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Page 2 InCider Press November 2007 |
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Bulletin Editor Karen Nanninga Phone: 785-736-2870 Unless carrying a byline or some form of credit to borrowed sources, all items in this bulletin are by the editor and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the chapter or board. All photos in the bulletin are by the editor, unless otherwise identified. |
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Chapter Officers President…………...……………..Bob Swenson Membership and Chapter Development VP………...Bill Hanson Music & Performance VP………....…..Tom Fish Marketing and Public Relations VP………….....Harvey Kiser Secretary………………………..…….Pat Caffey Treasurer………………….…….…...Bill Bunyan Member at Large…….……………Don Thomson Member at Large……….………Loren Alexander Member at Large ………..……..…...Chuck Marr Member at Large ………………....Jim Lindquist Member at Large …………….…John Thomason Appointments SPEBSQSA A-063 Delegate….…...Bill Hanson Musical Director.……………………...Ken Lang Associate Musical Director …..….Don Thomson Assistant Musical Director….…..Myron Calhoun Music Chairman………….………….Bob Ridley Service Chairman………….…….Leonard Purvis Show Chairmen...……….........Jim Lindquist and ……………………………….…...Don Thomson Uniforms……………….….………..Chuck Marr Bulletin Editor…….....….……...Karen Nanninga Web Master………………......Bart Bartholomew |
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InCider Press, a monthly publication, is the official publication of the Manhattan, Kansas chapter of the Central States District (CSD) of the Barbershop Harmony Society. The Manhattan Chapter is the home of the Little Apple Chorus. The chapter and chorus meet every Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. at the First Methodist Church Activity Center on the corner of Poyntz and 6th Street, Manhattan, Kansas. For more information about meetings or joining call or write to the Editor. (see below) |
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I think we all agree our contest experience was good for us. I feel that we "grew" as a result of dedicating ourselves to going to Kansas City and performing for the "experts". I know I'm a better singer and performer as a result of our coaching sessions, and I feel a stronger bond between those of us that made the trip. Hearing the judges comments was helpful as well, and I feel good about what we present as our "end product" when we perform for others. The recent performance at the American Legion for their Veteran's Day Banquet was a good example. It seemed I was more at ease when adding my voice to the strong lead section we had, and I was able to concentrate a lot more on my "body language" in helping to present our best performance yet. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see others enjoying the new-found freedom of being able to visually express their singing by getting into the song. So we went to contest and made 2 out of the 3 goals we had set. They were to score more points than the previous year which we did by some 80 or so, then we didn't stay in last place, but rather had 4 choruses below us in the standings. But we didn't make our 3rd goal, that of being the most improved chorus in the contest! But there is a reason which may not have been heretofore explained. I know when we heard the great improvement that the Des Moines chorus showed that our goal was in jeopardy, and when they were announced as the Most Improved Chorus (along with their fifth place ranking), I was satisfied that we'd been bested on our quest for our first District musical award. As you may know the choruses in Central States district are divided into plateaus based upon their membership on December 31 of each year. We are currently a Triple "A" chorus because our membership is over 75 happy souls. What I didn't realize was that we were a Double "A" chorus when we competed in Wichita, because our December 31, 2005 membership was below 75, at about 71 or so. Since the most improved awards are tied to membership plateaus, we "beat ourselves" by growing into a different membership plateau during the consecutive years we competed, thus making us unable to use our Double "A" chorus score as the basis for being the most improved. So we were ineligible for the Most Improved Chorus award because we accomplished what our District and International leadership wants us to do - - grow in membership numbers. I don't know about you, but I'll take the new members! I never thought we'd have to stop inviting guys to share our musical lifestyle in order to win an award, but that seems to be the way the system is designed! In retrospect, I think I'm prouder to be a part of the largest barbershop chapter in Kansas, than to have won that award! There are at least 4 chapters in Kansas with population bases larger than Manhattan's yet we are nearly double in size of some of them. That tells me that we must be doing something right! There is an saying around when dealing with groups that "No group ever got big, then got good." Rather it is the opposite, that the group gets big because it is good. I think we qualify for that goodness |
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Looking back and forward! |