• p1oneer TROUBADOUR s. E:.B .S.Q.S.A. .. .. .. . ........... .. h hii l illfflfi · Ji a-UIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII II Ittt iiiU i tlllllltlllltii iiiiiUnJlTRllltiTIIDlllllillllllllll - llllltlllllltiiiiUIUIIUtiiiiUIIflffnnllmllnonlll"llll rT tiRinl l fl J ntllm IT WAS A GREAT 50TH Power Play, Ivy League, Macomb Win It was o great celebr ation, and we know our Pioneer District forebears Nould hove been ple<lSed with the way we honored the begimhgs of this great district. The hi4llight of the 50th Annivers..-y celebration was the unveiling of the birthday cords fro"ll oil over the Society . Better than 900 cords, which ircluded cords fro-n as for owa-1 as Germany and Sweden, were displayed on panels, and on hand to help open the display was none other than 13ett 0 Cosh, the daughter of our f ounder, _ Cosh. Betty added o lot of fun and enthusi09'Tl to the festivities, and proved she cou ld sti ll sing a mean tenor as she often did wi th her fa t her's quartet, t he OKIE FOUR . Our District Communication Officer and top PR guy J im Styer frCYn Bottle Creek orronged offoir , which included TV coverage os well os rodio coverage. 1 ... addition , your editor, as District Historian, put together o 50 year history display which proved very popular with dist r ict attendees. (Pictures of the cord and historical display ore shown in other ports of this issue.) On the contest scene, twelve quartets vied for the right to represent the district ot the Internat ional ConteS1 irl Son Francisco in July . POWER PLAY and TI-E IVY LEAGUE qualified with fine scores of 1861 and 1858, respec- tively. No other quartet was able to attain the 1828 points needed to enable them to qualify for the International competition . (See scores sheets in this issue.) To the surprise of hard I y anybody, the Macomb County HARMONY HER IT AGE Chorus took the top honors in the district chorus contest. The chorus, Jnder the able directioo of 9ob Hartley (who took (Ner as director just three .weeks prior to the contec;t), proved to the district that t!'\ey ore to be -eckoned with in the fall preliminaries, as they presented o beautiful package . The Grand Rapids GP.EAT LAKES Chorus, our representatives to the international chorus contes1 h Son F roncisoo, ended up in second place, with the Detroit-Oakland GENTLEMEN SONGSTERS coming in third. All il"' all, the chorus competition was quite com- petitive, with all of the IS choruses singi ng well. The plateau chorus awards went to Jackson in Plateau I, Saginaw/Boy in Plat eau 2, Flint in Pl ateau 3, Lansing in Plateau 4, Detroit-Oakland in Plateau 5, and Grand Rapids in Plateau 6. (Plateaus ore based on total membership os defined under t he Achievement Award program. ) All in oil, our Fiftieth Anniversary Celebrat ion was a great success . Joe Wolfe, Ed Schwoppe, Carroll Adorns, etc ., would have extre-nely proud of us, hod they been here to help us celebrate ..,hot they beoon. In This Issue ... Add-A-Line • •• • ••••• • ••••••• • ·•· • 8 Area Counselor Aoard. .. .... .. ... 6 Boyne City "Bush Leogue" • • • • • • • II CJN..IM Glnce II ot I on. . • • • • • • • • • • • 8 Coning Events. . . . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 16 Contest Scores • •••• ••• •• •• •• 10.11,13 COnvention •.•••••• . •• • •• 9,14,15 Coning Events • • • . .. • • . . • • • • . • • . 10 District Boord Briefs. . .. .. .. . .. 8 District News ................. 12, 13 District Officers . ... .. .. ... .. . 3,4 Editorial ... .. .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. •. Harmony ••.•..••• • .• .•. In t-hrrory (Scooros, WI I 1 son) • ••• Logoped l cs • ••••• • ••••• • •• • • • • • • Spring Convention .•.• . •••••••• . State Historical Museun• •••• • •• • 6 5 7 2,6 l 7 PIONEER BARBERSHOPPERS ENJOY GREAT CONVENTION by Jim Styer A 65-foot wall of greeting cords from six countries helped celebrate the 50th Amiversory of the bor!>ers!'lop harmony society's ?iooeer District. The displov of 931 cords signed by I, 304 bor- !M!rs!-toppers and fans wos unveiled to l<icl( off the distri ct 's spr'ng convention in Bottle Creek . The convention also feotvred o district history exhibit and o free quar - tet and chorus show ot the headquarters hotel's festival marketploce . After the convention, the history exhibit , prepared by district historian Bob McDermott, displayed for o week at the Michigan Historical Mvseun in Lansing . An opening ceremony, conducted by Mike Cir rito, featured THE LAST GOOD- and the COLLECTOR'S CHOICE quartets and the presentation of o legislative resolution. The distric t -- the Society's first consists of Michigan and western Ontario . It was formed June 8, 1940, two years after the founding of parent Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America . The cord display - - reminiscent of the Pioneer !)istrict' s "•vorld' s longest" 50-foot birthday coke for the society's anniversary two years ogo was unveiled by furt!y Ann Cosh of Tulsa, Oklahoma, tl1"e" daughter of the SPEBSQSA founder, the late Owen £. Cosh. Greetings were recei ved from 37 sta- tes, Canada, England, West Germany ond Sweden. They ranged in size fro-n o 50 -foot banner to o 2-inch cord with the message "o little greeti ng from a great big fan." (CONTINUED ON PAGE 5)
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Transcript
• p1oneer
TROUBADOUR s. ~- E:.B .S.Q.S.A.
~j#i~··· .. :·JYJNI::~~Qir .. s·a·-·~~-.............. .. h hii l illfflfi·Jia-UIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I ItttiiiU i tlllllltlllltiiiiiiiUnJlTRllltiTIIDlllllillllllllll-llllltlllllltiiiiUIUIIUtiiiiUIIflffnnllmllnonlll"llllrTtiRinllflJntllm
IT WAS A GREAT 50TH Power Play, Ivy League,
Macomb Win It was o great celebration, and we
know our Pioneer District forebears Nould hove been re<:~Jiy ple<lSed with the way we honored the begimhgs of this great district.
The hi4llight of the 50th Annivers..-y celebration was the unveiling of the birthday cords fro"ll oil over the Society . Better than 900 cords, which ircluded cords fro-n as for owa-1 as Germany and Sweden , were displayed on panels, and on hand to help open the display was none other than 13ett0 Cosh, the daughter of our founder, _ .~. Cosh. Betty added o lot of fun and enthusi09'Tl to the festivities, and proved she could sti ll sing a mean tenor as she often did wi th her father's quartet, the OKIE FOUR .
Our District Communication Officer and top PR guy J im Styer frCYn Bottle Creek orronged t~whole offoir , which included TV coverage os well os rodio coverage. 1 ... addition, your editor, as District Historian, put together o 50 year history display which proved very popular with distr ict attendees. (Pictures of the cord and historical display ore shown in other ports of this issue.)
On the contest scene, twelve quartets vied for the right to represent the district ot the International ConteS1 irl Son Francisco in July . POWER PLAY and TI-E IVY LEAGUE qualified with fine scores of 1861 and 1858, respectively. No other quartet was able to attain the 1828 points needed to enable them to qualify for the International competition . (See scores sheets in this issue.)
To the surprise of hard I y anybody, the Macomb County HARMONY HER IT AGE Chorus took the top honors in the
district chorus contest. The chorus, Jnder the able directioo of 9ob Hartley (who took (Ner as director just three .weeks prior to the contec;t), proved to the district that t!'\ey ore to be -eckoned with in the fall preliminaries, as they presented o beautiful package . The Grand Rapids GP.EA T LAKES Chorus, our representatives to the international chorus contes1 h Son F roncisoo, ended up in second place, with the Detroit-Oakland GENTLEMEN SONGSTERS coming in third. All il"' all, the chorus competition was quite competitive, with all of the IS choruses singi ng well. The plateau chorus awards went to Jackson in Plateau I , Saginaw/Boy in Plateau 2, Flint in P lateau 3, Lansing in Plateau 4, Detroit-Oakland in Plateau 5, and Grand Rapids in Plateau 6 . (Plateaus ore based on total membership os defined under the Achievement Award program. )
All in oil, our Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration was a great success . Joe Wolfe, Ed Schwoppe, Carroll Adorns, etc. , would have ~n extre-nely proud of us, hod they been here to help us celebrate ..,hot they beoon .
A 65-foot wall of greeting cords from six countries helped celebrate the 50th Amiversory of the bor!>ers!'lop harmony society's ?iooeer District. The displov of 931 cords signed by I, 304 bor!M!rs!-toppers and fans wos unveiled to l<icl( off the district 's spr'ng convention in Bottle Creek .
The convention also feotvred o district history exhibit and o free quartet and chorus show ot the headquarters hotel's festival marketploce . After the convention, the history exhibit , prepared by district historian Bob McDermott, o~~as displayed for o week at the Michigan Historical Mvseun in Lansing .
An opening ceremony, conducted by Mike Cirrito, featured THE LAST GOOD~ and the COLLECTOR'S CHOICE quartets and the presentation of o legislative resolution.
The distric t -- the Society's first consists of Michigan and western Ontario. It was formed June 8, 1940, two years after the founding of t~ parent Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America.
