Official Publication of the Pioneer District May/June 2004 Volume 55, Number 3 The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. To Infinity and Beyond Gaylord draws By Joe Serwach competition as mike testers. record crowd Editor And it was only fitting that By Al Bonney Family stories continue to another Pioneer father and Pioneer Immediate dominate Pioneer District son combination would get Past President quartet contests. the most attention in 2004. Pioneer While Craig Pollard’s Though this year’s duo conventions have quartet Infinity was winning shared the same stage, they the reputation of the right to represent Pioneer each had their own quartets being fun to attend in July’s International going head to head. and professionally Quartet Championship, Craig Pollard, organized. his teenage son Wayne was himself the son of a great Judges, guests, stealing standing ovations Barbershopper, didn’t dignitaries and most with a high school quartet expected to have his own members all agree that finished t,h6 beating 15 son carry on the tradition with this assessment. quartets that shared the stage. until last fall when Wayne, The recently For more than a decade, a Farmington Hills High completed Pioneer quartet contests School student, joined a convention held in have been dominated by quartet in choir class with Gaylord April 23 – the Slamka family quartet, three classmates, forming 25 was no exception Power Play. Jack Slamka, Insignia. Craig noted that his to these rules. Now along with two sons and son dismissed Barbershop let me tell you . . . . his nephew, became the as his “dad’s music’’ until first family quartet to win his classmates inadvertently the rest of the story. Photos by Paul Howe Anyone who Top: Infinity (with Craig Pollard second from left). Above: Barbershop’s most coveted heard an Infinity practice has been to Bush Insignia (with Craigʼs teenage son, Wayne, second from left). prize in a half century, tape, deciding they wanted to League in the past Infinity won the quartet contest. Insignia came in sixth in their rising from a 1989 District sing that kind of music too. 10 or 15 years is first contest, scoring higher than 15 other quartets. championship all the way While Infinity was familiar with the great Barbershop party held on the last to the 2003 International winning the Pioneer quartet Gaylord Harmonie Meisters. They weekend of September every year. Championship. championship in October are the hosts and organizers for this So these guys are good at organizing As gold medalists, Power 2003, Insignia was just wonderful quartet contest and they do things – we already know that. Let’s Play could not compete again forming. Insignia members a great job – if you haven’t been, it is a take a look at what this together but opened the 2004 Please see Quartets page 3. Please see GAYLORD page 5. Detroit-Oakland chorus champions By Joe Serwach picked up the district ability to turn changes Editor Chorus Champion trophy into opportunities from With April’s win, directing Wayne Chapter the moment they walked Steve Sutherland in 1976, 1979, 1982 and toward the stage has directed Pioneer 1985. until the moment they District’s chorus DOC impressed left. champion seven times, people from the very DOC had more men taking the Detroit- start. While some on stage than the second Oakland chapter to its Barbershoppers lamented and third ranked choruses latest championship. the lack of a curtain at had together. Only the Photos by Paul Howe Sutherland previously this year’s contest, the Windsor Chapter, which Detroit-Oakland won the Chorus Championship over Motor City Metro. directed DOC to the 49 DOC members on put 51 men on stage to men on stage than DOC. to build a crowd, attracting championship in 2001 stage displayed their honor Windsor’s 60th Just two days after their Please seeDOC page 3. and 1987 and previously professionalism and anniversary, had more win, DOC proved its ability 2 12 May/June 2004 Pioneer Troubadour Next copy Official publication of the Pioneer District, Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. deadline: Editor: Joe Serwach, 1274 Vernier Road, Grosse Pointe, MI 48236 313-881-0531 (R) 734-647-1844 (B) — E-mail: [email protected] June 15 http://www.harmonize.com/Pioneer/pio.htm Rates quoted are for scanner- ready copy or properly formatted electronic PRESIDENT EVENTS VP Bruce Smith John Szewc Jr files. Please send check with 208 Beech St. 24749 Hickory Dr. copy, payable to “Pioneer Charlotte, MI 48813-1004 Grosse Ile, MI 48138-1619 District.” 517-541-1104 (R) (734) 676-7402 (R) Ad sizes available: [email protected] (734) 676-7402 (B) EXECUTIVE VP [email protected] Full page $100 Raleigh Bloch 2/3 page $75 2033 Wild Cherry Lane Chapter SUPPORT/LEADERSHIP VP 1/2 page $65 Kalamazoo, MI 49009 Doran McTaggart 269-375-6849 (R) 269-375-6849 (B) 1/3 page $50 890 Buckingham Quartet-size card $13 [email protected] Windsor, ON N8S 2C8 SOCIETY BOARD MEMBER 519-948-0637 (R) Quartet-size card (annual) Bob Brutsman [email protected] $55 2000 Orkla Drive Golden Valley, MN 55427-3430 MUSIC & PERFORMANCE VP 763-546-7795 (R) 763-764-4015 (B) Dan Bezaire [email protected] Troubadour PUBLISHING 354 East Puce Road, RR #1 INFORMATION CONTEST & JUDGING VP Belle River, ON N0R 1A0 Published in January, March, May, Al Fisk 519-727-5842 (R) 519-728-1212 (B) August, and November. Copy deadline: 1018 River Mist Drive [email protected] 5th of the month prior to the month Rochester, MI 48307 of publication. The Troubadour is published by the authority of the 248-651-3796 FINANCE VP [email protected] Pioneer District Association of Chapters Robb Smith of the Society for the Preservation and CHORUS DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT VP 46210 Copper Lock Lane James Ryan Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Macomb, MI 48044-6202 Singing in America, Inc. All articles 308 Harvard St. 586-307-8007 (B) not by-lined are by the editor and do Canton, MI 48188 [email protected] not necessarily reflect the opinion [email protected] of the members or officers of the MARKETING/PUBLIC RELATIONS VP YOUNG MEN IN HARMONY VP District. Space will be made available Gregory Humbel David Anderson for opposing views relevant to any issue. Nothing will be published that 2011 Frieze 39043 Cadborough Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 is in violation of the Society’s Code of Clinton Twp., MI 48038 Ethics. 734-494-3691 (R) 313-790-4598 586-286-4860 (R) [email protected] [email protected] Subscription rate for non-members: SECRETARY $6.00 annually, $1.50 for single copy. Marvin Skupski Remit check, payable to “Pioneer 34430 Spring Valley District,” to editor. Westland, MI 48185 PioNet subscriptions 734-525-2968 (R) [email protected] Address changes To subscribe to the PioNet IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Pioneer District members: DO NOT SEND at no cost, Al Bonney CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO EDITOR. e-mail your name and 12660 Sundown Lane Mailing data are furnished by SPEBSQSA, Traverse City, MI 49686 Inc., 6315 Harmony Lane, Kenosha, WI Chapter name to 231-223-4064 (R) 53143-5199. Please furnish change of address [email protected]. [email protected] to your Chapter secretary and SPEBSQSA with Visit Pioneer District Web MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT VP your name, Brian Dunckel Chapter name, Chapter and member number, site: 5872 Green Road and your old and new addresses. Copies not www.harmonize.com/ Haslett, MI 48840-9783 deliverable at the time of mailing will not be Pioneer/pio.htm 517-339-3422 (R) 517-625-3143 (B) forwarded, [email protected] 3

