Looking Back on the Mar. 14^th Chapter Meeting and Weekend Ceremonies

Two events this past weekend to report.

First was the retirement event on Fri. Mar. 10^th for Commander Rusty Orvik.  There were 22 singers present and assistant director Terry Reynolds was our conductor.  We opened the ceremony by singing the National Anthem when his boys (in their Scout uniforms) posted the flag. We helped Rusty sing a tribute to his wife Jennifer joining him to sing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” We sang happy birthday to Rusty and a friend during the cake cutting, and a wrap up for the ceremony which Rusty came and sang with us – “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Rusty completed 24 years of service in the Navy.  The ceremony was at 2pm at the Naval Support Facility in Arlington. A reception followed the events.

Our second weekend event was the memorial service for long-time Harmonizer Chuck Harner Sat. March 11, 2017, at Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church. The church was packed with friends and lots of barbershoppers including many former Harmonizer family folks, some district leaders and members of DELSUSQEUHUDMAC, and members from other chapters and leaders from the Harmony Foundation board. We sang “I’ll Be Seeing You” and “I’ll Walk With God” and joined the Harmony Heritage Singers on “Amazing Grace.”  Terry Reynolds was director for the Harmonizers.  Drew Fuller directed the HHS. In addition to family, BHS executive vice president Dick Powell and HHS president Mike Everard gave memorial tributes. A reception followed 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.

Tuesday March 14^th was a busy one starting with tag singing at 6:50 pm.

Director Joe Cerutti did the vocal warm ups and taught us a tag (and provided tips on how to learn a tag being taught). We worked on our gospel songs first half of the nite. Joe told us more about Dr. Barnwell who will be with us next Tuesday nite to help us capture the spirit of the gospel songs and the fun of singing in general. Joe invited us all to attend one of her community singing events on April 19^th.

On Wed. April 5^th the chapter will go to Virtue Feed and Grain in Old Town as part of the Spring2Action event.  We will have our own room and sing off and on all eve for their patrons (it has been a popular stop on our annual pub sing during the holidays). We practiced “America” to sing that nite.

Executive director Terry Reynolds congratulated Rusty Orvik and thanked all who were there to sing.  Terry also reported on the service for Chuck Harner.

Call time for ACA Challenge is now 4 pm. There will be break for dinner. See the announcements emailed to all.  Dress is black suite with narrow black tie.

Latest details for the Put Together Quartet contest on March 28^th: meeting will start at 7 pm for some chorus work and transition into the quartet contest later in the eve depending on how many quartets sign up.

Harmo Youth Festival is coming up on Sat. April 22^nd  at Durant.  The chorus will sing that evening for the students and music educator. 

Joe spoke to all about the need to sign up for Harmony University (the chorus school portion).

The question about going to Russia was presented to all attendees and men raised their hand to indicate if they would or would not go on the trip if chapter leaders decided we should. Because of the bad weather and somewhat-lower-that-usual attendance, an email request was issued to all.

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Adam Afifi for 2 years, Chris Odell for 8 years; Noah Van Gilder for 10 years; and Joel Golden for 12 years.

After the break, the chorus worked on the “Chicago” medley.

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

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