The cord display - - reminiscent of the Pioneer !)istrict' s "•vorld' s longest" 50-foot birthday coke for the society's anniversary two years ogo was unveiled by furt!y Ann Cosh of Tulsa, Oklahoma, tl1"e" daughter of the SPEBSQSA founder, the late Owen £ . Cosh.
Greetings were received from 37 states, Canada, England, West Germany ond Sweden. They ranged in size fro-n o 50-foot banner to o 2-inch cord with the message "o little gree ti ng from a great big fan."
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 5)
2
LOGOPEDICS PIONEER DISTRICT
LOGOPEDICS CHAIRMAN Alex Wlllox
38174 S. Aickham Ct. Westland, Ml 48185 Res. (313) 728-0865
Whot a weekend at Bottle Creek , o wonderful celebration for our 50th Anniversary . Every chorus ond quortet did us proud . I would soy it ' s one of the best competitions we ' ve hod in our district . We all seem to be improving , congratulations Pioneer!
AMOUNT PER OiAPTER CONTRIBUTED CAPITA ALPENA $ 775.00 $25 .00 BA TILE CREEK 31.50 .70 BEN HARBOR- S. J . 57 .57 2.06 BOYNE CITY 525.00 16.41 CADILLAC CLit,ITON VALLEY COLDWATER 52.00 4.00 DEARBORN DET -OAKLAI'ID 1642. 40 1c>.H FLINT 294 .75 6 .!+1 G~NO RAPIDS 1070.9 10.20 GRATIOT COUNTY GROSSE POINTE 487 .00 5.00 HOLLAND 30.00 . 44 HURON VALLEY 507. 20 10 .79 JACKSON 90 .00 3.46 KALAMAZOO 2S .OO .54 LANSING 9%.88 14.09 MACOMB COUNTY 12.60 . 20 MILFORD MONROE 25.00 .96 MONROE NORTH MUSKEGON PONTIAC 380.00 17.27 PORT 1-PJRON 35.00 . 7'-4 SAGINAW BAY 348.00 9 . 94 ST . JOE VALLEY SAULT STE. MARIE 150.00 3.66 SNAN VALLEY 5.60 .27 TRAVERSE CITY WAYNE 1573.70 16. 92 WINDSOR PIOI'£ER DISTRICT
TOTAL $9,115. I I $6.61
"I don't care il you have to hit every Barbershop in tD~Wn, find me a quartet!"
P1oueer r· --TROUB~DOUR-- -1 & Off•eill Pt.biJctt- ol rllo ~ I ~ PIONEER DISTRICT ~ I
I S.P.E.S.S.O.S.A~ Inc. I
1990 PIONEER DISTRICT OFFICEI\S
PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT DIVISION Ill MICHAEL J. O'DONNELL RON THOMET
I 16'7 Fo•r'-"v t970 PettiS Aven,. I G-:ar.c! Rapod<, M Alb.·~ Ad&. Ml 49301
I A1C 313 Res J63.13f8 sus 451-2857 A.IC 6t8 R"a 6~2017 I INOEFN.t.TIO'iA,. SOARD t.tEidSER 1. CE PRESIDEN•
IMMEDI,t,TE P4ST I>RES11l£NT 011< SION IV EARL W. BERRY RO&ERT TRACY
1 27130 Cla<rviE>o 502 W Central 1 Oeai'QQm Heogllts. Ml 418127 MIK~Inaw City, Ml C970t
I AJC 313 Re,. 277·7t30: Bus. 23l-7928 AIC 616 Res. 436-8768 I
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT DIVISION V ROQER J. LEWIS DEON MOORE
201t5 12 Mole Road 3835 Fehn Batlle Crete~! Ml 49017 H~mlock. Ml 418ti26
I A1C 6t6 fl.e . ~5714. Bus 91;8.939t A1C 517 Res 642-8786 I
I SECRET"AR'· !liRECTOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION I JAC!t F. SCH,.SDER JAMES H. STEPHENS 1311 No:th'a..., S:.. NE 5335 Clat&t'ldon
Gra...U Ra!IJCS t.'l 4~ Canton. Ml 41-187 AIC 616 q..J 361~ Bus 77t·522S A1C 3!3 Ro$. CS'· ~11
II DIRECTOR OF CONVENTION PLAN!';lNG II TREASURER AND SPECIAL EVENTS
R. STAN WILLIAMS MICHAEL A. CIRRITO 421 Franklin Stre&l 1714 Vass~r Drive
LD.IIt. Ml 49251 lansing, Ml 48912 AJC 517 Res 589-5586; Bus. 3l2·5996 AJC 517 Res. 485-~.
I VICE PRESIDENT DIVISION I CONTEST AND JUDGING OACJCI I
I POSTMASTER. ADY'EII11SING ·-T£.11: I MIH uncfeJh>e.r-able copy to: ~!~~~-- . ::
Detroat.O~.Iand Chapter S.P.E.B.S.O.S.A ~~~f:~~: : . .::: Robert McOermoU o s1 . SJO.oo
I 1&Si Mi:Iyland Blvd O:::~~.~~rd(P.;r; .. ·.- .lt:t..OO I I Bummor.am. Ml 48009 o.wu•CIJ<II-••~ ~.oo J ·----------------------------.-.n:laDUIIH:ttaft...._....-.UIID1fffl"11111IIIU.III:UIIt IIIIHIU.IUtJUitiiU.DDDDUIUili•RIUTII:nt:J.U• ..
TROUBADOUR DEADLII'ES AND MAILING DATES 1::::::
EDITION COPY DEADLII'E APPX . MAILING DATE
February/Mbrch January IS, 1990 February I, 1990 Apri 1/Mby Mbrch 15, 1990 Apri I I, 1990 June/July Mby IS, 1990 June I, 1990 • Augvst/Septerber July 15, 1990 August I, 1990 5 October /t-bvtn'ber Septemer 15, 1990 October I , 1990 De<:emer I JcnJOry l'bvemer 15, 1990 De<:trrber I , tm
CHANGES OF ADDRESSES
The lRl..BlOl.R is m:1iled with labels supplied by our International Heodquorters . If you hove moved, or plan to change your address, please notify your Chapter Secretary and International ~qtrs . , 9AEBSQSA, 6315 3rd Ave., Kenosha, WI 53140-5199. Give then your ncme,M!rrber N.rrber, Chapter N.rrber, your old address, ald your new address. This will insure your continued rec.e i pt of the lRl..BlOl.R. 00 NJT crNT/CT your edi tor, as he cannot effect • a change of address, Old thisWlll only couse unneeded delays in the de- : livery of your l'FQ..Bl(D.R end your ~llfR.. Failure to not i fy in this 5
11'0'\ner results in your district~ the U.S . Post Office forwarding Old : return postage fees! :
It seems like everytime I write on article for the TROUB I end up touting obovt whot o GREAT weekend we jvst hod. Well, this is no exception. It was my f~rs• as your District President and I just hod a boll, starti;'l9 right from Thursday night when the Derroit-Oaklund Chapter hosted the pre-convention get toge;her through Sunday morning at the convention wrap- up meeting and the pres-dents fcrewell hospitality room. Fran start to finish (including that uglv drive home on only II hours sleep all weekend), it was fantastic!
t-leedless to soy, it wouldn't hove worked without so-ne terrific preparation and hard work by DOC, oil the officers and committee members, the Bottle Creek Convention Bureov, ~ty Cosh, the quartets and choroses, most of oil-- all of YOU for being there.
Specl<hg of tne quartets and choruse5, I 'd hove to soy we will be sending hro wort'ly representatives to Son Francisco in POWER PLAY and THE IVY LEAGUE! In addition , our new District Chorus Chcrnps fro-n Mocornb County provided on inspiring performance and served notice to the rest of the district to be ready for o dog fight in the fal I!
My hots oH to all the competitors !x.Jt a very special thank you to the me-nt>ers of the Lansing Chapter who put up with me os their director for ~e last three-ond-o-holf-years and then went out and "OANCED" their NOY into the hearts of the audience. We will never for get the way you responded to our lost song and it is with o heavy heart I leave them.
As for the future, we plan to keep on doing the things you ask of us to make the conventions fun and enjoyable for oil. Under Chairman Dean Moore ""e hope to hove in place -a- " Joe Borbers!'lopper Chorus" for the fall to oct as o mike tester chorus and also to give those men whose choruses do not cc:mpete on opportunity to sing on stage. We ore investigating changing the position of Area Counselor to one which would require musical skills necessary to help chapters who need and ask for it. DME Jim Stephens will be talking to his fellow DME's this summer ot Harmony
Pioneer TROUBADOUR
College to see what other districts ore doing.
The District Five Year Plan is being worked on with the help of eight post district presidents to g.Jide us through the next five years and beyond. They may be contacting you for your input and I hope you will respond with enthusiasm If they do .
Next on the agenda is the Internotional Convention and Contests to be held in Son Francisco in July. We know the Grond Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorv3 and our two quartets will be doing their best to capture the "GOLD"! We wish them oil well in this porsuit. From all I Jnderstond I wil t>e busy the first three days in sneetings galore. If there is anything you wish me to present to the Internat ional Boord I hope you will drop me a line.
