ISLAND CITY CHORUS

GREATER MONTREAL CHAPTER

Northeastern District

SPEBSQSA Inc.

The Little Chorus that could!

MINI PITCH

Date: August 11, 2003 Expos vs Rockies tomorrow! Volume 2003 - 33

The Montreal Expos have never lost a game when the chorus, or one of the chapter quartets, has sung the National Anthems before a game.

The winning streak goes on the line again tomorrow, August 12, 2003, when the Expos take on the Colorado Rockies. The game starts at 7:05, so we will need to be there at 5:30, the same as the last time.

We will wear our green shirts, tan pants and brown shoes. We will look good, sound good, and the Expos will….

We should learn on Monday what the decision was from the House of Delegates meeting in Fitchberg. The House of Delegates were discussing the possible adoption of the Regional Division contest and convention, versus maintaining the Division contests as we have known them.

Rob Mance who was replacing Alan MacKenzie represented the Chapter. Alan was on vacation, and Rob was going to attend Harmony College NorthEast to teach Chorus Directing II.

If you are new to the planet, or new to barbershopping, then you may not have heard about the Wheaton's annual chocolate and salad party.

Every year for the past 12 (I think), Steve and Addie have invited 150 or so friends to a party at their home. Their backyard becomes the scene of a swimming barbershopping eating festival for the day.

This year the day is Saturday, August 16, 2003, and you are invited.

Everyone who comes is asked to bring either a salad or a chocolate dessert (although a chocolate salad has been one of the entries.) There are hotdogs and corn and after everyone has stuffed themselves silly, the vote is taken on the best salad and the vest dessert. Of course, no favouritism, bribery or other schemes are permitted.

So, let Steve or Addie know if you will be there and bring your pitchpipe, bathing suit, your own drinks (if you plan to drink anything), a lawn chair (if you plan to sit anywhere.)

So, don't miss it. A great fun weekend.

Today I am grateful . . . Ev Nau is Managing Director of Membership Development & Services, SPEBSQSA

I'm just back from Harmony College/Directors College and have had yet another great week of brotherhood and song with some of the finest people I can imagine. I am grateful for having the opportunity to be celebrating my 15th anniversary as a staff member, for being able to have so many great friends who care about each other and are not afraid to express their happiness in the success of others. For being able to count on Barbershoppers everywhere to discuss rather than disagree like two dogs fighting over the last scrap of meat the important issues facing the Society and the direction in which we're headed.

I am grateful for having had a father who knew the joy of self-expression through music, for having been a member of a highly competitive drum and bugle corps that taught me the values of sticking together no matter what, and for the support that I see Barbershoppers give to each other without reservation and without rancour at every opportunity.

I am further grateful for having critics who help me discover there are other ways to do things, for sceptics who force me to take lots of time before pronouncing my views on issues, and for the Harmonet for allowing all of us to have a say in what we passionately believe.

My gratitude extends to all of you who have found yourself somehow described in the above. You are a wonderfully diverse group with lots to add to our singing organization and world-wide brother/sisterhood. I think we may need to be a bit more grateful for each other and a little less strident at times in expressing our love for the hobby.

Remember the six blind men who each grabbed a different part of the elephant and gave six entirely different descriptions of the beast based upon their perceptions? Isn't that similar to what we're seeing now as we debate the merits and demerits of accepting certain media jobs? Is anyone totally convinced that anyone else is totally wrong?

I'm grateful that we all agree that there may just possibly be more than one road to the Promised Land of true harmony. I'm also grateful that all of you will want to join me in finding it now as we leave some of the other stuff behind us. I'm sure each of us will be grateful when someone blows a pitch pipe and we return to singing again! That is, after all, what we do best, isn't it?

Won't that be very welcomed?

Here's to our every success. I am truly grateful for the end of this day. Time to head home with the stereo turned up loud to listen to my favourite quartets. It sure beats anything else I can think of at this moment, and that is the best gratification of them all.

We are being asked if we can help out by selling some raffle tickets (or buying some if you prefer.) The tickets are $2.00 each and there are 25 in a booklet ($50.00). To get tickets, contact Stacy Hugman-Frenette at 514-843-4333.

The drawing will take place on November 8^th, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. at Fairview Pointe-Claire, and there are some great prizes to be won:

Quartetting songs for this week: Witchcraft and Steppin' Out

Repertoire: Overture, Star Spangled Banner, O Canada, If I had My Way Dear, Roses of Picardy, [Sectional We'll Meet Again, Summertime] (Choreo) Sixteen Tons, Orange Coloured Sky

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

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