non-profit chapters of spebsqsa inc.loldistrict.org/pitchpiper/ppjan-feb16.pdfwe did a great job in...
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A Bulletin for Barbershoppers in the LO’L District
OVER 714,089 SQUARE MILES68 YEARS OF BARBERSHOP HARMONY
January - February 2016Volume 68, Number 1
CalendarNOTE: Dates shown on this page are for those activities that have proper clearance through the District Secretary. Please DO NOT send show registrations to the editor, DO notify:
ARV ZENK, SecretaryLand O' Lakes District
1706 Mary LaneN Mankato, MN 56003
2016January15-16 UW-River Falls, WI LO'L Leadership Academy26-31 Reno, NV Midwinter International30 Green Bay, WI Youth In HarmonyMarch5 Milwaukee, WI One For The Road13 LaCrosse, WI
April1 Fargo/Moorhead, ND2 Appleton, WI Round Midnight2 St. Croix Valley, MN St. Croix Crossing2 Manitowoc, WI9 Mankato, MN
9 Windom, MN15/16 Fergus Falls, MN16 Dunn County, WI St. Croix Crossing16 Minneapolis, MN16 Willmar, MN Storm Front Quartet16 Wausau, WI23 Hilltop, MN23 Rock Valley, WI TNS, Vocality23 St. Cloud Area, MN Masterpiece23 Greendale, WI29-5/1 Mankato, MN International Prelims & Spring Convention29-5/1 Mankato, MN Southwest/10,000 Lakes Div. Contest30 Green Bay, WI Shoptimus PrimeMay7 Bismarck/Mandan, ND Northern Plains Division Contest13 Saskatoon14 Manitowoc County, WI Packerland/Division One Contest21 Wisconsin High School Barbershop Quartet Festival - Manitowoc , WI21 Albert Lea, MN28 Winnipeg, MB
June6 Lake Geneva Country Gentlemen Div. One Novice Quartet Contest
July3-10 Nashville, TN International Convention
September17 Lake Geneva Country Gentlemen Instant Classic Quartet24 West Allis, WI
October21-23 Appleton, WI Fall Convention and District Contests
2017JanuaryTBD San Antonio, TX Mid-Winter International13-14 UW-River Falls, WI LO’L Leadership Academy28 Green Bay, WI Super Sing
May2-4 Stevens Point, WI International Prelims and Spring Convention2-4 Stevens Point, WI Packerland/Division One Contest20 Manitowoc, WI WI High School Quartet Festival
Land O’ Lakes District Association of Chapters of SPEBSQSA Inc.110 7th Avenue NorthNashville, TN 37203-3704
DATED MATERIAL ENCLOSED
NON-PROFITORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAIDMANITOWOC, WI
54220
FRICKE PRINTINGSERVICE
See page 7 for registration and lodging
Thanks for representing the LO’L in Reno at the Midwinter
ConventionSt. Croix Crossing - 2nd Place Senior Contest Highpoint - 13th Place Senior Contest
Pitch Piper The Pitch Piper is published bi-monthly by the Land O' Lakes District Association of Chapters of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartets Singing in America, Inc. Land O' Lakes Chapters are situated in the states of Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and the Provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Office of Publication:
Editors: Bob/Bill Fricke2011 S. 14th Street
Manitowoc, WI 54220920-684-6866
Email: [email protected] Send address changes to Pitch Piper c/o SPEBSQSA, Inc., 110 7th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37203-3704 Any and all correspondence or copy should be sent to the editor.
