Kudos also to a Herculean endeavor (again) by Keith Eckhardt in bringing many new and exciting elements to the convention in a successful effort to get the fun back into the convention. In four words: he did - it was!

CONTESTS

As to contest results - clue: Young, exciting, and very, very good! Of course I'm talking about our new FWD Chorus champions - Westminster Harmony Showcase. They don't just sing - they explode! Look out Louisville!

And, after just a few scant months of existence (which includes a trip last year to International) - let's hear it once again for our new FWD Quartet Champs - Q! Can't get over the fact that such extraordinary talent can also be such great and giving guys to boot.

And to all the great choruses and quartets who graced the stage so proudly--nearly 900 of the FWD's best set foot onstage. MC Steve Shannon said it all when he stated that the quality of singing in FWD is among the (actually, I think it was the) best overall in the Society.

It was great that the convention was dedicated to Bill Joor that Hawaii-based legend. He's truly the personification of all that's great about barbershoppers

Scores are already on the website (www.spebsqsafwd.org

<http://www.spebsqsafwd.org/> ), Harmonet, and the FWD listserv.

FWD BOD Meeting:

Dr. Val Hicks reported to the BOD on the St. George Chapter 9/11 United We Sing experience, at which local colleges, youth groups, firemen, police and military units actively participated. Conclusion: the experience was a huge win/win. Unsolicited commentary from Marketing and PR: watch for details on other chapter successes and next year's event over Memorial day weekend.

Membership Services - VP Peter Feeney:

FWD membership is down 137 members from this time last year. Society membership is down 583. A small survey (67 respondents) of dropped members suggests that the main reasons for leaving were, in order: 1. .Financial reasons (27%), 2. Problems with chapter leadership and/or director (25%), 3. Health problems, relocation - or simply lost interest (19%).

Look for several new extension sites, including Dana Point Harbor (licensed, ready to charter), Bullhead City, (AZ), Anaheim, Stockton, Casa Grande (AZ), and Rancho Bernardo to emerge in the coming months

The SoCal realignment has been completed, resulting in a more even distribution of membership. Several chapters were moved from SoCal East to SoCal West.

Chorus Director Development - VP Jim Turnmire:

Two new Directors have been certified: Jim Brown (Rincon), and Kevin Price (Riverside).

Look for a CDWI in Phoenix February 21, 2004.

Jim plans on an expanded schedule of chapter visits in the coming months.

Look for a CDWI in the Riverside area in the spring of 2004.

Jim is puzzled that Directors College scholarship applications only totaled five - of eight authorized.

Contest and Judging - VP Dick Girvin:

The board approved new target scores for Fall Contest qualification: Chorus - 60%, Quartet - 65%.

The FWD SOP has several amendments regarding Fall FWD Quartet Contest (section 8.3.2.3), and Fall Chorus Contest (Section 8.3.2.5). These amendments will be posted to the FWD Website (www.spebsqsafwd.org)

There are three suggested recommendations in consideration to replace the current Plateau System of awards. A review of the latest is in the current WESTUNES called CALS. All three will be publicized and reviewed at COTS.

Chapter Support and Leadership Training - VP Bernard Priceman:

2003 COTS will take place at the LAX Hilton November 15-16. Projected attendance is approximately 250. Once again, Grant Writing and Website Design will be part of the curriculum in addition to standard sessions.

Chapter Counselors: Each chapter has been assigned a Chapter Counselor. 26 Chapter Counselors are in place, and recruitment efforts are ongoing to provide an ultimate goal of one Chapter Counselor for every two chapters

Immediate needs focus on additional Chapter Counselors in SoCal West, NorCal West, and Ariz/SoNev/SoUtah.

Events - VP Sam Barger:

The 2004 Spring prelim/NorCal East Convention will be in Reno March 18-21. The remaining division contacts are scheduled the following dates:

NorCal West: San Jose, April 2/3;

Ariz/SoNev/SoUtah: Phoenix, April 16/17;

SoCal West: TBD, May 15. (Note change of date)

SoCal East: TBD May 8. (Note change of date)

Originally scheduled to be held in Reno, the 2005 Spring prelims will be held in Burbank, March 17-20, in conjunction with the SoCal West Division convention and the 2007 Spring prelim/NorCal East convention will return to Reno. The Summer FWD BOD meeting will be in Pasadena, June 4-6.

Marketing & Public Relations- VP Clark Abrahamson:

All chapters who participated in the 9/11 United We Sing program reported success. Community buy-in and participation was much higher than expected. Look for reviews and success stories to be published soon. The event will repeat in 2004 over the Memorial Day weekend.

The video footage from the NorCal Youth Camp will be utilized in a number of Marketing/PR projects.

