Newsletter of the Danbury Chapter, Yankee Division, Northeastern District of the Barbershop Harmony Society Meeting every Tuesday, 7:15 p.m. at Church of Christ, 90 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury, Connecticut Volume 23 Number 11 www.madhatterchorus.org Post Holiday Freeze The Mad Hatters performing at the annual Holiday Concert. Picture by Mary Dunkle Hatters Harmonize Through Holiday Season By John Bradley and Terry Dunkle On November 19, a baker’s dozen of Mad Hatters performed at the Bethel United Methodist Church’s Holiday Bazarre, entertaining an appreciative audience as they were munching on their lunches. Scott praying that all goes well. Picture by John Bradley With music director, Joe Hudson, not in attendance, Scott Coleman ably directed. Walt Barlow, a former member of the chirch’s congregation, told a touching story from his youth, when he skied to church one Sunday morning, stealing candy from some old lady on Main Street along the way. On December 3, Director Joe Hudson and 22 singers entertained 90 guests at our annual holiday concert, The Secret of Christmas, at our host venue, the Church of Christ. The event benefited the John Dunkle Memorial Membership Fund, which provides scholarships to send local high-schoolers to Harmony Explosion Northeast each August. Andy Bayer’s solo during “Do You Hear What I Hear.”Picture by Mary Dunkle. Contnued on the next page The Danbury Mad Hatter Barbershop Chorus Hatter Chatter
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The Danbury Mad Hatter Barbershop Chorus Hatter Chatter · of Christmas, at our host venue, the Church of Christ. The event benefited the John Dunkle Memorial Membership Fund, which
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Newsletter of the Danbury Chapter, Yankee Division, Northeastern District of the Barbershop Harmony Society
Meeting every Tuesday, 7:15 p.m. at Church of Christ, 90 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury, Connecticut
Volume 23 Number 11 www.madhatterchorus.org Post Holiday Freeze
The Mad Hatters performing at the annual Holiday Concert. Picture by Mary Dunkle
Hatters Harmonize
Through Holiday Season
By John Bradley and Terry Dunkle
On November 19, a baker’s dozen of Mad Hatters performed
at the Bethel United Methodist Church’s Holiday Bazarre,
entertaining an appreciative audience as they were munching
on their lunches.
Scott praying that all goes well. Picture by John Bradley
With music director, Joe Hudson, not in attendance, Scott
Coleman ably directed. Walt Barlow, a former member of the
chirch’s congregation, told a touching story from his youth,
when he skied to church one Sunday morning, stealing candy
from some old lady on Main Street along the way.
On December 3, Director Joe Hudson and 22 singers
entertained 90 guests at our annual holiday concert, The Secret
of Christmas, at our host venue, the Church of Christ. The
event benefited the John Dunkle Memorial Membership Fund,
which provides scholarships to send local high-schoolers to
downtown Minneapolis. This has been an annual event for
William’s family and we’ve been able to go with them a few
times. The line wound throughout the shopping area, winding
up on the 8th
floor where the workshop is located.
I hope that each of you have had a good holiday season and
have been able to spend time with family and loved ones. The
time spent with family is important as you get to share
memories, and make new ones. A special joy is spending time
with the grandchildren and sharing stories.
The year 2016 has been a good one for the chorus. We are a
better singing and sounding chorus than last year. This is a
result of the leadership from the music committee, led by
Wynn Wilcox and from our music director, Joe Hudson. The
establishment of monthly goals to work and build upon has
been a good practice. Joe and Wynn continue to bring out the
poster board to serve as a reminder of the things we should be
doing. (Smiling, standing properly, completing the phrase,
etc.).
Valentines Day will be here before we know it. The number of
Singing Valentines delivered the past two has been less than
desired. I am asking that each member of this chapter book
ONE singing Valentine. That could be to your wife or
girlfriend and you could join the quartet on your voice part
when singing to her. We have members who book 5-10
Valentines each year, so booking one should NOT be a
problem. Four to the Bar delivered Singing Valentine’s for
the first time last year and expressed that they enjoyed being
able to experience seeing the joy that the recipient had in
receiving their Valentine. You too will feel that joy when
singing to your wife or girlfriend.