Best singers make you feel the song

By Joe Serwach song again. And again. matches their singing Editor And again. range or their life’s We all can learn And again. Until I experience, a song that a lot from Lansing’s absorbed that song. doesn’t really tell you Ken Gibson. It reminded me anything about who I recently listened of an early 1990s TV they are. to two mini-series on the life When Power Photo by Paul Howe of Ken’s of Frank Sinatra. As Play, a father, two Fermata Nowhere saw its score climb 110 points in six months. CDs and a young singer Sinatra sons and a nephew, QUARTETS: Infinity going to Louisville noticed a tries to sing “Stormy sang “Love at Home’’ Continued from Page 1. won six Pioneer quartet common Weather’’ and a vocal they were not just attended the District’s Hamony championships. thread instructor tells him he singing a song, they Happening weekend for more Infinity BariMike Woodruff offering can’t do the song well were telling us the than 50 high school students has won two championships an important lesson. because he simply story of their lives, March 12-13 and sang one song and Bass Scott Kitzmiller won Ken was part can’t relate to it, has who they are, why in the Lansing Chapter Show as his first with the quartet last of the legendary never experienced it, they are together. You part of that event. fall. Together they scored 1,768 1970s quartet, the felt it, known it. didn’t just hear the The boys were too young points or 73.7 percent in the Vagabonds and their Later in the film song. You shared it, to compete in this year’s spring competition. collected works were his beloved girl dumps felt it and knew it. college quartet contest (college Very close behind – just 21 just released on CD him and Sinatra, in When pre-Society contestants must be 17 or older) points and half a percentage point as his current mixed tears, runs back to his Barbershopper Ronald so decided to make a try for the shy -- was another perennial acapella group, instructor and sings Reagan became one big quartet contest. top finisher,Grosse Pointe Vocal Montage, has “Stormy Weather’’ of the most successful Perhaps fittingly, Insignia’s Chapter’s Fermata Nowhere, a new CD recently and emotes, feels it, presidents in U.S. first number on the contest stage which scored 1,747 points or recognized by the lives it, breathes it and history, his foes was Power Play’s version of 72.8 percent, their highest. Contemporary A of course, nails the derided him as “just an “Side by Side’’ and they did it so Third place went to past Cappella Recording meaning and mood of actor.’’ well that audience members leapt Pioneer District champ Four Awards as one of the the song perfectly. But Reagan knew to their feet. To beat out so many Man Fishin’ Tackle Choir and best jazz albums of the Power Play acting isn’t fake or experienced quartets to make the Top Five was rounded out by year. understood this, pretend, it’s reaching both rounds so quickly on their quartets Wildcard and Windfall. The common always singing from into your heart to re- very first try had many predicting While Infinity’s spring score thread? the heart and in the live something or pull the teens could be bound for the was eight points higher than the At least once process winning something from your top… Someday. score it won in last fall’s District while listening to each Barbershop’s highest memory, feeling and But experience still counts Quartet Championship, Fermata CD, a song I hadn’t honor. believing in your role, in Barbershop and the members Nowhere showed the greatest heard before leapt But how common transforming yourself of Infinity have worked a long amount of improvement, leaping out at me, made me is it to hear someone into the character you time to win the right to represent 110 points higher in the six listen carefully to the sing a song they can’t are trying to share Pioneer. months between the two contests, words, the message, really “get?’’ A song with the world. Infinity lead Craig Pollard from 1,637 last fall to 1,747 this the feeling, the mood, they chose because Ken Gibson gets has won three district quartet spring. The top Senior Quartet gasp and say “Wow.’’ they like it but not that. And the very best championships while Infinity winner was Brotherhood. Then I re-played the really a song that singers get that. Tenor Bruce LaMarte has DOC: Detroit-Oakland 2004 Chorus Champs Continued from Page 1. or 65.7 percent to win second place. Grosse Pointe and Pontiac-Waterford. 287 to the “Road Show’’ in Redford to Now meeting at Eastern Michigan The remaining top 19 competitors were build up membership and enthusiasm about University and dominated by EMU music Traverse City, Hillsdale, Windsor, Holland, Barbershopping. students, Motor City is by far the District’s Gratiot County, Alpena, Saginaw Bay, Sutherland’s chorus scored 807 points or 67.3 youngest chorus. Only one other chapter, Rochester and Muskegon. Host Gaylord, did percent to re-take the chorus champion’s trophy, Alpena, which put 15 men on stage, had a not compete. besting 18 other competing choruses. Two other smaller competing chorus than Motor City. choruses, Huron Valley and Macomb, which won Third place went to the relatively new Pioneer Troubadour (USPS# P000-011) is published in 2003 and 2002 respectively, were ineligible to Michiana Metro Chapter, which put 23 men bi-monthly by the the Pioneer District SPEBSQSA compete this year but sang during other portions on stage to score 757 points or 63.1 percent. 275 N. Groesbeck Hwy., Mt. Clemens, MI 48043. of the convention. Kalamazoo was in fourth place with 746 Application to mail at Periodicals postage rates is Proving that bigger isn’t always better and points following by fifth placeBattle Creek pending at Mt. Clemens, MI and additional mailing good things do come in smaller packages, Motor with 734 points or 61.2 percent. offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pioneer District SPEBSQSA, 275 N. Groesbeck City Metro, with just 16 men on stage, was just Rounding out the Top 10 choruses were Hwy., Mt. Clemens, MI 48043. 19 points behind the winner, scoring 788 points Grand Rapids, Lansing, Sault Ste. Marie, 4 Looking out and reaching out

By Bruce Smith Society documents, our someone else or some Pioneer President theme song and motto other Barbershopper, How often have you talk about a task and quartet, chapter, or heard someone say, focus quite different district to accept this or thought to yourself from the ones on which challenge. We must all that the Barbershop we currently spend sign on if we believe in Harmony the bulk of our time, our stated goals and the Society is energy, and money? power and value of our a well-kept We currently focus music in our lives, and secret? on singing better, the lives of others. How training directors, When you read often have providing a quarteting this, one refocusing you thought or said, “I experience, or holding effort will have taken wish I had known about contest and events. place. The House of this hobby sooner?” If a major portion Delegates Round Table Have you ever of the reason we exist discussion will have looked at the Society and our goals for the brain-stormed ways of Rancilio again wins Vision Statement and future are focused reaching out as well noticed that part of on impacting the as begun outlining the that statement says world outside of the action steps necessary District Bulletin Editor that we are to be Barbershop Harmony to bring several “leading the cause on Society, why are the concepts to life. of Year Competition encouraging vocal bulk of our current The product of this By Art Lane music in our schools efforts and resources small beginning will Robert Rancilio, editor of the Grosse Pointer Chapter’s and communities?” focused inside of the be disseminated to the bulletin The Pitch-Pipe, has been named Bulletin Editor of the Year for 2003 in the Pioneer District, receiving the award for a Have you noticed Barbershop family? chapters following the second consecutive year. that the Harmony The importance of convention. The honor was announced April 23 at the District’s House Foundation mission the need to be outward I challenge you to of Delegates meeting during the spring convention in Gaylord. statement says in part looking and acting was consider the wisdom Rancilio and The Pitch-Pipe also won the 2002 contest. that it is “dedicated amplified by Roger of my comments, look Rancilio shares the award with his wife, Dot, who is associate to perpetuating the Lewis when he noted at the necessity of editor of The Pitch-Pipe. The judges commended them on having Barbershop harmony that “Organizations this refocus and begin a neat, well organized bulletin with good use of headlines, plenty art form for present and that look inward grow taking action. of news and a variety of attractive feature items. The Pitch-Pipe future generations to smaller and become less Share your led the scoring in two of the three categories of judging, Content and Layout & Reproduction. enjoy?” viable, those that reach successes and failures. Second place in the bulletin editors’ contest went to Art Lane, When you hear or out become larger and Seek partners outside of the Holland Chapter’s Windmill Blade. The Blade was sing, “Keep the Whole more viable.” the Barbershop world. judged tops in Grammar and Style. World Singing,” what As the title of this The easy path forward The bulletin editors’ contest is conducted by PROBE, the comes to mind? piece says: It’s time to for all of us is to Society’s Association of Public Relations Officers and Bulletin Have you considered begin looking out and continue to remain Editors. that these often heard reaching out. focused inward. The two top entries from Pioneer District now are entered in these comments, these This is not a call for The hard work lies the International Bulletin Contest. Results of that contest will be announced at the convention in Louisville in July. 5

