Date: November 6, 2000

"You can't always control the wind, but you can control your sails." - Anthony Robbins

Ron Dawson hospitalised. Our Tenor Section leader, and the tenor of Key of Eh? has been admitted to the Montreal General Hospital. He was suffering from pulmonary edema, shortness of breath and having chest pains and at the time of writing has been moved from the Cardiac Care Unit to a private room. He is not currently permitted visitors, other than immediate family, and he has requested that no one try to telephone him.

He has asked the members of Key of Eh? to provide news of his progress. We will do our best to keep you informed of our friend's progress.

Graham Fagan Home. Graham is home now, following his cardiac by-pass surgery. His address is:

Graham Fagan, 95 Redpath Ave, Suite 5F, Toronto, On M4S 2K1 416 932 3837. I am sure that he would like to hear from old friends.

District 2000 was really a hot time in the old town. Steve Wheaton called it the Convention of Fire and Ice. We had a fire in the chimney of a shop in the food court that caused the evacuation of 2,000 people from the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, and we sent our visitors home with a taste of Québec winter. We can be sure that the weather for International 2003 will be a lot different!

Let's sing Chanukah and Christmas Music. Bud Robar would be pleased to give you a set of Christmas Music if you are a new member. You should make sure that you have Scarlet Ribbons, Go Tell It On The Mountain, Carol of the Bells and Eight Candles, along with our other seasonal music.

Have you "Shared the Dream!" It's as easy as 1-2-3. Here is a challenge to from me to you. Can you remember what got you into singing barbershop? I am betting that in most cases it was because a friend, neighbour, co-worker, family member etc. asked you to come out once. After that first encounter, you were probably hooked. We are at a stage where we want to attract good singers to add to the great sound we are producing. Take the time to ask a friend to come and share our hobby. They will need to be motivated and able to sing, obviously, but the rewards are many and fun. Sharing is a good thing, so let's do it. It's as Easy as 1-2-3.

Entertainment Books. Ron Schurman has obtained 100 Entertainment Books 2001 for us to sell. These offer excellent savings at restaurants, movies, dry cleaners, and many other locations in the Montreal area. We were among the first to be out selling, so see Ron. Bring your money in TONIGHT.

Bring in your Chocolate money? No, we haven't got a new kind of currency. John Clendinneng is the man in charge of collecting for Chocolate Bar sales, and he wants you to bring in your money. Do it tonight. Thanks to all who did their part and sold those bars.

Bring a cheque for $14 tonight. Don't forget the easiest way to pay your annual dues is in small instalments. The $14 Monthly payment hardly hurts. (Nor does the $42.00 quarterly payment, if you prefer that.) 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, and make the payment process painless. Start NOW. Post-dated cheques payable to Island City Chorus can be given to Ray Watkins, Chapter Treasurer. All members who have just paid dues for September 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.

We are entertainers. The Chapter is in need of funds, and good fund raising ideas. 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.

Cheese it! Please talk to Jerry Silverberg about the gift cheeses project, and any other fund raising ideas you may have. Since the show didn't quite bring in as much as we budgeted, we need to have some successful fundraisers.

Q: What do you call a beautiful woman on a baritone's arm?

A: A tattoo.

Q: What do you call a baritone in a three-piece suit?

A: "The Defendant"

Q: What's the definition of a minor second interval?

A: Two baritones trying to sing the same note.

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

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