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The “climate of change” that has brought us a new look to the landscape, heavier clothing to fight lower temperatures and more adjustments than found in a chiropractor’s hands has applied to our Nassau Mid-Island Chapter as well. New songs have found their way into our repertoire, and a new Board has been elected for 2016. Possible venues for next year’s Annual Show are on the agenda, one of them, a return to Carle Place High School. During October there were a number of “keepers” as well. Our holiday music, continued to round into shape. and the Long Beach Fall Festival was held on a sparkling fall day unlike what the Chapter endured in a rain-soaked afternoon a year ago (now there was a welcome change). Meanwhile our Inter-chapter was held much to the delight of all participants.
Hoped for changes? We want singers to accept our open invitation to come listen, experience barbershopping and join. We’d like all those good ideas suggested at our Board meetings to be implemented with positive results. And, of course, we want blend, balance and the musicality of our 40-plus Long Island Harmonizers chorus to continue to reflect remarkable improvement.
Every Chapter talks a great deal about teamwork. How one person cannot do it alone. The smaller the Chapter, the more responsibility falls on overburdened shoulders. Working together will translate those efforts for a bright future.
Banking On Improvement
And Keeping The Change
Carle Place High School- A possible venue for our
66th Annual Show.
When Abe Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, it was thanks to the tireless efforts of a magazine editor named Sarah Josepha Hale. Her other claim to fame was that she also composed Mary Had A Little Lamb.
In a letter to his daughter sent in 1784, Benjamin Franklin sug-gested that the wild turkey would be a more appropriate national symbol for the newly independent United States than the bald eagle (which had earlier been chosen by the Continental Congress). He argued that the turkey was “a much more respectable Bird,” “a true original Native of America,” and “though a little vain and silly, a Bird of Courage.”
Inside This Edition:
Can & Can’t Dos - 2 Winning Ways - 3 How It Started - 3
That Champion Season - 4 Your New Board - 5
Leadership Academy - 6 Laugh Lines - 6
Question Of The Month - 7 The Long & Short Of It - 7
Parting Shots - 8
Turkey Trivia From the Web
Toosday Toons - Page 2 - November, 2015
A publication of the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, a nonprofit, charitable and educational society.
Chapter meetings are held at 7:30 pm on Tuesdays at Winthrop Hall, Church of the Advent, 555 Advent St, Westbury.
All articles not accompanied by a byline have been written by the editors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the members nor of the officers of the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter. Opposing points of view are welcomed and encouraged.
All editorial submissions must be received no later than the 21st of every month prior to the upcoming issue in order to be considered for publication.
Editor Bob Heim
Assistant Editor Bill Ruth
Additional Contributing Team George Seelinger Maurice Debar Eva Milauskas
Bill Vesely
Design & Wiz-bang Dan Gilmartin,
Chapter Webmaster
Chapter Census Life - 1
Regular- 28 Senior (SL) -16 Senior (SN) - 10
Youth - 1 Total - 56
www.LongIslandHarmonizers.org
We are a 501(C)(3) Not-For-Profit Organization
Can & Can’t Dos Theotherday,Islippedandfellandtomysurprisehadahardtimegettingup. My wife tells me that she has had the same experience and it justunderlines how the golden years ain't so golden. I couldn't disagreemore.Sure,therearesomethingsthatwejustcan'tdoanymore,orcan'tdoaswell(haveyouseenmegolflately?)buttherearelotsmorethingswenolongerhavetoworryabout.I lovedmy job, frustrations and all, but now that I'm retired I love evenmorenothavingtogotowork!AsAlanJayLernersaidinGigi,"Howlovelytosithere intheshade,withnoneof thewoesofmanandmaid." Andofcourse, there's barbershop and the friends I've made here. My workschedule never would have allowed me to spend so much time in thiswonderfulworldofbarbershopping! We each have lived different stories, but if we're attuned to it, our lifeexperienceshavemellowedandmaturedus likewine in anoakbarrel. Ithinkwespendtoomuchtimetryingtosoundyounginsteadofbeingwhowereallyare. IrememberbeingcoachedwithaquartetatHarmonyCollegeEastoneyearandbeingtoldthatourquartetcouldneversoundliketheyoungergroupsdo,butourlifeexperiencesgaveustheadvantageofbeingabletointerpretthesongsmoreauthentically.Whenstudyingasong,Ipayspecialattentiontothelyricandtrytofeeltheemotionthelyricistwastryingtocreate. Mostofusarefortunateenoughtohavestayedreasonablyhealthythroughthe years. And if our bodieswear down a bit,there are many studies that indicate hobbieslikeourshelpkeepourmindsfromtheravagesofoldage. Of course I can't speak for all of us, but I'mproud to have reached this stage of life in theshape I'm inandhaveno regrets aboutgettinghere. As Lerner said in the song referencedabove,"I'mGladI'mNotYoungAnymore."