We have had good coaching throughout the year and will be
starting the New Year with a retreat in Lake Carmel, NY, on
March 11. Mark your calendars now and plan on attending
this all day session.
Last year’s annual show was one of our best shows. Plans
have begun for the 2017 show which should be even better
that the previous. Once again, Peter and Walt will be the co-
leaders for the show. One of the areas we need to improve
upon this year is the sale of advertisements. We each need to
commit to this effort and not expect someone else to do this
job. The goal that I set when becoming the chapter president is
to have the sales of ads to cover all the costs related to the
show. We have done a good job in years past, but last year’s
ad sales were not as strong as past years.
I am asking that each of us attempt to recruit one new member
to the chorus. This way we will double our membership.
More information will be coming to help with this effort. Stay
tuned.
Wynn demonstrates the new Cha-Cha choreography to “My
Romance.” Picture by Terry Dunkle.
Scott seems overwhelmed by the performance.
Picture by Terry Dunkle.
Searching for the pitch pipe. Picture by Terry Dunkle.
Baritone Deep Thought When I see lovers’ initials carved into a tree I don’t think it’s sweet. I just think it’s surprising how many people carry a knife on a date.
- 6 -
December Board
of Directors
Meeting Minutes
Meeting called to order by
Danny “Elf on the Shelf” Anderson at 6:07 pm on 12/06/2016
at the Church of Christ.
SECRETARY’S REPORT: The minutes from the last
meeting were posted by Art Cilley and received on a motion
by Dickson Demarche, seconded by Robert Golenbock.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Our expenses are under budget.
We received a check for our Bethel performance. We received
free-will offerings for our Holiday concert, but the money has
not yet been counted. The report was received on a motion by
Andy Bayer, seconded by Robert Golenbock.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT: Last week our Board had a special
meeting to learn more about the Membership Committee’s
plan for growing our membership. If the Board endorses the
plan, the general membership will receive a presentation as
well.
VP PUBLIC RELATIONS: We had a good crowd for our
holiday show. No new promotional activities are planned, but
Art is already working on the print promotion for Singing
Valentines. We plan to start work on this year’s Harmony
Explosion camp scholarships.
MUSIC COMMITTEE: The written Contest proposal,
encompassing our members and members of the Bridgeport
chapter, has been submitted to the Board, the chorus, and the
Bridgeport chapter. We await word from Bridgeport. We
intend to have a Saturday retreat in the spring. Joe Hunter
returns next week. We are also engaging John Ward. We are
looking into another VLQ for the Annual show. Wynn will
continue to work with random quartets every rehearsal.
OLD BUSINESS: In consideration of the significant programs
of the membership campaign, the general membership must
support the plan and recognize that the Board stands behind
the recommendations. Wynn noted that historically previous
goals that did not have the members’ commitment to change
have failed. Dickson added that we need a clear timetable of
the five year plan. Andy explained that the sequence is still
under development but will be worked on if we have
commitment. Dickson also recommended prioritizing the
goals since some items may not be acceptable while others
may not have even been thought of yet. Terry is developing a
spreadsheet for five years with a budget that would fit the
logic of his business plan. Wynn added that among the
important items would be a new meeting venue that enhances
socialization and a coach who could show up weekly for a few
months to solidify our learning processes. Wynn moved that
the Board should indicate whether or not they support the
Membership Committee’s plan for membership after the
Committee’s follow-up report on January 3, 2017. The motion
was approved on a second by Jimmy Hopper.
Two of our guys stole a calendar, and they both got 6 months.
Details at 11.
NEW BUSINESS: The installation dinner details are still
forthcoming. But plan to go because it’s always a lot of fun.
MEMBERS PRESENT: T. Dunkle, T Marrow
OFFICERS PRESENT: D. Anderson, W. Gadkar-Wilcox, D.
Demarche, P. Daubner, A. Cilley, A. Bayer, J. Hopper, R.