Thanks ogoin for your support. It was terrific seeing so many of you at the lost convention. We hod o good turnout and I only hope ge continue to increase attendance each vear. As a certified Judge in the lnter;x-etat·on Category I've hod the opportunity to travel to -nany conventions and I con tell you without reservation or cosf'l9 dis;>ersion on other districts that ours is one of the finest run and most fJn 1' ve hod the pleasure of attending . If you ' ve not been to one lately, plan on coming next fall!
by our Executive V.P. ROGER LEWIS
WHA TI A CONTEST!
Saturday's CHORUS CONTEST and QUARTET FINALS served up everytr.ing you could ask for! Great singing, showmanship, and "down to the wire" excitement! The non-contest events such as the 50TH ANNIVERSARY CARD PARTY, the "sharing ald coring" of BETTY At IN CASt-:. and the events in \\cCcrnly Place all worked together in harmony to make our PIOI\EER 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION one that .viii go down in history.
WERE YOU THERE?
Our pre-registration list showed that 597 Pioneer District Borbershoppers registered for the convention . We also hod Ill on-site registrations, some of
Page3
which were wives, friends, etc . Using "typical" overages, it means t~ only abou+ one-half of our meml>ersl-tip of 1372 attended the contest.
WHY?
Conventions keep us "pumped vp" 1
excited about our hobby, ond in touch with the great people wh¢ ore a port of it . Look ot the improved q.KJiity of singing in quartets and choruses in just the lost few years. How else con we keep in tune with the changes (yes, there will always be changes) and the ne-.w quartets and the great chorus performances 1~t just get better and better?
It's pretty easy to see that conventions offer me the things I like . But apparently there's a missing ONE-HALF OF OUR MEMBERSHIP that feels differently. Speaking on behalf of the Boord and the Convention Committee, we'd love to know just how you feel -- what we could and should be offering that would put convention dares on your calendar twice a year (~ ink) because you would feel cheated if you missed one .
Very soon, probably in the next issue, you' II get o membership survey thot 1 vrge oil of you to fill out, especially if you miss conventions. But in the meantime, if I've struck a responsive chcrd, please drop me o note. It can be positive, negative, constructive, critical, or apathetic. Any ond all ore welcome . 'l.y address is on page 2 of this T roubodour.
In closing, let me shore two opportunitie5 for you . First, if your chorus hasn't cc:mpeted, and you'd like to sing on the contest stage (without worrying about being judged!), we're planning a JOE BARBERSHOPPER MIKE TESTER CHORUS in the foil. You con s ign up, learn your music, attend a rehearsal on convention weekend, and join with 700??1 Pioneer Borbershoppers to kick off the chorus contest. Dean Moore is heading up this function,--al<f"YOO' II hecr more obovt it.
Second, here ore a few dotes to write in your calendar, to eliminate the "Gee, is this the convention weekend'?" syndrome.
FALL OCT . 19-21, 1990 OCT. 18-20, 1991 OCT. 16-18, 1992 OCT . 15-17, 1993 OCT. 14- 16, 1994
Featuring Barbershop Choruses and Barbershop Quartets Galore
111111111111••• 111111111111···
Friday, July 27, 1990 Tickets $12
111111111111···
NO alcoholic beverages can be brought on board.
per person Boat leaves at 8:30P.M. SHARP From Bob-Lo Dock and returns at
11:30 P.M.
r------------------------------FILL OJT fll\0 MA.IL TO: NICK PASTOR Make Checks Payable tot~
Detroit· Oakland Chapter
17600 II MILE ROAD LATHRUP VILLAGE, Ml 48076
I enclose my check for the amount of for tickets at s12.oo each.
a self-addressed, stamped envelope a'ld request that you forward rry
t•ckets to me at:
NAME ____________________________ ~PH=O=N~E ________ __
ADDRESS & STREET ----------------- --------------
CITY & STATE ______________________________ __
Moy 9, 1990
To the Editor:
I must take strong exception to "The President' s Corner" article by District President Mike O'Donnell which appeared in the April/May '90 edition of the Troubadour .
Mike's basic premise is in the second porogroph of his arti de: "There's on attitude I'm going to ask oil of us to change (if it applies) and it is on attitude that our audiences wont nonbarbershop music sung in the barbershop style. My friends, there is nothing further from the truth!"
Mike. old friend , I'm afraid you're the one who's straying frO"Tl the "truth. " For the "truth" of the matter appears to be :
a. A vast majority of the barbershop OJdiences prefer -- and a majority of ::hopters will hire --quartets who con entertain, in addition to sing well, even though sane of the numbers tho1 are sung may nor be strictly barbershop in nature .
b. We live in a market- driven society where the size of the audience generally determines the financial success of the show . Yoo con hove a "strictly barbershop" show . But if only 20 people show up to hear it, con this be considered o success to oil parties concerned?
c . Like it or not, our nat ional )ociety membership has decreased , and the overage age of our Society member -HOuld make retirement centers toke heed . I hove found that many times, it's the "non-barbershop" numbers that turn on todoy ' s younger generation -these ore the numbers that con serve as 3 hook to grab these potential members, members that our Society so desperately need$.
Pioneer TROUBADOUR
Incidentally, I helped organize the Pioneer District's PATCH CHORDS quartet in 1974 . Since then, we hove entertained o1 more thon 420 functions in more than 70 Michigan towns and cities, plus five additional states and Canada. "~"o dote this year, we hove been fortunate to be o part of the Grosse Pointe, Soginaw and Lansing Chapter s.'lows great barbershop experiences .
During our existence, our quartet has prided itself on good borbers!-iop singing . We've won the Bush League and finished os District Finalists several times.
And, throughout our engagements we hove done so much to perpe1uote our Barbershop Society. Believe me, people who leave our performances don't soy, "They were good, but the third and fifth numbers they song weren't exactly borershop." Instead, we hear comments such os "We thought your BARBERSHOP performance was entertaining." "How long hove you been in BARBERSHOPPING?" "How do I get in BARBERSHOPPING?"
In essence, Mike, this is the true criter ion of "keeping it barbershop. "
Don' t toke ·Nhcrt I 'm soyi ng personolly , Mike. I think you know me too well for that. I'm only picking on you at this time because you seem to be one of a growing number of Society leaders (including Burt Szabo) belaboring unbending purism "'"Cit" a time when our Society badly needs o breath of flexi bility . As you know, Mike, I, too, love to wear my pure barbershop hot when the occasion warrants . "'o one loves a true barbershop chord or barbershop song better than I do . Good four-port harmony still gives me goose bumps . I've been known to sing barbershop chestnuts and togs into the wee hours of the morning.
The point worth making is that the broad aspect of barbershop simply does not lend itself to o clear- cut defi nition, nor con it be perpetuated successfully through pursuing the dogno of purism .
Instead, barbershopping con and should be on enticing mixture of many ele-
PageS
ments, including songs that con be sung in the true spirit of barbershopping without being technically barbershop on o note-to-note basis . In other words, there should be room in this great Society of ours for both purism and flexibility.
I' rn proud of our Society. But I also wont to see i1 grow and prosper without attaching any inhibiting restrictions. Rest assured, Mike, that os long os the PATCH CHORDS contirAJe to perform, we will do everything in our power, by pursuing the widely accepted definition of audiences, to "Keep It Barbershop. "
/SIGNED/ DOUG PEARSON
(JIM STYER - FROM PAGE I)
At the cord cerenony, Bottle Creek's now-retired HARMONY HOUIJDS quartet i!'ltroduced "Our Golden Year," a song composed for the district by prolific songwriter Einar Pedersen of New Orleans. Copies were distributed at the Saturday night quartet finals, ·..-hen it vas svng bv the 1200 borbers!"loppers b attendance, led by the Wayne RENAISSANCE CHORUS, outgoing district chanps. The audience also serenaded ~l.s. Cosh, who st' I coils her tote father "Honey, " ..... ith Honey, Li 'I 'Lize."
Durir~g the cord cere-nony, the HOUNDS svrprised Ms. Cosh by singing her dad's favorite gut -busti'l' tag, "Johnny Doughboy," and t~1en gettir~g her to join in on tenor. Also, the OKIE FOUR'S "Bright Was the Night" was s!Jng ot the cord ceremony by POWER PLAY, district quartet chaTipion, and at the moss sing .
The cord ceremony was covered by area newspapers and cablevision, a local CBS-TV affiliate and CBS Radio ·1ews . Videotape fro-n the convention is being carried os a weekly show on local cable.
b. one-hour interview with Ms. Cosh was sitllulcost live on local radio and cable TV.
Sign Up Now For Harmony Round-Up ~---------------------------------------------------,
APPLICATION FOR PIC>f\EER DISTRICT MINI-1-EP "HARMONY ROUND-UP" I INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATIONS
lndiviCilcl registration fee inclUdes two nights lodging, coaching fees,materials, all meals Saturday and breakfast Sunday . Full Payment $80 .00 - Commuters pay only $.50.00 - Minimum deposit $30 .00
QUARTET REGISTRATIONS Quartet registra tion fees includes the some as individuals. Full payment $320 -Commuters pay only $200 -Minim1..m deposit $120 for all four members .