DISTRICT OFFICERS
President:STEVE ZORN 3036 N Snelling Roseville, MN 55113 (H): (651) 639-0366 • (C): (651) 242-6864 [email protected] Vice President:DANIEL TRUE 8091 Stone Creek Drive Chanhassen, MN 55317-7419 ©: (952) 210-5156 [email protected] Past President:CHUCK SCHUBBE 15398 615th Avenue Mapleton, MN 56065 (H&W): (507) 420-3658 • (C): (507) 420-3658 [email protected]
Secretary:ARV ZENK 1706 Mary Lane N Mankato, MN 56003 (H): (507) 388-7509 • (C): (507) 995-1655 [email protected]:JACK EDGERTON 1804 Conant Street Stevens Point, WI 54481-5819 (H): (715) 344-5746 • (C): (715) 340-3221 [email protected] VP - Financial Development:JIM HALL 614 Drumlin Trail Cambridge, WI 53523 (H&C): (715) 781-8714 [email protected] VP - Division One:THOMAS WEBER N114 W16629 Royal Court Germantown, WI 53022 (H): (262) 251-8943 • (W) (262) 789-2500 [email protected] VP - Packerland:KEN BESTER 216 E Capitol Drive Appleton, WI 54911 ©: (920) 915-2912 [email protected] VP - Southwest:DON HETTINGA 229 16th Street NE Owatonna, MN 55060 ©: (507) 202-6711 [email protected] VP - 10,000 Lakes:ROBERT STARZ 347 187th Street NE Atwater, MN 56209-911 (H): (320) 974-3370 • (W): (320) 894-0433 (F): (320) 974-8190 • [email protected] VP - Northern Plains:GORDON BILLOWS 73 Haverstock Crescent Winnipeg, MB R3P 2M7 (H): (204) 488-2009 [email protected]
District VP - Music & Performance/Education:TYLER SMITH 611 S Holcombe Street Stillwater, MN 55082 (H): (651) 439-4527 • (W): (651) 246-7257 [email protected] VP - Leadership Training (CSLT):JUDD ORFF 115 E Linden Street Stillwater, MN 55082 (H): (651) 262-9843 [email protected] VP - Contest and Judging:JACK RYBACK 3640 N Lilly Road Brookfield, WI 53005 (H): (262) 781-6587 • (B&C): (262) 844-5184 [email protected] VP - Events:DEL RYBERG 13354 Postier Drive NW Oronoco, MN 55960 (H): (507) 367-2485 [email protected] VP - Marketing & Public Relations:KEN METTLER 125 N. Blanding Woods Road St. Croix Falls, WI 54024 (H): (715) 483-9202 [email protected] VP - Membership:HARVEY WEISS 2401 Wight Bay Brooklyn Park, MN 55443 (H): (763) 439-4447 [email protected] VP - Youth In Harmony:TODD MATTISON 2718 N Eagle Road Willmar, MN 56201 (W): (320) 235-7688 • (C) (320) 905-1443 [email protected]
LO'L Home Page on the Internet: http://loldistrict.org
Welcome 2016 … Opportunities Ahead!
Submitted by Steve ZornLO'L District President
Our Land O' Lakes (LO'L) District got a great running start for 2016 at the Leadership A c a d e m y / C h o r d College held in River Falls on January 15th
and 16th! Over 200 barbershoppers learned from a great group of teachers how to run your Chapter and how to sing and perform. Many chapters were present. All the participants had a great time meeting and singing with each other. And we have a great year ahead of us.
Your Board had a planning session and board meeting during the weekend. We
confirmed the schedule of contests and discussed how we can make them attractive to both barbershoppers and the public. We then discussed the following plans.
First, your board is committed to supporting youth outreach and activities. We did a great job in 2015 and will do better in 2016. Todd Mattison was elected as your Youth In Harmony Vice President and he is available to consult with you and your chapter about possible activities. We are confident that we will touch more kids in 2016 than last year! We also decided to raise money to support youth attending the annual midwinter Barbershop event.
Second, your board is committed to providing the support that each chapter needs. Gordon Billows is leading the Chapter Counselors and guiding them in
their work. If your chapter, needs help or support, please reach out to your assigned Chapter Counselor. Also, contact your Division Vice President with questions. The key question to ask is... does my chapter have a plan for the next three years? If the answer is NO, you will benefit from your Chapter Counselor's help.
Third, your board is committed to building leadership within the LO'L district. As with some chapters, many key board members are in their late 70s and early 80s. These are extraordinarily talented men who have organized crucial events for many years. We need to recruit and empower other talented men to continue this great work in the future. How can you help? Step up in your Chapter and be a leader and take advantage of leadership training that is offered! If you are interested in a LO'L
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January - February 2016Pitch Piper 2 11Pitch Piper
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14. Nudge them toward a decision: Develop a sense of urgency and sense of need in the reader. By offering readers something, then limiting the time they have to respond, you push them to make a decision. A gentle nudge in the right direction is all they need sometimes.
