Calendar Stating the Obvious Or Maybe Not!

Volume 26, Issue 2 March, 2009 Meetings on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. at Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana The SCORE by Dan Johnson I appreciate the invitation from Ken Steffen to write an article for the Score and to focus on my view of the future of the chorus. As Bob Dylan once wrote, “the times they are a-changin!” What can that possibly mean to a barbershop chapter? When I joined the society in 1976 (thanks to Al Schumm) the CHAPTER was the essence of why guys came and STAYED. Oh, everyone came to sing and everyone wanted to sing well, but roast beef sandwiches and coffee with the guys (usually at Arby’s) were way up there too. Our Christmas Party was a gas, our families came along, and we even went camping in southern Indiana to sing barbershop – wow – what a hobby! Back then, the SCC didn’t go to compete at Cardinal District Conventions. Competition was for those guys from Indy and Louisville with the really bbbbiiiiiiiggggg choruses. We went, most often to see international- level competition quartets, the Student Union, The Cardinals, Music Mart, Harrington Brothers, Interstate Rivals and others. Music Team 5:30 Chapter Meeting 7:00 Chapter Board 5:30 Chapter Meeting 7:00 Chapter Meeting 7:00 Chapter Meeting 7:00 Cardinal Conv Music Team 5:30 Chapter Meeting 7:00 Free Komet Tickets Chapter Board 5:30 Chapter Meeting 7:00 Chapter Meeting 7:00 Chapter Meeting 7:00 Music Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Music Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Team Meeting Board Meeting Meeting Meeting Team Meeting Board Meeting Meeting Meeting Meeting 5:30 7:00 5:30 7:00 7:00 7:00 5:30 7:00 5:30 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 Stating the Obvious? Or Maybe Not! For me and many others, quality singing trumped a simple night out with the guys. In my view, a remnant of that past singingculture reappeared a few weeks ago when one of our officers said, “guys the bigger we get the more fun we will have”. Meaning no disrespect at all, allow me to say it differently – how about, “the better we sing the more fun we’ll have (and the bigger we’ll get)!” My experience with the Indiana Harmony Brigade has illustrated this to me vividly! I am now convinced that we must all learn our songs, before the rehearsal, so we can make incredible music without weekly three-hour efforts. Ask Mark what he thinks would happen if everyone came in on a designated Monday night and Continued, Page 6, “Obvious?” Administrative Board will meet the second Monday of each month at 5:30pm Mar 2(m) Mar 2(m) Mar 9(m) Mar 9(m) Mar 16(m) Mar 23(m) Mar 27-28(f-sa) Apr 6(m) Apr 6(m) Apr 8(w) Apr 13(m) Apr 13(m) Apr 20(m) Apr 27(m) May 4(m) May 4(m) May 11(m) May 11(m) May 18(m) May 25(m) Jun 1(m) Jun 1(m) Jun 8(m) Jun 8(m) Jun 15(m) Jun 22(m) Jun 29(m) Calendar Then a funny thing happened within our culture! Competition got our attention. Suddenly, singing anything out of tune, forgetting words or not getting the chords correct was no longer acceptable. The Mission of the Summit City Barbershop Chorus is to offer male singers the opportunity to entertain using vocal music performances that adhere to the highest standards of sound production and presentation. Minutes & Birthdays - Page 2 Chapter Banquet - Page 3 Valentine’s Day - Page 4-5 We Have Mail - Page 6 Youth In Harmony - Page 7 Songs that we Sing - Page 8 In This Issue: Page 2 The SCORE March, 2009 Summit City Chorus Hotline: January The January Board Meeting was held at Chapel UM Church on January 5, 2009. Present: Nash, Bowman, Ellison, Thomas, Bell, Gossett, DeWitt, Noble and Schumm. *The Secretary’s report was read and approved. *The Treasurer’s report was presented and discussed. The balance of all accounts was $10,798,05 as of Dec 1, 08 and $9,3358.00 as of Jan 1, 09. *Midwest Riser Company was investigated as a potential source for new risers. *Jon Dize will no longer be able to do grants because he has a full time job, but will continue helping with the newsletter and other publications. Max Bell will work with him to finalize the remaining 2 grant applications. *The revised by-laws (updated at the annual planning retreat) will be sent to all board members so they can be voted on at the February 2009 board meeting. *Al Schumm presented, and board approved, the purchase of a 4’ x 5’ dry erase instructional board and supplies (markers, eraser, etc) for approximately $200. Bell and Nash will purchase the board. *Al Schumm will make a sturdy easel for the board. 