Fees not refundable after August I, 1990
YES! I wont to be included in Pioneer's Neekend sdlool ''rlarmony Roond-Up" 1
being held ot MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, East Lansing, Ml on August 24-261 Enclosed is my deposit/full poyment of $ . Make checks poyobl.l! to the I Pioneer District. I
NAME ________ ______ Chapter _________ _ I I
or QUARTET _______________ Phone {_) ______ :
ADDRESS..---.-------,r.,.----:---- ---,.,r.:-:-- - ----ZIP ___ _ Number Street City
Moil to: J!M STEPHENS, 6335 Clarendon, Canton, Ml 48187 (PH 3 13- 459-4011)
I I I I L---------------------------------------- ------------•
Page6
oa SPOTLI&IT
on
LOGOPEDICS
Dr. Fran Durham In this article, I want to finish
answering the questions borbershoppers most often ask about the Institute of Logopedics which I began in the April/May issue of the Troubadour.
I ) How con 1 make a referral? Call the lnsti tute' s loll free ntJm!:>er I -800-835- 1043 and let the staff ot the Institute help you do it. The more informatioo you hove about the person being referred to the better. Ideally, the f<:r1ily should know you ore contocti:lg ;he lnsti lute. (At so:ne point, usually the sooner the better, the Institute staff will need to develop detailed and ongoing cornmunicotion with the fcmily involved, portiOJiorlt if enrollment is to be considered.)
2) rlow ore borbershopper referrals handled? This depends upon a number of factors, including the nature of the disability, the services currently being provided, the nature of the progrorn, the advice etc., being sought, the appropriateness of the Institute's resources, other resources which ·night be considered, and the financial conti!lgencies and cupobilities. These considerations become the basis for choosi"lg anong several alternatives, includiog: further consideration of services at the Institute, referrals to other resources. s:..oggestioos, guidooce, referrals •o advocates, etc., which con bring about more appropriate ;>rograns right where they ore.
3) How long do students stay at the Institute? The Insti tute's goal is to hove the special Impact each student needs and to get them bock into their :>wn names and schools .
Length of enrollment varies according to many factors. Because local school districts ore developing more ;>rogroms the length of the stay at the Institute has become shorter.
For many, the length of stay seems to be between 18 months a'ld 2 veers, allhough some students come only for
Pioneer T ROUBADOUR
the seven ""eek sunmer progro:n while others ore there four, five or more years.
INTERESTING STATISTICS
The Institute receives on overage of SO calls o monlh from 15-20 states regarding residential programs. The Institute hos also received inquiries frCY.n other countries as well .
NOTE : Don't be shy about making inqui r ies. There ore many woys besides enrol lment in which the lnsti lute of Logopedics con be of help.
<J'~om tlle pen ob qJou:r 8dttoll
A BIT OF POTP<XJRRI
Found rhe recent convention in 3attle Creek one of the 'Tlost interesting I've ever attended. We see-n to be having more fun than ever, and the singing has improved, even the bock roam vorl et y.
-- How about a big hots off to Jim Stephens and his wife Judy. They doo yeoman's job at every convention. Most peple don't know how involved they ore in setting up the oudl torit.m for the contest, and in regulating the sound system. Mos~ of the sound equipment we use belongs to them. Jim 'Tlokes oil of the flow charts for the choruses and quartets for the contest, assigns dressing roans in the school, and when something needs to be done at the ouditorit.m they do it . Thanks, you two, for all you've done!
- - Hod o nice talk wifh ::>ole Mattis, the director of the Graner Rapids' GREAT LAKES Chorus. Dole was disappointed that his chorus didn't win, of course, but they knew they were taking a chance gettil"lg in . They hod two new chorus songs and wonted their total pockoge to be judged and critiqued at least once before internal ionol. I think it ·Nos o smart move, and I further think they will sing a lot better for it in San Francisco! Good ludc, guys!
Hove to compliMen1 Jim Styer for all the work he put in on that cord
June/July
display. It was nothing short of sensational!
-- It wos o sh<rne that we had to cancel the Junior Quartet Contest because we hod no entries. We hod three quartets lined up (we thought), but all concelled ciJring the final two weeks !>efore the convention. This is somethiog that we' II hove to work harder on for next year. The House of Delegates seemed to favor giving it another try next spring, so that's what we ' II do. Start working on it now with the high schools!
Hod quite a few bids for the Choinnon of Judges Roger Steffens'sport coot that he wore during the contest sessions, but he wouldn't sell it. Someone even offered him o pair of socl<s!
- - That Betty Cash is quite o bubbly pe~. I talked with her on quite o few occasions during the convention, anci she really seemed to be enjoying herself. I think it 'N<lS apropos that we hod her at this convention.
-- Mike Cirrito and the t.on&ing gang hove to be congratulated for the fine district display at the State Capitol Historical Museum the week after convention. The display caught the attention of o lot of people in this state. It's PR like this that will pay off for us in the future!
JIM STYER NAMED AREA COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR
by Larry Porker <DIV. If V .P.) Jim Styer, 49, of Bottle Creek, was
presented the £ . Q. Sonbom Area Counselor of the Y eor Award for 1989 at 1he recen11y cttnpleted Pioneer District Convention .
Styer Is a six-year member of the Bottle Creek Chapter, and has been the Area Counselor to the Lansing, Jackson, and Coldwater Chapters for the post two years.
Styer is also the Director of Ccmmunicof oos and Public Relations Officer for the Pioneer District, and was twice honored with the award for the International, as well os, the Pioneer Disrrict, for being the Public Relations Officer of the Year for consecutive years 1987-1988.
THE VAGABONDS (AT A NOV . 1986 REUNION) L to R: Ken Gibson, tiy Scooros 1968- 1974, Denny Gore, ~ Shumard 1974-1979, Norm Thompson.
by Ken Gibson (for the VAGABONDS}
On April 20, 1990, the Pioneer District lost a dear friend and vibrant lover of life. Tony Scooros passed away after a three yeart>OiJt with cancer stemming from a brain tumor.
Tony hod been o long time m~bef" of the Oakland County Chapter where he was well known for his fine baritone voice, quick Nit and worm personality. For mony years he was very much o port of their successful Wolverine Chorus, both as o chapter stalwart and performer with them in district and international competition .
The "Greek", as we loved to coli him, was also quite a quartet man. He won his first Pioneer District Chcrnpionship with the CLOSE CHOPDERS bock in 1966. Two years later, he and the boss Norm Thom~n, put together 0 new foursome with enny Gore on lead . They called themselves theVAGABONDS.
The nexf six years sow Tony reach great heights as a musician and performer . After winning the District contest in 1969, the quartet went on to place in the top ten at lnternotionol for 1hree consecutive years. Now Bor!>ershoppers all over the cnuntry got to know and love Tony as Pioneer always hod . Those many friendships continued long after he retired from the VAGABONDS following the 1974 contest in Kansas City.
In more recent years, Tony's desire to sing wns rekindled when the VAGABONDS were asked to do a feN shows in the toll of 1986. Shortly after, Tony formed o quartet ot his church and continued to sing and fellowship with this foursome until his death.
As our dear Greek friend would hove wo.1ted, there was on abundance of music when we said farewell to him on April 24. Members of his quartet song with beauty and inspiration as did twelve outstanding gentlemen from the former HARMONY UNLIMITED. Tears flowed freely as Mike McClary, John
P ioneer TROUBADOUR
Wearing, Bob Riddle, Lowell Thomas, John Seemann, Don Ht.mphries, 2:T:9 l50Tfard, Bruce GiM'arte, Bob ~. Don Cline, Kevin Hayes and Pete Burns song "Lost In the Stars" and "That Old Quarte t of Mine . " A very difficult task under the circumstances, but so very, very much appreciated by his fornily and friends .
Tony's strong faith coopled with love and support from his family helped to make the lost fe.v years much easier. Please consider shoring your thoughts and prayers with his dear wife Carol)" at: 5586 Fawn , Troy, Ml 48098. n addition, you or your quartet/chapter m ight wish to send a donation in his ncrne to the Harmony F oundatlon at Kenosha or the American Cancer Society.
BARBERSHOPPING ON DISPLAY
by Mike Cirrito
A small but appreciative crowd gathered in the forum of the Stole Historical Muse~~T~ on Monday, April 30, to dedicate the opening of the district ' s 50th Anniversary exhibit. Pioneer District President Mike 0' Donnell was on hond to occeot o jo•nt Senate/House resolution cor>'lmemoroting the occasion.
The exhiDit, much of which was 0.'1
display ot the convention in Bottle Creek, also i<lCiuded a qvortet comprised of four mannequins donated by the J. C . Penney and dressed in barbershop attire by nenbers of the Lansing Chapter . A conthuous loop video of 1981 Detroit hternationol Convention illustrated what our hobby is all about.
THE LAST GOODBYE and COLLECTOR'S ~HOIC: quartets prodded the ent.ertoinnen! ""'ich added the appropriate touch to the program. The sights and sounds of barbershop on display was a fitting culmination to a great 50th Anniversory conventi.:>n weekend.
Page7
LOTON WILLSON PASSES
The "F other of the Bush League Quartet Contest," Lot on Willson, of Boyne City passed away May---rz;;--1990, after suffering from cancer for the post year. Services were held at he Boyne City Presbyterian Church. Lotan ••tos born in Kolcrnazoo in 1907 and moved to Boyne City when he was three years old.
