Looking Back on the Aug. 24th 2021 Chapter Meeting
The Harmonizer family gathered at Fort Ward Park in Alexandria this week to share some songs, meet and greet, and catch up – all in an outside setting. The chapter brought snacks and waters for all plus many folks brought picnic or other goodies to enjoy. It was great to see everyone again – without masks too. Especially fun to see so many of the new members there for their first Fort Ward event. And this time – NO RAIN.
Operations manager Gary Cregan had the Harmo truck there for the sound equipment and such which Mike Kelly andDennis Ritchey managed. (Fun to see Mike’s grandson, Owen, age 3 testing the mic for his grandpa!). The tech team also was able to connect with all the members who attended via Zoom! There were about 10.
Membership chairman Jacob Broude and some helpers hauled all the snacks and drinks to a table up by the stage for all to enjoy.
There was lots of visiting and catching up among the Harmo family and then a little after 7 pm, it was Tag Time With Tony – associate director Tony Colosimo taught everyone “Johnny Doughboy Found a Rose in Ireland.”
Then artistic director Joe Cerutti welcomed everyone including some guys we have not seen for a while including Walt Page plus all those on the Zoom link. And he welcomed our newest member, Lance Fisher, who sings lead.
Joe did review some calendar items for the weeks ahead: there will be no meeting on Aug. 31st; the Sept. 7th meeting will be at Scottish Rite Temple on Braddock Rd. – stay tuned for word about who will attend (and be certain you have alerted the chapter leadership via Groupanizer of your attendance plans). All members are also expected to respond to the monthly survey coming to members.
At this point, Joe invited all singers to come up onto the stage to sing. The guys spread out and formed a chorus. Some folks used their cell phone for a song or two they needed help on. The little package show included “Never Fully Dressed,” “I’ll Be Seeing You,” “Help from My Friends,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.”
Tony taught a second tag, “We’ll Just Be the Same Old Friends,” and explained it was not the same tag the chapter usually sings at our annual retreat but from a different arrangement that has a Colosimo family connection. It was sung by past International quartet champs, THE AUTO TOWNERS.
Joe invited folks to come back to the Harmo House for an afterglow and reports are that the tag singing guys were doing before they left Fort Ward continued in Joe’s basement!
The Harmo family is reminded of the Remembrance Service for Sandy Stamps which is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23 at 11am at the Fairfax United Methodist Church, 10300 Stratford Ave, Fairfax VA. The Harmonizers will sing “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “I’ll Be Seeing You,” and “There Must Be A City.”
In other news, the Barbershop Harmony Society Board of Directors elected the officers and directors during its annual meeting on Sunday, August 15, 2021including Harmonizer John Santora who was elected treasurer for a one-year term. Another Harmonizer, Bill Colosimo, was on the nominating committee for the election.
Also the Barbershop Harmony Society lost a giant in the barbershop world recently when Joe Liles died at his home with his wife Kay by his side. He had been Society executive director, a song writer and arranger of volumes of songs for all singers, and was in the Society Hall of Fame. He was a friend of the Harmonizers and appeared with us at one of our post-gold-medal Masters’ Classes.
Our next Harmonizer Tuesday meeting will be at 7 pm on Sept. 7th, 2021 at Scottish Rite Temple on Braddock Rd. in Alexandria.
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 for the great things going on each week during the 73rd year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. - YeEd)
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