15. Use a P.S. line: P.S. lines help you to drive home your most important point. Is there a time limit on your offer? Is it going to be available forever? P.S. lines can help to build the desire for the product you're marketing and create an additional sense of urgency in your reader.
16. Show off a new logo: Every now and then we update our logo to keep up with the times. Be proud of who you are as a barbershop chorus. Talk up your game. People want and need to know all the great things we are doing.
Email marketing requires understanding the things that make your audience tick. Do your research. Don't take shortcuts. Do stay in it for the long haul! That can be difficult, but the rewards are spectacular. A good email marketing campaign can produce traffic, subscribers, ticket sales, and help build your chorus. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the results of your email marketing efforts. Marty Monson thanks you! Steve Zorn thanks you! Your chorus thanks you! And I thank you!
January - February 2016
Midnight Croon Announces a Personnel Change
Milwaukee, WI January 18, 2016:
Yes, you read the headline
correctly, Midnight Croon has
made a change in the tenor department.
Midnight Croon has been blessed with two exciting years since our beginning. In those two years, we have been named District Champions, and reached a Top Twenty finish at International in Pittsburgh, PA. These two major accomplishments for us could not have been attained without the talent and hard work of our tenor Ashley York. We appreciate everything that he has brought to the quartet and wish our brother the best of luck in his future endeavors.
Enter Cody Whitlock…
Cody moved to Milwaukee in 2014. Before moving to Wisconsin, Cody sang with the Chicago based A Cappella group, Fiveplay, which was featured in several national radio ads. He is a performing member of the Midwest Vocal Express, a current member of the Performance Team, and one heck of a tenor. Aside from being a die-hard Chicago Bears fan, we think he will fit right in!
Please join us in welcoming Cody to Midnight Croon. We hope to see you at Prelims in Mankato!
Josh, Jake, Tim, & Cody
COME AND SING WITH US!
The Clipper City Chordsmen invite you!
Who? All Packerland Division Choruses
What? Sing the Star Spangled Banner
(arrangement by Val Hicks)
Where? Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Game –
Appleton, WI
When? August 20th, 2016, 6:35 p.m.
vs Beloit Snappers
Why? Just For Fun and to spread the joy
of Barbershopping!
Details? Well, they're still getting firmed up, but we'll
probably:
Tailgate starting about 4:30? (Who from your Chorus
will help that?)
Rehearse at 6:00 >> Head to the field at 6:15
· Oh, by the way, it's Fireworks Night, so plan to
stick around!
Group tickets are:
$8 for bleachers and $10.50 for box seats
Contact: Brittany Ezze [email protected]
>> 920-733-4152 ext. 232
Questions? Contact Dave Rabe [email protected] >>
(920) 467-7843
IN MEMORIAM
Minnesota Commodore, Paul R. Martz, passed away on November 10, 2015.
Paul was a Barbershopper and Commodore for only a few years. An accomplished bass-singer, with his winning smile and his resonant voice, he quickly worked his way into the front row of the chorus.Captain Paul has been, and will continue to be, sorely missed by his many Commodore friends.
3Pitch Piper
Winkler Homeschool Harmony Choir
Submitted by Gordon BillowsVP of NP, SCH
Last August, in my capacity as the Sing Canada Harmony board member for Manitoba, I processed a scholarship application for the Winkler Homeschool Harmony Choir. The choir is composed of about 60 youth from 6 communities in southern Manitoba. The home schooled choir is part of a larger organization, the Douglas Kuhl School of Music, that promotes both vocal and instrumental music in southern Manitoba. The choir director, Rochelle Drudge, asked for my assistance to introduce Barbershop music to her 13 (Gr. 7 to 12) boys and 4 adults and direct them at a performance on December 3rd. The director also asked that my quartet, TEMPO, sing on the show. Of course, I welcomed the challenge and opportunity!
