ISLAND CITY CHORUS

GREATER MONTREAL CHAPTER

SPEBSQSA Inc.

The Little Chorus that could!

MINI PITCH

Date: April 21, 2003 Happy Easter

Congratulations and thanks go to Al Mahoney. He has agreed to take on the position of Chapter Secretary, along with his great work as Music Librarian. He is also the Secretary of the International Convention Steering Committee. Al is also famous (or is that infamous?) for being the Bari of Key of Eh?

Murray Phillips was part of the business conference held last weekend in Pointe Claire. One of the delegates was from Toronto, and subsequently has been diagnosed with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). So now Murray is part of the SARS 7-day quarantine, along with 450 other people from Quebec, Ontario and New York.

He is feeling fine, and Mary has been getting him to help out around the house, since he can't go out, or have visitors.

The quarantine will be over Wednesday morning, and assuming he doesn't exhibit and symptoms, Murray will be free to return to a productive life and singing.

The West Island Chronicle is to run a story on the preparations for the International Convention.

They will come to rehearsal on April 21st for a photo of the chorus and the story will be appearing in the Wednesday April 30^th Issue.

Please wear your green shirt and tan pants.

If you have attended Harmony Pilgrimage you know you must bring your own linen. Well, at Fitchburg State you also must bring your own pillow! You'll be reminded!

Get your souvenir lapel pin for the 2003 International Convention. They are on sale for $7.50 CDN or $5.00 US. This is going to be a major fundraiser for the Chapter, and Ron Schurman has already sent out letters to the Presidents of all NED Chapters, encouraging them to send in orders. Replies are already coming in.

Plans are underway for the 6^th Annual "One Step at a Time" Walk of Hope so please mark your calendars now. The Missing Children's Network Canada, in collaboration with CJAD/MIX 96, is proud to announce that its annual Walk of Hope will be held on Saturday, May 31st, 2003 at Centennial Park in Beaconsfield, 288 Beaconsfield Blvd. This is a great opportunity to be seen by the media. Let’s help raise funds for the Missing Children's Network and help raise awareness of barbershopping in general.

Pledge forms are available from Alan MacKenzie.

During convention week, we are recommending that all volunteers, except those needing their cars for the job they are doing, use public transportation. As you know, parking downtown is expensive. We will have a very limited number of parking discount coupons. If you, or one of your volunteers really needs parking, let Stan Blicker know.

Bob Ebers and Bert Brossoit have pulled off some incredible coups regarding publicity for the convention and barbershopping in general. They have arranged for extensive opportunities for Montrealers to see barbershop at its best in the shopping areas of downtown Montreal, including Les Ailes de la Mode, Eaton Centre, Place Montreal Trust, Place Ville Marie, etc.

We are very pleased that barbershop quartets have been invited to sing on the outdoor stages during the Montreal International Jazz Festival. This is a real coupe for barbershop, since it will introduce our hobby to a whole new audience.

The International Convention is going to take place in a little less than three months. We are accumulating the reserve of volunteers needed to make this a successful convention.

Do you have any friends that would like to see what goes on at our Conventions? Suggest that they volunteer.

Remember that we will need everyone's total commitment the week of the Contest. The email to volunteers asking for their shirt size has been sent and we are in the process of ordering the volunteer shirts for the people who will be helping us with the Convention.

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

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