Toosday Toons
From the Corner OfficeFrom the Corner OfficeFrom the Corner Office George Seelinger, Chapter President
Toosday Toons - Page 3 - November, 2015
Winning Ways To this writer’s mind we are missing some important opportunities. Not at our singouts where references in prepared scripts or impromptu remarks direct listeners to our website and plug the idea of membership. But in performances outside the scope of the Society. When our talented members take stages to perform with other groups very often what they also do musically and how it can impact on the lives of audiences is generally an afterthought. Program liner notes provide backgrounds, but there may only be an indication that “he is trained in barbershop singing.” It’s time to ensure there are additional specifics. Something about the Chapter itself and ways to contact it.
**** Feedback. How often do Chapters get them? In my personal opinion member observations should be encouraged following each and every event, not just the major ones like competitions and annual shows. A simple way would be to have “what-did-you-think-of-it” forms at all rehearsals that can be privately filled out by members and returned with constructive ideas for those “next times.”
**** Finally, the subject of mood-setters. I have always wanted the recorded sound of a champion quartet or chorus played just prior to rehearsal warm-ups. Three minutes of chorus focus on exemplary execution that would merit rapt attention and provide a measure of inspiration to boot. It’s a thought that perhaps our Board might like to consider.
****
How It Started For Barbershopper Tom Shillue,
Excerpt from an interview found on the web.
Q: When did you start singing and how did you break into barbershopping? A: I took up choir in high school. Me and a group of guys were goofing around and the choir leader wanted us to stop; we wouldn't sit still. So, while he was working with the other voice parts, he gave us music sheets to keep us out of trouble. We would go in a corner and learn it; we ended up loving it. A few guys started singing on street corners. Now, it's kind of a way for us to keep in touch with our buddies. Bob Martin, who sang bass in our quartet in high school, does the arrangements for the Ragtime Gals; he helps us out at NBC when we do stuff for Jimmy (Fallon).
...and here was the start of an acclaimed show
Anything Goes, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, ran 420 performances back in 1934 making it number four as far as longest-running musicals during the 1930s. The production did well even though disposable income of show-goers was vastly reduced by the Great Depression. Ethel Merman was in the starring role playing Reno Sweeny, with support from Victor Moore, and William Gaxton.
Hope You Enjoyed Your Extra Sleep
Toosday Toons - Page 4 - November, 2015
Bess Bell, Marilyn Goodman, Bill Hardman, Bob Heim,
Gene & Dorothy Kammerer, Jane Marrin, Joe Massaro,
Mary McCoy, Sally O’Connor,
Mo (Muriel) Roth, Jim Schlegel,
Steve Stojowski, Jack & Susan Szaluta,
& Joel Trent
November BirthdaysNovember BirthdaysNovember Birthdays Karel Boersma (1)
Steve Ritz (5) Joel Trent (9)
Marlene Muscanera (19) Bill Ruth (25)
That Champion
Season
Feel Better Soon!