I sent the Barbershop Harmony Society's educator package to the choir director and she selected "My Wild Irish Rose". I rehearsed the VLQ for about 45 minutes on October 10th. They did so well and were so confident that they performed at the Sing Canada Harmony scholarship presentation later that afternoon - in front of the rest of the choir, many parents and a local newspaper reporter who attended to get the Sing Canada Harmony/Barbershop Harmony story. A rehearsal on December 1st and a final one
on the afternoon of the show prepared the eager VLQ for their big debut.
The church venue was filled to capacity with about 500 family and friends. The program included performances by the 60 voice youth choir, a few brake out choirs, a string ensemble with 30 youth and the town's hand bell choir. The finale included TEMPO and then the VLQ performing “My Wild Irish Rose”. Judging from audience response and the many compliments we heard at the reception a f te r wards , the communi ty t ru ly app rec i a t ed the i n t roduc t i on o f B a r b e r s h o p H a r m o n y i n t o t h e Homeschool Harmony Choir program.This was an excellent opportunity to promote Barbershopping to a well established music organization and the communities in Southern Manitoba. They are now more aware of some resources available to them - educator music packages from both the Barbershop Harmony Society and Sweet Adelines International, the scholarships available through Sing Canada Harmony and
future support/involvement from nearby chapters of the 3 Barbershopping organizations (BHS, SAI and HI). As a follow up, I have sent a Sweet Adeline's educator package to the director and she is interested in including one of the songs in their Spring show. There is good potential for Barbershopping in southern Manitoba as we KEEP A MELODY RINGING.
January - February 2016
St. Croix Valley, MN - Jeff KnightWest Allis, WI - Mike HansenManitowoc County, WI - Jim Rasmus
2015 ChapterB.O.T.Y. Winners
10Pitch Piper January - February 2016
LOL Spring Convention Southwest and 10,000 Lakes Division Contests International
Quartet Prelims Chorus Festival Submitted by Arv Zenk, Contest Chairman
It’s time to start planning a fun-filled Barbershop Harmony convention in Mankato. We’ve got a great weekend planned that incorporates a district convention with the traditional division chorus and quartet competitions, international quartet prelims competition, and a chorus festival for those who want to give their chorus a great, new experience.
The Land O’ Lakes District is always looking for a better way to host contests and conventions and for this weekend we will incorporate another new activity. The 10,000 Lakes and Southwest Division Contests will feature a normal division contest with a festival chorus session wrapped inside the day. All division choruses and quartets are invited to participate in the Division Contest, but this year we have a wonderful, new opportunity for those choruses that do not want to compete. You are encouraged to join us for the Spring Chorus Festival.
Festival Choruses will arrive early in the morning and be assigned a coach for the day. From 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. your chorus will have a coaching session, working on music of your choice. At the conclusion of the first coaching session, you will attend and observe the division chorus contest and in the afternoon, all festival choruses, who want to perform on the contest stage, will be given the opportunity to sing for the contest audience. They will be evaluated by a panel including their own coach. No scores will be published and then each festival chorus will have another one-hour session with their coach. All this for $150 per chorus!
That’s right – just $150 for a day of coaching, performance evaluations, admission for all chorus members to attend the chorus competition and a great opportunity to improve your chorus performance with a top-notch coach. We want every chorus in the 10,000 Lakes and Southwest Divisions to attend this contest and sing with us this year. Maybe you just don’t want to compete, but you want a score and some coaching. Use this festival as a stepping stone to improve your chorus singing and performance skills, or just come because you love to sing and want to have some fun.
The District Contest and Festival will be held at Nicollet High School in Nicollet, MN with the headquarters hotel and meetings held in Mankato. The cost for competitors (not festival chorus members) is $50.00 per person which includes admission to all events. Register for the activities on-line and make your hotel reservations now. If you have any questions, please give me a call or e-mail. We will be getting in touch with all division choruses and district quartets you in the next few weeks and we encourage everyone to attend this fun-filled event.
So, talk to your guys, put it on your calendar, and we’ll see you soon. The Riverblenders promise a great weekend of fun and good old barbershop fellowship!
The Fantistic Youth In Harmony Festival In Our Tenth Year
Submitted by Steve Osero
January 23, 2016 - Amery, Wisconsin High School
We had 121 students registered in attendance. 31 young men and 90 young women.
