Looking Back on the July 15^th Chapter Meeting

Well highway traffic was BAD this week and it took some guys two hours to get to chapter meeting and thus they missed dinner or arrived late.  The Beltway was a parking lot.

 

But it was a good crowd in the end and we worked hard. The invitation song to get on the risers at the new start time of 6:30 pm was “Danny Boy” as sung by the Harmonizers from one of our earliest CDs titled Having Fun.

 

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal warm ups and then launched our musical work time on songs for the Thursday nite outdoor concert at John Carlyle Square Park in Alexandria – just a few blocks from the King Street Metro.  BTW – encourage your friends, family and fans to bring chairs for this outdoor venue.  Casual black camp shirt with jeans and any black shoes. Chorus call is 6:30 pm for the 7:30 show.

 

Greg Tepe has sent an email with details and he was at chapter meeting to brief us on them.

 

Director Joe Cerutti was in Nashville to prepare to head up the staff for the BHS Harmony University the  last week of July.  But we connected with him via FaceTime and he was able to coach us on the parts of the new contest ballad that we are working on as we launch the song.  It was fun to see him, hear him well and have him hear us.  He will be back in town for the Thursday show and for Roger Day’s funeral on Friday.

 

Joe spoke about Roger and what he has meant to the chapter and welcomed former members to come and sing their best with us.  President Terry Reynolds has provided information by email.  Many of the details were suggested by Roger himself, including singing “Danny Boy.”  Chorus call is 11:45 Friday at the National Memorial Park, 7482 Lee Hway, Falls Church 22042. Wear a suit and tie. Visitation is at 12:30; service at 1; interment at 2.  A reception will be held at the Trio Grill, 8100 Lee Hway.  Donations may be made in Roger’s name to the Harmonizers.

 

Operations vp Bob Blair conducted this week’s chapter meeting. Ike Evans assured all that the order for shoulder briefcase bags with the Harmo logo were ordered and due soon.

 

Shawn Tallant announced he had done some digging and found a hotel in Wildwood NJ that could provide a room block for the Harmonizer contingent for the fall district contest weekend, Oct. 24-25-26.  Stay tuned to sign up for the great room rates he got for us!!

 

President Terry Reynolds congratulated John Santora upon his election to the BHS board of directors. Without fanfare, he also reminded us all that celebrating the life of a fellow Harmonizer is why we all belong!!

 

Ken Fess thanked Peter Hubbard who was one of the major team members in planning for the trip to Normandy.  Peter was on travel when it was first announced. 

 

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Peter for 3 years; Tony Colosimo for 21 years; Brad Jones for 22 years; Mike Edison for 23 years; and Ken Rub for 23 years.

Rich Hewitt announced and welcomed our guests for this week.

 

After break, Tony conducted a great barbershop craft session. And then he and the assistant directors worked on songs for the show.

 

Terry reminded the board of their meeting on Wed. nite this week at Durant

 

In other news, Dan O’Brein sent word to all of us about his relocation for a year of professional development. “I am taking a year's leave from the Harmonizers. I am moving to Bloomington, IN, soon to teach, write papers, etc. at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University for the 2014-2015 academic year. I am looking forward to my break from the "daily grind" of Washington to enjoy "all the things you are, Bloomington IN." We will miss you Dan O!

 

YeEd wanted to report a couple more things from the International convention in Vegas:  the chapter sponsored a great ad on the Jumbotron in the contest arena with a title “from Normandy to Vegas” saluting our competitor friends; and when Alan Lamson gave his retirement remarks from the BHS board, he said he had had many wonderful experiences in his years as a barbershopper, but none could top his singing in Normandy with the Alexandria Harmonizers!!

 

There was another big crowd at the afterglow at LaPorta’s this week. Some good tag singing, some good chow and fun visiting.  Several guests have been coming too. There was more talk at the afterglow about singing in the chapter quartet contest coming up too.

 

Calvin Schnure reminds everyone to push on with forming a quartet for the chapter’s annual Put Together Quartet Contest to be held on Tuesday July 29^th at Durant.  There will be special refreshments that nite too – we have finally eaten up all the left over cookies from the freezer!

 

A top-notch quartet from our area will be the judges, and the popular emcee hired for this event will be worth the admission fee!  Here’s hoping for some comedy numbers this time again!!  Tell Calvin you plan to sing, the name of your quartet or that you need another part.

 

For those new guys in the chapter, you heard them call Calvin “Dr. Put Jr.” on Tuesday nite -- and here is why.

 

“This contest is dedicated to the memory of the late Wilbur Sparks. Wilbur created the Put-Together Contest some 30 years ago, and organized it every year until his passing.  Affectionately known as “Dr. Put,” Wilbur was well known for recruiting unsuspecting chorus members to sing in quartets for the contest.  He also had a knack for finding creative and funny names for quartets that were not quick to name themselves.  Over the years, the Put-Together Contest has become a part of the Alexandria Harmonizers’ tradition, and we celebrate it again this year in Wilbur’s memory.”

 

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 during the 66^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.)