INSIDE: Storm Front Exposed • Farewell Ed Watson • Benchmark Wows Australia • Harmony Foundation July/August 2011 July/August 2011 VOLUME LXXI NUMBER 4 MATT BOSTICK 22, 26 TWO DEPARTURES OF NOTE. Ed Watson expressed regret at slow- ing but not reversing the Society’s membership decline, but in so many ways, he left the Society in much better shape than the tumul- tuous conditions he inherited. Storm Front has ended its reign as International Champion, so there’s no better time than now to “ex- pose” the secret of their success: They owe it all to their fathers. Features Job requirements for new CEO News from Harmony Foundation 12 With the retirement of Ed Watson, the Society is 20 Major donors to the Youth Chorus Festival are looking for a new CEO/Executive Director. See if joined by a record-setting growth to Ambassadors you or someone you know has what it takes. of Song. The youth couldn’t be more grateful STAFF Chapter Achievement winners 14 Some sing better than others, but these 10 chapters Benchmark wows Australia show that a winning chapter experience comes from 25 Cancer almost prevented this seniors quartet from doing a lot of things well in their communities helping barbershop take the nation by storm as one VARIOUS of the finalists on “Australia’s Got Talent” MELANIE CHAPMAN On the Cover Winners of the 2010 Chapter Departments Achievement Program 2 10 THE PRESIDENT’S PAGE HARMONY HOW-TO Harold Hill is returning—now make it happen Why you over-sing and what you can do about it 3 31 STRAIGHT TALK STAY TUNED A rare opportunity to serve the Society ¡Bienvenido Spanish Barbershop Singers! 4 Listen to the preacher in four-part harmony LETTERS 30 Northland Chorus, Encouragement and Da Capo MEMBER SERVICE DIRECTORY 5 Where to find answers TEMPO 32 Kansas City crowns new champions, makes history THE TAG Youth: Add Carnegie Hall to your bucket list “Friendship and Love” July/August 2011 • The HARMONIZER 1 THE PRESIDENT’S PAGE Alan Lamson, Society President • [email protected] Harold Hill is returning—now make it happen! We usually create our own luck no time. Sound familiar? Christian kept him on the few weeks ago, a friend told me about a “marvelous” chapter mailing list, but after years of sending Norman experience in which “the planets came together.” He notices of shows, Christian was ready to remove him went on and on about the impact this experience had from the list. Well, Norman’s time has freed up and he on him. The actual event and the people involved is back singing on the risers. Christian’s charge to us: Aare less important than the fact that he truly believed “Never give up and never surrender!” this event occurred by happenstance. He could not see what was obvious to me—that by his actions and Operation Harold Hill is coming back in 2012 choices, he had caused this to happen. For those who remember back to 1996, we will be Many of us can quote a line used by the Blue- rolling out a new and upgraded version of Operation grass Student Union (1978 champs) in their great Harold Hill starting on Jan. 1, 2012. This campaign is stage shows: “There are three kinds of people in the devoted to making your chapter successful in its mem- world: Those who make things happen, those who bership growth plans. Resources of the Society will be watch what happens, and those who wonder, ‘What directed toward those chapters who want to succeed happened?’” How many of us wonder at events in and agree to work hard to succeed. Success which everything just seemed to come together will come to those chapters that create a perfectly, and we fail to realize that we created much community of success within their chap- of our own luck ... and that we could do it again? ter, that plan for this and coordinate (Or, when an endeavor fails, throw up our hands in their efforts, that persevere throughout defeat as if we lacked the power to take corrective the year, and that use this esprit de corps action and succeed the next time?) with prudence and discretion to achieve their goal for membership growth. Opera- tion Harold Hill grew the Society in We need leaders at all levels Item# 204523, $1.79 each at I wonder how we could make our Society 1996, and we can do it again. www.harmonymarketplace.com a larger group of the kind of men who This is not a contest. This is not make good things happen. Many of our a program that pits chapter against chapter. This is members are already in that group, and a campaign that provides the support you and your many of our longer-term members have chapter will need to reach your goals and that provides been in that group and are now the reward of growing your chapter for the first time This is not a contest. content to reap the benefits of in __ years (you fill in the number) or of growing your many years of making things chapter more than you have in the past year or two. This is a campaign happen. To all of them we give Capitalize on the spirit that your involvement in a that provides the our thanks. Society-wide program will create in your chapter and As leaders—and by that term I other neighboring chapters. support you and include every member who takes Start planning now and be ready to enroll in Opera- your chapter will on a duty or responsibility for his tion Harold Hill as a chapter. Enroll as a member who chapter, his district, or the Soci- is willing to commit a year or more to seeing that your need to reach your ety—we need to create a spirit of chapter grows with new members who will provide goals, with the re- community within our chapters more singers and more involved doers for your chapter. and within the Society that seeks Their involvement will add more fuel to the fires of ward of growing to nurture and amass our individual enthusiasm that you have created by getting involved spirits to the greater good. in a Society-wide campaign to finally grow our Society. your chapter. I am fascinated by the Civil War, Your Society and your districts can provide the sup- and am continually impressed by how the winning port and help supply the resources. But each of you, officers were not necessarily the most experienced or each member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, most highly decorated. The victor was usually the one must step up to accept the challenge to grow your who had better planned and coordinated efforts, who chapter. Can we count on persevered, and who used the spirit of his army with each of you to make it hap- prudence and discretion. pen? I think we can. No, I Christian Hunter, VP for membership in the Mid- know we can. Atlantic District, recently shared a story about Nor- man, who visited Christian’s chapter several times some 20 years ago but never joined. Norman was start- ing his own business, had a young family and he had [email protected] 2 The HARMONIZER • July/August 2011 STRAIGHT TALK Larry Deters, Acting Executive Director • [email protected] A rare opportunity to serve the Society irst, let me say how humbled I am to have been se- contacts with members and the community. The city lected to fill the Acting Executive Director position of Nashville is glad we’re here and considers us to be a until a full-time replacement is chosen. As a 41-year valuable part of “Music City, USA”. member of the Society, this is a rare opportunity to The main focus here is on serving and growing our F serve our beloved organization, and I look forward to membership. We realize that you are the key element doing my best for the time I’m here. My charge is to in the growth part, and we will do all we can to assist keep the ship moving forward on an even keel until a you in that endeavor. A program that worked well permanent CEO is identified and on board. several years ago is coming again: “Operation Harold I greatly enjoyed meeting so many of you at Hill.” You will begin seeing information about this International. Thanks for your good wishes. program shortly, and I hope your chapter will choose We scarcely had time to get home and then to participate in one or more of the growth opportuni- we were preparing for Harmony University, ties it will offer. so headquarters is and has been a flurry of As you develop your chapter and district planning activity during my few weeks here. for the coming year, I encourage you to look for more Here are some initial observations: Your staff opportunities for outreach within your communities. is extremely dedicated and works well We need to increase the awareness of the Barbershop My charge is together to provide the services you’ve Harmony Society by becoming more involved in lo- to keep the ship come to expect. Each week we receive cal Youth in Harmony projects, Singing Valentines, hundreds of e-mails, letters and phone unpaid performances and civic celebrations. Making moving forward calls. For the most part these inquiries folks more aware of our presence will not only im- on an even keel are answered on the spot or that very prove our image but could also provide opportunities day.