Our professional clinicians:Liz Turba Miller directed our young women in singing: We Go Together and Lida-Rose / Will I Ever Tell You (Kordal Kombat sang the Lida-Rose portion).Kyle Hammers directed our young men in singing Shine On Me, Lions Sleeps Tonight, and Harmony Collage. Shawn Gudmunsen tackled our combined chorus and produced some amazing sound on the song CUPS (When I'm Gone)
Thank you to our teaching quartets: Take Two for the women and Kordal Kombat for the men…….you both did an outstanding job.The audience loved it and the committee also believes it was our best YIH Festival yet.We thank the students for their singing abilities and their willingness to work hard all day. Their work resulted in a terrific performance at 4:30 that afternoon.
Thanks to everyone that had a hand in making this festival a complete success.
Harmony Hits New Heights
Cheers rang out in the Capri Ballroom of the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada during the board meeting of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS - http://www.barbershop.org/) at its Midwinter convention when they accepted the newly formed Mixed Barbershop Harmony Association (MBHA - http://www.mixedbarbershop.org/) as its newest affiliate.
The MBHA gives men and women an organization devoted to supporting and enhancing the experience of singing barbershop harmony together. The BHS (a men's singing organization), and its sister organizations Sweet Adelines International (SAI - http://sweetadelines.com/) and Harmony, Incorporated (HI - http://www.harmonyinc.org/) were built on the close harmony tradition of four part, single-gender singing in the style popular at the turn of the Twentieth century.
"This is a great day for mixed harmony ensembles in North America", said MBHA President and CEO Ron Morden. "We now have a better opportunity to share the joy of mixed-voice singing to men and women in Canada and the United States. There is more mixed harmony happening out there than we know, and it's time for them to have an organization that supports their efforts and promotes this style."
The MBHA will be working with the BHS to offer contest opportunities and to serve as the qualifying body for North American entrants to the biennial World Mixed Harmony convention and contest hosted by Barbershop in Germany (BinG! - http://www.barbershop.de/en/events/worldmixed/index.html).
The MBHA will be seeking similar support from other choral organizations, building on the popularity of a cappella singing and personal vocal expression through song in mixed harmony ensembles.
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leadership role or learning more, contact the District Nominating Committee or me.
Fourth, your board is committed to supporting inter chapter activities. This means scheduling times when chapters can get together for a social event, visiting another chapter to see how the meeting is run, or arranging a joint training session to learn how to improve. One example is arranging a session about the different generations and how they impact our membership and invite neighboring chapters to attend. Larry Lewis has presented on this subject to many of our chapters. Another is to organize a day of singing for small choruses that is both fun and educational. Todd Mattison and Bob Starz are organizing a day for Plateau A choruses to gather and learn.
As your President, it is my responsibility to represent our District with both the B a r b e r s h o p H a r m o n y S o c i e t y Headquarters staff and the Society Board of Directors (SBOD.) With input from the Di s t r i c t Pres iden t s , the SBOD i s establishing a strategic plan for the next three to four years. Part of the process is to get information for Chapters. If you receive a survey or get a call, please do your best to respond completely and speedily. As you all know, our LO'L and BHS membership numbers are declining so input from you and your Chapter leadership is crucial. As this process goes forward, programs will be developed to help with membership!
I promise to keep busy in 2016 working on building our LO'L District. Will you work for our district? Will you promise to work on building your Chapter? I know you will!
4Pitch Piper January - February 2016 9Pitch Piper
SING CANADA HARMONY Champions Of Tomorrow Award
Submitted by Art Gross
On October 28th Vocal Point received a SING CANADA HARMONY Champions Of Tomorrow Award.... "for outstanding leadership and lasting contribution in support of Vocal Music Education for Canadian individuals, schools, community groups and chapters of the three Barbershop singing organizations - Barbershop Harmony Society, Sweet Adelines International and Harmony Incorporated". The award was presented by Gordon Billows - Sing Canada Harmony Board member, and Northern
Plains Division District Vice President. Vocal Point is the first Canadian Quartet in the Land O' Lakes District to receive this award, with all four members being Ambassadors Of Song with Sing Canada Harmony.