260-625-2299 Chapter Leadership President Chapter Dev VP Program VP Membership VP Music & Perf. VP Youth in Harmony PR & Mkting VP Secretary Treasurer Board Member Board Member Chorus Mgr/ Librarian Bulletin Editor Past President Dick Ellison Jack Gossett Bob Benner Jack Gossett Al Schumm Dwight Nash Brian Eager Paul Dewitt Max Bell Dave Thomas Don Nobles February The February Board Meeting was held at Chapel UM church on February 9, 2009. Present: Benner, Bowman, DeWitt, Eager, Ellison, Gossett, Nash, Nobles, Schumm, and Thomas. *The Secretary’s report was read and approved. *The Treasurer’s report was presented and discussed. The balance of all accounts was $8,201.97. *Eager reported that he is working on publicity for the spring show with WFWA (channel 39). *Benner reported that he is working on organizing a joint meeting with the Columbia City chorus. The tentative date is Tuesday June 16. *Because of potential expenses for the spring show, the riser fund money will not be spent for Risers until after spring show costs are settled. *The revised By-Laws, dated 2/9/09, were discussed. It was moved and seconded that they be approved by the board. The next step is to present them to all chorus members for approval. Bob Bowman Ken Steffen Al Schumm Musical Director Mark Leimer Assist Music Dir Keith Morphew The SCORE 109 Hillcrest Dr., Bluffton, Indiana, 46714 Home: 260-824-3594 Email: dutchmill@adamswells.com Editor: Ken Steffen FEaturE Editor: Paul Snyder Photo Journalist: Delores Morphew Dick Hamilton - Mar 06 Jeremey Johnson - Mar 9 Brian Konger - Mar 21 March Paul Snyder - Mar 23 Paul Trenary - Mar 24 Production & layout: Ken Steffen The SCORE is the publication of the Fort Wayne, Indiana, Chapter of the Cardinal District of the Barbershop Harmony Society: April Kirk Carrington - Apr 09 Pete Bottemley - Apr 10 Jack Gossett - Apr 11 Jeff Albert - Apr 13 Keith Morphew - Apr 13 Roger Ford - Apr 17 John Shappell - Apr 19 Unless carrying a by-line, articles have been written by the Editor. We encourage contributions from our members. Such contributions reflect the individual opinions of their author and not necessarily the opinions of the members or officers of this chapter. March, 2009 The SCORE Page 3 Chapter Banquet for 2008 SCC scheduled a return to Concord Village on Monday, Jan. 12, for the Fort Wayne Chapter’s Annual Banquet and Officer Installation. It was a good move. Ask the 40 members and guests who enjoyed the delicious food. Those that came early also enjoyed refreshments and fellowship. At dinner time, Brian Eager pronounced the invocation and everyone moved to the Dining Room. Like last year, guests had a choice of entree - pork or meat loaf, this time - and a choice of pie. (Strawberry caught my eye.) Those choices were enhanced by mashed potatoes, veggie medley and salad. It was an excellent meal. After dinner, Barbershoppers and guests gathered in the Heritage Room. M.C. Brian Eager introduced Past President Al Schumm who gave a recap of 2008 events and performances. (My favorite was the Buckeye Bash at Van Wert in May. ) Schumm then thanked both the ‘08 Officers and Board Members and also the directors, Mark Leimer and Keith Morphew, for their strong efforts and support. Eager next introduced Paul Snyder, the designated Installing Officer, who led the installation of the 2009 Fort Wayne Chapter Officers. A list of SCC Officers is printed in this publication under Chapter Leadership. Following some singing, Al Schumm returned to the podium. He announced the 2008 Spark Plug recipients are Bob Bowman and Brian Eager. Each received audience applause as they stepped forward to receive the award. Mark Leimer then stepped to the podium and named two Director’s Award winners. Both Jeff Goshorn and Keith Morphew received standing applause as they each accepted their award. The final award is always the BOTY. Ken Steffen made the presentation. Steffen proclaimed the Barbershopper Of The Year 2008 to be Al Schumm. Guys stepped up and sang two from their current repertoire. Would you believe they sang ‘The Squirrel Song’. How many times have we heard that one? Yet, I found myself laughing and smiling throughout the song. Also, I noticed I wasn’t the only one that reacted when Brian called for the “Amen!”