Date: November 20, 2000

Ron Dawson's Operation scheduled for Tuesday. Our Tenor Buddy is going back into the Royal Vic today (Monday) for his operation. By rehearsal time we should have early word of his progress. Ron sounds confident and ready to get this behind him. We all wish him well.

He thanks everyone for their support and prayers, and asks the members of Key of Eh? to continue to provide news of his progress. We will do our best to keep you informed of our friend's progress.

After Hours WINS!!! Congratulations to the members of After Hours. They won the 2000 Harmony Inc. Quartet Gold Medal on Friday. Morgan LaCroix (T), Maria Stolcz-Gabriella (L), Stacy Hugman-Frenette (Br) and Lindsay Chartier (Bs) were declared the winners on Friday evening. These are the second Gold Medals in two years for Stacy and Lindsay.

Steve Wheaton's cellphone became Scores Central at the St. Lambert Saints cabaret night, and the audience greeted the news with prolonged applause.

Chanukah and Christmas singouts schedule. Rudi Flaig has done a great job with the Christmas Singout Schedule. We are going to be able to bring in some much-needed money to help finance the operation of the Chapter.

In general, singouts will be for one hour. The full chorus is required for December 6 and December 9. PLEASE LET ROB MANCE KNOW IF YOU WILL MISS ANY OF THE SINGOUTS! Check each date for changes!

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. Full chorus costume is planned for each singout.

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 organised the Entertainment Books 2001 project for us, and made it work. Well done Ron! If you still owe some money, bring it in TONIGHT.

Pay-as-you-go Joe. 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 December 31 as their renewal date should bring in a cheque for $170.00 within the next three weeks. They can then start to pay $14 per month for 2001. 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.

Raising Funds. Please talk to Jerry Silverberg about the gift cheeses project, and any other fund raising ideas you may have.

A zoo acquired a gnu and he was put in a specially prepared cage. The next morning, the zoo keeper noticed that the gnu's cage had been tiled!

He moved the gnu to a different cage. The following morning, that cage was also tiled.

He moved him to a third cage. By then, the news was getting around that something odd was happening. The zoo didn't want any major publicity.

So, the next morning, when members of the press showed up asking about this phenomena, the zookeeper tried to make it seem like it wasn't much of a deal by saying, "Oh, it's just your typical gnu and tiler too."

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

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