2004 Marketing & PR focus will be on obtaining increased upward communication from chapters, to better assess and respond to chapter needs.

Music & Performance - VP Jim Crowley:

Attendance at Harmony College West was a success, with approximately 160 attendees, including 25 quartets. HCW 2004 will be at University of Redlands, with 4 Voices and other top quartets slated to participate.

Quartet Workshops are being planned for SoCal East and SoCal West..

The Song Writers Guild is alive and well, under the direction of Dan Wilson.

Young Men In Harmony - VP Ed Bejarana:

The NorCal Youth Camp under camp director Richard Lund was a success 95 young singers and four music educators attended. Over 13 hours of the camp was captured on video, which will be edited and used for various promotional and educational purposes throughout the District and Society.

The College Quartet Contest rules have changed - contestants need no longer be college students (the only requirement is that contestants must be aged 17-25 as of the day of the contest), and there will be no direct Prize money.

The 2004 NorCal Novice Contest will include a High School Quartet contest as a sanctioned event.

Secretary - John Ford:

A number of chapters have not yet resolved their incorporation status. Look for an updated list of chapter status soon.

Information regarding ASCAP will be posted on the Society and District Websites. For the present, chapters are advised to expect individual contact by ASCAP. When contacted, follow the ASCAP process. In the meantime, it's business as usual - treat the ASCAP licensing process as before.

Treasurer - Jim Sherman:

No specific report - the budget was accepted as presented.

Committees:

Awards - Lloyd Steinkamp:

Tthe Chapter of the Year rotating award will be renewed, with an attendant resident Chapter award in memory of Owen Edwards to be presented by Kathie Edwards. Criteria will be based onachievement(s) relevant to the Society Mission Statement.

Harmony Foundation: Robb Ollett has been designated Harmony Foundation Vice President for the Far Western District. As such, he will act as H.F. representative from FWD to the Society.

FWD HOD Meeting:

The keynote address was delivered by Bob Guiggey, Society Treasurer. He noted the following:

The concern over declining membership

Harmony Hall has been sold - the move is underway to the Sheridan

Road facility - to be completed by October 15th.

ASCAP has contacted or will soon be contacting individual chapters

with details on the new procedures. Until then, he urged close

contact with the District Secretary and/or John Schneider at

Headquarters regarding concerns or questions. Details will also be

digested and posted on the Website and in WESTUNES as available.

Quoting Society President Roger Lewis's motto, "Singing is Life, the

Rest is Just Details", Bob urged our chapter leaders to indeed be

concerned with some of the "details", such as:

Staying in close touch with "Joe Barbershopper"

Encouraging our Musical Directors to attend CDWI

Taking advantage of scholarships - i.e. Director's College.

Encouraging our chapter leaders to attend COTS.

Being proactive, keeping an open mind, listening, being flexible.

He made mention of the many programs and innovations completed and underway, such as FWD’s leading-edge Youth Outreach programs,

Chorus Director training, the initiative in revamping the District Governance system, and the general attention to improved quality of singing and chapter membership satisfaction.

Treasurer Jim Sherman presented the 2004 Budget, which was accepted without objection.

"Unkalloyd" Steinkamp (and friends) bestowed the following awards:

Retiring FWD Board members were recognized and thanked with some unique parting gifts:

International Board Member Dr. Bob House received a trademark "sniglet", titled "supercalifragilisticexpialidouc - house".

Retiring Secretary John Ford received an old typewriter - non working –had no electric cord, much to his satisfaction (

Immediate Past President Deane Scoville received two going-away items: 1). An impressive kick boxing trophy, attesting to his physical prowess following his two knee surgeries; and 2). and a Mount Rushmore monument replica, inscribed "D.E.A.N.E., which, was identified to mean "Deane's Endeavors Always Need Ellie".

Jerry Orloff was awarded (once again) the FWD top Membership Recruiter of the year.

Joe Salz, Harmony Foundation Chairman conducted the " March on Harmony Foundation", collecting bestowals from the following chapters:

Fullerton - $1,000.00

Central California - $200.00

Sun City - $1,041.00

Nominations for the 2004 FWD Board were announced, the slate was elected by acclamation, and was installed forthwith, as follows:

President: Peter Feeney

Immediate Past President: John Krizek

Executive Vice President: Bill Cale (*)

Secretary: Dick Girvin

Treasurer: Jim Sherman

Division Vice Presidents:

AZ/So Nev/So Utah: Ivan Jensen (*)

So Cal East: Bernard Priceman

So Cal West: Bob Lally (*)

Nor Cal East: Clark Abrahamson

Nor Cal West: Dick Whitten (*)

(*) indicates new to the board

On to 2004!

--0--

Westminster and “Q” New District Champs