Dan Otto

If you have attending chapter meetings recently, you know there is a lot of activity going on surrounding our $inging Valentine$ endeavor which will happen on February 13 and 14 this year. At 7 o'clock each chapter meeting evening quartets are gathering and refining their presentation skills, working with coaches, and endeavoring to be this best substitute messengers in the world. While we are on our way, we need to pick up some steam (additional people) to help get us over the hump.

Besides quartets, we need at least one presenter per quartet to make each Singing Valentine a truly special event. Training for potential presenters will be presented at 7 o'clock on January 30 and February 6 by one of our most experienced super presenters, J. Lester Hooper. This training will cover the entire $inging Valentine$ program, so you'll understand the importance of your part.

Since presenters are actually in charge of each singing valentine, these two sessions are important to make sure that our singing valentine program runs smoothly from start to finish.

Besides presenters, we need a crew to help prepare the approximately 150 roses at a time yet to be determined during singing valentine week. Chuck Marr will be announcing this event, and the larger group we have there, the quicker we can get this job accomplished. It is a lot of fun to see the buckets fill up with roses stuck in water vials, enclosed in a plastic sleeve and tied with a red ribbon. You know that each one of these gifts is on the way to a truly special event for the lucky recipient.

Besides presenters, quartets, and the rose detail, we need some general office help on the morning of the 14th and into that afternoon to make sure that each group of $inging valentine$ is dispatched with the proper supplies and instructions so that we will not miss any deliveries. Additional men may be needed to make emergency deliveries of sup

plies to quartets already in the field. Who knows, you may even be needed to substitute in a quartet should someone's voice start to fail.

If you can help at any time during Thursday evening the 13th, or all day of the 14th, please fill out a blue availability sheet so that we can call on you. Several men come to the quartet lounge (205 S 4th) on Valentine's Day just to witness the excitement.

And talk about excitement! We are certainly on our way when we gather for our singing valentines party at 8 o'clock on Friday evening, February 14 at the Manhattan American Legion building. There will be food and fun as we recount the experiences of the day and recognize those who work so hard to make this yet another successful $inging Valentine$ program. The $inging Valentine$ party is open to all chapter members. Bring you favorite valentine and enjoy a celebration of yet another successful $inging Valentine$ program.