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eNews from the Far Western District of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

In This Issue The New COTS 2008--It is Here--NOW! Skills Based Quartet Workshops You too can be a judge Bulletin Editor's Contest Attention Chapter Secretaries ========== The New COTS 2008--It is Here--NOW! Over the past several years many of you have suggested some major changes to the society's Chapter Officers Training Seminars and you have been heard. COTS this year will be run by the Far Western District with a totally new focus. There will be four different COTS locations with classes held in Stockton(CA), Pico Rivera(CA), Las Vegas(NV), and Phoenix(AZ). They are all one day classes starting at 9am and finishing at 5pm. The fee is only $30 per person and it is a valid chapter expense, so get your whole board to attend. Both of the California classes will be held on Saturday, November 17, so you need to register soon. Full details of the California classes are now online at COTS 2008. You may register as an individual, or a chapter officer can register all the attendees from your chapter as a group. And it doesn't have to be only officers that attend. If you are thinking of becoming a chapter officer in the next year or two, then get a head start by attending a class now. If you are part of the chapter music team, feel free to attend the Music and Performance VP class. If you just want to come and share your past experiences in offices you have held---DO SO! The Las Vegas class will be held on January 12 and the Phoenix class on January 19. Final details are still being worked out. You will be notified when the website is ready for registration for these classes. This year we are offering five chapter officer classes: President, Secretary, Treasurer, Music and Performance VP, and Program VP. The first 90 minutes of each officer track will deal with the specific tasks required of each office. (If you are experienced in your job position, you don't have to attend this first session, but you sure are welcome to.) Thereafter it is a whole new agenda where you and your interests will be central. The last session of the day is a discussion and problem solving time which many of you have repeatedly requested. These are major events for FWD for the Winter Season. It is a great chance to get together with your many friends from the FWD, old timers and new members alike--to sing, to learn and to get the latest word on the activities of our Great Society. See you there? ========== Skills Based Quartet Workshops The Far Western District has a tremendous program for coaching quartets. It's called the Skills-Based Quartet Workshop and quartets that have attended one have been extremely pleased. If you want to improve your level of singing as a quartet, here's a suggestion: Ask your Chapter President if your chapter can host a one-day Skills-Based Quartet Workshop for your Division. Plenty of help is available from the FWD Music and Performance Chairman, Jerry Fairchild, and also from a chapter which has experience in hosting a workshop. If your chapter can't host a workshop by itself, perhaps a neighboring chapter will join you in doing so. And you can call your Division Vice-President with the same request. Detailed instructions for the workshop are at Guidelines for Conducting a Quartet Workshop. ========== You too can be a judge Are you interested in becoming a judge? The time to act is now. Through December 31, 2007, applications are being accepted into the judging program for the three scoring categories and the contest administrator category. Click the links below for an application. Scoring Category Application Contest Administrator Application Questions? Email Russ Young, FWD Director of C&J at: russ.young@cox.net Mail completed applications before the December 31 deadline to: Russ Young 7235 E Laguna Azul Ave Mesa, AZ 85209-4925 ========== Bulletin Editor's Contest NOTICE TO ALL BULLETIN EDITORS The time is drawing near when we must all think about which bulletins we are going to enter in the District Bulletin Contest. It shouldn't be a question at this point of "if" we will enter our bulletin, but which three issues we "will" enter. You say, "I don't want to enter a contest when my bulletin is only for the good of my chapter." My answer to that is the one I finally had to adopt for myself. It's not for the chance of winning a contest, but only for the chance to improve what I do for the betterment of the chapter. I want to more effectively communicate important matters to the members of the chapter, and their families. To do that I want the best coaching I can get. Just like in our singing contests, those judges do want nothing but the best for your chapter bulletin or newsletter. And the feedback they give you will make you a much better editor. Just ask any editor who has entered the bulletin contest. So let's all get our issues in order and ready to send in. Reme?ber, it's three copies each of consecutive monthly or bi-monthly bulletins, 12 consecutive issues of weekly bulletins, and six consecutive issues of bi-weekly publications. Your district bulletin contest coordinator will be contacting you with more information, but you can get a jump on things. John Elving PROBE VP, Bulletin Editors leaderman@earthlink.net ========== Attention Chapter Secretaries Members of your chapter without E-mail will not receive this information and we ask you to print this and share it with them.

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