Looking Back on the Chapter
Award Banquet and Installation of 2016 Officers
This year’s Presidents’ Award Banquet was at Ft.
Myer on Saturday nite, Jan. 9th .
This was our 42nd banquet event. About 100 of the Harmonizer
family attended the buffet banquet.
Our 2015 chapter president Terry Reynolds served as master of ceremonies. Social hour wwas from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, then
Terry invited folks to find their
seats at the tables which had been decorated by Robyn and Steve Murane.
After
the meal, Terry thanked others who
had helped with the banquet event including Scipio Garling and Jack
Pitzer for the printed program and year in review; Alan Wile for helping get all the awards for the nite; and Howard Nestlerode and Bruce Minnick for help with tickets
and reservations. [See
the recently released Harmonizer 2015 Year in Review.]
Each year this event is hosted by the past
presidents of the chapter – thus the name Presidents’ banquet. There were 10 presidents attending this year:
Steve Murane, 2011-12; Mick Stamps, 2008; Rick Wagner, 2005; Ken Fess,
2004; Bob Wells, 1996; Chris Buechler, 1995; Terry Jordan, 1984-85; Chuck Harner, 1979-80; Alan Wile, 2013,2007, 1997-98; and Jack Pitzer, 1976 (the first
Presidents’ Ball was during his term – some years the event has been even more
formal and other years it has been a potluck). To continue a tradition begun at
the first banquet, each man presented a rose to his significant other as we
sang “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”
Terry thanked his 2015 board and asked them to stand
to be recognized by the chapter: John
Roots, Steve Sutton, Liz Birnbaum, Michael Gilmore, Chris Buechler, Carl
Kauffmann, Dave Branstetter, Todd Ryktarsyk, Rich Hewitt, Nick Leiserson and Steve White.
Terry
shared. “We administrators love to administrate and organize things but we are
after all a chorus. It is all about the
music. We have amazing broad and deep
talent on our music team lead by Joe,
Tony and Carlos.
“We’ve made some significant organizational changes
this year, but the primary inspiration and motivation behind those changes is
our musical director and his vision of what the Alexandria Harmonizers can
become in the future. “Ladies and
Gentlemen, still my number one reason why it’s great to be a Harmonizers, your
Musical Director, Joe Cerutti, and
our speaker for tonite.”
Joe spoke from the heart and seriously to share
that “without the “why”, the “what” of our efforts is void.”
Alan
Wile, past chapter president
and past district president then installed the board for the Alexandria
Harmonizers BHS Chapter
President – Randall Eliason
Secretary – Chris Buechler
Treasurer – Al Herman
Members at Large – Mike Edison, Kevin McKenzie, Steve White
Immediate Past President
– Rick Wagner
Terry presented an update for
the FRIENDS IN HARMONY. “For
years our friends and family have given us tremendous support through the FRIENDS
IN HARMONY and the Harmonettes which used to be the group’s name. They cheer us on and make us feel special
with a keepsake to carry on the competition stage with us.
“But they also do a lot of the work of keeping the
harmonizers going, from the helping with membership, helping throw parties and
events, running the house at our shows selling snacks CDs, tickets, taking
donations, the silent auction, sewing and mending costumes, and particularly
last year with thankless task of wrangling our Steam Punk outfits for
Pittsburgh.
“According to the Breathless Moments book, the first president of the Harmonettes was
Ceil Rodda in 1966. So it’s been 50 years.
“For those that haven’t heard, the FIH has decided
for now to put the formal organization on hiatus. With our new Harmonizer organizational
structure that isn’t based on chapter membership, significant others and
friends can hold positions in the organization as much as chapter members such
as Robyn Murane our Volunteer Activities
Director and a member of the Operations Team.
And through Robyn the current
members of FIH are committing to continue to provide great support the
Harmonizers as they have for 50 years.
