Westags

The Far Western District Fall Convention in brief

Bakersfield, California   October 11-14, 2001

 

 

Finale, MOH, 4 Old Times Sake Win FWD Gold!

 

All FWD was again treated to a splendid convention and competition featuring the very best choruses and Quartets the Far Western District has to offer – which indeed includes some of the best the Society has to offer.  Congratulations to all the great competitors – Everyone knows they all put in a ton of work to get there, and it showed

 

Special congratulations to FWD Champion Quartet, Finale, (Gary Steinkamp, Dean Waters, Scott Kidder and Joe D’Amore),  The Masters of Harmony (Santa Fe Springs)  and the FWD Senior Champion Quartet, 4 Old Times Sake  (Jerry Fairchild, Jim McKee, Bruce Maxey, and Ron Chriswell)   Complete scores are posted  on the FWD Website www.spebsqsafwd.org.

 

A special thanks and congratulations also to Convention Chairman Dave Prigge  and his team and to Chris Wilson and the FWD Events Team for a well-organized and exciting weekend.

 

 

SIDEWINDERS Honored

 

The nearly 2300 patrons and competitors attending the FWD Fall event  joined in welcoming the dedicatees, The Sidewinders Quartet, the 1962 FWD Champion Quartet and the 1964 International Champs.  In attendance were Jerry, Gene and Jay.  A special recognition of the quartet and Joe Daniels, who passed away in 1987 was made on the Show Of Champions Saturday night.

 

 

 

Jerry Orloff Gets Member # 150 Award

 

Jerry Orloff, the Society’s highest “member-getter,” was presented his 150th Man Of Note Badge by FWD Past President, Chuck Hunter at the Saturday night Show of Champions

 

Jerry began his record run in 1965, shortly after he was introduced to Barbershop Harmony by Ed Ratagan, of the San Francisco Chapter.  Ed was on-stage during the recent presentation.

 

 

 

Board of Directors Meeting Highlights:

 

President Deane Scoville presided over the Board Of Directors Meeting in Bakersfield October 11 and 12, 2001. All current and prospective Board members were present:

 

·        Chorus Director Development:

Jim Turnmire (CDD VP) is working with the director of the new NoCal  chapter in Sutter Creek.

Steve Sammonds is  FWD’s first  certified    Director – Peninsula Chapter

The 2002 Chorus Director Seminar will be held in August at Cal State Hayward

 

·        Member Services:

The Harmony Awareness Week will not take place in 2001 as planned, but will be on the agenda for 2002.

·        Young Men In Harmony:

Marin Youth Festival had 75 young men in attendance.  Bill Rashleigh was the guest clinician.   Also serving as High School Clinician was Gail Bowers, a music teacher from Maria Carillo High School.

Dr. Chuck Hunter will be Dean of the San Jose Youth Festival to be held October 20, featuring Gotcha and Jim Debussman as guest Quartet and Clinician.

The San Diego Youth Festival will be overseen by Ron Black  on October 20.

The Honolulu Youth Festival will be held November 17, with Dr. Val Hicks and Gary Steinkamp in attendance.  The winners will be guests at the FWD  2002 Spring Convention.

Youth Camps scheduled for June 22, 2002:

·        NoCal – Mt. Cross

·        SoCal – Buckhorn

·        Events:

Reno bid to host the Spring Convention in the years 2004, 2005, and 2006.  BOD recommended the bid, HOD approved.

The Summer FWD BOD meeting will be held in Reno June 6 – 8, 2002

·        Chapter Support and Leadership Training:

COTS Registration was down from last year.

Look for a new class - Young Men In  Harmony – to be added to COTS this year

·        Music and Performance:

Reviewed Chorus Coaching & Evaluation Guidelines and  the Quartet Coaching program, noting the involvement of many highly qualified quartets.

Look for increased emphasis on Standing Ovation, with a reminder from Dist. Secy. John Ford included with the ASCAP  confirmation.

Harmony College West 2001 was successful, due in large part to the hands-on involvement of Dean Jim Crowley.

Harmony College West 2002 will be held in Redlands, and will feature Acoustix, among other top Quartets.

Top Gun Invitational  is slated for July 2002.  May be combined with  SoCal COTS in the future.

·        Marketing and Public Relations:

Accepted the Resignation of Owen Edwards as WESTUNES Editor.  Owen has graciously consented to remain on the job until a suitable replacement is found – not an easy task!

·        Contest and Judging:

New Judges recently certified include:

·        Randy Stringfellow – Presentation

·        Ed Bejarana and Doug Kendrick – Contest Administrators

·        Treasurer:

The District reserve stands at approximately $38,000.

 

House of Delegates Meeting Highlights:

 

President Deane Scoville opened the meeting and noted the following:

·         St. George, Utah Chapter has been transferred  to the Far Western District, from the Rocky Mountain District.  Chapter President Dr. Val Hicks acknowledged the welcome.

·        Announced the retirement of “Mr. Westunes”, Owen Edwards, as WESTUNES Editor, to a standing ovation.

·         “Teach the Children to Sing” has been adopted as the theme of Harmony Foundation.  For a limited time, it will be legal to make copies of the sheet music.  A learning tape is also available from the Society, at a cost of 40 cents.

·        The Reno Chapter’s Qyduhmix served as background quartet for the reading of Chapter Eternal brothers who have recently passed away.

·        An Ad Hoc committee has been formed  with   Bill Cale (C), Dick Girvin, Terry Aramian, and Lloyd Steinkamp to investigate a possible restructure of the District to improve communications.  Elements being studied include Division Managers, the resurgence of the Executive VP, etc.

·        Presented the BOD recommendation to the HOD to modify convention registration fees as follows:

Spring/Fall District Conventions:

·        Early (30 days prior to convention):  $30

·        Regular: $40

·        Single Event: $20

·        Child/Student: 50% of adult fees

      Divisional Conventions:

·        Early (30 days prior to convention): $20

·        Regular: $25

·        Single Event: $15

·        Child/Student: 50% of adult fees

The proposal was moved, seconded, discussed and adopted by the HOD.

 

Keynote Address:

International Board Member Dr. Bob House provided the keynote address, noting the following:

·        Attendance at the 2001 International Convention was less than anticipated.

·        Encouraged record attendance at the 2002 International in Portland.

·        Reminded all of the upcoming Midwinter convention in Riverside.

·        Reported that current membership stands at less than 32,000 – a 1.5% decline for the year, despite the addition of 60-plus new chapters.

·        The need for a better new member orientation program.

·        Encouraged the submissions and sharing of membership success stories.

·        Reminded that scholarships are available for Directors to Director’s College, and urged chapters to take advantage of Chorus Director Workshop Intensive training.

·        Encouraged chapters and quartets to take advantage of the Standing Ovation program., and r eminded chapters to take full advantage of the Chapter Coach program.

·        Noted the availability of grants for appropriate purposes from Harmony Foundation.

·        Held a brief interactive forum on the topic “what would you like to see improved?”  Answers included:

·        More public recognition of the Society.

·        Improvement of the quality of our product.

This page created by Keith Eckhardt. All comments and corrections to keith@eckhardts.com