. Both quartets received loud applause from the banquet crowd. The final announcement of the evening was the Door Prize winners. Jim Gebele won a 4-pak of beer and Don Nobles won a CD. The Grand Prize winner, Doris The banquet crowd was on their feet applauding their approval. Now back to the singing. Eager invited the Barbershoppers to assemble at the front of the Heritage Room. He asked each of the two directors present to lead the “gang” in a favorite song. The guests gave the singers generous applause. Later, two SCC quartets provided some entertainment. Before Hoosier Gentry sang, someone from that quartet announced that this would be their audition for the Spring Show. They did sing two ‘new’ songs. (I hope they qualified.) Those Snyder, won a DVD. Actually, both Don and Doris will each select their prize from the current Harmony Market Place catalog. This was another wonderful party thanks to the efforts of the capable Banquet Committee Al Schumm, Max Bell, Brian Eager and Dick Ellison. I believe their wives were involved, too. Additional thanks to Eager who, as M.C., also gave the invocation. Thanks to Paul Snyder for leading the installation. Thanks to the awards presenters: Schumm, Leimer and Steffen. Special thanks to our directors (always ready, willing and able) who led the Gang Sing. A grateful thank you to Those Guys and Hoosier Gentry for the entertainment. A hearty thank you to all who attended. Hope to see you again next year! -- P.E.S. Page 4 The SCORE March, 2009 Because of the current financial crisis and knowing SCC had three organized quartets ready and waiting, I didn’t expect to be involved in SCC’s Singing Valentine effort this year. Then I received an Email from Ken Steffen. He needed a Lead to sing in his Valentine Quartet. We’d be singing at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, IN. Former chorus member, Jeremey Johnson had asked Ken to order a Singing Valentine for his wife, Alison, who works at the Library on campus. Of course, I agreed to sing. So on Thursday morning, my wife, Doris, and I drove to Ossian to pick up Keith and Delores Morphew. Keith was our Bass singer. Together we drove to Ken’s home in Bluffton. From there we rode with Ken and his wife, Roberta, in an 8-Passenger Van. Next we picked up our Tenor, Ralph Pierce, and drove to Valentine Surprise Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion. We found Alison in the library. We gave her a red rose and sang two love songs. Before departing, we complied with a request to sing a song for the library staff. Then we took Alison to lunch at the local Bob Evans restaurant. It was delicious! After returning Alison to the library, we said goodbye. Now I had told Doris that, based on Steffen’s‘track record‘, this quartet would probably be delivering more than one Singing Valentine. Therefore after we left Indiana Wesleyan, I wasn’t surprised to learn we had two more deliveries one in Ossian and another in Bluffton. We sang to Dr Bear’s wife at her work place in Ossian. The Bluffton assignment was at General Manufacturing. Steffen made final arrangements by phone as we approached Bluffton. I could recall delivering Singing Valentines at this factory in previous years. It actually involves three deliveries. The quartet sings for the factory workers, then for the office staff and finally in the warehouse. The employees always enjoy the singing and the owner pays well. Everything went as expected. You see I sang Valentines this year thanks to Steffen’s ability and willingness to organize a quartet. In addition, it’s always a pleasure to help make those “sweethearts” smile. I’m glad I went and we all had a good time . . . and a free lunch as well. Now that was the surprise! -- P.E.S. Valentine Quartets Hoosier Gentry delivered 1 Valentine on Wednesday 2/11/09 and 9 Valentines on Friday 2/13/09, plus 7 more on Saturday for a total of 17 Valentines. Snyder, Morphew, Pierce and Steffen (Kordsmen) delivered 1 in Marion, and 3 at General Manufacturing and 1 in Ossian on Thursday 2/12/09 for a total of 5. Those Guys delivered 14 Valentines on Friday, 2/13/09 and 2 more on Saturday 2/14/09. This totals 44 delivered this year for a total of $1,720.00 before expenses. Hoosier Gentry went to deliver a Valentine at WANE-TV, but were asked to be background for weather lady, Sandy Thompson before they delivered the Valentine. A camera crew was on hand to film the Valentine, so Brad Pape got to watch a show choir and classmate receive her Valentine on the 5 PM news. Then on Saturday while singing at the Golden Corral, Hoosier Gentry were surprised to get to sing for a 90th birthday gathering at the restaurant. Seems that Bob went to school with the daughter and son-in-law of the birthday girl. Then a bigger surprise, Dave Thomas