Loton was u long tirne member of the Pioneer District, and was one of the first Area Governors (now coiled Area Counselors) in our district when 1,e wos appointed to this position h 1949. He served in that capacity until 1951 when he ass..rned the duties of District Vice President, which he held until 1954. '-ie was elected President of the District on May 16, 1954, and served for one year, declining a second term because of the cost and tirne involved . He did rernoin very active In barbers hopping however, and was very active in the Charlevoix Janborees os well as in the judging pr()9Tan.
He or' ginoted the first l'lov'ce Gvortet Contest i1 the district and it ~as appropriately renamed the "Loton C. Willson 'Bush League' Quartet Contest" by his home city chapter , Boyne City, in 1999. He octuolly founded the Boyne City Chapter in February of 1944, along with Alfred Sorosin and Floyd Lucas.
He was honored by the district in I 974 when he "OS inducted into the !he Pioneer District Hall of Fame. All of us will miss Loton and will long remember the contributions that Laton brought to our District and to ovr Society . Our prayers ore with him and we know he's already singing with that great quartet in the sky.
CHORUS TUXEDOS FOR SALE
Your club needs tuxedos ••• a first tux, a second tvx • •• and you hove only $999 to outfit your entire group. Well , you're in luck. WE HAVE JUST WHAT YOU NEED! Our club bought new tuxedos and we would like to sell our "gent ly worn", yellow tuxedos . We have sixty-one Jacket and Pont sets --plus twenty six additional pairs of pants. We will sell everything of this one low price. Interested? Coli: Joe Burns, Uniform Chairman, Wayne Chapter -- (313) 420-0978, or write in cariOf: 40865 Crabtree Lone, Plymouth, Ml 48170.
PageS
CAN·AM Cancelled
(The following letter was written by Russ Seely to Mike O'Donnell in explanation of the cancellation of the CAN-AM JAMBOREE, which hod been scheduled for June 16, 1990, between the Ontario and the Pioneer Districts. It is publi~ here only as on explonot·on as to why the event was concelled.)
Dear Mike:
As I told both you and Bob McDermott, in no way did !.. cancel this event . If for no other reason than the fact that I would hove hod no authority to do so in the first place, and, second, I 1-lod no contac1 with either the armory or caterer to initiate a concellotion. "' foct, as I .YOS lerl to believe, my role was to secure talent and bodies to attend the funct;on frcrn our district. That was confirmed h o conversation I had with John Case weeks ago in Nhich he informed me thot o ~="rank Morrison would be my Canadian counterpart, that is securing talent, etc . from the Ontario District.
On April IS one John Ford called me to discuss CAN-AM. He stated that he was disappointed that we dicln' t hove o "Headliner" rype of quartet and that he didn't want to see bot!, districts take o step backward !:>y not having a "Iorge" turnout for this event. He asl<ed 'lle to estimate the attendance by Pioneer and I responded that even without o big promotion, probably 300. However, I planned (as I told John) to contact every competing quartet and chorus at our District Convention, plus do the usual announcement and flyer routine. He told me that Ontario was having their convention one week before ours and tho1 he could "poll" the Canadian brothers to find out what kind of attendance he might expect. He stated, "If it doesn' t look good, I'm oil f!lf" cancelli '19 CAN-AM, but I'll colt you Sunday night (April 22) to let yoo know." I received no further calls frcrn John.
Imagine my surprise when Bob McDermott called me on Monday (April 23) to ask me why I hod cancelled! Finally, according to John Case, the Armory hod been cancelled ~ the Ontario Convention.
If I dropped the boll, I'm truly sorry but 11 m afraid I don't know how, since my contribution was simply, as I ;>erceived it, "Talent Coordinator" for t!'le Pioneer District.
Unfortunately, the event is --again, as I understand it --irretrievable for this year, but, hopefully con be reinstated for future years .
Sincerely, Russ.
Pioneer TROUBADOUR
ADD-A-LINE By Jim Styer
DISTRICT COMMUNICATION OFFICER
This is the first of what I hope con be a regular colt.rnn on public relations and communications.
Maintaining and increasing <nembership is one of the gr-eatest concerns we all hove, and "R is ooe of the major tools we hove to occomplis'l that goal. It's often said oor !,obbv is o well-kept secret. The word iso' t qetting oot like it could. PR con change that. These columns will be intended not only for PR people ond bulletin editors, but also could help other officers and members. We're all PR people for barbershop.
Two timely developments:
PR SURVEY: All PR officers in the Society ore being asked to complete a survey on PR ot the loco I level, ·Nhot help is OPeded, what con be done better. They also ore asked to su!Tnit examples of whot has worked well locally.
I've sent this material to PR choirmen in al l 31 chapters in oor district. I'd like other members to cooperate as necessary to help canpile the information. It is to be returned by August to John Word in Albequerque, N.M., the '"SOC!e~OBE ·v.P. for PR . He'll then prepare o PR Survival l<it which will help all chapters improve their public relations.
We're picking the brains of more than 700 district and chapter PR officers. It's on exciting project, but its success depends on the number participati ng . lt's up to yoo.
F ovr chapters don' t have PR officers listed. Others in the position may not be octive. Please correct this. Otherwise, yoo're -nissing oot on a great benefit to yoor chopter.
PROTY AWARD: Because of the time the survey will toke, and because all chapters that make significant contributions will be recognized, there won't be on lnternotlonol Public Relations Officer of the Yeor oword, Word said . Also, no entries were submitted for o district PROTY award. Sut oor district board agreed to continue its award progran for another year.
Begin roN canpiling oil yoor clippings, l<!!tlers, brochures, topes, etc. At the end of the year, submit them with o short commentary on what you accomplished. It con be o single project or o program comprised of several different activities . The 1990 award will be presented next spring.
I'd like all DVP's, area counselors and chapter presidents to help identify
June/July
good PR and encourage PR chairmen to participate in this award prognm. The potential recognition might encourage them.
Any suggestions , please call me ot horne, (616) %5- 6456, or work (616) 964-716 1.
BOARD BRIEFS
SUMMARY OF MINUTES - PIOI'-EER DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING -- 4/27/90
fo'IO'_.ed, seconded and carried that the miJVtes and reports included in tne consent calendar be accepted as presented.
Moved, seconded and carried that o chairman be appointed to initiate o mike tester chorus program for the fall convention.
Moved, seconded and carried rho1 the board recommend to the House that Moccmb County be awarded the hosti"lg of the spring 1991 convention, Bottle Creek hosting the fall 1991 conventi..-. and Grand Rapids be awarded the hosthg of the spring 1992 convention.
Moved, seconded and carried tho1 the board recommend to the House that Lansing be selected as the convention site, the Sheraton the headquarters hotel, ond Waverly High School the ouditorh.m for the years 1993-199:>.
Moved, seconded and carried that the anended by-low anen<tnent he presented to the ';ouse for approval.
Moved, seconded and carried that ~ Pollard and her mother !>e "nvited to our spring 1991 convention. (Re-Logopedic' s Invitation).
SUMMARY OF MINUTES - PIONEER DISTRICT HOUSE OF DELEGATES MEETING -- 4728/90
Moved, seconded and carried that the coosent calender reports !>e accepted as presented.
Moveo, o;econded and corried that the charge of S. 50 per member !le initiated to help cover publication and moiling costs for the District Directory and that it be moiled to all members.
Moved, seconded and carried thot the amended by-law amendment defining a novice quartet be accepted.
Moved, seconded and carried fhot the board recommendations regarding hosting of future district conventions listed above be approved.
Moved, seconded and carried tho1 the board recommendation regarding selection of Lansing as the convention site (including hotel and school) for 1993- f 995 listed above be app_roved.
Respectfully submitted,
JACK SCHNEIDER, District Secretory
Pioneer TROUBADOUR Page9
Buckeye Invitational II / /_ August 10--11-12. 1990 ~ \
j/' ?~lace Theater • Columbus, Ohi_o ""\
The first annual Buckeye Invitational in 1989 was a rousing success. Buckeye Invitational II will be even better!
The Buckeye Invitational features the choruses and quartets from around the Society which fell just short of competing on the international stage. The weekend is more than just another competition, with the participants being judged in the ENTERTAINMENT category. Each competitor will sing for about 12 minutes, a "mini-show" with two of the numbers judged in the standard judging categories. This format received rave reviews last year for having turned barbershop competitions into entertaining shows.
The LOUISVIUE THOROUGHBREDS will play an exciting part of the Buckeye Invitational in 1990. On Friday evening, they will fill the air at the Ohio State Fair, one of the nation's largest state fairs. Shortly after that performance, other quartets and choruses will bring barbershop to the openair amphitheater on the riverfront in downtown Columbus. The Thoroughbreds will be back Saturday evening to close the quartet competition at the Palace Theater.
Get your tickets, mark your calendars and come and be part of a fun, full. and exciting weekend of barbershop harmony at Buckeye Invitational II!
