Looking Back on the September 25^th Chapter Meeting 

This week’s meeting was another busy nite to work on our music for upcoming shows.

Associate director Tony Colosimo was maestro this week. He did vocal warm ups and then launched the work sessions on holiday songs.  Like last week, we had sectionals for 15 minutes on each song the first time we worked on it.  

We also worked on the song for the “Bark Ball” fund raising event on Oct. 20^th.  We are singing an original Steve Tramack arrangement of Shania Twain’s “From This Moment On” at the Washington Hilton.

Early in the evening, president Shawn Tallant welcomed Rick Taylor, a fellow Harmonizer, who was with us as a representative from Harmony Foundation International.  Rick thanked the chapter for its many efforts in leadership, inclusion, musical excellence and support of the Foundation.  (He also enthusiastically applauded our 70^th anniversary show!).  Rick offered to help any member sign up as a supporter of the Foundation.  He also invited current supporters to increase any support that can as there are more and more youth choruses that need support from the Foundation.  He also reminded us that donors to the Foundation can designate a percentage of their gift to come back to the Harmonizers.  (Alan Wile offers to help any members with their support to or membership in the Foundation.)  

Next quartet promotion chair Clavin Schnure welcomed SILVER ALERT quartet to sing for the chapter.  They are singing at the M-AD contest in Reading, PA, Oct. 5-6 as an entry in the senior’s contest. Calvin also presented them a  financial support gift of convention registrations.  Quartet includes Rick Savage, Mike Edison, Will Cox, and Steve Murane.

Steve Murane changed hats to his communications director position and conducted this week’s chapter meeting.

A quick reminder of the full schedule in Oct. for the chorus:
* sing at the wedding for Joia  Hertz, Kellen’s sister Sat. Sept. 29^th.
* fall M-AD contests in Reading PA Oct. 5-6 – chorus will not sing, but many members will be attending as administrators, fans of the quartet and ops team helpers.
* Arts on the Avenue – the chorus sings in Del Ray Sun Oct. 6^th from 1-1:45 pm.  Report time is noon.  Likely will wear black camp shirts and sing a long list of songs.
* Men’s Choral Fellowship event at Alfred Street Baptist Church, Oct. 17
* Bark Ball Oct. 2 in DC – uniform will be tails.
* Our holiday show at TC Williams Hi School, 7:30 pm Dec. 8^th.

President Shawn thanked Rick for his presentation. And Shawn told us that the chapter is involved with the Arts on the Avenue event to expand our community involvement.

Craig Kujawa made a terrific presentation explaining our chapter SCRIP program of fund raising.  He used our screen and his laptop to coach guys to use their cell phones to participate. Hopefully more guys will jump into this program and help the chapter increase our income from this source.

Secretary Chris Buechler reminded members again of the official chapter meeting and election on Tues., Oct. 2, at the usual 7 pm at Scottish Rite Temple.  Officially there can be no nominations from the floor at the election, but if anyone wishes to nominate himself or another member in opposition to the slate presented, they needed to alert Chris before the end of the meeting.

The slate presented by the nominating committee is President – Shawn Tallant; Immediate Past President – Terry Reynolds (not subject to election); Secretary – Christopher Buechler; Treasurer – Alan Herman; Member at Large – David Branstetter; Member at Large – Clyde Crusenberry; and Member at Large – Matthew Doniger. Each of the above has been contacted and agreed to serve in the positions indicated. 

The nominating committee members are Alan Wile, chair; Clark Chesser; Kellen Hertz; Mark Klostermeyer; and Michael Schwartz.  There will also be a presentation of the chapter’s strategic plan.

Chris also presented membership renewals to Mike Kelly for 38 years, and Jack Cameron for 49 years.

Membership chair Calvin Schnure welcomed guest Dylan and Mike, and also introduced newest member Adam Shepherd.  Last week, Jim and Ruthanne Lucy were here from Colorado Springs to see everyone.

After a break, it was back to work on the holiday music.

A crew of guys went to Ramparts for an afterglow and they found a place there to do some tag singing!

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