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November 2005 InCider Press Page 7 |
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Terry Nanninga grew up in a singing family. Of an evening after chores the family of 8 children would gather around the piano with their mother playing. They would start at the front of the hymnal and work their way to the very last song. They would stop when time for bed and the next time take up where they left off the time before.
Terry had a few piano lessons but claims that he can’t read music, but he does have a clue as to where the notes are to be sung. He has sung in high school, weddings, funerals and in community cantatas (for more than 40 years) and other special occasions. He is the song leader at church. He and his twin daughters sang together at church while they were still at home.
How did he get started in barbershop? Well this fellow that also sang in the cantatas and was our daughters high school coach kept pestering him to join him some evening for some barbershop singing. Finally after several years Terry agreed to go with John Trail, just once. Well that just once has turned in to 14 years. Yes it is addictive as most of you know.
Terry’s family moved to the house where he lives in 1945 when he was 2 months old. Except for the first 18 months of his marriage he has lived in the same house. Terry married his high school sweetheart Karen and they have 4 daughters. They have also hosted 13 exchange students from 11 different countries.
Terry’s hobbies other than singing are hunting, fishing, playing computer games, reading, traveling to visit grandkids and other places, walking and officiating football games. Terry worked for the Beattie Farmers Union Co-op for 22 years before taking early retirement. He farmed before that. He now works for them part-time, runs the township maintainer, helps his brother-in-law farm and helps Karen with the mowing of the church cemetery.
By Karen Nanninga |
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Meeting Member Terry Nanninga President |
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Have you recently been visited at a chapter meeting by a high school or middle school student who expressed interest in joining? What did you say? Did you know there were certain things we as members need to do when young people join our ranks? Here is a step-by-step list of what you should do.
1. Contact his parents, and have them read and sign the Youth Membership Form. Legally, we need to have parents’ permission when young men join our chapters. These forms are available on the society website, or from your district VP for YMIH. Having this form signed on file in your chapter is a requirement for all students under the age of 18.
2. Contact his music teacher. We need to make sure music teachers know that we are not here to steal their students away from their choruses. Make sure that the student maintains his membership in the school vocal program. Offer your chapter’s assistance in whatever way the teacher needs. If your chapter is seen as a resource for the music department, you will begin to foster a positive working relationship for the future.
3. Your chapter or a member of your chapter might offer to pay the student’s dues. While this is not necessary, we strongly encourage you to make this altruistic gesture. The student or his family may not have the financial resources available to join, and you or another member of your chorus may be able to help.
4. Maintain an open line of communication with parents and teachers by keeping them informed of any and all events planned for and available to your new member. This will continue to foster a good relationship, and they will naturally encourage others to participate. Understand that young people are very busy. Often times, those who are going out of their way to join your chapter are already involved in sports, music, and academic activities which take up their time. Understand that they may not always be able to attend every chapter meeting or performance, and that is OK.
Your efforts across the Society are generating interest in our hobby across generations. Let’s be prepared when they come knocking on the door!
Eric Ruthenberg, YMIH Committee |
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Have a student interested in joining your chapter but you are not sure what is involved? |
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What To Do When Students Join Your Chapter |
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From the society’s web page |
