Volume 47, Number 3 July/ August/September 2004 The Big Chicken Chorus Marietta, GA 2004 International Convention Fall Convention Registration forms - Louisville, KY pages 10-11 Dixie District SPEBSQSA NON-PROFIT ORG Tom West, Editor US POSTAGE 175 Davis Road PAID Southern Pines, NC 28387 SOUTHERN PINES, NC PERMIT # 289 Dated Material Just One Voice Editor’s Note: Please see page thirteen for complete text of the Society’s announcement regarding staff reductions. I have received emails (responded to them all), phone calls and spoken personally with many DIX and SUN barbershoppers, and beyond, reference the recent Thom Hine announcement of an inevitable reorganization of our Society headquarters. I would be the first to wish that everything could remain the same for change is often painful and extremely difficult to accept, especially VISION when it concerns staff members (friends) and families. The bottom line is that To be the best “cotton- our Society cannot continue to lose members and operate as we have for the pickin” district within the Society last few years...and I must add, with all my heart, that I have the utmost respect in every conceivable way by promoting excellence in and admiration for the tremendous efforts and successes of Darryl Flynn and barbershop quartet singing every member of the Kenosha staff over those years. throughout the states within the There are well meaning members who have determined that the geographic borders of the Dixie District. announced staff releases and reorganization were the result of the Society not meeting anticipated registration counts at the recent Louisville International MISSION Convention. To provide support and Not so! The reorganization plan was under study well prior to the assistance to the members and chapters of the Dixie District in convention. fully developing and realizing Reorganization is always painful but, in this instance, absolutely necessary. their individual chapter missions, If we are to prosper as a viable Society and attain the desired level of to conduct conventions, festivals and other events at which recognition and accomplishment, we must always examine the way we operate members and chapters can share and make the appropriate changes. As an interim step, Kenosha staff duties will and enjoy their common love for be reassigned to cover all bases. It will be difficult but it shall be done. during barbershop harmony, to conduct schools and other this process, I beg that all members maintain faith and enthusiasm in our entire educational events at which barbershop family for there will be a brighter future. I can further promise members and others can learn there will be announcements quite soon that will offer greater explanation, and improve their musical skills, to support a wide range of including a reorganization plan and structure designed to halt membership charitable activities, and to erosion and accomplish our greater objectives. widely promote barbershop As a concluding request, I would ask those members, who would voice quartet harmony in communities throughout the District. strong opposition to the path our Society “must” take, to hold their objections until such time that they have the entire plan in their hands. And thanks for this DEADLINE opportunity to express my thoughts and ongoing support of our Society Deadlines for the Rebel leadership. Rouser are approximately four to five weeks before the Thom Hine, Society Board Rep for DIX and SUN publication reaches the membership. ADDRESS CHANGES… Please keep this in mind Dixie District members – DO NOT SEND CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO THE EDITOR. when planning time sensitive Mailing data is provided by SPEBSQSA. PLEASE send change of address to Chapter Secretary advertisements. and/or the International office in Kenosha, WI. Copies of the Rebel Rouser not deliverable at Deadlines are the 15th of time of mailing will not be forwarded! January, April, July and October. Rebel Rouser July/Aug/Sept 2004 Are We Having Fun Yet?? Leadership Team How many times have we heard this statement “are we having fun yet”? I am sure this statement may have even been President * Don Lang heard from some barbershoppers going home from an P. O. Box 923 uninspiring rehearsal? Oh perish the thought! Aren’t our Millers Creek, NC 28651 H - (336) 973-8686 rehearsals always FUN, uplifting and full of energy or are they W - (336) 973-8686 like some hospital room heart monitors, just straight lining? Frank Cristina [email protected] You know this brings back some great memories of the chapter program VP’s that often made FUN things happen. I can recall when the program VP’s would insure that a quartet would sing at Secretary * every meeting and all of the guests would be included in this activity. And how Russell Bell 2716 