Sunday, May 27, 2018




Looking Back on the May 22nd  Chapter Meeting 

This week’s rehearsal and meeting were held at the Scottish Rite Temple on Braddock Road to consider it for a future regular meeting place.  We met in the 350 seat auditorium with risers on the floor and stage. The air conditioning worked great.  There is plenty of parking and extra meeting rooms if needed.

Assistant director Terry Reynolds shared details about the new building space and the location of rest rooms. He introduced our host Dave Norris, secretary of the Temple, who welcomed us this week.

Associate director Tony Colosimo did the vocal warm ups and was in charge of the music program since our director was out of town.

Before the meeting started, the front row guys met in the lobby to review their contest plan. Riser crews worked to haul in the equipment needed for the nite. There were no refreshments this week for break.
All singers (including those who are not going to contest) were invited to the risers for the first part of the evening while we worked on songs for our fall show and stage presence review for “Great Day” taught by Craig Kujawa

Note that next week we will concentrate nearly the entire rehearsal on the visual plans for the songs we will be bringing back for the fall show. That meeting will be back at Durant.

We will also be hosting the Kingsmen Chorus from the British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS) next week. Gerry Fuller has been their contact for this visit. 

The contest work session started with the ballad and assistant director Chuck Hunter directing and coaching. 
 
Choreographer Carlos Barillo and Chuck McKeever also worked as part of the team for the contest work for the evening. They stressed the importance of the chorus members reviewing and using the materials released by the team during the week.

Steve Murane conducted the chapter meeting with all the announcements
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There was another reminder about the chorus retreat. Steve reminded guys to turn in their payment for the chorus retreat to Howard Nestlerode. The retreat will be June 8-9-10 at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, (about 70 miles from Springfield).  Friday June 8th will be mandatory for front row and optional for all others with special sessions for the small groups to be coached. There are many good restaurants in town and it is a good social time on Friday nite. Fees include lodging; three meals on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday; plus linens and a Saturday evening party. There are three price levels – Friday-Sunday attendees ($114); Saturday-Sunday attendees ($83); and commuters who won’t be staying any nite ($78). Non-competing members are welcome to attend. Many members are behind in getting in their payments.  All requests for roommate assignments are due to retreat master, Chuck McKeever, immediately.

Note that there will be some focus groups meeting during the weekend as a part of the strategic planning work being done by chapter leaders.  Dave Kohls will conduct the focus groups.

Uniform chairman Robyn Murane will be at Durant next week at 6 pm to accept the black uniform suits that guys are supposed to turn in (so that we can sell them to another group).  The suits should have been cleaned and appropriately marked with name and sizes.  See her recent emails about instructions.  Also members can pay their $100 and pick up their new uniform that nite. BTW – it will help the uniform folks if you arrange for payment and pick up by another member on your behalf if you won’t be at the May 29th meeting.

Spring2ACTion chairman Randall Eliason had a drawing for the winner of free housing in Orlando – contestants were those who turned in a worksheet of the emails that contacted for the fundraiser event.  Johan Westberg was the winner.

President Shawn Tallant recapped the quartet contest results from the Southern Division last weekend and offered congrats to all.  As is our tradition, the chapter presented a check to each quartet with a Harmonizer singer.  Treasurer Dave Welter made the presentations at the contest.

Shawn announced that the prospective trip to Brazil has been cancelled.  There is work continuing for an International destination however.

Finally, Shawn is eager to accept any donations to the chapter “angel” fund that is used to provide financial support for members going to contest and the like.  Contact Shawn privately.

The chapter is renting a set of risers on Friday nite and several guys stepped up to meet Matt Doniger to load them on the truck.

Speaking of the truck, Matt is seeking two men who might like to drive the Harmo truck to Orlando.  Of course it is a good way to save money on travel.

There were sign-up sheets out for guys to volunteer to go promote our fall show to other barbershop singing groups in the DC Metro area. 

Secretary Chris Buechler presented membership renewal cards to Duncan Woodbury for 6 years; Calvin Schnure for 23 years; Chris Buechler for 33 years; and Paul Grimes for 35 years (he also got a lapel pin). 

The remainder of the nite was used for work on the contest uptune, and guys were able to make recordings to submit to their section leaders.

In other news, the front page article in the Mount Vernon Gazette this week reports that former member Peelee Clark has been honored by The Educational Theater Association for his work with students in the theater arts at West Potomac High School in Alexandria.  Congrats

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 70th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd

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