“On behalf of all Harmonizers, from the bottom of
our hearts, thank you so much for past, present, and future dedication and
support that has been such an important part of the history and successes of
the Alexandria Harmonizers.”
Moving
on, Terry introduced the many “riser
rats” who continually execute the hard work to set up the risers, sound
equipment, refreshments, guest chairs, admin table, screen and av equipment,
membership sign-in kiosk and member picture board.
Terry
used his presidential prerogative to present three Meritorious Service Awards
for exceptional service to the chapter.
The
first recipient was Shawn Tallant
who is ever-present in stepping forward to take on projects, usually at his own
initiative. He volunteered to help with preparations for our Normandy
trip and used personal Air Force connections to arrange for the special
rehearsal at the US Air Force band complex. He stepped up to the critical role of
coordinating housing and the other details of our trip to the 2015
District Convention and within a day of taking on the position had arranged
with our Ocean City Hotel.
The
second recipient was Reed Livergood who
came to us from a successful career in another top five chorus and has quickly
moved into duties as a leader within the front row, and as the baritone section
leader. He has been appointed to fill the shoes of Assistant Director Emeritus Will Cox as the chorus’s regular warm
up director; and has been named as successor to TBD founder Tom Kraus as director of our
contemporary ensemble
The third recipient was Bob Rhome who has constantly worked in front of and behind the
scenes to make things happen in the Harmonizers. He maintains the chapter
calendar on Groupanizer. He arranges
and coordinates all our rehearsal space and manages our relationship with
Durant staff and First Baptist Church.
And
then we honored these
recipients of the six chapter memorial awards given each year with a
description of the award.
New Note of the Year Award
(Nominated by the
President, VP-Membership/Chapter Development, and VP-Operations; selected by
the Board of Directors). Given to a Harmonizer who has contributed
outstanding service to the Chapter in his first year of membership. All
new members for the previous 18 months prior to October 31 of the current year
will be considered. Attendance, attitude, and accomplishments of duties,
both volunteer and assigned, shall be considered.
2015
recipient – Tom Jackson – Although he is one of
our newest members, he has also become one of our most visible, in part because
of his willingness to contribute his substantial musical expertise and
experience to our efforts to improve our singing and expand our performance
offerings. When most new members are
still getting their harmonic feet wet, he jumped in the deepest of choral
waters as one of our new bass section leaders.
He’s been an active participant in non-concert events, such as the
Tag-a-Thon and off-site sectionals, and most recently began providing his
talent as a keyboardist for “I Am Harvey Milk” rehearsals.
Spirit of Harmony Award
(Selected by the Board of Directors).
Presented to the Harmonizer who during the past year best exemplified the
fundamental Society membership qualities of congeniality and good character and
worked hardest to encourage participation in vocal harmony by Chapter visitors
and members. The awardee must reflect the spirit and ideals of O.C. Cash
(Society founder) by his enthusiasm for good fellowship and good harmony and by
his unselfish dedication to and obvious joy in barbershopping.
2015
recipient – Rich Hewitt – Even though he is a comparatively new
member himself,
Rich embodies the spirit of the
Spirit of Harmony Award. Few
Harmonizers have shown the passion for making new people feel welcome. From
welcoming guests and introducing them to the chapter, to shepherding prospects
through the application process and new members through the hurdle of
onboarding the chorus, his boundless enthusiasm has put wind in the sails of
the goal of expanding our ranks.
.
Ibbianne and Wilbur Sparks Award
(Selected by the Board of Directors).
Given to recognize the important contribution of Harmonizer family teams to the
success and well-being of the Chapter. The award will be made only to a
truly outstanding team which has contributed greatly both in volume and quality
of services over a period of time. The team can be a Harmonizer and any
family member or significant other.