GAYLORD: The rest of the story.... Continued from Page 1. the districts largest convention to assisting with ushering the chapel just in time for the first little chapter that could and what in a city where no one had any and registration. chorus to warm up. they did to produce the largest experience with this sort of thing. Including our wives, we “Another incident caused and arguably most successful Let me have Erv Erickson, the had over 100 volunteers from several chuckles. One of the the Sweet Adelines, WOW college guys from JAD forgot his (widows or widowers), RSVP uniform pants and showed up in (an organization of retiree the lobby wearing a pair of white volunteers in the Gaylord sports shorts and looking for help. area), Gaylord Community The young man wore size 46 Productions, Farm Fest, family /29 pants! One of our member’s is members and friends, and seven 6’ 4” and was standing in the area members from the Traverse had on black chorus pants. His City Chapter who picked up size is 46/35. the Judges at the Traverse City Off came his pants, doubled up Airport on Friday and Detroit-Oakland Chapter won the District Chorus Championship. delivered him back to convention Pioneer has ever had. chapter president tell the next part the airport on Sunday. Robb Smith actually went of the story. More than 100 back in the records to see if the “Gaylord and the surrounding volunteers coming numbers really did break the communities responded “big from a chapter of 29 records. He had numbers back time” to our request for volunteers men! These guys have to 1981. to assist the Harmonie Meisters an enviable reputation Convention registrations (not with the Convention and Contest. and credibility in their including individual event ticket In addition to the 20 Chapter community to be able to get this kind of response, don’t you Frontrunners for the fall quartet champion- think? ship? Fermata Nowhere narrowly missed Jim Quin, winning tops honors. convention host the legs inside in hopes it would chapter chairman picks up the not show. I watched him singing story . . . . “As you know my on stage; the more he moved the son Jim (one of the non-society longer his pant legs got. Standing member volunteers) was working in the lobby watching the outside the stage door. He went performance in the boy’s white to Wal-Mart while the judges sports shorts, our guy said, “I were at their Saturday dinner and didn’t make it on stage but at least bought a printer cable to replace my pants did.” Insignia, the new high school quartet that scored so well in their first (Contest Administrator) Chuck Yes, it was a great convention time out, pose with one of their role models who also started singing at Watson’s defective one. and the little Gaylord chapter a young age: 2003 Gold Medal Lead Mike Slamka. He fixed the printer that proved that it is not size but heart sales) numbered 1,088, exceeding members who worked countless Watson was having problems and a commitment to getting the previous record in 1987 of hours, 15 wives made craft items with, and had it up and operating the job done that matters. . . . 1062 by 26. and baked bread and cookies for on his return from dinner in time that and having a lot of friends We had 21 choruses in the Barbershop shop in addition for the quartet finals. who will help out when the time attendance (19 competitors plus He also loaned comes. Macomb singing for score only his vehicle to go Thanks Jim Quin and Erv and Gaylord who had their hands back to Tree Tops Erickson – and all the folks in full running the convention to pick up a trailer Gaylord who did such a great did not compete) 20 quartets full of risers job. We are all in your debt. I am competed – this is not a record inadvertently left sure Kalamazoo looks forward to but adding the 3 college quartets behind by one of your coming south in the fall so registrants the quartet scene was a the choruses, just they can treat you as well as you busy one. minutes before the treated all of us last weekend! So, Gaylord had their hands start of the chorus full. Let’s remember, these guys competitions. Our have 29 men registered in their guys helped set Photos by up the risers in chapter and they have just hosted Joe Serwach Infinity will represent Pioneer at Internationals. 6 Harmony Happening: Barbershop’s best in 29 hours

Photos and text by Joe Serwach Troubadour Editor EAST LANSING – Most Barbershoppers remember their first SPEBSQSA experience and wish it had happened at a younger age. Imagine if your first experience was like this: Fifty-one high school boys from across Michigan met for Pionner’s first Harmony Happening, a new and improved Young Men in Harmony event that allowed them to learn two songs and choreography, learned from the Society’s best, met the 2003 International champs and performed for more than 2,000 people. All within 29 hours. Not a bad day’s work, eh? And certainly not a bad investment for a mere $35 that covered the programs, food and lodging. In recent years, the event’s predecessor had been part of the District’s Harmony Round-Up but was moved to March so the boys could take what they learned and join the Lansing Chapter’s annual show, which included Pioneer’s own 2003 International champs, Power Play. The quartet met with the boys telling their own inspiring story of the way three of the members started quarteting as boys, rising up to become the best in the world. And just to make sure they remembered what they learned, lead Mike Slamka generously gave each boy Power Play cassettes and T-shirts for FREE. Not to mention incredible training from an impressive faculty that included Jamie Carrey, Jim DeBusman, Ken Gibson, Vickie Gibson and Dave Anderson. 7 8 Pioneer Pioneer groups heading to Buckeye Youth Fund Invitatational in Columbus August 19-22 Quartet scores 1. Infinity, 1,768, 73.7% established judges present, listening addition to an expected 2. Fermata Nowhere, 1,747, 72.8 The House of Every August for audience members who 25 quartets competing in 3. Four Man Fishinʼ Tackle the past 15 years, the choose to do so may the various categories, Delegates authorized Choir, 1,689, 70.4% Singing Buckeyes have serve as entertainment we have 11 large the establishment of 4. Wildcard, 1,650, 68.8% hosted the Buckeye judges, scoring the choruses and six small the Pioneer Youth Fund 5. Windfall, 1,639, 68.3% and its April meeting in Invitational harmony competitors on the choruses entered. 6. Insignia, 1,637, 68.2% Gaylord. festival. This event is overall entertainment Our headliners 7. Showtime, 1,586, 66.1% The fund will be used an almost weeklong for the Friday night to support activities celebration of a capella show are SPEBSQSA 8. Chordiology, 1,534, 63.9% designed to introduce singing. International Quartet Alchemy (competing out of the Barbershop musical It features Champions Power District), 1,867, 77.8% style to youth in the competitions among Play and the Gas Semi-Finals menʼsʼ and womenʼsʼ House Gang and SAI Pioneer District including 9. Border Crossing, 734, 61.2% choruses and quartets, International Silver Harmony Happening. 10. Four Got to Shave, 732, 61% along with featured Medalist Chorus, The In the past it was 11. Night Shift, 722, 60.2% made possible by a performances by Pride of Baltimore. 12. Harmong Transfer, 707, 58.9 $4,000 grant which is no the worldʼs finest The Saturday night 13. Brotherhood, 702, 58.5% longer available. The loss Barbershop singers. show features MAX of this grant dramatically The Singing Q, strong contender 14. Bootleg, 681, 56.8% impacts our ability to Buckeyes are proud for the gold medal in 15. In the Neighborhood, 650 offer this program at a that the Invitational is Louisville this summer, 54.2% reasonable fee to young one of the most noted Bluegrass Student 16. My 3 Friends, 649, 54.1% singing festivals held Union, SPEBSQSA men and music educators Sidekicks is a mixed 17. Sufficient Grounds, 643, 53.6 anywhere, and is the International Quartet in our schools. quartet featuring Lansing 18. Todayʼs Special, 634, 52.8% largest event of its Champion and Chapters, quartets, Chapter members. College Quartets individual members and type presented solely Barbershop legend, 1. High Society (competing out others are encouraged to by a single chapter of value of their Brava!, 2004 Queens of District) 763, 63.6% consider donating to this SPEBSQSA. performances. of Harmony from British 2. The Extremes, 646, 53.8% fund as a part of their The Invitationalʼs The Buckeye Columbia, and the 3. AKA Pella, 639, 53.3% charitable giving. contests and Invitational includes two Buckeye Invitational Donations can be performances are held extraordinary shows, hosts, the Singing in Columbus Palace held Friday and Saturday Buckeyes Chorus, Top choruses sent to District Treasurer 1. Detroit-Oakland, 67.3% Robb Smith. Theatre. evenings of Invitational 11-time JAD Chorus 2. Motor City Metro, 65.7% The Buckeye week. Champion. 3. Michiana Metro, 63.1 % A goal of $5,000 was 4. Kalamazoo, 62.2% established for 2004. Invitational contests The Friday night Representing the 5. Battle Creek, 61.2% are unique, in that male show also includes a Pioneer Districtl will be 6. Grand Rapids, ,61% The Detroit-Oakland 7. Lansing, 60.4% County chapter has and female choruses performance by the mixed quartet Sidekicks 7. Sault Ste. Marie, 60.4% and quartets compete Singing Buckeyes High and the Michigana 9 Grosse Pointe, 59.2% made the first donation 10. Pontiac-Waterford, 58.6% designating the money in directly against each School Harmony Camp Metro Chorus and 11. Traverse City, 57.2% other. choruses. Michigan Sweet 12. Hillsdale, 57.1% excess of costs collected 13.. Windsor, 55.7% during the April’s Road Another unusual This yearʼs event Adelines groups Novelty 14. Holland, 53.9% feature of these contests promises to be one of Shop and the Shoreline 15. Gratiot County, 53.6% Show in Redford. 16. Alpena, 52.4% is that in addition to the biggest and best Sounds chorus. 17. Saginaw Bay, 52.3% the panel of certified Invitationals ever. In 18. Rochester, 51.4 % 19. Muskegon, 45.7% 9 Detroit-Oakland supports young singers

