.
This
year’s banquet ended early enough for a good bit of tag singing and still time
to pack up and be gone by the 10:30 closing. Everyone pitched in to help.
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 as part of the Alexandria
Harmonizer Chapter. —Ye Ed.)
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