Let's Talk About the CCS Culture

THE BEAT From the Greater Indianapolis Chapter, Barbershop Harmony Society Winner, 2011 PROBE International Bulletin Contest Volume 44, Issue 4 April 2013 Our mission: To enhance lives by performing with excellence and encouraging singing within our community. Let’s talk about the CCS culture We hear in chapter meetings about “the CCS culture” and the way we collectively and individually exhibit that culture. So just Skipp Kropp what exactly IS “the CCS culture”? The Oxford Dictionary de- fines “culture” in terms of beliefs and attitudes as “the beliefs CHAPTER PRESIDENT and attitudes about something that people in a particular group or organization share.” That’s it in a definitional nutshell, but that’s only where the story begins. “I want us to be the most friendly, most supportive and most active We as a group define the CCS culture in the way we hold our- chapter in the district...” selves out at events, the way we sing in public, the way we treat each other, and the way the public, our friends, and our families perceive us. We each have to ask ourselves how we want our culture to be molded and then conduct ourselves in a manner that makes that happen. I thought I’d share my vision of CCS culture and let you know the direction I hope CCS is taking. I want CCS to be the flag- ship chapter in Cardinal District. We are already the biggest chapter in the district, and I want us to be the most friendly, most supportive, and most active chapter in our district. I’d like each of us to be ambassadors of good will and harmony throughout the district, so that when people see our blue CCS shirts they immediately think of CCS as “a bunch of really good guys who are not only friendly but who make a difference in the barbershop world.” I hope that we are becoming a chapter known for being go-to guys who will “be there” when asked. Examples of how we showed that aspect of ourselves include hosting the Fall convention last Octo- ber, singing as the CDWI demonstration chorus last month, and donating our musical and production talent to help the Central Indiana Youth Barber- April 2013 shop Chorus in February. I hope that we are a chapter of men who care about each other and about our families. We show that in the way we celebrate each other’s triumphs and mourn each other’s losses. In this issue: I hope that we also continue to grow in showing respect for each other’s time by learning words and notes to songs and, most importantly, by refraining from District Convention Results participating in anything in the room on Mondays between 7:00 and 9:45 except being on the risers and singing. We are getting better, but we still need to resist Page 2 the temptation to think “I just need to [your very important task goes here] and no one will notice.” We do notice. Each and every time we whisper among our- Old School and Instant Classic selves out front, sit out front while everyone else is on the risers working, or Page 5 just do anything that the rest of the men on the risers are not doing because they are working, it’s noticed, and it affects the entire chapter environment. I’ll take the opportunity in this otherwise wildly optimistic article to note that some Toronto’s EdgeWalk of us are still guilty of milling around in the room, socializing, or (shudder) doing Page 5 chapter “bidness” while the rest of us are on the risers, and ask that we all re- (Continued on page 2) Page 2 THE BEAT April 2013 Culture (Continued from page 1) THE BEAT commit ourselves to arriving on time and, regardless of when we arrive, heading straight to the risers if it’s after 7:00. That’s also part of “the CCS culture.” I hope we are also a chapter that shows the public, the other Cardinal District chapters and, most importantly, our guests, that we care about our art form and how we display it. We show that through our contest scores, through the great Jerry E. Troxel, Editor reviews we have been getting from those for whom we perform, and from our Member, PROBE (Public Relations coaches, who have all said that we continue to improve each time they see us. Officers and Bulletin Editors) 129 Yorkshire Blvd. E Indianapolis, IN 46229 Finally, I hope that we are a chapter that, to coin a phrase, enriches lives 317 891-1634 through singing. I can’t begin to tell you how my life has been enriched through [email protected] my association with CCS. In three short years, I’ve met and grown to know and love some of the most terrific guys in the entire barbershop society. Our chapter The BEAT is published monthly by the is blessed with men who love to sing, who love to sing well, and who love and Greater