By Tom Uicker They are Tom Sklut, a senior award two more scholarships He also taught a “tag” Detroit-Oakland Chapter at U of D Jesuit High School, next year. to demonstrate the style of is proud to participate in events and Jessica Hodges, a senior at In addition to the scholarship Barbershop harmony and under under the auspices of the Berkley High School. (Young program, our YMIH chairman, the direction of the teacher, Barbershop Harmony Society’s Men in Harmony activities are Fran Durham, arranged to he acted as a clinician for the Young Men in Harmony open to all high school music have Jim DeBusman, Music remainder of the class session. programs. students). Specialist and Clinician Detroit-Oakland Chapter Detroit-Oakland has Congratulations are in order from Society Headquarters is continuing to do its part to underwritten the cost of two not only to Tom and Jessica, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, do encourage music education music scholarships this year. but also to their music teachers presentations at U of D Jesuit in the schools as we strive to Two high school seniors each Cindy Stempin and Marcy High School and Northville “Teach The Children To Sing.” received a $400 scholarship Majors. These scholarships High School while he was in in order to further their music were awarded at our March 1 the Pioneer District the week of education. Guest Night. We are hoping to March 8-12. 4 Voices! 2002 International Gold Medal Quartet, ‘96 college champs See one of the best quartets ever live… in Pioneer! Plus an original musical “Grosse Pointe: Guilty as Charged!’’

Grosse Pointe Chapter Show, September 18, 2004 Tickets available by contacting any Grosse Pointe member or call Joe Serwach at 313-881-0531 or call (313)886-SING www.gpsingers.com 10

Lansing in first online contest Harmony on the three traditional very clear, just like By Art Lane Foundation funding sources: any major university or The Pioneer District is represented in the Barbershop 1.Dues charitable organization; Society’s first online bulletin contest. The contest for chapter Reinvented! 2.Harmony Marketplace our foundation exists to bulletins distributed electronically is being conducted by Sales insure the sustainable PROBE, the Association of Public Relations Officers and By Al Bonney 3.Convention Income future of the Barbershop Bulletin Editors. With the hiring A fourth leg has been Harmony Society. Going where no Pioneer editor has competed before is Paul of a new Executive added to this heretofore 2. Reorganize the Howe, editor of the Woodshedder Weekly of the Lansing Director for Harmony wobbly three legged structure of the Chapter. He submitted 12 consecutive issues of the 2003 Foundation in February stool. A leg that makes Foundation: Woodshedder Weekly for judging at the Society-level contest. of 2003, the Harmony the stability and future • You canʼt play in the Since this is the first year of the online contest, there was no Foundation Trustees of the work we need big leagues without district-level contest. set the organization on the Society to do far big league players. Howe sends out his bulletin in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format an exciting road for all more stable: our own Clarke Caldwell was as an e-mail attachment. distribution by e-mail accounts for who love Barbershop foundation whose the first to come on more than 75 percent of the circulation of the Woodshedder Harmony and the mission it is to raise board. He has begun Weekly. Barbershop Harmony money for SPEBSQSA a campaign of hiring “I do print a few copies that I take to each chapter meeting for Society. projects. several other fundraising those few members without computers or the technophobes that I spoke of this There are three professionals. We have can’t/won’t learn how to download a file,” he said. exciting and forward fundamental changes a professional Grant Howe is an eight-year member of the Society and has been looking change at the going on right now in Writer now on the staff his chapter’s bulletin editor for about four years. He originally House of Delegates. Harmony Foundation: along with a professional published a bi-monthly bulletin while another member did a I also spoke of it 1. Refocus the development program brief weekly bulletin. somewhat more briefly beneficiary person. Soon to come When the other man had a job relocation, “In a moment of during the Quartet 2. Reorganize the will be a planned giving temporary insanity I agreed to take on the task of a weekly semi-finals on Friday structure person. bulletin. I combined both publications into one, and now only night in Gaylord several 3. Realign itself with • The offices have publish the weekly newsletter, although I like to think that it is weeks ago. For those not the Districts and the moved from Kenosha to a more comprehensive publication. present for either let me chapters. the Loop in downtown It is usually two pages, but occasionally four pages. recap these significant Letʼs look at each of Chicago. Chicago is the “Whenever possible, I try to include pictures of recent chapter changes for you here. these separately: one of the most active activities as I feel that they are important for everyone to see, The first question 1. Refocus the fundraising centers and also provide material for the chapter historian,” he said. might be, “Why?” beneficiary of the in the country. It was The results of PROBE’s initial online bulletin contest will be Because the Barbershop Foundation. This important to be located announced at the international convention in Louisville in July. Harmony Society means that the money where the action is and needs a fiscally sound raised by Harmony where the players are. and sustainable future. Foundation will now 3. Realign itself with Without a new and go to fund Society the Districts and the virulent funding source projects. We used to chapters. We have available to the Society fund Logopedics and established a new Vice Board, our organization, then we funded a range Presidentʼs job on the as we know it today, of a cappella singing District Board called will not be sustainable projects all over the the VP of Financial into the next century. country. Our beneficiary Development. I have Organizations with has not been clear for agreed to serve in this outreach and growth a good many years capacity during this goals like ours simply and that has frustrated Please see HF, Page 11. cannot succeed based many of us. It is now 11

