Date: March 5, 2001 Welcome to our guests.

Bring out your guests. This Monday evening is special, since it is the first Official Guest Night we have had in a while.

Music Team NEWS Introducing a weekly report on what is happening musically in our chapter.

1) Our evolving chorus - Congratulations to those who are learning two or more parts to our repetoire.Anyone can do it.It's great fun and you might enjoy it.

!a) Moving Parts: Ron Schurman is going to bass ( He's finally reached puberty); Alan Kenley is switching to Tenor (he's going the other way); Richard Frenette's back to Bari ( He can't stay away from the best part); Andrew Wheaton learning Bass and Tenor ( He's not sure if his voice has changed yet)

2) Changes in section leaders - Tenors - Morgan Lacroix has accepted the challenge of working with the tenors while Ron Dawson recovers.As you all saw on Monday night she whipped those guys into shape. (They did win the best section award.) Basses - While Richard relearns Bari, Steve Wheaton will " Beat the Basses" into shape.

3) We have two new members on the roster as of last week Both Dale Wharton and Bruno Stenson have been approved by the Music team and the Board of directors.They are both great additions to the Lead section.Please welcome and help them become involved in all chorus activities.

4) There's a big rumour that Mike Nicols may be joining our chorus. He currently directs the Syracuse chorus in the Seneca Land district was a member of an International competitor quartet (4N Xchange) and has loads of barbershop experience and talent. He is now working and living in Montreal. Please welcome him and ask him to sing in a quartet with you. He may teach you a tag at the same time. I know he will be a terrific asset to our chorus and we will be taking advantage of his experience.

5) March 19 we will have Erin Howden back to introduce our Steppin Out presentation package. Everyone must be there and we will start at 6.30 pm. Please don't be late. It will be a great night.

Chapter Logo nearly done. The Board saw the proposed logo, and unanimously agreed to adopt the proposed design, with very minor modifications. Check out the notice board.

Division Contest News! We will be participating in the Granite and Pine Division Contest in order to qualify for District Convention. This is necessary because the Mountain Division contest falls at the start of Passover, and we wanted to permit all members to participate. Transportation and other arrangements are to come soon.

Get your Show tickets, now. Tickets are available from John Clendinneng for the June 9, 2001 show, Steppin' Out. This will be at the same great hall we used last year. As we did last year, tickets are given when a cheque is received. A post-dated cheque works, and you can trade cash and cheques before the show in exchange.

New Show songs. The Music Team was busy and has completed the selection of songs for the show. In addition to the other songs in our current repertoire, the new contest medley and Orange Colored Sky and Words (It's only) [made popular by the Bee Gees] will be added. Music and learning tapes/CDs will be available very soon for these as well.

Joker's Wild Retiring on our show. We have learned with sadness, that 1994 International Champions, Joker's Wild will be retiring. The good news is they will be appearing on our show, and that this will be their final performance.

Songs for ARCIM. We will be singing at ARCIM on Saturday, March 31 and April 1, 2001. The songs we will sing are: Go Tell It on the Mountain, You'll never walk alone, I only have eyes For You, Love me (and the World is Mine), I'm Beginning to see the light. Details as to time and location will follow.

Wanted - Music Librarian. We are looking for someone to take on the position of Music Librarian. Bud Robar has decided to devote his time to the South Shore Chapter, where he is VP, Music and Performance. Ron Dawson assisted Bud, but he has been away ill, as you know. If you are interested, speak to Alan Kenley, our VP, Music and Performance.

Quartet Co-ordinator STILL needed. Here is a request from VP, Music & Performance, Alan Kenley: "We are going to get serious about quartetting and I have asked the section leaders to work with anyone who would like to be in a quartet. Our goal is to have at least four competing quartets at Division 2002. This could mean guys who are in a quartet now could possibly be singing in 2 quartets for contest. I would like to find a co-ordinator for this project. Someone who has the time, knows a little about quartetting and could put in a major effort to make this

work. Let's see if we get any volunteers."

Christmas CD We are ready to start serious work on the Christmas CD which will feature the Barbershop Choruses and quartets of the Montreal Area. We are looking for a CD co-ordinator to work with the Music Team to contact the other choruses and quartets and arrange music selection, recording dates and location. Rob Mance will produce the CD.

Pay-as-you-go Joe - The total dues for a regular member of the Greater Montreal Chapter are $180.00 per year. We pay our dues either once a year for the coming year on our renewal date, or we can use the Pay-as-you-go-Joe system. The $15 Monthly or $45.00 quarterly payment hardly hurts. This is encouraged for all members of the Chapter. Post-dated cheques payable to Island City Chorus can be given to Ray Watkins, Chapter Treasurer.

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

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