Date: October 30, 2000 The journey starts tonight!

Satisfaction comes from doing your best. It has been said many times that winning isn't everything. While that is true, it is easy to get down after doing what you felt was a pretty darn good job, and not getting the recognition from the judges that you would have hoped for. I am sure that you all received encouragement from our fellow barbershoppers from around the District. They really enjoyed our show.

We can be proud of the entertaining package we presented to the packed hall on Saturday afternoon. I am sure each of us knows that we can do better, so we should be encouraged by the evaluations that we received. That has already given us a guide to our next level.

We also know that we have a very talented director who will be starting now to get us ready for that next performance, competition, or singout. Thanks for making the trip more important than the destination, Rob!

Let us take this competition and put it where it belongs -- in memory. Look out District, here we come!

Congratulations to Richard Frenette and South Side! Fourth place finishers in the quartet contest is and excellent outcome.

Keep up the hard work and the international stage will be yours. We are proud of all of you, but especially our bass section leader, Richard, who sings baritone in South Side. Ask to see his medal!

Thank you for your support. On behalf of the local convention committee, thanks to everyone who helped make the Northeastern District 2000 Convention and Contest a major success. The work you did was an integral part of the success of the whole weekend. Moving risers, transporting judges, hosting quartets and minding the doors, among many other important jobs made the whole event run smoothly. Thank you from Steve Wheaton and Murray Phillips for all your help. Next is International 2003.

Wow! Do you know whom I saw! At the beginning of the NEDAC show on Saturday night, Dave Kindinger, bass of Joker's Wild, was standing at the door of the Grand Salon. He is a very friendly and accommodating man and he will be here in June for our Show! He was here in Montreal attending a reading conference at McGill University. In "real" life, Dave is Principal of Fifth Avenue International Alternative Elementary School in Columbus, Ohio.

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 are among the first to be out selling, so see Ron TONIGHT, and pick up a couple of Entertainment Books to sell.

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 next Monday. 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.

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

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