Date: October 2, 2000 Erin's Back In Town!

Are you ready? Four rehearsals to go to District 2000! Erin Howden is visiting us again this week. Let's make sure we take full advantage of the skills she brings to us. The polish on our performance should take us to another level

We know the notes and the words. We know the moves that go with them. It is time to put everything together, so that our performance will be World Class. Our Fall Forward 2000 got us in the position we want. We are on an improving trend that, hopefully, will peak on the stage in four weeks.

We have everything going for us: great singing, great choreography, great directing, enthusiasm, our home court advantage, and singing last. Not only that, but we are having a fantastic time singing and performing. Are you ready?

Christmas Music time is here. We "learned" Scarlet Ribbons last week. It is a fun arrangement and it will be an audience favourite. We need to be off the paper as soon as possible. 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, Carol of the Bells and Eight Candles, along with our other seasonal music.

Ask a friend, neighbour or acquaintance! It's as easy as 1-2-3. This is the time of year when people are focused on doing new things, and getting ready to pick up on the activities they haven't been doing all summer. 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.

Ron Schurman comes through operation with flying colours! Ron had an operation on Wednesday of last week and came through well. He is looking forward to returning to his spot on the back row as soon as he is able.

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 are among the first to be out selling, so see Ron as soon as he is back, and pick up a couple of Entertainment Books to sell.

Do your part! Sell chocolate. 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. There is only a few left. 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.

Start a monthly payment plan now. 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, 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.

Where can we Sing?. 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.

Please talk to Jerry Silverberg about 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.

"Catch-22 in the Rye" - Holden learns that if you're insane, you'll probably flunk out of prep school, but if you're flunking out of prep school, you're probably not insane. (Brendan Beary, Great Mills)

"2001: A Space Iliad"- The Hal 9000 computer wages an insane 10-year war against the Greeks after falling victim to the Y2K bug. (Joseph Romm, Washington)

"Rikki-Kon-Tiki-Tavi"- Thor Heyerdahl recounts his attempt to prove Rudyard Kipling's theory that the mongoose first came to India on a raft from Polynesia. (David Laughton, Washington)

"The Maltese Faulkner" - Is the black bird a tortured symbol of Sam's struggles with race and family? Does it signify his decay of soul along with the soul of the Old South? Is it merely a crow, mocking his attempts to understand? Or is it worth a cool mil? (Thad Humphries, Warrenton)

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

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