Date: June 5, 2000

We are singing at the Montreal Dance Club Benefit Concert on Sunday, June, 11 2000 at the theatre of CEGEP Gérald Godin, 15693 Gouin Blvd, West, Sainte Geneviève and we need to be there at 2:00 pm to warm up. We will be performing at the beginning of the show and will be able to leave by 3:00 pm. Please wear: Gold shirt, gold tie, black pants, socks and shoes and a black belt.

We will be singing several songs from our repertoire. These will be announced on Monday at rehearsal. Please let Steve Wheaton know immediately if you are unable to attend.

To get to the CEGEP take St. John's Blvd North to Pierrefonds Blvd. and turn left. At Jacques-Bizard, turn right and go north for one block to Gouin Blvd. Turn left and you will pass Place Tevere Restaurant. The CEGEP is about 0.2 km further on on the right. There is a parking lot on the west side of the school. The theatre is in the east side of the building.

When disaster strikes! We were very fortunate. Our show went off with out any discernible hitches. Last night several of us were first hand witnesses to what can happen to the best-laid plans.

The Burlington Chapter put on The Fabulous Fifties, their annual show, last night and the chorus and chapter quartets put on a very entertaining show, but the featured quartet, Michigan Jake was 25% short of the required 4 men!

Weather is always a concern, but I bet that no one ever expected a storm in Washington DC to have a major impact on the show in Burlington. Mark Hale (lead) made the trip from Los Angeles, Greg Hollender (bass) got there from Nashville, TN and Joel Wilson (bari) arrived from Louisville, KY. Unfortunately Drew Kirkman (the Jake's Tenor) was grounded in Indianapolis, IN because of a major storm in Washington. For Steve Lacombe, it was both an exciting opportunity and one that would make him a lot more nervous than usual. Steve was asked to sing with Michigan Jake as well as singing with High Voltage.

Ordinarily, that would be an exciting prospect, and perhaps a rather intimidating one. Steve sings tenor with High Voltage, one of the Burlington Chapters most seasoned quartets, but that is not the same as singing on a show with a third place medallist quartet! He did a great job, but obviously, he didn't know the repertoire of the Jake, so the show was not exactly what everyone was hoping for. Since Michigan Jake had scored very well in the Prelims, placing second overall going into Kansas City, we were all looking forward to enjoying them at their best.

In addition to the Chorus, under the direction of Greg Morrill, Dickie & The Dreamers, CVQ (Central Vermont Quartet), Te-Ba-Le-Ba, an Octet and High Voltage entertained.

The result was an entertaining show for the regular audience, with a slightly disappointed barbershop audience, many of who had driven a further distance to attend than had we.

There is nothing you can do to change the weather. In the end, you have to do the best you can and hope that you entertain your audience. Burlington did. Well done, guys!

Did you bring a guest tonight? Why not? This is an excellent 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 does 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, or perhaps they may want to join us for our Christmas sing outs.

Time for your Annual dues? Please pay NOW! Annual dues went up by $6.00 US effective with December 31, 1999 renewals. That makes our annual total $170.00 Canadian. NOTE: DISREGARD THE AMOUNT ON YOUR RENEWAL NOTICE! PLEASE if June is your renewal month, give Ray Watkins your cheque before the 15^th of the month! If you are late, there will be an additional $7.50 late payment charge.

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.) All cheques are payable to "Island City Chorus."

1. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

2. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

3. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

4. When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

5. Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

6. Take naps and stretch before rising.

7. Run, romp, and play daily.

8. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

9. Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.

10. On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

11. On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.

12. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

13. No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout... run right back and make friends.

14. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

15. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.

16. Be loyal.

17. Never pretend to be something you're not.

18. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

And Finally....

19. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

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

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