had dated the daughter. Thanks to all quartets everyone that involved with day. . the and was the -- Bob Bowman, Valentine Chairman By Steve Cooper, Seen in the New Mexichords Serenader, Becky Whalen, Editor Ring those Chords I think learning the craft is one of the more important things you can do for your chapter. I mean, who sings poorly on purpose? I had a talented buddy in high school who would purposely sing just enough out of key to drive us all nuts, but he’s the only one I can think of. Continuity of Sound Maybe the most important thing we can do as barbershop singers is to try to ring our chords. Top level quartets ring their chords from he first note to the last. One of the things they do to create those continuous overtones is to provide TONE at all times. By TONE, I mean there are no “holes” in the sound. Holes are created when: l) you quit singing when you should be singing, and sometimes… 2)…if you back off your notes too much so that your part of the chord goes away. Holes not only break the ring, but also contribute to a “runaway” presentation. By not finishing the phrase completely, we tend to breathe earlier, and come back in sooner than we should. The net effect is that the sound is choppy, and tends to get ahead of the beat. The “classic” statement/advise given at Harmony College is to produce or to carry tone all the time you are singing, which then leads to the question: should I be trying to produce tone through a “rest”? No, but you should be producing tone all the way up to that rest. In a chorus setting when many others are singing your part, you can often cheat (surely someone will be producing tone when you are resting). In a quartet there is no support group, and if you quit producing tone hour quartet sound is DOOMED. Seen in Oak Lawn’s Woodshedder, Patrick Conran, Editor You Know You’re Getting Older When: Everything hurts, and what doesn’t hurt, doesn’t work. The Gleam in your eye is from the Sun hitting your glasses. You feel like the night before, but you haven’t been anywhere. Your little black book contains only names ending in M.D. You get winded playing chess. Your children begin to look middleaged. You finally reach the top of the ladder and find it is leaning against the wrong wall. You join a health club but don’t go. You begin to outlive enthusiasm. You decide to procrastinate but then never get around to it. Your mind makes contracts your body can’t fulfill. You know all the answers, but nobody asks you the questions. You look forward to a dull evening. You think a night out with Ken Steffen just might be fun. ;-) Page 6 The SCORE March, 2009 Obvious? Continued from Page 1 knew the music at a 90% or better level! He’d actually get to direct! What would happen if Mark said, “I want to produce A+ results and you’re not letting me if I have to spend my time teaching you the song! So here’s the deal, you take these voice dominate recordings of our next six songs (don’t we have them now?), learn the first two by the __ (some future date) and I’ll be over that night to rehearse (not teach) the music. I’ll work with those who are ready that night and everyone else can listen until they’re ready. I haven’t got time (and neither do you) to attend auditions on all these songs. Just study the tapes and come ready to sing. If one of our vocal sections isn’t sounding correct, I’ll figure out who’s creating the problem.” If you’ve got a CD player in the house, at the office or in your car, then you can do this. If the recordings are good enough (and you can buy great quality recordings from any number of international level quartet guys) then you can learn words, notes, chord construction and tempo before you get in front of Mark. Lord knows that would be a very different chorus with an entirely different approach to their business! Maybe most of our Monday nights could be sectionals, using the CD’s in separate rooms to get repetitions. Mark doesn’t have to bother with that kind of meeting! We can see him when he comes to rehearse! I even think some new singers (and perhaps some former SCC members) would come in, get into the system and be blown away by what we could create as a vocal group. By the way, we could still go for pizza afterwards if you wanna! A great big “Thank You” goes to Jack Gossett and Hoosier Gentry for singing at the Baker Street Train Station for the Flavor of Fall fundraiser. There were several Summit City Chorus members at this function, but the above-mentioned quartet made the headlines. They were great. Below is the letter