- HEADQUARTERS HOTELS-(both about four blocks from the Palace Theatre)
Make reservations by July 20; mention Buckeye invitational Holiday Inn at Ohio Center Hyatt Regency Columbus
Choruses expected to compete on Saturda) afternoon arc the General Assembly Chorus, from Research Tnangle Park, North Carolina (DIX); the Mainhners, from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvama (MAD); the Coulee Chordsmen, from La Crosse. Wisconsm (LOL); and the Seaway Commanders, from Maumee. Ohio (JAD). Returmng from Buckeye lnvitauonallto compete again are lhe Renaissance Chorus, from Wayne, Michigan, (PIO); the Markham Men of Har· mony, from Markham, Ontario, Canada (ONT); and. back to defend lheir overall champmnship in last year's Buckeye Invitational. The Pride of Indy Chorus, from Indianapolis, Indiana (CARD).
Compeung quartets will be determined once the hne-up for intcmauonalts set at the Spring Imemauonal prehml· narics. Expected to join their North American quartet counterparts, and adding international navor to Bul :-.eyc Invitational II. is the Gent's Quartet from Hertogcnbo:>:ch. The Netherlands. This is believed to be the first ume a quartet from the Dutch Association of Barbershop Smgcrs has competed agrunst SPEBSQSA quartets.
New thts year, we are coordinating Sunday perform· anccs by choruses at downtown Columbus churches. and at noon. the Buckeye-Columbus chapter will host a ptcnJc for all lnvltauonal participants to conclude lhc weekend fcsuviues.
For more info, contact: Mike Renner • 100 South 3rd St. • Columbus, Ohio 43215 • W: 614/227-2349 • H: 614/86-t-39:!7
BUCKEYE INVITATIONAL TICKET ORDER FORM August 11, 1990 • Palace Theatre • Columbus. Ohin
Pover Play 2 The lvy League 3 Chi!Ck'late 4 Broadcast
5 Great Escape 6 The Key-Note Address 7 Dutch Masters 8 The Sound Ambassadors
SEP'tl-F:NALS
1 Poo.e-r Play :! "'~e I. y League 3 Chedmate .; Sroaocast
5 Great Escape 6 Dutch 11asters 7 "'he Key-Note Address 8 The Sound Ambassadors
Roger ·• Ste!~e~s lren 1.. B ... cl ner J1cn lhchards To111 Schhnkert Freder1c~ L. Street Bob 11ul hgan Joe O'Brien Marty Isreal David Wr1ght Lury King Ron Bash1a Richard Ca•pbell Richard S"'lth Joi'ln k, S.uer
9 Furniture Cit y Chord Comp 123 123 128 126 10 Four Part Formula 110 116 133 130 11 Grand Prix 120 112 128 127 12 Ulterior Motives 112 107 120 116
*Ranllng t1e broken by scores 1.n Sound -
Pioneer TROUBADOUR
Vero Beach, el l'enosha, \U Rofit! llillt!, 11N Lilburn, GA ROSI!IIllle, I1N Garden C1ty, 1'11 Whippany, NJ Hazlet, NJ St. Lou a, MO Farm1ngton Hills, MI Crown Po1nt, IN Battle Creek, 1'11 Battle Cr .. k1 MI Alpena, ttl
(This letter was pas.sed to y04Jr editor by Jim Styer, ~ho received it frcm R. E. Johnson of Oak Lawri'; IITinois. It was sent as a bi rthdoy greeting to our district , but it has some i ntcresti ng historical information about one of our former district stalwarts, 3, F. "Monty" Marsden, a former member of the Detroit Ill Chapter . )
Dear Pioneer District:
This leHer occcmpaties a birthday greeti:1g, and is being wriHeo for the twofold purpose of sharing with Y04J a bit of biographical lore about S<nleone who may hove had a place in Pioneer District history, a fascinating background in part of the world of music Qway frcm barbershopping, and with the hope that someone eit~er remembers the subject or con te II me of his port, if any, in district activity.
For the first several years of my lately-concluded employment, I worked with (or opposite) a mtn na:ned Bel·noot F. 'Mooty' Marsden, a soles:ntn based in Oetroit, whose territory covered lower Michigon.
P~~e,.. Play and Ivy League are tne P1oneer Distr1ct representatives to
Along the line I teorned that Monty was a borbersnopper and something of a power in his hO"Tle chapter, somewhere in ~~orth Metro Detroit, if not in the district. When he was training the associate who ultimately snored the territory, he visited outlying chapters, taking the younger
San ~ranclsco, July, 1390.
POWER PLAY frisCO Bound
C D
Su .. SHI t.
(CONTII'UED ON PAGE 12)
IVY LEAGUE
- 'IMRE M srn IS AL 'WAYS 5rr!NING mDHE MnONIS ALWAYS FUll . . .. . --.--.---.-
Pioneer TROUBADOUR
LOTON C. WILLSON "BUSH LEAGUE" CONTEST HJGE SUCCESS!
TN! 45th Annual Loton C. Willson Boyne City "Bush League" Contest cni Show was o big svccess again this year thanks to eleven fine quartets competing in the contest. In addition, the night show featured Gratiot County's BLUE RIBBON COALITION along with the Boyne City SNOW BELT Chorus.
T~ chorus, under the direction of Dole Hanson, hod o lot of fun presenting~ show skit , "The Sago of Nellie Dean," which they concocted os o two-oct force . (And it qualified!) The oodience seemed to really enjoy oil of that acting and singing talent in the group. Your editor hod the distinct pleasure of acting os M.C. on the night show and as Secretory of the Judges ot the afternoon contest. Dole Hanson has replaced Bob Tracy as the director of the chorus, who poid tribute
OffiC!AL SCORING SUMMARY
to Bob at the end of the show by ~esenting him with o trophy for the m:r~y years he dedicated himself to the chorus os their director.
In the afternoon contest, Tt-E WHOLE SI-£-BANG from Grand Rapids was proclaimed the wi~r followed by the TOP BRASS from Soginow. (See photos and the score sheet in this issue . ) Both of these quartets .song on the evening show . All in oil, it was o great weekend for those who attended, and the quartets really enjoyed themselves singing for o great oodience . This contest is strictly for novice quartets, but they all sounded awfully good for novices, sorne of whom hod only been together for o few days . This contest presents o fine opportooity for quartets to get their feet wet, and get so-ne excellent coaching criliQUf!S os well.
LOTCN C. WILLSON •BUSH LtAG~t· ~UART£! C0~7ES? PI~ D!STP.lCT, S.P.E.B.S.O.S.A., Inc. Boyne C~ty, M!chiqan, Kay 5, 1990
!he Panel Of Judges Cl'.al raan Sound Int~rpre-::ation
Stage Pte!lence Anangeaent Secretary Tlaekee~rs
1 The Whole She-Bang 2 Top BraS!! 3 Your Favorite Quartet 4 Harbor Tones 5 Parts Unknovn 6 L.uci(y Chance 7 The forflts 8 Haraonlc Progression 9 The 12th Edttlon
10 Chord Voulds 11 Heart Buts
Larry r.11l9 Joel K~l!s Ja~:es Johnso:o Bot~ Mullican Jim Stephens Bob Mcl>eraott Charles Wagner
The Muskegon ~ter's annual show, commemorating their 50th Amiversory, :ook place on Moren 31 at :he Fr~nthol fheotl"r in ,\1uskegon. It was ~ry gratifying to the SHORELINE Chorus members that on this impor1ont onniversa-y we drew oor largest, most enthusiastic crowd in recent years.
Much credit goes to show manager, Gordon Gunn, who was also oor stage manager, but os Gordon says, "Our success was the result of the cooperation and hard work of the entire chorus . "
Chorus di rec tor Webb Scrivnor was ably assisted by assistant director Mort Somers, and AI Burgess, the foi=iii'er director of the PORT CITY Chorus, which was the predecessor of the SHORELII'JE CHorus. Mr. Burgess, o 40 year borbershopper, has served os Pioneer District President and on the International Boord of Directors. He previously hod directed the PORT CITY Chorus in four lntemotionol Contests finishing foorth on two occasions ( 1959 ond 1961). AI won the hearts of the SHOP..Ellr-E Chorus during recent r~sols, and it NOS a pleasure ond an honor to havt him direct o runber on our SO:h Amiversory Show.
Pioneer District President Mike O'Donnell was MC for our show in 1m and also this year . Mike was presented with a personalized coffee cup commemorating the show ot the Afterglow. Bob Webe, the chapter logopedic choirman, was in charge of the afterglow and arranged for it to be held on stage . Now oil of our guests who attended the afterglow con soy they hove been on stage ot the F ruenthol .
Two borbershoppers who dote bock to the PORT CITY Chorus days, Fred Kendall, presently chapter P . R. choirm~, and Mort Bomers, presently ossutont chorus director, '"ere given appreciation awards for their many years of service to the chapter. Bati Ken Zeck, who was this year's chcmpion show ticket seller., was given a personalized coffee cvp, similar to the one given district president Mike O'Donnell, in appreciation of his efforts.