Having received some financial support from Sing Canada Harmony to help cover tuition costs for the quartet to attend Harmony University, we are fortunate enough to be in a position to help support others in their quest for music excellence. Our quartet is very proud to have received this Award and will continue to support Sing Canada Harmony, and hope that many of our other Canadian Quartets will do so as well.
January - February 2016
Got Your Chapter Goals for 2016?Submitted by Harvey WeissLO’L Director Membership
"A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.”
One of many of Harvey MacKay's quotes, underlies the need for chapter's to have a clear vision and goal when running their organization of men and singers.
Like New Year's Resolutions, the new year lends us to thinking about where we are and where we are going as a chapter. Thanks to Central States District and BHS, there is a strategy available for use to analyze ourselves. It is called the SWOT Analysis,. This is a process where an organization measures its: STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS Because of space limitations I can only give you a sampling of what it tries to accomplish. But the basic overall strategy is this: Provides a good framework for reviewing strategy, position and direction of your chapter. It is an open forum for brainstorming, problem solving, team building, sets tactics to fix problems, and sets target dates for completion of the above issues. Dream? Where are we going? When and how do we want to get there? Where will we be in 5 years? Who will take our place when we are gone?For a complete handout of this project, you can get a copy from me, or you might already have on in your files. It would be worth you time to look at it. Remember: "If you fail to plan, then you will plan to fail."
Gordon Billows, Art Gross, Charles Siegel, Harold Casselman, and Bruce Wilton
Great Time Had at LTAW and a Lot Learned Along with Great Food!
5Pitch Piper January - February 2016
Email Marketing Ideas to Grow & Promote Your Chorus
Submitted by Ken MettlerLO’L Director Marketing and
Public Relations
Welcome to another chapter of Marketing the Magic of Barbershop Harmony! I've often said that email is usually the best way to keep people connected and
informed. It is really a marvelous tool to get the word out about our upcoming events and everything that needs to be communicated. Every day I get dozens of emails but most are deleted by the end of the day. Why would people want to read and keep and share an email from you or your chorus?
Today, I'd like to share with you a few tips to build interest, boost engagement, and bring people back to see you again and again. Each one requires a little thought and creativity.
1. Enrich your viewer's lives: People don't like to be sold something, but, they don't mind being encouraged to take a step in a direction that helps themselves. Good content is really all about enriching the lives of your readers. Help your readers develop a new perspective and give them stimulus to grow in some way.
2. Remind people of the benefits: Feed into people's self-interest. Write as if they are asking you, "Now, what's in it for me?" Go above and beyond. Show them you care about what they need or want and people will keep reading your emails and keep coming back for more- and bring their friends.
3. Let your readers feel the love: Exceed their expectations by providing a "human touch" in your story line. Marty Munson wants to know what your chorus is doing to give back to your community. Share your stories in an email. Carbon Copy district and national leaders... even the Pitch Piper. Not only do you provide great community service, it also makes great newsprint . Create personal , emotional stories that connect with people.
Encourage email responses and call-backs. Spend as much time as necessary talking to new contacts by email and on the phone to encourage them. If chorus members would follow up their emails with a call to new as well as faithful followers, they would feel the love.
4. Be more personal: Why does social media have so much power in the world of marketing? It's because people respond to that type of interaction. Social media delivers results efficiently. Your emails need to be written as though you're only speaking to one person, the recipient. Stop talking to people as a group. Stick to one person.
5. Make them curious: We are all curious. Ask, show, or, tell them something that relates to their interests and they will be drawn into your email conversation. Your words should tease the reader and leave them wanting more. People won't even open your email unless their curiosity is spiked by the subject line.
6. Write from the heart: The worst thing you can do is to not be genuine. People can see through you if your motive is money or to impress someone. Be natural, don't butter people up or over state your case. Let your personality show through and people will feel at home with you.
7. Don't email just to keep in touch: If you have an important message, they will be glad to get it. Otherwise, don't waste their time. Your emails will all end up in a junk folder from that point on.
