Date: August 13, 2001

Music team news Alan Kenley, For the music team

September and October will be very busy months for the chorus.

We have booked Cap St. Jacques for our retreat, which will take place from September 21 to 23.This will be a great weekend of singing, camaraderie, learning and of course drinking and eating.

Complete details will be provided shortly including the cost of the weekend.

We will be recording our Christmas CD at the beginning of September along with all of the other Montreal choruses. We will be putting the following three songs on the CD.

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Eight Candles

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

In all the CD will have 14 or 15 numbers, with each of the 5 choruses doing three songs each. Sweet Adeline's Greater Montreal and West Island Chapters, Montreal Chapter of Harmony Inc, South Shore Saints and The Island City Chorus will be performing.

The price of the CD will be $20.00 CDN $15.00 us. $5.00 from the sale of each CD will be donated to a charity to be selected and agreed upon by all of the chapters.

We will be allocated approximately 275 CD's to sell and this will generate a profit for the chorus of approximately $3000.00. Our 5% commission policy to each member who sells CD's will apply and can be used to offset costs related

to your chorus expenses. This works out to $1.00 per CD. Sell 75 CD's and you have $75.00 to apply towards competition, uniform costs, annual chorus dues, etc. for next year.

I am sure we can sell more than our allocation so let's plan sales now. It's a fantastic way for us to make money and at the same time contribute substantial dollars to a good cause.

More news will follow shortly from the CD committee headed by Richard Frenette.

Competition will be a priority in October. Jerry Silverberg is working on a finding a hotel at a reasonable rate. The main hotels in Lowell will cost over $100.00US per night plus tax and this is too expensive for us. Travel plans will be finalized shortly and we will keep you posted.

Don't forget October 13. The cabaret night celebrating our 50th will be great fun for everyone and we will be doing lots of singing

We have had some new folks stepping in front of the chorus to lead us while Rob is on vacation. The last two weeks went well, so let's keep it up! Here is the schedule for this week and next week. We are going to spend more time on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

Starting last month, July, members are responsible for paying their own International and District Dues directly to SPEBSQSA International. Murray Phillips has a bunch of copies of the credit card authorisation form.

Please check the list of jobs to ensure that your name is on the list in a place where you will be comfortable working for the week of the International convention.

We are going to be having a great evening of singing and food. We, with the other barbershop chapters from Montreal, will supply the music. The food will be coming from us, and our significant others.

As hosts for 2003, we will be in need of a good number of people in Portland to help sell registrations and to promote Montreal as a destination.

1. I will look for and find three other guys to sing in a quartet at all times.
2. I will learn and be prepared to sing any part of the 12 Barberpole Cat songs.
3. I will learn my part to any song so well that I can sing it in a quartet.
4. I will gladly and enthusiastically participate in any quartet when asked.
5. When listening to a quartet, I will encourage them and offer advice.
6. I will encourage others to sing in quartets, and form quartets.
7. I will offer to help a neophyte by ‘5th wheel’ when asked.
8. I will actively participate in reasonable chorus rehearsals to improve my voice.
9. I will encourage my chapter to set aside time at every meeting for quartetting.
10. I will participate in quartet events and contests to the best of my ability.

We are looking for paid singouts. The chorus has budgeted for several singouts before the end of this year. We know we will be doing Christmas and Chanukah Singouts, but if you know people in companies, seniors' residences, running conventions, etc. the Island City Chorus will be pleased to provide a quotation for entertainment.

Please contact Alan Kenley. Do NOT make arrangements yourself.

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

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