Indianapolis, Indiana, Chapter care about each other, and I appreciate that. I hope you do as well, because not of the Barbershop every chapter has the abundance of talent, skills, and caring members that we Harmony Society, have. a proud member of the Cardinal District. In summary, I submit that developing “the CCS culture” is a tall order, but one that I believe with all my heart that we can fill. Do you? Chapter Leadership 2013 President Skipp Kropp District Convention Results VP Chapter Development Steve Cline Our spring district convention, held in Lafayette, Indiana, VP Music & Performance March 22 –24, was one of our most successful conventions Duane Henry in recent times. A record number of choruses (10) in the spring plateau contest brought a lot of people to the con- VP PR & Marketing vention for the festivities. There were 645 registrations and Larry Anthony single-event tickets sold for this convention, compared with VP Operations 527 last fall and 433 last spring. Jeff Boyd A big thanks goes out to District Director of Events Mark Leimer and District Secretary Director of PR and Marketing Kelly Andrews for their tireless efforts in planning Bruce Bellen and promoting this convention and introducing some new features into the Treasurer weekend. Having the Purdue Varsity Men’s Glee Club on the Saturday night Paul Gabriel show was a definite plus! Board Members at Large Quartets qualifying for Toronto International were Forefront (84.7%), Instant Scott Beverley, Classic (81.2%) and Rushed to Perfection (collegiate—69.1%). Plateau cho- David Fouts, Scott Wiederoder rus champions were the Kokomo Men of Note (plateau AA, score 51.9%), the Immediate Past President South Bend/Mishawaka Valleyaires (AAA, 66.8%) and the Louisville Thor- Gary Garitson oughbreds (AAAA, 74.3%). Most Improved Chorus honors went to Blooming- ton’s Sounds of Indiana (AAA) and the Fort Wayne Summit City Chorus Director (AAAA). Garry Texeira Assistant Directors Colin Craig of the Kokomo Men of Note was honored as the Cardinal District Theo Hicks, David Zimmerman Barbershopper of the Year 2012, and the Elizabethtown chapter (Kentucky Vocal Union) was named Chapter of the Year 2012. Circle City Sound meets every Monday at 7:00 p.m. Christ Lutheran Church Secure the future of Barbershop harmony through 345 N. Kitley Ave. your generous gifts to the Harmony Foundation. Pro- Indianapolis, Indiana 46219 vide additional support to your chapter and district www.harmonyfoundation.org with the Donor’s Choice option. April 2013 THE BEAT Page 3 Strolling down memory lane A monthly look back at our chapter’s history Calendar by Lew Gillespie, Chapter Historian of Events Five Years Ago (2008) All-Day Coaching Retreat “We Need You” was the title of the article that Garry Saturday, April 27 Texeira, CCS Music Director, penned for the monthly bulle- Englewood Christian Church tin. Garry stated, “what this means is that we need you (all 57 N. Rural St. members) to be at rehearsals on time, to learn your music 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with attention to details, we need you to perform every moment on the risers, and most of all we need your very CCS Annual Show best attitude.” Garry goes on to say, “my vision for this Saturday, June 8 chorus is greater than I can even share with you right now, The Palladium and let’s just enjoy our small victories and make every week Carmel, Indiana a complete success.” 7:00 p.m. Lew Gillespie Randy Freeman, Chapter VP PR & Marketing, wrote an article about image. Afterglow Freeman stated, “the public image of barbershop singing needs to be changed, Saturday, June 8 and I intend to do everything within my power to change as many minds as I Prime Life Enrichment Center can. I’m concerned about the public perception of Circle City Sound and that Carmel, Indiana most of the people in Indianapolis have no perception of us at all because they 10:00 p.m. have never heard us sing. Work with me to change that.” National Anthem at The board accepted Bruce Bellen to membership in the chapter. The board Indiana Fever Game also authorized a donation of $200 to support the Central Indiana Youth Bar- Saturday, June 22 bershop Chorus (CIYBC). Plans were being formulated to celebrate the 60th Bankers Life Fieldhouse anniversary of the chapter’s founding. (notes taken from The Beat, Vol. 39, Is- 7:00 p.m. sue 4, April 2008, Jerry Troxel, editor). International Chorus Twenty Years Ago (1993) Finals Friday, July 5 Twenty-two choruses had been selected to participate in the 1993 International Air Canada Centre - Toronto 10:00 a.m.

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