What does it take to qualify for international competition? It's the same answer to another question . . . "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" The Big Apple Chorus was once a mighty giant of over 140 men but today it is reduced to about 22-28 men at most rehearsals. There have been small choruses of young talented singers who have qualified for International Competition, but most of the members of Big Apple are men like us . . . seniors experienced but with average talent. To overcome this difficulty, they combined with the Princeton Chapter with a similar mix of talent and of a common age. That's Princeton as in New Jersey. Jack Pinto con-ducts both choruses, and he started by having them both learning the same music. This requires that about once a month the men from New York need to travel 2-3 hours to New Jersey for a joint rehearsal. In preparation for contest, they also had a joint retreat over a weekend at a camp in Western Jersey.
While this is hard, most champion choruses have an even more rigorous schedule with two or more rehearsals a week. Jack's other chorus, The Brothers of Harmony, just completed an 18 -page ar-rangement of Stairway to Heaven. To join The Vocal Majority, the audition consists of singing the whole repertoire from memory. Obviously, this is not for everybody! Contest preparation entails singing the same two songs week after week or even just part of them. There is also choreography to master. One Sweet Adeline chorus on Long Island will disqualify you if you make more than one mistake.
Is it worth it? That's a personal decision. Going to International can cost between $500 and $1,000. Airfare to Las Vegas last year was about $500. The registration was over $200. When you go through this experience, it surprises these participants that singers in other choruses who don't compete find it hard just to find a few hours to study music at home.
So again I ask it. Is it worth it? The joy of singing is like having a vision of heaven if it is done well.
Are Your Vocal Are Your Vocal Are Your Vocal Chords IntactChords IntactChords Intact
After the World After the World After the World Series?Series?Series?
Toosday Toons - Page 5 - November, 2015
NEXT YEAR’S KEY SPOTS READY, WILLING AND ABLE
Your New Board Formal Installation In January
President – George Seelinger
VP Music & Presentation - Bernie Genzer
VP Chapter Development - Bob Merrill
VP Program – Wayne Lazar
VP Marketing and Public Relations - (vacant)
Treasurer – Michael Creaney
Secretary - Ray Shotter
Immediate Past President - (none)
Board Members At Large
Don Rausch 2016-2018
Howard Balin 2016– 2018
Bob Miraglia 2015 - 2017
Dennis Weiss 2015-2017
Bill Spencer 2014 - 2016
John Brolly 2014 - 2016
Administrative Personnel
Chorus Director – Maurice Debar
Attendance - George Seelinger
Bulletin/Website Coordination - Bob Heim
Librarian - George Seelinger
Uniforms - Tony Leone
Chapter Counselor –Paul Santino
Annual Show - 2016
Show Chairman - Wayne Lazar
Toosday Toons - Page 6 - November, 2015
A lawyer was just waking up from anesthesia after surgery and his wife was sitting by his side. His eyes fluttered open and he said, "You're beautiful" and then he fell asleep again. His wife had never heard him say that so she stayed by his side. A couple of minutes later his eyes fluttered open and he said, "You're cute." Well, the wife was disappointed because instead of "beautiful" he'd said "cute." She asked him, “What happened to 'beautiful'?" His reply: "The drugs are wearing off." - From the October issue of the Johnnycake Ridgerunner
Overheard at a church Friendship Fair in October-”If you live long enough, you’re going to get old.”
What do you call a fish that needs help with his or her vocals? An Autotuna
Each of the more than 800 U.S. chapters of the Barbershop Harmony Society is a stand-alone not-for-profit charitable corporation in its own right. Accordingly, our chapter officers are charged with mastering a great deal of expertise in a wide variety of administrative skills. Each chapter is required to have a corporate charter, corporate board meetings with financial reports and minutes taken, and there are quite a number of statutory filings which must be made correctly and on time. The Society gives plenty of guidance, but we have to know what they expect.
The good news is that the Society agrees, and they make available to us their best and brightest to train us in everything we need to know. Even better news is that our Nassau Mid-Island Chapter picks up the modest cost of such training, as well as all of our travel expenses. Courses are also offered in our musical craft from some of the best barbershop talent in the world. Until a few years ago, this training was called “COTS” which stood for “Chapter Officers Training Seminars,” later modified slightly to “Chapter Operations Training Seminars” to emphasize that the benefit is offered to more than just the officers. Now we call it “Leadership Academy.”