Golenbock.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15pm. Next meeting 1/3/2017.
Music Committee Notes
Submitted by Wynn Gadkar-Wilcox
In our December 2016 meeting, the
music committee focused on our upcoming contest and annual
show. We have scheduled an all-day (9am-4pm) chorus retreat
at Arts on the Lake, 640 Route 52, Carmel, NY. On that day,
we will have John Ward for coaching. We also plan to have
Joe Hunter and Steve Delehanty working with us leading up to
the contest.
At the December 20, 2016 rehearsal, we had our first
competition rehearsal. This initiated our new qualification
procedure for the competition chorus. This procedure is as
follows: first, members of the competition chorus have been
organized into random quartets (if you do not know your
quartet mates, please contact Joe Hudson). Each of these
quartets will practice the two competition songs, "For All We
Know" and "After You've Gone," during breaks, before and
after rehearsals, and on their own if they wish. They will also
be taken out during rehearsals to work with a member of the
music committee. When they are ready, the quartet will sing
for Joe or a qualified member of the music committee and
each member of the quartet will be evaluated individually. To
qualify, members must sing at a 60 or B- level by society
standards (accurate in notes and words and together in proper
interpretation). We may also have members of other choruses
joining us as dual members for the contest. If so, they will be
subject to the same standards.
We are also preparing for singing valentines this year. Those
who are not in a regular quartet but may be interested in the
singing valentines programs should contact Joe Hudson.
We are also deep into the planning for the annual show on
April 1, 2017, a tribute to Richard Rogers. More information
will follow in the coming months.
Remember our contest goals set for this year:
A) Win our Division.
B) Have a minimum of 25 guys on the risers.
- 7 -
For Northeastern New Chapter Leaders "Elect" and/or
Current Chapter Leaders, and/or the Interested
Chapter/Member "Influencers" of the Future!
Do you want to strengthen your chapter? Do you want to be a
strong, successful chapter in 2017? Singing more and being
successful? Recognized as a premiere community singing
group?
If you answer “yes” to these questions, please make plans to
attend the Northeastern District Leadership Academy 2017 to
be held at Worcester State University, Worcester, Mass, on
Saturday, January 7, 2017.
Once again we have an outstanding faculty ready to teach the
leaders of your chapter how to be successful in their jobs in
2017.
Along with the traditional training being offered to chapter
officers, we are excited to be offering two general sessions
devoted to Leadership Principles, which should be very
beneficial to all chapter officers and especially to future
chapter leaders.
Another new addition to this year’s curriculum is a two-hour
session entitled, “THINK.” This interactive general session
will be a journey of “self-discovery” for your chapters
designed to empower each of our chapters to identify itself,
align what it does and engage with its members and with it’s
chapter life.
Finally, there is fabulous opportunity - for our chapter music
leaders, directors, assistant directors, and music teams - to
learn from one of the best directors in the Society! Joe
Cerutti, will be leading a full-day Director’s Workshop. This
is a “must attend” workshop for anyone aspiring to provide the
musical leadership so necessary for a strong and successful
chapter. Sign-up is first come, first serve! Fills FAST!
With these three great reasons to attend, I hope that every
chapter will send their leaders this year to NED Leadership
Academy.
The tuition schedule is the same as last year and online
registrations are NOW OPEN!
The first registrant from a chapter will be charged $200.00 and
each registrant after that will be charged $25.00.
All registration information, course descriptions and course
schedules are available on the NED web site. See the listings
and download the detailed PDF documents.
Use this link to register:
https://www.nedistrict.org/leadershipacademy
Please look over what is there now - for the latest information.
Please DO register as soon as possible for this event! This is a
full day event, on Saturday, January 7 and although designed
for chapter officers, Leadership Academy is open for all and
any chapter members to attend.
Open to all members of the NED, Sweet Adelines
International and Harmony, Inc.
If you have any questions, please contact Ed Fritzen, Dean of
this year’s Leadership Academy.
Your first step for a successful 2017 is to attend Leadership
Academy! I hope to see you all there. Sign up today!