8. Share visual content: Creative visual content is a great way to make your email stand out. It's eye-catching and it gives people more opportunity to engage with your content. Share videos, chorus
activity pictures, award photos, pictures with a great story and even a great background. I love the Liberty Mutual commercials because the Statue of Liberty is always in the background and a personal story is in the foreground. It provides a more complete story. I write for our church on social media and look up photos that relate to the subject that I am sharing to make the article more appealing.
9. Use numbers and statistics: Did you know that people who sing tend to live longer and live 35% happier lives according to a recent survey? Numbers cause your audience to slow down and think. Use that to your advantage. Use numbers and stats throughout your writing, and especially in your headers. Figures attract and hold your reader's attention.
10. Learn to be concise: Stay on topic. Be direct. Make it simple, sweet and short. Most people skim through content. What was the last time you read a long, long email? Remember that when writing.
11. Ask and answer a question: Questions are among the best ways of engaging an audience. After you ask a question, your audience begins to think and formulate an answer. Your email should provide the answer they are looking for or food for thought.
12. Intersperse links in your email: By inserting BHS, district and local links you raise the probability of one of those links being clicked and bringing you a new prospect.
13. Offer a promise: People enjoy getting free things, but, be sure to deliver. Free literature can be downloaded fairly easily. Free things can build rapport and trust.
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2016 Quartet Coaching Clinics
Packerland Division - March 19 - Neenah, WISt. Paul Lutheran Church
200 N Water Street • Neenah, WIClary Reinhardt • [email protected]
Northern Plains Division - April 9 - Fargo, NDKnollbrook Covenant Church
3030 N Broadway • Fargo, NDTim Noteboom • [email protected]
Southwest Division - March 5 - Faribault, MNOur Saviors Lutheran Church
1207 Prairie Avenue SW • Faribault, MNGeorge Trudeau • [email protected]
8Pitch Piper
Memories; How they are madeSubmitted by Rudy Zarling
Every year around this time I reflect on my life and the friends I have made as a result of this fellowship we call Barbershop Harmony. Also and unfortunately of greater frequency as I age, the loss of friends acquired through this unique brotherhood. It goes with the territory I guess. Time passes, and inexorably we go home, hopefully to rejoin those who have gone before. This year was more difficult than others. I lost all three of the only remaining members from 1955-1962, when I first became a member; Bill Dorow, Dan Berendt and Harry Lettman
There is an unnerving part of their departure. Those three in sequence consist of a bass, lead and baritone. Gulp, I'm the tenor missing. Yikes, do not want to go yet, too much to do.
But think of your past experiences in barbershop. How did you get here? What has it meant to you? You all have friends outside of the Society. Frankly, while I enjoy the presence of my clients, relatives and non barbershop friends, nothing compares to the time spent over coffee orwhatever, talking, singing with friends made in this singing world. I met my late wife Carol through barbershop.
I have so many wonderful memories of the times, little stuff such as cavorting in a swimming pool at the 1957 International in Los Angeles with an unknown, at that time, named Morris Rector; Gaynotes, MarkFour. In one way or another you all have memories of how barbershop affected your lives. I and certainly others, would like to hear them. Write your thoughts on that subject and share it with us. Oh, by the way, Carol and I were on our honeymoon. She would tell people, "Here I am on my honey moon with 10,000 barbershoppers"
At the fall convention, those of you fortunate to be there heard a marvelous Youth in Harmony performance. I am sure as these young men travel through the years before them, memories of that night will surface many times. A DVD of that performance has been made available and I am going to attempt to have some more available for them to enjoy and remind them many years from now of that time, that night, long ago.
I'm writing this because you can help produce those wonderful memories for young men and boys by supporting Harmony Foundation. Write to me or Jim Hall. Trust me you will feel great as a result. I do every time. Even writing about it.
.
January - February 2016
Chordsmen Present “That's Christmas To Me”Submitted by Jim Rasmus
On December 12th, the C l ipper C i ty C h o r d s m e n presented a highly successful Christmas Show before a near sel l-out crowd in Endries Hall of the Franciscan Music C e n t e r o n t h e campus of Si lver L ake Co l l ege i n
Manitowoc, WI. The theme, “That's Christmas to Me,” came out of the song by Grammy Award-winners and platinum selling recording artists, Pentatonix. The show featured members of the chorus sharing their pictures and memories.
