October 2002, page 4

Although I am on the computer everyday, I was still skeptical about receiving the newsletter on email. But, here I am applauding Bart for his ingenuity in publishing this important piece of communication. I always look forward to reading the newsletter, and now I look forward to receiving it by computer. Great idea, Bart, and congratulations on a good job of bulletin editor.

Well, we have sung just about every song that we will sing on our show. In case you have not received all the music following is what we will perform on the show in April:

Bad Buncha Boys

In The Still Of The Night

Beach Boys Medley

Yesterday (will be introduced in December)

Hello MaryLou

Love Me Tender/True Love (first one will be introduced in December)

When I'm 64

New Ashmolian

Bring Him Home

Bright Was The Night

Muskrat Ramble

In addition to these possibilities, we will also prepare the following songs for the Clay Center show:

If There's Anybody Here From Out Of Town

Everybody Loves A Lover

Lost In The Stars

Play A Simple Melody

This Little Light Of Mine

When There's Love At Home

I'll Fly Away

Sweet Georgia Brown

Armed Forces Medley

I'm Sitting On Top Of The World

I know that this is a big load, especially for our new people, but I know we can do it. New members, don't be afraid. Just do what you can. Plan to sing with us on both shows, and sing what you can. The veterans will help you along. With this ambitious schedule, you can tell that your attendance at rehearsals is critical. Try to make as many Thursday evenings as you can.

I am very impressed at the way you

have picked up the new songs (even the Beach Boys Medley which will be our most difficult). I think this show is going to be a lot of fun to prepare.

We still have opportunities to receive vocal instruction from Reg Pittman. I erred on my announcement last week that the first half of the alphabet would meet with him at 7:00 next Thursday. Actually the "D's" through "M's" will meet this week and the "N's" through "Z's" on November 14th. I am still trying to secure him for the month of December. More on that later.

The board has authorized for us to go to "show schedule" starting the middle of January. This will help us as we prepare for the Clay Center Show and our Spring Show which comes a couple of weeks early this year.

Lastly, we will start our Christmas music next week! See you next Thursday!

Don Thomson

Many of our members seemed to be interested when I announced that:

TWO meteor STORMS (vs. just "showers") should occur on the night of 18-19 November. Both of these showers are from debris left in the path of some meteor whose name I've already forgotten, and we pass through these paths about every 33 years.

The 1833 storm caused many people to think the end of the world was imminent, but after the meteor, itself, was first sighted in 1865, the 1866 and 1899 storms didn't cause so much consternation. Practically nothing was visible in 1932, and I don't recall what

happened in 1965 or '66.

Incidentally, this shower is known as the "Leonid" shower (because the meteor trails seem to radiate from the Constellation Leo, and it occurs on about the same night every year. However, it PEAKS only about every 33 years, and THIS is the year!

The first storm should peak about 10:30 p.m. on the night of 18 November, but we probably will NOT be able to see much (if anything) here in the Manhattan area because the moon will be bright at that time. However, the second storm should peak about 4:30 a.m. on the morn

ing of 19 November; by that time the moon may be low enough in the west that we'll be able to see LOTS of meteor trails.

How many is "LOTS"? It's impossible to predict, of course, but expert astronomers say that IF we had perfect viewing conditions, we might be able to see 2000 to 3000 meteor trails per hour (that's one every 1-2 SECONDS!) Our mileage may vary, of course, but the probability of seeing LOTS of "falling stars" is so great that I plan to get up at 4:00 a.m. EVEN IF IT IS CLOUDY, because even a short break in the clouds may let me watch a fantastic sight!