Looking Back on the October 2^nd Chapter Meeting 

Musically we continued our work on the holiday show songs and the special song for the Bark Ball. Director Joe Cerutti was back from his travels and judging assignments.

The work time was divided with sectionals on a holiday song we had not worked on recently and then the chorus sang returned to the risers to sing it together.  We used the same technique for “From This Moment On” that we will record in a couple weeks to use at the Oct. 20 gig.

This week we also held our annual chapter meeting and elected the officers as nominated:  President – Shawn Tallant; Immediate Past President – Terry Reynolds; Secretary – Christopher Buechler; Treasurer – Alan Herman; Members at Large – David Branstetter, Clyde Crusenberry, and Matt Doniger. 

Communications director Steve Murane conducted the meeting and provided this quick reminder of the full schedule in Oct. for the chorus:

* 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. SILVER ALERT will compete.
* Arts on the Avenue – the chorus sings in Del Ray Sat. Oct. 6^th from 1-1:45 pm.  Report time is noon.  Wear black camp shirts and sing a long list of songs. Riser crews were recruited.
* Men’s Choral Fellowship event at Alfred Street Baptist Church, Oct. 17, at 7 pm
* Bark Ball Oct. 2 in DC – uniform will be tails.
* Our holiday show at TC Williams Hi School, 7:30 pm Dec. 8^th. Ticket sales will begin on Oct. 15^th with Dean Sherick as ticket chairman.

Last year’s president Randall Eliason presented a 2018 presidential Award for Meritorious Service to Martin Banks – our unofficial historian and guy with the pulse of our history materials.  Martin was particularly recognized for his terrific series on FaceBook of “Throwback Thursday” articles about the chapter during our 70 years.  He posted a piece for 40 weeks during the year. Recently Martin provided much of the background materials, photos and such for the 70^th anniversary show, and for this he was presented a framed show flyer from that event. The chapter members gave him a rousing standing ovation for his hard work.

President Shawn Tallant acknowledged and gave a cheer for SILVER ALERT who will be competing at the M-AD contest this weekend.

He also reported on some family matters for the chapter including the recent passing of Don O’Connor, 85,  who was a member from 1980 - 2003. He sang lead and was member of all four international championship choruses. Services for him will be Oct. 4^th at Miller’s Funeral Home in Woodbridge. Some members will try to organize a quartet or octet to sing as per the family wishes. 

Jack McKendree also died this week and his service will be at 2 pm, Oct. 5, at Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, VA.  He was once the editor of our bulletin, The Echo, and served as treasurer in the 1970s. Jack was 85.  He sang bari in the chorus. 

President Shawn also gave a brief update on Mike Everard who is recovering at his home after his amputation surgery.  He still manages his duties as president of the Mount Vernon Harmony Heritage Singers and has a battery of in-home sessions for therapy.  Tuesday, Martin Banks, took a display over for Mike to see before we take that display to the fall M-AD contest this weekend.  Martin brought it to chapter for all to see also.

Chapter secretary Chris Buechler presented a membership renewal card to Chuck McKeever for 32 years!

Membership chair Calvin Schnure welcomed guests for this week including Tyler who has moved to DC from TN where he sang barbershop, and Susan Jayjohn, mom of Jerry, who is in town to support her son following his tonsillectomy on Wed!

Before break, chapter leaders presented a preview of the Strategic Plan for the chapter at this juncture.  Liz Birnbaum, president of our second 501 (c) 3 chapter –  AH Inc. –  started the report to the members.

She began her report with word that Kristin Kelly will be in charge of the Silent Auction at the holiday show. Every member is asked to solicit gift cards and major gift packages for that auction.

Liz then introduced Marie Muscella who was a volunteer to help chapter leaders facilitate the strategic plan work.  Marie explained how they obtained input from members throughout the process such as a survey, personal interviews with a cross section of members, and focus groups at the retreat.

Our new mission statement is “Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.”

The four major goals are (1) to attain the highest level of vocal quality; (2) define and expand our community impact; (3) develop and improve our brand awareness; and (4) create financial health for the chapter.
This 4-year plan has more details that surely will be distributed to the chapter members.  

After the meeting and a break, the chorus was back to work on the songs for Art on the Avenue for Sunday.

In other recent news, about 20 guys sang at the wedding for Joia  Hertz, Kellen’s sister Sat. Sept. 29^th. at Church of the Nativity in Burke

A crew of guys went to Ramparts for an afterglow as usual.

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