Date: August 14, 2000 She's baaack!

She's baaaack! If you are reading this on Monday evening, congratulations for remembering that rehearsal starts at 6:30 pm tonight. Erin Howden is back with us and the fun will continue until she has to leave.

Harmony Pilgrimage weekend, at Westfield College, Westfield, MA, was an excellent experience for Key of Eh? We were coached on a brand new song that we will be singing for Al Mahoney's daughter, Joanne's wedding. We were part of a pod coaching experiment that provided us with some excellent personal vocal technique coaching, as well as ensemble techniques. We feel that there was a measurable improvement in out sound, confidence and unit development. We highly recommend the experience to any other quartet that wants to improve and have fun doing it.

Revival was the teaching quartet for the Harmony Pilgrimage, and Richard Frenette sang a couple with them at the afterglow -- one as bass and one as bari. Go, Rick!

The Harmony Xplosion Camp was held at the same time (actually starting on Thursday). Andrew Wheaton was one of the campers and he seemed to be having a great time. The HX Chorus sang to open the Saturday show and they did an excellent job with seven pieces of music learned in 2 ½ days

Ask Steve Wheaton, Rob Mance and Richard Frenette what they did and what they learned. I recommend the opportunity to everyone who wants to improve their barbershop experience.

Pay-as-you-go-Joe. Get a jump on next years Annual Dues. Don't forget the easiest way to pay is in small instalments. The $14 Monthly payment hardly hurts. (Nor does the $42.00 quarterly payment.) This is encouraged for all members of the Chapter.

If you pay $14.00 at the first rehearsal every month, you save a couple of dollars, but you also make the payment process painless. Start NOW. Post-dated cheques can be given to Ray Watkins, Chapter Treasurer.

All cheques should be payable to Island City Chorus. All members who have just paid dues for June 30, 2000 should start to pay $14 per month NOW. This helps us with our current cash flow problems, and makes the bite less painful.

"Have you sold those chocolate bars?" John Clendinneng is the man in charge of Chocolate Bar sales, and he wants you to bring in your money.

Jerry Silverberg has a few more bags more since the first batch went so quickly. If you haven't already picked up a bag of these delicious milk chocolate and almond bars, do it tonight.

They sell for only $2.00 and John will be glad to get you out earning money. Part of the profit goes to your account to pay for retreats and other expenses.

Still Wanted - bright ideas. I haven't heard from to many of you with an idea yet. I cannot believe that in the whole chapter, there is not more than two fundraising ideas.

Please talk to Jerry Silverberg. Since the show didn't quite bring in as much as we budgeted, we need to have some successful fundraisers.

Obviously singing is an ideal way to raise money. If you know of a group that is looking for some excellent entertainment at a reasonable price, refer them to Alan Kenley at 514-341-7171.

In addition to the sing-outs we will have between now and December 31, 2000, we need to have some other fund raisers. If you have a suggestion, call me (514-993-4673) or send me an email (imphillips@sprint.ca).

Invite a friend to chorus this week. You know that summer is an ideal time to invite someone that you know loves to sing and is able to carry a tune.

We are one of the few singing organizations that do not quit for the summer. Invite people from your church choir, or other choirs that are on summer hiatus. They may like what they hear and want to stay. Remember that membership starts with ME.