Come to your Chapter meeting with a plan

By Doran McTaggart week? No! Do include some of them in your healthy now as we ever were. Five years ago, In my first 2004 article I talked planning. Ask your chapter members what our membership was 44 with 20-22 attending aboutplanning for success. activities they enjoy doing. our meetings. Both the Music Leadership Is your chapter meeting better than A concentrated effort brought our Team and the Chapter Board attending a Stanley Cup Final, the Super numbers up to 68 with 50 or more attending Yearly Planning Meetings Bowl, the NCAA Final Four game, the weekly. We try to keep many people involved have determined the chapter Masters, the final episode of “Friends,’’ each night to provide a variety of activities. activities for the current year the best restaurant in town followed by a Sometimes we fall short of our goal but on and hopefully beyond. Broadway Show, going bowling or playing the whole, we must be hitting the mark. None of this planning is worth very much golf? A sample of our meeting night format if your membership is not having fun at your It better be because this is your which involves 7-10 members taking a weekly Chapter meetings. The 8 Points For competition! leading role follows. The activities vary a bit Fun has been stressed at COTS for three Each time a member finds something from week to week. decades as a way to insure there is variety in he values more than attending a Chapter your meeting night format. meeting, it is that much easier to miss the 7:30 -- Welcome and “The Old Songs” The bulk of the evening is chorus rehearsal next meeting and so on. 7:32 -- Warm-ups and new songs and improving our singing skills can be a If a member is absent, is he called to find 8:15 -- Sectionals rich, rewarding and enjoyable experience. out why? 8:30 -- Barberpole Cats Planning ahead can certainly provide the Why 8:40 -- Announcements chorus with a variety of musical highs as they not? 8:45 -- Break -- 50/50 tickets on sale learn and polish chorus numbers. You 9:00 --Tag -- Repetoire Everyone enjoys the feeling of may 9:45 -- Quartets -- Octets achievement and there is no doubt that find out 9:59 -- Who’s the Winner? singing well is fun. that the 10:00 – “Keep The Whole World Singing” Other fun things that can be included highlight See you Next Week at 7:30 on time. in chapter meetings are: Warm-ups, of the Woodshedding, Craft, Barberpole Cats, meeting Up-coming events and announcements are Tags, Quartetting, Octetting and occasionally to him listed at the bottom of the schedule. singing a song all the way through without was the Let’s do what we can to make our Barbershop stopping. “Break”. Meetings the best thing since sliced bread. Now, there’s an idea whose time has This is If it’s going to happen at all, it will happen at come! the chapter meeting. Must all of these things happen each Windsor’s 60th Anniversary and we are as HF: Harmony Foundation has been changed

Continued from Page 10. artistic and educational fabric happened to the little child who It is a brave new barbershop first year. This job will insure of the communities they serve. could not speak yet benefited world we live in these days. that the goals and strategies of • Presidentʼs Council: This from our financial gifts each Harmony Foundation is providing the Harmony Foundation serve is the man who will spearhead year? Harmony Foundation back a vibrant and courageous new role the needs and capabilities of the the annual giving programs, in those days had a FACE. We in it for our benefit today and for chapters and the membership. and particularly help drive the know who we were giving to and the benefit of Barbershoppers for He will have a committee of four new Presidentʼs Council. The our gifts made sense to us. years to come. I welcome your men: Presidentʼs Council provides Harmony Foundation has a face questions and the opportunity to • Grant writer who will write significant recognition to those once again- discuss any of these changes with grants to bring money to the men and women who give in •Faces of youth singing our anyone interested. Believe me; District to fund activities like excess of $1000 per year to songs in Harmony Explosion the opportunities that Harmony our Youth Festival or various Harmony Foundation. Camps all over the country. Foundation will provide to our coaching clinics. Mike Moyer has • Planned Giving: We now •Faces of educators teaching beloved Society in the years to this job. call this the Founderʼs Club. our youth by using the come will be significant. I am •GrantEducator: who will While the name will remain, the barbershop tools that they learned proud to be part of this today and provide training to the chapters program will evolve into a more while attending Harmony College. I know you will look forward to to help them write their own beneficial program for the Society, •Faces of directors providing including Harmony Foundation grants and fund the kind of searching for a large number of better leadership and musical in your family annual charitable activities in their communities Barbershoppers who will make growth for their chapters because giving plan for years into the that will make them exciting end of life bequests of the scholarships funded by future. and relevant participants in the All this change is fine, but what Harmony Foundation. 12

Two-time champion recalls road to his many medals...

By Glenn Van Tassell training. notice in my mailbox and I was Orleans in 1971. Lucky kid, this Glenn Van After two seasons I left the off to the U.S. Army, for a tour in In late 1980, Center Stage Tassell, when I was just 15, tour in Detroit, and at a chapter West Germany where, of course, was formed with lead Dennis Gordon Whitcomb, a bass in meeting there hooked up I sang with another quartet, this Gore, tenor Wendell Pryor, bass my choir at Fairview Methodist with then district champs, the time with Floridian, Roy Dean, Lee Hanson and me on baritone. Church in Binghamton, N.Y. brother of Jesse Dean. We quickly scored as 4th place decided to form a quartet for a Back from military service bronze medallists in 1981 and church function. in late 1959, at a meeting with took 2nd place, silver medals in Along with the hymns, he several interested singers and 1982, 1983 and 1984 and 7th in just happened to slip in a few some trusted coaches the Auto 1985. We never quite reached the Barbershop arrangements and Towners (there’s that Motor City top, but it was a great ride with thus was born my first quartet, theme) began and surprise! - - - I wonderful friends. the Excelsior Four. was standing in the lead slot. I moved to Florida in 1986 Not surprisingly, Gordon, We competed from 1961 to and in 1990, competed at a member of the local Wolverines who were holding 1966. Al international Chapter, suggested that we attend auditions for a new baritone. Rehkop contest with a meeting and the harmony hook The Wolverines’ tenor was Al joined us Florida Transfer was firmly implanted. That was Rehkop. You’ll notice that name at tenor in (top 20), 1992 1950. comes up later in my quartet 1965 and we with Starlight I joined the Chapter right th activities. You see my single scored 4 Express and in away and I have never ceased to claim to genius is that I have been place, bronze, 1993 and 1994 in be involved in music, particularly careful to associate with great winning the top 20 with Barbershop music. After high singing partners. the gold in Shenanigans. school, and an impromptu We competed in 1954 and Chicago in Quite a audition, I began touring the made the top 20. I moved on 1966. quartet odyssey, I suppose, yet I United States and Canada with a next with the Treble Makers In 1969, the Auto Towners also was privileged to function as professional group known as The and competed in 1955 and 1956, disbanded and Gentlemen’s a certified judge for 15 years and American Male Chorus. again scoring in the top 20. Agreement began. I was back to coach and direct throughout We sang everything from In 1957, with ------brace to baritone with Drayton Justus the Society. I have traveled the Bach to Begin the Beguine. I was yourselves, the Combust-A- as lead. world, but the best of it all is the a baritone soloist and I enjoyed Chords (Remember, that was in Bob Whitledge was the great relationships formed and the privilege of daily group Detroit, the Motor City) I sang bass and again, Al Rehkop was maintained to this day with so voice lessons with the director, lead this time. the tenor. We were fourth place many fine people I encountered . Only years Lewis Bullock I came home from the Los bronze medallists in 1970 after throughout the journey. later, as a quartet singer, did I Angeles contest to find a draft only seven months together truly appreciate the value of that and won 1st place gold in New PIonet to switch providers soon The Pioneer District’s e-mail controls against spam, only 10 notified when the new list is mail for this announcement. Also list, PioNet, will be moving, subscribers can be transferred activited for e-mail. check PioNet mail frequently for probably sometime in June. each day; so the process will take Much work has gone on any updates, and of course for the The list has been hosted for several weeks. behind the scenes to prepare for changeover announcement -- and more than seven years by the What will this mean to this move, and more still needs to remind others to do the same. server at Humber College in subscribers? be done. PioNet co-operator Matt Meanwhile, if you’ve Ontario. Humber now must use -- Each day after the transfer Tipton of Macomb -- who runs appreciated the free service its server fully for the college; it begins, 10 subscribers will several Yahoo lists and overall Humber college has offered since no longer will host lists such as receive an automated “Welcome’’ is happy with Yahoo as a list Feb. 1, 1997, say thanks to our PioNet. message from Yahoo. provider -- is a key resource and tecchie contact there: Humber also used to host -- DO NOT try to respond to helper in this transfer. Harmonet, which had to move these notices. There may be glitches,but David Green, to Yahoo 4 years ago. PioNet -- DO NOT try to post any they’ll try to make this as [email protected] operator Jim Styer set up a message to a new PioNet address seamless and painless as possible successor at Yahoo 4 years ago on Yahoo. It will be rejected. for users. If you have any questions, or and has renewed it periodically Until the transfer is complete, PLEASE announce this want to join PioNet, contact Jim just for this eventuality. the Humber College address will change at your chapter meetings. Styer at [email protected]. Now, PioNet is preparing to continue to be used. Ask everyone who doesn’t get on make the move. But, because of -- PioNet subscribers will be line frequently to check his/her e- 13 14 U-M experts: How to keep your voice young and healthy. . . ANN ARBOR -- Will your Day home page, www.entnet.org/ • Does your voice get “tired” spasmodic dysphonia, which voice always be there for you? If news/voiceday.cfm. easily? results from spasms in the you’ve been sounding hoarse for That page, sponsored by • Do you repeatedly clear your muscles that open or close the a while, or you have to strain to the American Academy of throat? vocal cords when you speak. This talk, or your throat often is sore Otolaryngology - Head and Neck • Do people regularly ask you if condition can be treated with or needs clearing, you may have you have a repeated Botox injections that a problem. cold when prevent the spasms and improve And it’s better to raise your you do not? voice quality. concern with your doctor now • “In order to determine the than wait for it to get worse, Have you cause, your doctor may refer says a University of Michigan lost your you to an ear, nose and throat Health System expert who ability to hit specialist, or otolaryngologist, specializes in voice disorders. some high who can perform thorough exams That’s especially true if you notes when using tools such as a tiny camera rely on your voice for your singing? that films video of your vocal work, whether it’s teaching, cords and larynx in action,” says preaching, singing or just • Hogikyan. leading meetings. Do you have For people whose voices “Early attention to changes difficulty are central to their work, a in your voice can accelerate swallowing, multidisciplinary evaluation can the diagnosis and treatment of or persistent be very helpful. At the U-M everything from vocal cord sore throat Vocal Health Center , this type of nodules to throat cancer,” says or pain with assessment includes a physician Norman D. Hogikyan, M.D., Colllege champs swallowing? examination, plus evaluations by who directs the U-M Vocal Do you have a speech pathologist and voice Health Center . “And early The Extremes difficulty training specialist. detection often can mean better These young Barbershoppers represented Eastern Michigan breathing, The Vocal Health Center chances for recovery — and University and the University of Michigan pain in your clinical staff includes experts less time without a healthy Surgery, also contains helpful ear or a lump from the U-M Health System and voice.” information on recognizing and in your neck? the U-M School of Music. Freda Many times, U-M sees understanding common voice The cause of these symptoms Herseth, D.M., chair of the Voice people who have suffered for problems and their treatment. could be one of many Department at the U-M School months or years with disruptions “The bottom line is, if you’ve possibilities – some benign, some of Music, works with such to their voices, and went without had a change in your voice dangerous. For example, it could patients at the U-M Vocal Health an adequate exam to find the root that lasts a while, especially if be a side effect of acid reflux, Center to help them adopt healthy cause. And when laryngeal, or you smoke or use your voice which can harm your vocal cords speaking and singing habits. throat, cancer is to blame, delays professionally, see a doctor with acid from your stomach. Or Hogikyan and Herseth have can be deadly. immediately,” he says. “Listen it could be a polyp or nodule on also teamed up to produce an That’s why Hogikyan wants carefully to your voice if it’s your vocal cords, caused by over- educational video, “The Living to spread the word about the complaining to you: it may save using your voice or using it when Voice,” which actually shows importance of recognizing voice your voice or even your life.” you have an infection that causes their own vocal tracts during problems and getting prompt Hogikyan, an associate temporary laryngitis. singing and speaking, and attention. He emphasizes that professor in the Department Or, the nerves that connect to teaches students about how effective treatments are available, of Otolaryngology at the U- your larynx (voice box) could the voice works. Many music and range from voice rest and M Medical School and in the have been damaged during an educators have used it in voice therapy to microsurgery Division of Vocal Arts at the U-M operation, a fall, an accident or class, with students from grade and injections of botulinum toxin, School of Music, explains that a an infection – a condition called school through college. More or Botox, into the vocal folds. few questions can help. vocal cord paresis or paralysis. information on the video and Hogikyan developed a Ask yourself: If you’re a smoker or a how to order it, is available on measuring tool for voice-related • Has your voice become hoarse heavy drinker, it could be the Vocal Health Center ‘s web quality of life, a questionnaire or raspy,? or low and gravelly? or laryngeal cancer. That’s a serious site. that assesses how much of a airy and breathy? diagnosis, and treatment options To learn more about the problem a person’s voice disorder • Does your throat often feel raw, include radiation, surgery and/or U-M Vocal Health Center, or is causing for them. He uses it achy or strained? chemotherapy, but survival rates the Living Voice video, visit in his research and clinic, and • Has it become an effort to talk? are excellent if it is caught early. www.med.umich.edu/oto/ it’s available online as a “Voice • Is your voice unreliable, or Less commonly, you vocalhealthcenter or call 734- Quiz” through the World Voice “hard to find”? could have a condition called 432-7666. 15

Save the best for last! QUARTET SINGING ORDER -- LOUISVILLE Singing order draw held in Kenosha The draw for quartet singing order for the quarter-finals in Louisville= was held Monday, May 3. The results are as follows: DRAW QUARTET DIST 1 Ringside DIX Need proof singing keeps 2 Keep ‘Em Guessin’ CAR you young? John 3 3 Men & A Melody CSD Wearing is 79. 4 Hi-Fidelity FWD 5 Finale FWD 6 Sold Out EVG Ponitac-Waterford honors ‘the 7 MatriX JAD 8 Reveille NED 9 Reprise RMD Dick Clark of Barbershop’ 10 McKinley Street Function SWD 11 Hot Air Buffoons JAD 12 Category 4 SUN By John Cowlishaw (bari) of Pontiac/Waterford strokes and is now living at 13 Sterling SWD The Big Chief Chorus joining Jonathon Botkin (tenor) “Sunrise of Clarkston.” 14 Riptide DIX welcomes its new director, from Rochester. Grosse Pointeʼs Wayne Chene organized our 15 Rounders SUN Jim Troeger. Jim is featured John Wearing was awarded Valentines Sing Outs. We had 16 You Bet! JAD in the April Smoke Signals, “Honorary Big Chief” by Russ 48 paid gigs, and cleared about 17 Overture DIX available online at http: Seely (2003 H.B.C.) and Steve $1,850. The feedback from 18 Phat Cats MAD //www.pontiacchapter.com/ Sutherland (2002 H.B.C.) clients attests to the wonderful 19 State Line Grocery DIX apr2004.htm. Russ had some nice things job done by our four chapter 20 O.C. Times FWD Our 48th Annual Woodshed to say about John, a Pioneer Hall quartets - Harmony Knights, 21 Union Station ONT Contest was held Friday evening, of Famer who has consistently Sunnyside, Four Wheel Drive and 22 The Fixx ONT April 2, with its rule that quartets competed year after year in Celebration. 23 Storm Front RMD are limited to two members of the quartet and chorus. contests The Our second annual Spring 24 Genesis DIX same chapter or registered quartet. Flint Chapter was presented the Training Singing Retreat was 25 Bravo! LOL Here is Dick Johnsonʼs report: Bennington Trophy plaque for held, March 26-8 at Ralph A 26 Wheelhouse MAD 27 Wise Guys SUN Fifty-three barbershoppers their winning participation in last MacMullan Conference Center, on 28 Flipside EVG filled Waterfordʼs Pontiac Country yearʼs contest. the north shore of Higgins Lake. 29 Cooligans SWD Club forming thirteen quartets to Next year, the Rochester Thirty-seven of us gathered 30 Flashpoint EVG test their woodshedding abilities Chapter will be awarded for their for fun, fellowship, and improved 31 Yankee Dime MAD before this yearʼs judges, Night wining participation in 2004. singing. Ross Ensign introduced 32 Impulse JAD Shift. M.C. Len Barnes made The night was capped with Jim the Stage Presence Moves for our 33 Harmonix SLD sure all quartets got a chance to Troeger directing the Big Chief two contest songs, “Back in the 34 Q FWD be judged. Russ Seely, Steve chorus in a couple of songs and Old Routine” and “Old St. Louis.” 35 Realtime EVG Sutherland and Jim Troeger comments from Steve Sutherland Saturday night, we had our 36 Smackdown DIX warmed up the group by directing thanking the Pontiac/Waterford intra-chapter show, with the Blues 37 Road Show NED songs of their choice. Chapter for keeping the Woodshed led by Len Barnes, the Greens led 38 Sound Crew BABS Then the fun began. Contest going that Bill Pascher by Bruce Brede, the Blacks led by 39 My Three Sons SUN The quartet that won the started 49 years ago. Keep The Jeff Doig, and the Yellows led by 40 Odds On JAD coveted badges was Sintones: Whole World Singing!!! Bill Nevaux dueling it out. 41 Broadway FWD Russ Seely (bari) and Joe Recent barbershoppers of the Don Bazely of Sault Ste. Marie 42 Rhythmix JAD Serwach (lead) from Grosse month have included: (February) was our coach this year. He taught 43 12th Street Rag CSD Pointe and Mike Frye (tenor) and Ross Ensign, for his work on us the Barbershop Cone. 44 L’Audible SWD 45 Max Q SWD Roger Holm (bass) from Pontiac/ CDʼs and tapes and other work on The cone reminds us that 46 Metropolis FWD Waterford, singing “Love Me the music committee; and (March) higher pitches require less volume 47 Alchemy ILL and the World is Mine.” Mike Frye, for his work as and more head tone. We stayed 48 Vocal Magic EVG The quartet that was Tagmeister and section co-leader in Lake Erie, Huron, and Ontario 49 The Exchange CAR awarded the “Ringersʼ Ribbons” and for his new tag, “Autumn cabins, and once again serenaded 50 Saturday Evening Post SWD was Imagination: Tom Leaves.” the hearing-impaired folks. Hard 51 Gotcha! FWD Blackstone (lead), Ross Ensign Founding BCC member Bill to believe that there was still half 52 Infinity PIO (bass) and John Cowlishaw Pascher has had several mini- a foot of snow on the ground. 16 Market your Take these steps to become a judge chapter one By Al Fisk The Category Specialist will review the package Contest & Judging VP and make his recommendation. If he approves the day at a time Here are the steps to becoming a judge. This application, he will send your name to Kenosha. By Greg Humbel form letter will give you some idea of the process You will have achieved APPLICANT status, and VP Market and PR involved. can begin receiving tests. Marketing and public relations Please don’t let the form letter format Linda Neuenfeld, [email protected], will always be a key component in overshadow the pleasure I have in answering your is the staff member with whom you need to the growth of our hobby. inquiry. You are about to enter a communicate regarding training materials, tests On the Society, district or chapter wonderful part of the Barbershop and costs. If, for some reason, the CS does not level, we struggle with good world. accept your application, an explanation of the ways to promote our love for music The philosophy for selecting new reasons will be given to you. and to share our infatuation with applicants is to look for people who After the General Knowledge test, and this art form with everyone we meet. have the personal experiences and Category written test(s), and after practice-scoring We need to continually develop new current activities that already qualify and taped evaluation sessions have been reviewed and exciting ways to promote our them to be judges, and then train by the Category Specialist, you may be invited choruses, quartets, shows, guests them in using those skills in the judging program. to attend the next judge training class (Applicant nights and charitable mission. This mandates that you are doing your own School - August 2005) prior to Harmony College Each of us needs to do our part to preparation, that you are aware of what judges do, in St. Joseph, Missouri. With a passing grade from get guests to a chapter meeting or and that you only need some technicalities and the class, you become a CANDIDATE. guest night. Each chapter must stay some polishing. Obvious qualifications are people As a candidate, you will be expected to practice- focused on providing an exciting skills, and experience in coaching both quartets score a number of taped performances, and to chapter meeting with something and choruses. Specific categories have particular attend contests as a practice judge. These practice available for each member to enjoy. concerns--for instance, music judges are often also scores and your taped evaluation sessions will be I continue to be convinced that arrangers. sent to the Category Specialist, and shared with the we do a pretty good job of retention Talk with judges, coach often, spend time in the certified judges of your category, the DVP, C&J of of our membership once we get an judging area, involve yourself with the judge-type the contest district, and your own DVP, C&J. interested man in the door. activities, and when you think you are ready, begin By the way, if you can become a candidate Your job, if you choose to accept the following process. during the first year of a cycle, you have more time it, will be to receive a man of There are several steps, and several different to practice, which is very helpful for next step. note award at least once a year people involved. Obviously, as chairman of contest When that time comes (every three years, the because you shared your excitement activities in the Pioneer District, I am involved. next one being 2007), the Category Specialist of your hobby. The next person who has a say in all of this will invite you to attend Category School, in St. I will guarantee you that if you is the Category Specialist, who is given the Joseph, Missouri, scheduled the week before ask someone in your chapter with responsibility of shepherding and guiding his Harmony College.Upon satisfactorily completing several man of notes on their lapel category. the Category School, you are certified for a three- how the were able to do it, they Finally, there is the Society Contest and Judging year period. All judges are invited back to the next would tell you that they bring up Committee who recommends you to the Society Category School in order to certify for another their hobby in their every-day President, the one who actually signs the certificate, three-year session. conversations and think nothing of along with the SCJC chairman. It really is a big This sounds like a lot, and it seems to take it! deal. Here’s the process: a long time. The lengthy process serves two Try this: Make 10 personal The first step is for you to request two judges in purposes: The first is that you have lots of contacts in a day, week, or month. the category in which you are interested to write experience in practice judging and in evaluation Share your hobby with five of you a letter of recommendation. They should send before you get to the real thing. them and you will have two people those letters to: Al Fisk, Pioneer District VP C&J, The second is that we really do depend greatly minimum to bring to your next guest 1018 River Mist Drive, Rochester, MI 48307. upon our judging cadre to preserve and encourage night. Itʼs marketing!! Itʼs a numbers Then, fill out the application form (that you barbershop. This is not something to be taken game. can get from me) and return it to me, at the above lightly. It is a large responsibility to encourage and Share your hobby today!! address. assist even the poorest of contestants; it may be an Further, and very simply, display I will contact your references by mail, and even greater task to motivate and help the almost- something barbershoppy as you upon receiving the replies, make up a package of champions. meet other people: Use your MBNA materials to send to the Category Specialist with Welcome to this task. It is a demanding and barbershop credit card. Wear my recommendation that you be considered or not rewarding responsibility. It is a privilege to serve barbershop stuff, like your “Singing be considered as an APPLICANT to the judging your fellow barbershoppers in this very necessary is life ... the rest is just details” program. and sometimes unappreciated role. button In the unlikely event that my recommendation As you progress through the various stages, Please see Marketing, Page 18. is negative, I will include an explanation of my please know that I am here to assist in whatever reasons for such a recommendation, and a copy way I can. If I can answer questions, or if I can will be sent to you. In this case, no news is good help in some way, please ask. I am ready to work news. with you as you move forward. 17 2004 PIONEER DISTRICT FALL CONVENTION OCT 15-17, 2004

CONVENTION REGISTRATION ***PLEASE FILL IN NAMES AS YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO APPEAR ON YOUR BADGE(S)*** **REGISTRANT NAME ______**SPOUSE/GUEST NAME ______ADDRESS ______E-mail:______CITY ______STATE _____ZIP ______PHONE ______(Area Code) **COMPETING QUARTET? YES NO QUARTET NAME ______

**COMPETING CHORUS? YES NO CHORUS NAME ______

**CHAPTER NAME ______**VOICE PART: TENOR LEAD BARITONE BASS

EARLY REGISTRATION: $25.00 PER PERSON LATE REGISTRATION: $30.00 PER PERSON EARLY REGISTRATION MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN Oct 1, 2004 FEE FOR _____PERSONS @ $25.00/$30.00 TOTAL REGISTRATION FEE: ______MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: PIONEER DISTRICT SPEBSQSA, INC.

OR: MASTER CARD OR VISA NUMBER ______EXPIR. DATE____/____

MAIL CONVENTION REGISTRATION FORM AND FEE TO: Robert Smith Jr. 46210 Copper Lock Lane Macomb, MI 48044-6202 All Events passes will not be mail to you. Please pick them up at the convention registration desk, located in the Kalamazoo Radisson Plaza Hotel (Headquarters). Partial registrations will available at the convention’s registration desk : The cost for each single event registrations is $15. Children 12 and under Free.

Each member of a competing quartet or chorus must be registered for an all-events pass. Failure to do so will disqualify the quartet or chorus from the contest. REFUND POLICY: REGISTRATION FEES WILL BE REFUNDED TO PERSONS CANCELING IN WRITING PRIOR TO THE 11:00 OPENING ON FRIDAY. District convention facilities are handicap accessible. Please indicate any special requirements you need to fully participate. ______

Information marked with a ** is important and is used to create your convention name badge 18 Power Play in Bay City on June 2 Jim Grogan honored as Barbershopper SAGINAW BAY By Ralph Brown of the Year It appears that we are going to have one of the Grosse Pointe Chapter mem- best years of Barbershop Singing than we have bers gathered at the Blossom seen in a number of years. Heath to surprise Program We are blessed with a ‘GOLDEN’ opportunity Vice President Jim Grogan and his wife, Barb, award- to bring our music venue to the heart of ing him the chapterʼs highest ‘PIONEER’. We have the Champs that not only honor for all his tireless work sing from the heart, but, think from the heart. to make numerous events We have all talked about the importance of successful. getting youth more involved and they are doing Photo by M.E. McLean just that. On June 2, we will have a special performance in Downtown Bay City aimed at getting young MARKET : Spread word about your chapter singers exposed to our style of music. Continued from Page 16 Power Play is participating and are sure to from Society President Roger Lewis. Eventually, someone will comment on it, or it will capture the musical inclinations of our youth give you an excuse to bring up the subject. And you can take it from there whenever you and get them started on a musical journey of find a man who likes to sing... or his wife! Barbershop Singing. As you move forward to your next function or event, ask yourself if the membership We have a lot of musical talent in our valley component has been addressed. Ask, what do I do here? just waiting for the spark we intend to give them. Grow membership! Our Chapter has had the best Valentine Event ever. With four quarters on the road. Hundreds of school children loved our songs and enjoyed the surprised looks on the faces of Muskegon helps ‘Charlie Brown’ production their teachers and classmates. In one instance the quarter sang to a music teacher and then had the class sing to them; Great Stuff! By Frank Scott performances and reviewed the show in his Despite the poor economy, this weekly chapter publication, The Melodic Again this year we had our “Annual St. yearʼs Singing Valentines program was Paddy’s Day Thaw” show and had higher successful. The final total will be over 80 Diphthong. John said “The writer was there for the Thursday and the Saturday receipts, in part due to an increase in participation thanks to a great chapter effort. Bob OʼBrien, handled scheduling performances and discovered an unusually by more Chapter Members, and, also a growing good production rivaling the Cherry interest in our style of singing by the community and did a great job. We had three chapter quartets, Harmony Transfer, Act Four County plays. The singing was exact and at-large. and Harbour Town Sound plus a group we need to compliment Tim, Andrew, and put together by treasurer, Barry Hall. Ian for their tonal qualities. Including some substitutes who filled The play had a good supporting pit in for men who, band, timing was also exact, had to work acting was superb, and the or other prior audience was entertained. Also in commitments, we the production was John Tylerʼs had 20 singers grand daughter, Michele Vander involved. A great Molen, who played Peppermint experience for Patty and was also stage manager. some of our new Those of the chorus who members. attended were thrilled and proud Prior to of a very good solid performance the weekend by our “kids”.. of Harmony Fifteen members of the chorus Happening we took advantage of the coaching learned that three session at MSU. on March 6. We of our major area all agreed it was a very worth high schools had while session. Lots of good musical productions. Fruitport High singing tips from three very knowledgeable School had a three night production of coaches. “Your a Good Man Charlie Brown”. Six- We felt it was well worth the effort year chapter member, Tim Hall, played and I believe I can remember some of the leading role as “Charlie Brown.” Also the instructions! Dave Buchan is the in the production were Andrew Kitchka, chairman for the 64th annual Chapter show as Schroeder and Ian Hanes, as Linus. scheduled for September 25. The chorus is Andrew and Ian are also singing with us. learning new show songs with some great President John Tyler attended two arrangements. 19

REQUEST FOR HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS Pioneer District Association of Chapters Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites KALAMAZOO, MI October 15-17, 2004 Please fill out this form and mail to the Kalamazoo County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 346 W. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3737 or fax to (269) 343-0430. One form for EACH room must be submitted. Please indicate your preference: Hotel Single Double Suites Please indicate your first & second choice Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites (HQ) $89.00 $89.00 $130-145* ______Country Inn & Suites $70.00 $70.00 N/A ______Fairfield Inn East $59.00 $59.00 N/A ______Quality Inn & Suites $59.00 $59.00 N/A ______

*Call Radisson directly (269) 343-3333 for a full description of suite configurations. **Room Rates do not reflect 11% state and local taxes. ______To guarantee your room, please provide the credit card information below. If credit card information is not provided, your room will NOT be reserved.

Name on card: ______

Card # : ______

Please Circle: Visa Card Master Card Discover Card Expiration Date ______

Signature ______

One room will be reserved for: (print clearly in pen)

Name: ______Date of Arrival: ______Date of Departure: ______Address: ______Number of people in room: ______

City: ______State: ______Zip:______E-mail: ______

Day Phone: ( ) ______-______Name of other guest(s) in room: ______Evening Phone: ( ) ______-______1-Bed ______2-Beds ______

Preference for Smoking ______Non-Smoking ______

Please indicate if you are physically challenged or need special requirements:

You will receive an acknowledgement from the Kalamazoo County Convention & Visitors Bureau within two weeks. If you do not hear from us within two weeks please contact the housing department at (800) 530-9192 (USA Only) or (269) 381- 4003. You may also e-mail us at [email protected]. 20

2004 CALENDAR: Spring 2004 Senior Upcoming events May 1 winners: Brotherhood Windsor Chapter Show May 7 Holland Chapter Show May 14-16 Harmony Round-Up May 15 Grand Rapids Chapter Show Flint Chapter Show May 21 Wayne Chapter Show May 22 Macomb Chapter Show May 23 Hillsdale Chapter Show June 4-5 Traverse City Chapter Show June 27 - July 4 International Convention, Louisville, KY September 18 Grosse Pointe Chapter Show Gratiot County Chapter Show September 24-26 Bush League October 15-17 District Convention - Kalamazoo October 30 Rochester Chapter Show November 5-7 Leadership Forum November 6 Pontiac-Waterford Chapter Show November 20 Huron Valley Chapter Show December 9 Grosse Pointe Christmas concert 2005 January 8-9 COTS February 18-19 Detroit-Oakland Chapter Show March 12 Lansing Chapter Show