The FURNITURE CITY CHORD COMPANY, the SOUND AMBASSADORS, and the HARMONY EXCHANGE were our show ~rtets. They sparkled on stage and they sparkled ot the afterglow. Y/e sincerely thonk them for their contribution to the coose of borbershopping. The LUMBERT OWN CHORDSMEN, o quartet mode up of Muskegon Chapter members, also performed ot the afterglow . Quartet members ore tenor Alan Coombs , lead c yry Kellar , bari 1TrTi Koppe, and boss~ BTilTi1gsley. --
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 13)
Page 12 Pioneer TROUBADOUR June/July
DISTRICT NEWS Battle Creek
YOU WANT BIRTHDAY CARDS?
b)' D. L. Cohen
The Bottle Creek Chapter, along with the rest of the district, helped celebrate our 50th Anniversory. It WQS
o gala event, paying tribute to our beloved croft. Withovt the efforts of the many dedicated borbershoppers throughout the district, this grand enclave of "songsters" might well have rung o "dischordont chord"!
At least one man in our croft deserves more accolades and praise for his outstanding work and dedication. His ncme is Jim Styer .
We, in the Bottle Creek Chapter, hove come to appreciate this barbershopper for his great PR work, and the truly professional way he carries it through.
Recently I was privileged to as.sist Jim and his wife ~ for a few hours, putting together the display of birthday cords .•• which took nearly two days of arduous work. (Yours truly fizzled out after five hours.)
These birthday cords ccme from everywhere, runbering nearly 1000 cords in all. Upon completion, the display measured sixty-five feet in length, as the cords covered 13 four by five bulletin boards.
This very colorful display of birthday cards was viewed by all attendees ot the convention as they were displayed in the lobby of the Stouffer Hotel. Jim hod meticulously grouped all the brightly colored birthday cords (of every size and configuration), even one which was fifty feet long (printed on computer tope.) Eoch grouping of cords were listed by area alphabetically.
Thank you, Jim and Peg, for another memorable convention.
Detroit· Oakland
by Tom Uicker
Was the spring convention as enjoyable for you as it NOS for us? Hard work and the busy schedule connected with being host to the district was o cotalvst that brought our members together as never before. And we topped it off with a solid performance on stage for our retiring director, Steve Sutherlond, which merited the GENTLEMEN SONGSTERS third place in the chorus contest os well as champions in Plateau v.
But DOC is no1 a group to rest on its lourels. We held a performance the very
next day in support of Notional Music Week. And, we have since hod a membership/guest night which introduced a dozen new guys to the joys of barbershop harmony.
Friday, June 8, has not only been proclaimed as "Barbershop Quartet Day" in Michigan, bot it is also the night for the "Return of the Jug." Thu is always a big event of DOC as we feature the quartets that will represent our district in the next international competition. The "Jug" has been traveling from chapter to chapter throughout the district , and Is supposed to be returned to us that night by whichever chapter has possession of it at the time. The money in the "Jug" plus on additional contribution from Detroit-Oakland will be divided this year between POWER PLAY and THE IVY LEAGUE for travel expenses as they "go for the gold" in San Francisco. This year we will hold the festivities at the Bonnie Brook Golf Club on T elegroph Rood just south of Eight Mile qood in ::>e1roit. C<7ne out and join us for o festive evening starting about 8 p.m.
On Wednesday, June 13, the GENTLEMEN SONGSTERS will bring their show to the Bushnell Concert Series, ot the Busmell Congregotionol Church in Detroit . This engcge-nent is still fairly new to us, having done it only once before. The SOUND AMBASSADORS have agreed to join us on stage for this two-and-a-half hour performance.
Mark Friday, July 27, on your calendars now! That is the dote on which the Bob-Lo boot makes its annual Barbershop Moonlight Cruise (See ad on page 4). For just $12 per person, you and your friends con join in the three hour tr ip along the Detroit River up to Lake St. Clair as we enjoy o parade of barbershop choruses and quartets that wi II both soothe and cmuse.
Also, if you're in the neighborhood of Maple qood and Southfield Rood in Birmingham on any Monday night, be sure to visit us ot the First Methodist Church . That is the first ct.Jrch west of Southfield on Maple qood ( 15 'Aile). You're as welcome as the flowers in May!
Grosse Pointe by Jim Kinner
Grosse Pointe did our annual performance ot the Retarded Children's Bowling Banquet on March 30. The turn out of singers was excellent, and mostly because the oudience Is so appreciative.
think you 1 re right about my memory, Bob, because I did get the convention and show dotes mixed up . These things con happen! (Ed. Note: Amen!)
The show. "Grosse Pointe Goes 3mkrvpt'' was a huge success as was the Logopedic' s raffle we have every year in conjunction with our s.'low. We "'ere honored to have with us this yeor Lwrie lnqrohcm, ~ter of our late belOved soc· ety Executive Director, HUQh logrohcln. Lourie ccme all the way rrom Kenosha, Wisconsin, to be with us. Hugh Ingraham, who was active in borbershopping for almost forty years, served the Society os Director of Public Relations, Director of Ccmmunicotions, and finally, the Executive Director fr<Yn 1977 to 1987. Lourie joined us at our cost party where we song happy birthday in her honor.
(GROSSE POINTE - CONT. ON PAGE 15)
(HISTORICALLY SPEAKING - FROM PAGE II)
mm with him; the Iotter developed o distaste for barbershop music (he was a wimp, anyway), but that • s another story.
During the Kaiser Wilhelm stanza of this seeminglv-endless war, Monty Marsden enlisted in the U . S. Navy. Being o bore-knuckles typist, he WQS
rated a yevnon . (In those days yeomoo were not three-dollar bills. ) Marsden was assigned as secretory to John Phillips Souso. He wrote no shorthand; men ot that time didn't. His berth was no sinectJre; to occomodote his mercurial boss' habits, he hod to keep the requisite papers and carbons cranked into his typewriter at all times, because Sousa hod the custom of bursting through his office door dictating ot flank speed as he steamed in . Monty hod to type as JPS spoke: that 1 s the way it was done.
He survived the experience, and ultimately succvmbed to o heart attock in or about 1954.
Here was m unexpected connection between o borbershopper I knew and a major figure in American music. I hope this finds its way into district, if not international, history.
(Ed.Note: In checking the historical record in our files, we discovered thot ~ Marsden was one of the charter mernbers of the Detroit I I Chapter, and that he hod song earlier with the American Legion Club as early as 1936-39 along with Mark Roberts, Joe Wolfe, etc. He song in our first district contest with THE LEGION FOUR, finishing third in 1941. He song with that quartet until 1944, when he song with the DETROIT AMBASSADORS along with Joe Wolfe. He was elected the President of the Detroit /II Chapter in 1952-53. We hove no record of his having served as a district officer during that period. Many thanks to Bob Johnson for the information . ) --
Pioneer TROUBADOUR Page 13
Grand Rapids DISTRICT NEWS by Dick Wlllicms
Isn't it great! What a pleasure it is for us to welcome the new kids on the block into the Pioneer Winner's Circle. We are sincerely happy for "Hoot" and his band for their fine performance in the chorus contest, and all of us here shore in the excitement and happi:"less with this, their first District Chanpionship. We ore very proud and happy for them. We know the feeling of that first win. Again, congratulations Mocornb, for o fine job.
Also, congratulations to POWER PLAY and THE IVY LEAGUE for their splendid performances. Now, these two are headed along with us to San F roncisco as the Pioneer District's finest. It should be great fun.
Detroit-Oakland is to be complimented on o very well run convention and contest. They really did a great job.
To all the Plateau Chorus Champions, we congratulate you all on your outstanding performances. It was on excellent chorus contest.
As for us, well, now that the pressure is off for winning every contest, we con focus all of our energy on doing the very best possible job in Son Francisco.
We understand that this wos Steve Sutherland's lost contest os director of Detroit-Oakland's GENTLEMEN SONGSTERS. We will ;niss Steve, for not only was he on outstanding director and competitor, but one heck of o nice guy . We solute Steve for all the fine work he did with Detroit-Oakland when they merged and also his fine work with Wayne. We hod some mighty good contests ;~oing head to head, and it was great fun and o real challenge to see who'd come out on top. Thanks for oil the great memories Steve, and best of luck and continued success i'l the future.
Our slate is full now unti I Frisco, filled with coaching, weekend retreats, the Send-Off Show in Big Rapids, three full blown performances for the Lowell Showboat, and o performance for Fest ivai '90 to nome a few of the high spots.
Just one more thing, and it's o little scary. We all feel it, for deep in the dark recesses of Grand Rapid's Harmony Hall comes a rumbling as the complacent and slumbering giant has been rudely awakened.
(MUSKEGON - CONT. FROM PAGE I I)
The FURNITURE CITY CHORD COMPANY, the SOUND AMBASSADORS, and the HARMONY EXCHANGE were our show quartets. They sporkled on stage and they sparkled at the afterglow . We sincerely thank them for their contribution to the cause of bar-
bershopping. The LUMBERTOWN CHORDSMEN, a qvartet made up of Muskegon Chapter members, also performed at the afterglow. Quartet members ore tenor Alan Coombs, lead Gerry Kellar, bari Tim Koppe, and boss Jerry ffiTTinQs I ey •
Macomb County by Dove Pickett
On April 28, Macomb County reached its first goal, the "DISTRICT CHORUS CHAMPIONSHIP" . We worked hard and sometimes long to see us peak on stage at Bottle Creek. Now we must work even harder to represent the District as a championship chorus should. We wont to thank all who played a part in helping us along the way including our directors and coaches, Mike T. Slomka for SP, Jeff Gougeon "'"fOr vocal, Bob Hortlel for directing after only three works of learning our contest set and us . We wont to thank also Jim DeBussmon who co.Tie in for our DYNAMO PROGRAM and for his additional coaching which sure helped us do
more with our God given talent, and our chorus members for their commi t tment these past three months of rehearsal.