that Jack received because he is on the board of the Brenda Hanchar Foundation, the beneficiary of the event. We Have Mail Thanks for asking us to participate! March, 2009 The SCORE Page 7 Youth in Harmony (YIH) SCC officers for 2009 went to COTS (Chapter Officer Training School) yesterday in Columbus, IN for training. We traveled in Max and Nancy Bell’s super motor home. Many thanks, Max, for getting us safely to and from Columbus. Many thanks too to Al Schumm for having donuts, coffee, and snacks for munchies. My class, YIH, was conducted by our old buddy and chorus coach, Raymond Schwarzkopf. One thing he stressed is that one guy alone cannot get all the work done...... that help is recommended. So....I’m putting out the call for guys who are truly interested in being on the YIH committee with me, who truly believe we need to get/stay in contact with today’s youth in an effort to perpetuate our “more than a hobby” thing we do! Another thing he stressed is that it is not about us, it’s about THEM. Planting the seed for (distant) future barbershoppers. YIH is not intended to be a membership drive or recruiting tool for us. I’d like you to take a few minutes to watch a video that shows what can and is being done with YIH. It’s a video about Harmony Camp over in JAD (the not-all-that-great state of Ohio, Al!) primarily. Here’s what you do: go to www. harmonycamp.org, click on Video, then download according to your internet connection speed. Broadband is best, not recommended for those with Connectile Dysfunction (aka dial-up). Be sure to watch the chorus of about 1 million teen-age boys, yes, teenagers, doing Sh-boom. It’s at about the 5:36 minute mark and runs for a minute. The kids are pretty awesome! Hope you enjoy it! -- Dwight Nash (Editor’s Note: Dwight is the VP of Youth In Harmony and would like some help in doing this great project justice. Anyone that has a desire, and we all should, to help in this endeavor should contact Dwight and ask him what you can do to help in this cause.) Society Welcomes the Oak Ridge Boys Reprinted from Overtones, Al Ries, Editor The Oak Ridge boys, who have one of the most recognizable four-part harmonies in country music history, became Honorary Life Members of the Barbershop Harmony Society on Wednesday, July 2, 2008, at the Sommet Center in Nashville. The superstar quartet accepted its Honorary Life Membership prior to the Barbershop Harmony Society’s quartet quarterfinals competition during the Society’s 70th Annual International Convention. “To be recognized among the greatest harmony singers in the world is a huge honor,” said Duane Allen, lead singer of the Oak Ridge Boys. “After all, the Barbershop Harmony Society is all about harmonizing, and the Oak Ridge Boys have always said “Singing in harmony is great, living in harmony is better. “ The Songs that We Sing Seen in the Grove City Chorus’ The Grove Gang, Jim Cockran, Editor “Happy Birthday to You”, the fourline ditty was written as a classroom greeting in 1893 by two Louisville teachers. Mildred J. Hill, an authority on Negro spirituals, and Dr. Patty Smith Hill, professor emeritus of education at Columbia University. The melody of the song was composed by Mildred J. Hill, a school teacher born in Louisville, KY on June 27, 1859. The song was first published in 1893 with the lyrics written by her sister, Patty Smith Hill, as “Good Morning To all.” Happy Birthday To You was copyrighted in 1935 and renewed in 1963. The song was apparently written in 1893, but first copy-righted in 1935. Happy Birthday to You In 1988, Birch Tree Group, Ltd. Sold the rights of the song to Warner Communications (along with all other assets) for an estimated $25 million. Reprinted from In the 80”, the song Happy Birthday To Worcester “Key Notes” You was believed to generate about $1 million in royalties annually. With Bakers trade bread recipes on a... Auld Lang Syne and For He’s a Jolly ...knead to know basis. Good Fellow, it is among the three most popular songs in the English language. Marathoners with bad footwear Happy Birthday To You continues to suffer... bring in approximately $2 million in licensing revenue each year, at least as of 1996. ...the agony of defeat. Here’s to You “Lexophiles”, or Lovers of Words Al Schumm 2008 When an actress saw her first strands of gray hair... ...she thought she’d dye. Santa’s helpers are... ...subordinate Clauses. Ken Steffen 109 Hillcrest Drive Bluffton, Indiana 46714 260-824-3594 (H) 1993 Buckeye Invitational Champion 1985, 1988, 1993 & 2003 District Chorus Champs