When I attended my first COTS as a student, I got into a discussion with one of the instructors about how amazing it was to be able to present the training weekend for the then (2001) low cost of only about $125 per student which included our hotels, meals, learning materials, and instructor salaries. “Oh, we don’t get paid,” he replied, and I was floored. A gift freely given is of course more valuable than one sold for money, and that was one reason I wanted to become an instructor.
When the COTS training schedule was trimmed from a weekend-long affair to a single day, I originally didn’t think we could pull it off, but we did, and the cost savings was huge. This year, we are sending students to Leadership Academy for only $35 each (paid by the Chapter). If you enjoy learning more about a hobby you already love, why not give it a try? If you can’t make the session being given in New Jersey Nov 7, you can still make the one in Delaware in January.
Submitted by Steve Stojowski
Toosday Toons - Page 7 - November, 2015
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT November is the month that begins with re-setting clocks as we “fall behind.” Returning to “standard time” gives us the perfect excuse to direct you to some appropriate song titles.
Most of us rarely make that change at two in the morning when we are encouraged to make the switch, preferring to do it before bedtime or at wakeup. Nevertheless we thought you’d like to hear This Is the Moment sung by The Masters of Harmony in 20o8. It’s found at : https://youtu.be/GDib1vYVIGQ
Many States including ours have been routinely implementing those forward and backward adjustments in the spring and fall year after year. Listen to the Texas Harmony Chorus at a Sweet Adelines Region 10 contest weekend attest to that fact as they performed Time After Time. You can click on it at: https://youtu.be/2SOuVXRxtgI
After sunlight hours continue to shorten in the Northern Hemisphere in winter, the maximum hours of sunrise to sunset won’t occur until June 20, 2016. Check out foursome Dan, Sonny, Julien and Deiter looking ahead in barbershopping the tune entitled For the Longest Time. You will find it at:
https://youtu.be/RNNQh9wtisc
“Sorry - no favorites. I was totally into sports and no room in my small cranium for other stuff.”
-Alan Stern “Mickey Mouse.”
- Bill Vesely “Mighty Mouse.”
-Hal Verity “My favorite Macy's Thanksgiving Da-y balloon was the one that had the following logo on its side: ‘Gimbel's Will Undersell Macy's At Any Time.’"
-Bill Ruth “Being an avid sports fan, my favorite balloons or floats other than the one carrying Santa were the ones that carried the athletes from the any of the NY professional teams.”
-Michael Creaney “I don't have a favorite. I just like the pageantry. I was in the parade with the Big Apple Chorus some years ago. We were supposed to lip sync but the audience didn't like it so we sang along with the sound track.”
- Maurice Debar “I was really never much into those parades, but if I had to name a favorite, I suppose I'll go along with the majority and say Snoopy.”
-Steve Stojowski
As a child, what was your favorite balloon or float other than the one carrying Santa in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade?
Toosday Toons - Page 8 - November, 2015
Almost Famous Howie Bailin, Tenor Tony Leone, Lead Ken Wunsch, Bass
Bob Miraglia, Baritone Contact: [email protected]
Just Duckie Harold Verity, Tenor Steve Brausa, Lead
Maurice Debar, Bass George Seelinger , Baritone
Contact: [email protected]
Quatrain Bob Kelly, Tenor
Steve Marrin, Lead Al Fennell, Bass
Paul Santino, Baritone Contact: [email protected]
Chapter Quartets
Spreading Good Cheer:
NMI’s Bob Merrill provided us with this photo of his album cover for
Cheerin’ Up The Universe, released in September by Accurate Records.
Audience Pleasers: Members of The Long Island Harmonizers Chorus once again entertained at a Fall Festival annually scheduled by The City of Long Beach
much to the delight of area residents. - Photo by Barbara Weiss
Years ago, our friend Steve Ritz reminded us that there are three kinds of service in this world: good, fast and cheap. At any time, you can only get two of the three. If it's good and fast, it's not cheap; if it's fast and cheap it’s not good; and if it’s good and cheap it’s not fast.
From one of our old Chapter newsletters - submitted by
George Seelinger.