The Chorus, and its four chapter quartets, were joined by the Valders High School A Cappella Choir, under the direction of Mike Cisler, making the evening very special.
This was the culmination of an eventful year for the Clipper City Chordsmen as they celebrated their 70th anniversary. In April they moved into a new rehearsal space in the Generose Enrichment Center on the campus of Silver Lake College, after leaving their beloved Harmony Hall where they rehearsed for some 35 years. They are excited about their future after having added nine new members in the past two years. Barbershop is alive and well in Manitowoc!
Next Recording Project
We, Vocality, are very excited about what we have in store for 2016! We have been working on many new arrangements and are starting our next recording project. Over the past year our audiences have given us very positive feedback on our char t s l i ke : Seven Br idges Road Boondocks Medley, Demons and Carry On Wayward Son/Come Sail Away Medley, just to name a few. It is great fun to see people singing along with songs they remember from their youth and we look forward to sharing those tunes on our 4th CD!
We are also thankful to have several shows already booked for 2016 and a couple in 2017 as well. And, we still have several weekends open in 2016 and would love the opportunity to perform on your show!
We are proud to be a part of the LO'L District, and hope that this, our 10th year singing together will be the best yet!
Jay, David, Tony & TomVocality2007 LO'L District Quartet Champs
2016 LO'L Financial NewsSubmitted by Jack Edgerton
Every year, the LO'L Board of Directors addresses the task of adopting a budget. The LO'L Budget and Finance Committee started this process back in September. Many hours (including meetings and several updates) occur red as this committee presented its proposal for consideration at the LTA Board Meeting in River Falls. After much discussion and an additional expense item, the Board approved the amended budget for 2016.
A balanced budget is the goal when presenting and approving this document. With revenues of $84,900 and expenses of $88,400, the 2016 version of the Budget has a deficit of $3,500. It includes many items that address training and education issues. In fact, these items make up a large majority of the entire budget.
The LO'L District dues and Convention proceeds amount to $57,000 of our expected revenues. Other smaller income items raise the total to approximately $69,500. This results in a shortage of $18,900. The “Chapter Education & Training Assessment” of approximately $15,400 constitutes 18% of our budgeted revenues and brings our projected deficit to $3,500.
Each Chapter Treasurer is invoiced for $9 f o r each chap t e r membe r a s o f 12/31/2015. This assessment is covered by the LO'L Policies and Operating Procedures (10.03 Chapter Assessments), is payable to the LO'L District and is sent to the LO'L Treasurer. A 2% discount is given if the payment is made within 30 days.
The need for the chapter assessment was explained to the men in attendance at the LTA Treasurers Class. It was adopted a number of years ago in lieu of a dues increase for the individual members of the LO'L District. Questions and / or comments are welcome.
Achievement Contest Season Is Here!
Submitted by Dick Teeters
As of the writing of this article I have received no entries and have had no inquiries regarding the program. Hopefully, this doesn't indicate a lack of interest in continuing this program which has been ongoing for 50+ years.
P l e a s e c h e c k w i t h y o u r c h a p t e r administration and encourage them to participate.
Chapter Achievement Awards - This contest is entered by having a member of the chapter, usually the secretary, complete a form. There are approximately 30 categories in which the chapter can earn points. Examples are: Membership Drives, A n n u a l S h o w s , O t h e r C h o r u s Performances, Quartet Performances, Participation in Division and District Contest, Youth Outreach Activities, Chapter Board and Music Committee Meetings to name just a few. Awards are presented to the top three chapters in each of three plateaus, based on chapter membership.
It's easy to participate and every chapter should have an entrant. The form can be downloaded from the documents section in the district website..
I encourage every chapter to enter this contest. Last year less than half of the chapters participated in the Achievement Awards contest. I would really like to have a lot more (100%?). Make it your New Year's Resolution.
If anyone has any questions, please contact me at [email protected] and I'll provide you with all the information you need.
6Pitch Piper January - February 2016 7Pitch Piper January - February 2016
The 2016 District Directory is available by request via email at districtdirectory @frickeprinting.com.