Looking Back on the Mar. 5^th Whiffenpoofs show and Mar.  7^th Chapter Meeting

Since our last meeting, we received word that long-time Harmonizer Chuck Harner died of an apparent heart attack.  His daughter Kim found him at the family home.  A memorial service will be held Sat. March 11, 2017, at Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church, 1301 Trapp Rd., Vienna, VA 22182.  Chuck joined BHS in 1968 and became a Harmonizer in 1976. The chorus will sing “I’ll Be Seeing You” and “I’ll Walk With God” and “Amazing Grace” with the Harmony Heritage Singers, where Chuck was also a major leader. We will wear personal coat and tie. There will be a viewing at 10 am and the service will begin at 10:30 an.  Singers should arrive early.  The church is small and so is the parking lot, so try to carpool. A reception will follow the service. Donations are suggested to Harmony Foundation International, Inc., 110 Seventh St. Ste. 200, Nashville, TN 37203.  Mention you wish your contribution to honor Chuck as part of the Keep A Melody Ringing program.

On Sunday eve, March 5^th, the chapter presented The Yale Whiffenpoofs – nationally known popular collegiate a cappella group.  The chorus sang three songs before the guests sang. The show was at The Convergence on Quaker Lane in Alexandria and the audience filled the hall! Associate director Tony Colosimo did the warm ups and was our musical leader for the nite.  Soloists were Derrick Smith, Clyde Crusenberry, Kevin McKenzie, Frank Fedarko and Reed Livergood. Shows director Mick Stamps was chairman for the event; and volunteer director Robyn Murane had assembled a good crew of volunteers to greet guests and such. Mike Kelly helped with the sound operation. Assistant director Terry Reynolds was emcee.  Jerry Foil sang his first show with us.   Great to see many Harmonizers in the audience we don’t see often, as well as several of our buddies who sang the Harvey Milk show with us. Dick Hall tells YeEd that he heard the Whiffenpoofs at his high school in 1968.

Tuesday nite March 7^th we sang in a circle in the hall at Durant and guests were on the stage.  Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal warm ups and was our musical leader for the nite. He taught us more of the intro for “Roll Jordan Roll” and we worked on all of our gospel songs.

Assistant director Terry Reynolds directed the songs we will sing for Chuck Harner’s funeral.

Terry also conducted the chapter meeting. He thanked all those who participated in the Whiffenpoof’s show.  The show came to us via former member Ken Jodoin who had a grandson in the group.

Reed Livergood, producer of the ACA Challenge, suggested guys get some of the flyers tonite to pass out, and keep selling tickets.  Call time will come out in chapter announcement email. We will sing same three songs as we did for Whiffenpoofs show.

Many members are going to sing for Rusty Orvik’s military retirement on Friday, March 10^th.

President Randall Eliason reported on some family matters: Alan Kousen is having radiation implants this week.  Bob Wells is having his hip replacement surgery this week. Word also has come in that former member Brian Allen died recently.

 

Randall also gave an update on our participation in Spring2Action.  Don’t forget to continue eating at Volo’s Dockside Grill so we continue to be the top participating group. The offer ends on March 10^th. Also, on Wed eve March 5^th, we will have a party at Virtue Feed and Grain in Old Town (where we have often sung during holidays). 6 pm.  We will sing off and on during the eve, have fun in our own party room there and help customers to make donations in our name.

ALERT – all those attending Harmony University in Nashville must register before March 15^th to get the early registration fee. See the newsletter from our HU trip coordinator Craig Kujawa.

Before break, we took time to discuss the possible trip to Russian for a cultural concert tour.  Several folks asked questions and offered ideas.  President Randall will seek a firm commitment next Tuesday nite to determine who will go on the trip.

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Jay Sorenson for 5 years; Clyde Crusenberry for 7 years; Ken Ives for 32 years; and Steve White for 40 years (he also received an lapel pin).  Chris also reports sending cards to three longtime members - Bob Bowman for 63 years, Ron Rich for 56 years and Terry Jordan for 53 years.

In other news, you can keep in touch with Rick Wagner and Ken Fess as they travel in their RV– 2 couples and a dog – to 44 states, 17,000 miles, 10 weeks, friends, family, military bases, national and state parks, and a few oddities on the way! They leave on March 21^st, and you can follow them along on their blog: Armnavtravels.wordpress.com.

 

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 68^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd