Member of 10,000 LAKES DIVISION – LAND O’ LAKES DISTRICT Volume 10 # 5 GNUsNews July 2005 GNU Medals in Salt Lake Congratulations are in order for the Great Northern Union (pictured above) as they took 5th place in International Competition in Salt Lake City on July 9th. It was especially sweet for the chorus as this was the 1st year for medals with the new Barbershop Harmony Society logo. The medals will be engraved on the back with Salt Lake City, 2005 and the members name. The engraving is being done free of charge as a gift by Bruce Watson. The GNU was also represented by 2 quartets at the competition. Quest made the “top 20” finishing in 20th place and After Midnight did well placing 37th. Also representing the GNU was the collegiate quartet, Expose” GNUs News July 2005 Page 2 Dear Medalists of the GNU, CHAPTER LEADERS We finally made it home President Bill Lydecker 507-934-1822(H) (temporary home) last Immediate night. I've been wearing my Past President Jim Higgins 952-848-0831(H medal every day in the car and sometimes even my Secretary Dan Vander Ploeg 612-339-2596(H) conductor hat! Am I a The Treasurer John Babbs 952-474-9404(H) nerd? Director’s Cut Performance VP Marty Monson 651-330-7587(H) This first thing I want to say Erik Dove 651-905-1605(H) is Thank You. Thank you Marketing VP Loring Harrop 952-942-0845(H) for believing you could do it and for making it happen. There are a few leaders who deserve special recognition Membership VP Don Knecht 612-926-3868(H) for their outstanding dedication in getting us prepared, but in the heat of the battle it was each and every one of Fund Development Vice President Harvey Berwin 651-698-3515(H) you on the risers who earned the medal. You are the core of the GNU and your individual commitment and Mem. At Large Art VanDeWater 715-425-6787(H) attitude got us a medal. We couldn't have done it without all light bulbs burning. Mem. At Large Tom Semple 952-403-9643(H) Mem at Large Chuck McKown 952-469-2575(H) 9th, 7th, 5th......... Can you see yourself winning a GOLD Chorus Mgr. VP Kent Erlandson 952-944-9934(H) medal in the near future? Presentation Roger Stanfield 952-440-3678(H) What will it take? The key for us right now is to take Librarian Art VanDeWater 715-425-6787(H) advantage of our new position in the ranks and ride Sunshine Keith Fransen 651-438-1342(H) the wave of momentum. We Uniforms need to post a huge score at the fall District contest, which DIRECTOR means we will continue to Pete Benson 701-642-2484(H) make the package even better by October while ASSISTANT DIRECTOR preparing for our November show with REALTIME! I am very excited about our new yearly schedule which is set Scott Kvigne 952-431-0596(H) up to maximize momentum. SECTION LEADERS Tenor Marty Monson 651-330-7587(H) What's coming up? New music. · A couple of new songs for Nov. Show. First will Lead Steve Hardy 763-757-0738 (H) be "Annie's Song" (70's tune by John Denver) Look for an email to download arrangement. Bari Jim Emery 612-824-7464(H) · 2006 International Uptune (Another Aaron Dale Bass Bob Dowma 651-631-3273(H) chart with a dance feel) · New Opener (In process by Tom Gentry) BULLETIN EDITORS Roger and Theresa Meyer 763-476-7382(H) Leadership is also in the process of making Email: [email protected] improvements to our evaluation and attendance Steve Anderson 612-866-1856(H) standards. I appreciate your eagerness to help make Email: [email protected] this group even better. Each GNU’s NEWS issue is an official publication of the Hilltop Chapter, 10,000 Lakes Division, LOL District, of SPEBSQSA, Inc. Bulletin Once again, a heartfelt Thanks. I'm so proud to be the material may be contributed by chapter members, copied from Society director of the Great Northern Union. publications, or may be borrowed from other chapter bulletins. All articles will be credited to the author. Articles not carrying a by-line have PETE been written by the editor, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the officers of this chapter. GNUs News July 2005 Page 3 The President’s Corner Chorus Manager Kent Erlandson does a superb job for us. We would be in dire straits without him or someone like him to carry out a myriad list of often thankless tasks. In fact, the better the job he does, the Kent Erlandson and Roger Stanfield received their well less we are aware of what he does. It is only when deserved 5th place medals at the pizza party after glitches and problems develop that we become aware of International. Neither man was able to be in Salt Lake many of his duties. A partial list of his duties reads as City but had done so much for the preparation of the follows (some of these may be delegated to others, but chorus’ performance there. Kent is still responsible for seeing they are carried out): Serve as project manager for chorus. 2) Arrange logistical details for rehearsals, performances and competitions - for example, rehearsal times/space, risers, etc., and communicate this information to chorus, including schedule, map, room locations, etc. 3) Plan, coordinate, and delegate details for chapter functions, such as annual banquet. 4) Inspect International hotel, rehearsal, and performance sites. 5) Locate and inspect alternate rehearsal sites (when UMCP is not available.) 6) Handle hotel and ticketing arrangements for contests. 7) Serve as contact person for chorus. 8) Attend Production Team and Board meetings. 9) Coordinate maintenance of risers and trailer. 10) Assist with Pictured above, After Midnight, Tom Matchinsky ordering, maintenance, and distribution of uniforms. (tenor), David Bailey-Aldrich (lead), Steve McDonald (bass), Jim Emery (bari), placed 37th in the His list of "to-do" items for the On to Fame show competition. includes at least: 1) Confirm date and site, distribute directions, coordinate with school staff. 2) Prepare info Pictured below, Quest, Jay Althof (tenor), Mike for technical rehearsal. 3) Arrange for risers to be Laurel (lead), Tim Milbrandt (bass), Brent Graham delivered and set up. 4) Go to site, walk through, and (bari) place 20th in their 1st International. (pictures by determine room assignments for performers. 5) Walk Lorin May) routes from room to stage. 6) Purchase supplies and make signs for rooms, hallway directions, etc. 7) Arrive early to post those signs. 8) Get rooms, passageways, restrooms and entrance doors unlocked. 9) Arrange tables, etc, for marketing display, cd sales, ticket sales. Each event has its own unique list of duties, which he does extremely well. Take a few minutes to thank him for all he does. His job does require many hours each month. You see why it was easy to decide that he should get a medal, even though he was not on stage in SLC. Bill Lydecker – GNU President GNUs News July 2005 Page 4 From the Judges Pit 1. I really enjoyed your performance. I thought that The Great Northern Young and Foolish was probably the most artistic Union is very fortunate song sung at the contest. Thank you for that. to count 9 judges among 2. The delivery of the "f" on the word "foolish" was our members. Through really nice. this column, we will get 3. The excitement you generated in this song [uptune] advice from these was pretty neat. Thanks. experts on how to 4. Nice overtone on the word "town", near the improve our individual beginning. performance. 5. Again, some really nice stuff. Great excitement and artistry. Because there are no evaluations sessions at the Another Singing judge made the following comments: International level of 1. "very artistic singing at the top, internal word swells, competition, Jim Emery classy singing." [on the ballad] talked with some of the 2. "Overall, a solid performance, very listener-friendly, no judges that were on the Salt 'apparent effort' or pervasive problems." [ballad] Lake City panel asking them 3. "I liked what I heard." [uptune] for their thoughts on our performance. The following A Presentation judge, made the following comments: is what he heard. 1. "Absolutely brilliant exposition in the [ballad] intro. Throughout the piece, the constant usage of effective One Music judge on the Salt inflection and tone color without drawing attention to the Lake City panel, came over techniques was just terrific." to me in the judging area 2. "The beautiful use of hand gesturing [on the ballad] Saturday night (I was on the practice panel for the finals) was something others could learn from, for it was not and thanked us for "the song of the contest". We didn't overdone nor repetitive." have time to really discuss it, but he said we did a 3. [uptune] "Very exciting and lots of visual support of wonderfully musical job, especially on the ballad. the text AND the subtext. The front row movements were highly energized and effective as the song began. Lots A Singing judge on the Salt Lake City panel, also came of good development in the “choo-choo” move. The bags over and commented on our "wonderful, rich sound", were a kick! Stomp tempo really handled well." again especially on the ballad. I also didn't have enough time to get any more details from him. Another Presentation judge, made the following comments: Another Singing judge on the panel, responded to my e- 1.