Braemore Glenn SW about push out quartets or “spot light” quartets performing several times a month. Powder Springs, GA 30127 The old spot light quartet would be picked from the chapter membership, given a H - (770) 439-8249 W - (404) 417-6495 week or two to rehearse with costuming and choreography and then perform at [email protected] rehearsal, maybe to be judged and then their picture taken and placed on a board in the rehearsal hall. Prizes would be given periodically for the best quartet of that time period. Of course the prize would be really something no one wanted. VP Membership There would also be nights when all members would have to wear all the Development * chapter/society pins, patches and badges they had in their possession. Also there Robert Tilton (Carol) 270 Sugar Pine Drive was flowerdy shirt night, Bermuda shorts night, ugly tie night, ugly hat night, Pinehurst, NC 28374 sports apparel night and so forth. Do you also remember the time segment set H - (910) 215-6170 [email protected] aside for joke telling and the chapter family picnics which featured great song and great food? Remember the FUN and energy created by these activities could be measured or cut with a knife. Even our business session would be presented in a VP Chap. Support & lighthearted manner. Were these FUN activities once a part of the barbershop Leadership Training * chapter rehearsal program, or am I just dreaming? Dwain Chambers (Connie) Oh well it’s great to remember those old chapter program VP’s and what they 481 Pebble Creek Cove Collierville, TN 38017 brought to the plate. I wonder if they are gone forever or are they just waiting H - (901) 853-2009 somewhere to make a big comeback? Maybe they just might reappear at your next [email protected] rehearsal and pump some energy into the program? We can always remember or wait and see what the future brings. ✶ ✶ ✶ Dixie District Harmony Foundation Chair Just A Few Good Men T B A Have you seen this question asked before? Of course you have, it’s the Marine Corps recruiting slogan. Well it does work for the Marines who have a long history ? of recruiting the best men available. Therefore, I am going to use the same recruiting slogan. We are also looking for a few good men for service at the Dixie District level. If you wish to experience more fun, have exciting challenges, and be Webmaster in a position to make many contributions to the Dixie District and the Society, then Patrick Thomas (Pam) brother read further. 920 Split Oak Dr. continued on page 17 Antioch, TN 37013 H - (615) 361-6131 W - (615) 665-7637 The Rebel Rouser is published quarterly by the Dixie District Association of Chapters of the [email protected] Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. Second class postage paid - Southern Pines, NC 28387. Office of publication - 175 Davis Road, Southern Pines, NC 28387 • (910) 692-8366. Subscription rate: $15.00 non-members, no charge to members. * Denotes voting member Rebel Rouser July/Aug/Sept 2004 3 Leadership Team Membership Retention . To all Chapter Presidents: Executive VP VP Marketing & PR * A few months ago I sent the following article entitled Frank Cristina (Diane) Membership Retention to your VP of Membership or your VP of 9565 Inavale Dr Chapter Development. It discusses two very important issues: Brentwood, TN 37027-8222 H - (615) 781-2814 1. How to keep your Chapter membership from declining. Fax - (615) 834-6708 Bob Tilton [email protected] 2. The importance of Membership Teams to the overall success of your Membership Development Program. Have you and your Chapter Board made Membership Development a regular Treasurer * subject of discussion at your Board meetings? Is your Chapter one of the 36 Chapters Curt Douglass (Celeste) in the Dixie District that suffered a Membership decline during the first several PO Box 862125 Marietta, GA 30062-0001 months of 2004? H - (770) 992-5570 RECORDS SHOW THAT WE LOSE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR Fax - (770) 992-7287 [email protected] MEMBERS BECAUSE THEY FAIL TO RENEW THEIR MEMBERSHIP AT THE END OF THE FIRST YEAR! • Should we allow this to happen? Of course not! VP Music & • Why does it happen? Performance * We believe it happens because we don’t give enough attention to a cardinal Ralph Cordaro (Carolyn) rule of retention, i.e. MAKE THE MEMBERS FEEL THAT THEY ARE A 2714 Eagle Ridge Rd Marietta, GA 30062-5743 PART OF SOMETHING REALLY WORTHWHILE! H - (770) 993-8509 How do we do this? [email protected] We do this by using what I call the MOP Approach! M means to make sure that your MUSIC DIRECTOR VP Chorus knows and understands the Barbershop Style, Director knows how to teach that style to the chorus and Development * Jim Nappier (Judy) knows how to get the chorus to respond so that they PO Box 1179 work together as a team.