InCider Press, May 2003, page4

Just some musings - The valentines are sung, the show is over, and guest night has come and gone with the chapter welcoming 12 guests, some new to barbershop and a couple of "old timers." We hope all had a good time, but I have to wonder why we have only two or three of the 12 returning.

Is it because we don't have a sellable product? I don't think so; our chapter is the envy of many surrounding us, and we get accolades from our chapter coach each time he visits. And I sure didn't hear any negative comments about our Spring show. Did we spend too much time talking and not enough time singing on guest night?

Maybe, but we also thought it would be helpful if we presented our guests with an insight as to what we're about, and that, I think, was told very well by means of the videotape "Singing Is Life". Jana Fallin certainly provided insight concerning at least one of our local projects, the scholarships we provide for music teachers.

So what do we do to make our chapter meetings something guests can't wait for more of?

Just a little food for thought:

First of all, remember that every night is guest night. Who among us doesn't know someone who enjoys singing, and would likely come as a guest if we of

fered to pick him up and be a "buddy" for the evening, being sure he had a guest folder with music, met the directors, made sure any questions were answered, and on and on.

Secondly, if we sing well, good singers will come back. And we'll sing better if we make more of an effort to remember the little things Ken, Don and Reg teach us to do and work with us to make habit.

Do we have enough fun at chapter meetings? I suppose the answer would depend on who's asked. Some enjoy perfecting our craft, others like to sing tags, some enjoy quarteting, and some of us enjoy socializing and perhaps going out for a couple of beers after practice. Has anyone ever invited a guest along?

Maybe our quartets could learn a "hanger tag" for all four parts and make sure a guest is offered a chance to sing his part with the other three. What better way to demonstrate what fun it is to sing than being part of a screaming tag?

What I'm getting at is this: the more guys we have singing, the better we sound, and the better we sound, the more guys we'll have joining us. Remember when we had 30 or so members? We have a lot more fun now, and we'll have still more with 10 more voices.

Let's all think of one man we haven't asked before, and invite him to join us in this great hobby.

The Manhattan Chapter earned a Gold Level award for the second years in a row as a result of donating $7122.00 to Harmony Foundation and local charities in 2002. The certificate from Harmony Foundation acknowledging this feat was presented to the chapter on May 8, 2003 by the District Harmony Foundation Vice President, Leonard Purvis. This is a very prestigious award and represents $103.22 per member. Only one other chapter of the more than sixty in CSD had a

higher per man effort. The total was tops in the district.

It is my hope that we can do even more in 2003. That means a concerted effort by all members throughout the year. Harmony Foundation is also a wonderful way to honor former members and friends as a memorial gift. Please give what you can, when you can. My hand is always out and ready to accept your gifts.