2015 recipient – Carol and Dick Dangel – He is a strong musician
having served as our pitch man for years and as a member of the music committee
for several years. She has worked many years as a FRIENDS IN HARMONY volunteer,
including being its secretary for five years. She has worked at contests and
shows and wherever or whenever the Harmonizer’s sang. Her work as our seamstress
has been invaluable repeatedly in sewing costumes for shows and Internationals,
as well as creating hundreds of Harmo costumes for the teddy bears we sold as a
chapter.
Harmonizer Honor Award
(Selected by the
Board of Directors). Given to a Harmonizer for service which is above and
beyond the usual service expected of members during the past year. It is
not intended as a reward for discharging a single specific duty, but for
continuous service in several activities.
2015 recipient – Craig Kujawa
– In the past year, Craig went above and beyond in his excellent performance as our
contest chairman for the Pittsburgh international convention. His "Steel City Updates" were
informative, entertaining, and did an excellent job of providing all
Harmonizers with step by step information about the convention. All convention logistics and arrangements
went off without a hitch under his guidance and leadership and we are fortunate
that he has agreed to take on the expanded responsibility of the Operations
Team Contest Director for 2016. In
addition, in 2015 he took on the task of handling scrip sales as a fundraising
tool and moving those sales toward an automated, on-line model. If there is
anyone that exemplifies the intent of this award you
would be hard pressed to find someone more deserving. He has, year after year, pitched in wherever
and whenever needed – and never more so than this past year.
Oz Newgard Memorial Award
(Nominated by the
President, VP-Music & Performance, and Musical Director; Selected by
the Board of Directors). Presented in memory of Oz Newgard (Musical
Director 1962-70). It is given to the Harmonizer who has made a
significant contribution to the musical program of the Chapter during the past
year. The awardee's contribution need not be highly visible or of a
technical musical character, but it must be related directly to the musical
program. It should show the intent to make the musical program superior
and enjoyable for all members. The awardee should be a dedicated
Harmonizer who has endeavored to improve the Chapter image in the Society and
in the Alexandria community through musical excellence. Any Harmonizer
who has been a chapter member for more than one year shall be eligible for the
award.
2015 recipient – Mike
Kelly – Since joining us in 2008
as a former director of another local chorus, Mike has contributed to our musical program as a pillar of the
bass section for seven years, and for
most of that time as its section leader. As a quartet singer, he has
represented us a number of International level quartets. As an assistant director, he’s reliably
filled in whenever needed
Behind the scenes, as our chief audio-visual manager, he’s
provided or overseen our sound, amplification, and mixing needs both at
rehearsal and in performance. His
diligence in this role resulted this
year in our most recent CD, “American Icon.”
His relentless pursuit of the project enabled us to sell that CD at the
show this fall.
Harmonizer Memorial Award
(Selected by the Board of Directors).
Presented in memory of those men who died while members of the Chapter.
It is the highest recognition which the Chapter can bestow on a member.
It is given to the Harmonizer who, during his entire period of chapter
membership, has devoted himself most unselfishly in rendering outstanding
service to the Chapter. The award is made only to a truly outstanding
member who has regularly attended Chapter activities and who has contributed
greatly both in volume and quality of services over a long period of time.
2015 – Bob Blair – Bob embodies selfless dedication to the needs of the
Harmonizers. For the past ten years, he has been the go-to-guy for all of the
tough, unwanted tasks within the chapter. He has been the Harmonizer truck
pilot, load master, and master mechanic. He has always stayed on top of an ever
changing support schedule, including the important Harmonizer Performance
support and riser rental programs. He has consistently been the first to
motivate the riser crew, a task he performed through example. Always there,
always working, never complaining.
He has managed the
Harmonizer off-site storage facilities and has initiated steps to save the
Harmonizer thousands a year in storage costs. For the past four years he has
been a very active member of the chapter history team, ensuring the upkeep and
security of the critical chapter archives. He has worked with the visual team
as leader and has repeatedly contributed his casual competence as a former
professional drummer on any our stage productions that needed one.
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 66th year of the
Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd.