Macomb County is proud to claim POWER PLAY and port of THE IVY LEAGUE os our own. We wish them the best of luck at the lnternotionol in July. Let us all support the.'ll in their quest to be International Quartet Chomps. Lest we forget, another quartet we hove on interest in is BROADCAST, who finished fourth in the contest, which is not bod for first timers.
This was a great convention and birthday celebration for Pioneer. We must give our thanks to DOC for being g reat hosts.
Macomb is now preparing for a bake and garage sole by our women's auxiliary in July, Harrisville in September, plus the convention in October. Come over and sing with us any Tuesday at 8 p . m . at the Cross Lutheran Church, Utica at Moravian Roods, Fraser, Michigan.
OFFICIAL SCORING SUMMARY DISTRICT CHORUS CONTEST PIONEER DISTRICT, S. P.E.B.S.Q.S,A., Inc. Battle Creek , Michigan, Apri l 28, 1990
13 Jackson 100 96 111 99 22 79 70 Town and Country Chorus
Ineligible Choruses - Article 9 of Official Chor~a Contest
Huron Valley Harmonizers
Sault Ste, Harie Northland Chorus
113 105
96 98
Macomb County is the Champion.
111 121 20 1a eo
118 116 22 62 70
6 3 877 151 123 51
2 817 107 123 57
5 3 810 135 146 37
2 2 806 123 151 47
5 5 795 144 138 33
0 0 762 135 133 38
3 3 749 134 131 26
4 7 726 146 132 30
2 3 712 110 110 30
2 703 121 136 28
6 10 677 192 137 25
2 7 586 115 186 19
Rules
636 137 157 24
2 6 590 liS 187 · 28
Page 14 Pioneer TROUBADOUR June/July
convention snaps (PHOTOS BY GREG QUINN, JOHN NEIGHORN, BOB & DOT McDERMOTT)
II .., .. au••J
ERNIE NICKOSAN, EARL BERRY, BOB McDERMOTT ERNIE WAS OUR INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE CONVENTION!
A ' S 50TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORICAL DISPLAY PUT TOGETHER BY DOC ' S BOB McDERMOTT.
(GROSSE POINTE - FROM PAGE 12)
It's possible you may have missed our show, but we br009ht o S'llall s.Tnple for yoo to the convention. If Russ See!r decides to spring out of a barrel ogom we' II !love to find a bigger barrel. Of coorse, we all enjoyed the convention, as usool.
Sorry, but you' II hove to hear all about the golf outing to North Carolina in the next issue. I con only tell you thot this yeor they needed two championship jocl<ets.
Hove o lot of good ones until next time.
INT'L REP. ERNIE NICKOSAN, BETTY CASH, AND NORMA NIO<OSAI'.--
mm ._0 . __ fbW~ lhe
FURNITURE CITY CHORD COMPANY _barbershop quarteL with:
contact: ray grvl1er ray grutter • bass 5407 claudia se dave kutter • ~ri kentwood, ml 49508 rom lhomel • tenor hm S3ol·~213 bus -451·6358 II m W1!Stveld • lead
Pioneer TROUBADOUR
OUR HISTORICAL DISPLAY AT THE STATE HISTORICAL MUSEUM IN LANSING, MI.
MACOMB COUNTY HARMONY HERITAGE CHORUS
ATTENDEES VIEWING THE BIRTHDAY CARD DISPLAY
f-WlPY B IRll-QII.Y, P ICN:IR
Page 15
According to Jmn Styer, the following is the final updated nvnbers of g reeting cords moiled to t he Pioneer District to help celebrate the District's 50th Anniversary . 931 birthday cords signed by 1,304 people were received. The following is a I ist of where they cane fran:
w-et ll-EY OM:. FR:M: Special Gards: 9 Society staff: II lnsti tute of Logopedics: 12 S.BTOT.AL: 32
MICHl aN: Bottle Creek: 159 (plus 36 elseMlere, total 195) (Incl. 90 S/Vie.N TONer) Ko'zoo area: 38 Pont: 99 (4 in PA) Gratiot areo: 13 COldWater: 27 Milford: 27 Lansing: 53 Jackson: 35 O:X:, Wayne: 7 eo. Benton !-hrbor: 6 Other S. Mi.: 7 Wocorb: 12 Grand Rapids: 42 (•3 in l-ble, Ml:) folcnroe: 10 Grosse Pointe: 10 rbllonc:l: 5 Traverse: 26 Soy City: 3 Dear. ,1-i.Jron: I eo. ,'.\Jskegon: 8 Boyne: 10 Flint: 5 Others: IS Others fran narth-SogincJN: ,4 I:ET h£TR> lUf.AL: 179 ern 'JI'ch: 10
MICHl aN lOT .AI...: 650 C'JNO\: 19
Rest of l.NiliD STAlES: 185 fran 36 states
MID STAlES: 58 Ill: 21
Minn: 8 lnd! Wis :
Oh , a,l>lb: Neb: 2
5 ea. 3 eo.
EAST: 34 Penn: 9 Fla: 7 N.Y.: 4 N.J. ,GA.: 2 eo. WE,N1, WA,CN,M>, VA, SC: I ea.
RD<IES: 64 Colo: 53 Utah: 5 N.M.: 4
EUROPE lOTAL: 45 England, Sweden: I eo West Germany: 9 HoI I and : 35
SOJJH, Y£ST: 29 COli f: 16 Ariz: 4 Texas: 4 La . : I
<FIN) lOT .AI...: 931 lOT.AL ~: 1304
JUI\E, 1990
2 WESTERN MICHIGAN SEND-OFF Show, Big Rapids, Ml
16 TRAVERSE CITY Chapter Show
23 MACOMB COUNTY SEND-OFF SHOW - Redford, Ml
JULY, 1990
1-8 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION AND coNtESTs -San Francisco, CA
~~ AN OFFICIAL PUBUCATION OF TI-E PIOJ'.EER DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF ~ CHAPTERS OF TI-E SOCIETY FOR n-E PRESERVATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF ~ BARBER SHOP QUARTET SINGING IN AMERICA, INCORPORATED . ·:+:-:-:-:*:~:-:·:·:-~·:·,.:~-:-x·:--,.:-:-:-:·:·:·:~~..:.:..: .. :~w:·:·:-:--:.; .. ;.;v:-:-:::::.:::::::.:-:-:-:..:·;-:-:-:-~:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: ... : .. ! . - ... :_ . .......... :-:~~-~ ••• > ....... > ... • ...... -:-:-:-:-; .. ~-:-:-.
S.M.A.C. CALENDAR 24-26 HARMONY ROUND-UP - Michigan State University, lansing, JUNE, 19?0 Ml -
AUGUST, 1990
SEPTEMBER, 1990
29 NORPAC LOGOPEDICS SHOW -ChebOygan, Ml
OCTOBER, 1990
19-21 PIONEER DISTRICT CONVENTION AND CONTESTS - Battle Creek, Ml
2.7 BENTON HARBOR-ST .JOE Chapter Show
NOVEMBER, 1990
3 SAULT .STE.MARIE Chapter S.~w
DECEMBER, 1990
9 COTS, Lansing, Ml
FEBRUARY, 1991
9 MACOMB COUNTY Ch<lpter Show
15-16 DETROIT -OAKLAND Chapter Show
MARCH, 1991
9 KALAMAZOO Chapter Show
9 M<>I'ROE NORTH Chapter Show
16 HJRON VALLEY Chapter Sllow
23 GRAND RAPIDS Chapter Show
NOTE: All Chapter Show Activities must be cleared through the District Secretory, and the oppropri ate AS CAP, BMI, and CAPAC (Canada only) fees poid . Only shows that ore cleored through the District Secretory will be listed above.
PLEASE NOTIFY: Jock Schneider
1311 Nort"'tla...m, N.E. Grand Ropids, Ml 49505
Res. (616) 361-6820 Bus. (616) 771-5225
8 DETROIT -OAKLAND "Return of the Jug" Night @Bonnie Brook Golf Club, Telegraph Rood just south
II SMAC GOLF TOURNAMENT - Rommler Golf Course. Sterling Heights, Ml Sponsored by Macomb County
of Eight Mile, Detroit . 8:00 p.m. SEPTEMBER I 1990
23 MACOMB COUNTY SEND-OFF sHoW - BiShOp BOrgess High School, Redford, Ml - 8:00 p.m. - $5 donation.
28 WAYNE CHAPTER Octet Contest - Site to be announced.
JULY, 1990
22 SMAC Pialic - Canp Dearborn
27 BOB-LO MOONLIGHT CRUISE -Sponsored by Detroi•- Ooklond -leaves Bob-lo Dock at 8:30p.m.
NOTE: The above chapter dotes hove been cleared by chapter SMAC representatives. If yoo hove any other dates to be listed or added, please contoc:t Bill Warner@ 542-0581, Bill Widcstrun @"'7S6-4294 or Earl Berry ~ 277-7130.