Date: April 8, 2002

The Troy Chapter put forward a proposal to the House of Delegates meeting that would permit the Greater Montreal Chapter to try and earn the opportunity to sing as mike-testers at the International Convention and Contest we will host here in Montreal in 2003.

It all started at the Great Northern Harmony Workshop at lunch. Fred Schonenberg, Jr., Secretary of the Troy, NY Chapter (Home of the Uncle Sam Chorus) approached a couple of the members of the Chapter. He asked if we would object to his Chapter proposing that we receive a bye to District, to try and earn the opportunity to sing as mike-testers.

Several other people prior to this also had mentioned the idea, but Fred was the first person who actually suggested that he would take this on.

At first the Greater Montreal Chapter Board was not sure of how to proceed. A decision had been made not to participate in the Division Contest in Manchester, CT, due to cost and also because we wished to protest the District Board's experiment. This decision had not been made lightly, and we had been fully aware that by not participating in Division, we would not be able to compete at District in Lake Placid.

After considerable discussion, the Board told Fred that we appreciated the support and if the other Chapters approved, we would probably accept the opportunity to earn our way to the mike-tester position.

The House of Delegates meeting was held at the Granite & Pine combined Division contest site in Portsmouth, and Steve Wheaton represented Greater Montreal Chapter. If it were accepted, the proposal would not create any precedent, since the combination of circumstances is extremely unlikely to occur again.

The unanimous vote of the House of Delegates that was required was not received.

In any case, our Chapter is grateful for the kind thoughts and support we have received from all over the District.

We have been asked to sing at the Grand Lodge of Quebec A.F. & A.M. on Thursday, June 6, 2002. The event will take place at the Masonic Memorial Hall at the corner of St. Marc and Sherbrooke. (Enter by 2295 St-Marc).

We are asked to arrive at 7:30 PM and there are two separate occasions to sing. This will be confirmed at a later date.

Thank you, to all those who have taken on the responsibility for setting up and taking down the risers. We seem to have an inordinate number of people who are unable to help. Please lend a hand where you can.

Collège Jean Eudes, E

3535 Rosemont Blvd, Montreal

Near Boul. St-Michel

Friday, April 12 at 7:15 pm warm-up at 7:30 pm.

Songs we will sing:

• Orange Colored Sky
• You'll Never Walk Alone
• How Deep Is The Ocean?
• Sixteen Tons
• Steppin' Out

We are still looking for a few good people. How would you like to chair a committee during the International Convention in 2003? There are several key spots we have yet to fill, and we need to do that soon.

Ask Steve Wheaton or Murray Phillips for information on the positions we are still trying to match to a great person. Chose a job you will enjoy, because you will be getting a job during the Convention.

We are all asked to help with the Harmony Inc. Area Contest and Convention. Since there will be an opportunity to enjoy a great barbershop weekend, I am sure you will want to be there. In addition, we will want to help them, since they will be helping us with International 2003.

Steve Wheaton has a sign up list. Please, join in the fun. It is on the weekend of April 26 to April 28, 2002. We will have completed our ARCIM duties by then.

We will be working on Words. LEARN IT! Morgan Lacroix will be working us on the ARCIM program.

Practice is something we do at home, every day, between rehearsals!

Rehearsal is where we reinforce what we have been practising every day!