Valentine’s Day Barbershop Style

Volume 10 # 2 GNUsNews March 2005

10,000 LAKES DIVISION – LAND O’ LAKES DISTRICT

Member of

“Live Wire” came out of retirement to do SingingValentines this year. We started off our day atWhite Bear Lake High School to sing for KevinAnderson’s girlfriend, Beth Boehne. Kevin isSteve’s son. We then were asked to sing for thechoir who just happened to be having a rehearsal.We were being used primarily for marketingpurposes as Loring Harrop called several seniorsresidences and had us sing for them throughout theday. We also made a trip to the courthouse indowntown Minneapolis for Judge Steven Aldrichwho purchased 3 Singing Valentines for his staff on3 different floors of the building.

Singing Valentines, a fund-raiser for thebarbershop choruses in the area, had over 200“gigs” in the Twin Cities this year. Under thecoordination of GNU member Tom Semple, a totalof 32 quartets, participated, 7 of which had GNUmembers. Most of the quartets are “pick up”quartets formed just for this event. The GNUquartets included:ShirtTails - Bob Cannella, Harvey Berwin, JohnBabbs, John KleiberApple Pie - Roger Meyer, Bob Barnes, ChuckMcKown, Don KnechtHeartThrobs - Jim Higgins, Kevin Lynch, MarkSathe (quartet blended with Mpls)Combined Quartet - Mike Franssen, Jeff Hickman(quartet blended with St. Croix ValleyPRISM - Steve Nolte, Cleon Wahlin, AlanMatchinski, Darren HoehneNouveau - Jim Olson, Tony Blackwood, DuaneRygg, Dave BoydLive Wire – Brent Buresh, Steve Hardy, ScottKvigne, Steve Anderson

The effort was enhanced by lots of media coverageincluding TV appearances by Quest on Kare 11,MN Go 4’s on NW Metro cable and Keepin' OutaMischief on WCCO. There were also radio spotsby The Wilde Quartet (Marty Monson, LoringHarrop, Tom Semple, Steve Anderson) on AirAmerica 950AM and we had a spokesperson ontalk radio WCCO. Congratulations to everyonewho made this years Singing Valentines a success.

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CHAPTER LEADERS

President Bill Lydecker 507-934-1822(H)

ImmediatePast President Jim Higgins 952-848-0831(H

Secretary Dan Vander Ploeg 612-339-2596(H)

Treasurer John Babbs 952-474-9404(H)

Performance VP Marty Monson 651-330-7587(H)Erik Dove 651-905-1605(H)

Marketing VP Loring Harrop 952-942-0845(H)

Membership VP Don Knecht 612-926-3868(H)

Fund DevelopmentVice President Harvey Berwin 651-698-3515(H)

Mem. At Large Art VanDeWater 715-425-6787(H)

Mem. At Large Tom Semple 952-403-9643(H)

Mem at Large Chuck McKown 952-469-2575(H)

Chorus Mgr. VP Kent Erlandson 952-944-9934(H)

Presentation Roger Stanfield 952-440-3678(H)

Librarian Art VanDeWater 715-425-6787(H)

Sunshine Keith Fransen 651-438-1342(H)

Uniforms

DIRECTOR

Pete Benson 701-642-2484(H)

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Scott Kvigne 952-431-0596(H)

SECTION LEADERS

Tenor Tom Matchinsky 612-743-9345(H)

Lead David Bailey-Aldrich 612-379-2622(H)

Bari Jim Emery 612-824-7464(H)

Bass Mark Jurgensen 507-534-6543(H)

BULLETIN EDITORS

Roger and Theresa Meyer 763-476-7382(H)Email: roger.theresa@meyer.net

Steve Anderson 612-866-1856(H)Email: sander1159@aol.com

Each GNU’s NEWS issue is an official publication of the Hilltop Chapter,10,000 Lakes Division, LOL District, of SPEBSQSA, Inc. Bulletinmaterial may be contributed by chapter members, copied from Societypublications, or may be borrowed from other chapter bulletins. Allarticles will be credited to the author. Articles not carrying a by-line havebeen written by the editor, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions ofthe officers of this chapter.

TheDirector’s Cut

Last Thursday, Marty gave agreat presentation on the "Stateof the GNU" with the main themebeing commitment. The mostexciting part for me was listeningto your feedback and "buy in"afterwards. We all seemed to bein agreement with anunderstanding of at least someof the things we need to strivefor in order to reach our potentialas a championship chorus.

Okay, then, it's time to put our money where our mouthsare! At this point we have a somewhat ineffective systemto determine who is committed for certain upcomingevents. It is a sign-up sheet. I would prefer to do awaywith that and just make the assumption if you're part ofthe GNU, you'll perform with the GNU. We're not thereyet, however. For now, I am asking you to please usethe sign-up sheet so I know what chorus I will bedirecting at any given performance.

Please bring your calendarand do not leave on Thursdaynight until you have signed upfor the following events. It's allabout COMMITMENT!

3/12 - Luther4/3 - Mt. Olivet5/13 - Duluth6/11 - On to Fame7/9- Salt Lake City

Thanks.PETE

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ThePresident’s

Corner

In recent issues, I havecommented about theinterlocking issues ofmembership andattendance. Those ofyou who heard MartyMonson's presentationat UMCP on March 3heard hi9m mentionattendance severaltimes. Like mostchapters, we wouldbenefit in many waysfrom an influx of newmembers. However, we also need current members tobe active participants in the chapter and chorus. If youlook at the attendance sheets Roger Meyer has beenshowing us, there is far more red and yellow - indicatinglow attendance - than we might expect.

Would it surprise you to learn that Hilltop has over 100members? Some live too far away to be active. Othersare only quartet singers who have no interest in singingwith the chorus. Others have dropped out - temporarilyor long-term - due to family commitments, job demands,age, physical limitations, and other causes. Some haveapparently just chosen not to sing with the chorus.

I have belonged to 7 chapters during my years inSPEBSQSA. Some members of each of the previoussix showed an attendance pattern which I did not expectto see from Hilltop members, given the level ofcommitment expected from us. Yet that pattern doesseem to be there. What is it? The tendency to reduceattendance when a member is not able to appear withthe chorus at an upcoming contest or performance. Thatpattern suggests the attitude of "I won't be in that event,so rehearsals are less important. I'll attend again in timefor the next event." Unfortunately, that way one gets outof the habit of coming to UMCP on Thursdays, and whatsometimes results is a reduction in overall attendance inthe future. In addition, missing rehearsals can and doesget the member behind the development taking place inthe rest of the chorus.

Another part of that pattern is a drop in attendance forseveral weeks after a major contest or performance."I've worked really hard in recent weeks, so I think I willtake a vacation for a few Thursday nights." And ofcourse, other activities intervene, and restarting aregular pattern on Thursdays turns out to be harder thanexpected.

Mark Hale said that Masters of Harmony leadersbecome concerned when attendance drops below 90%for more than a week or two. Our music team would bedelighted if we were to get 90% of us there for even onerehearsal. Based on some graphs prepared by TomSemple, it seems clear that our attendance has been on

a decline - percentage and absolute numbers - since wedropped the attendance requirement about 2-3 yearsago. While not a record low in recent years (severalrehearsals have had fewer than 40 show up), theattendance of 43 for Mark Hale's most recent sessionwas extremely disappointing, especially since we areworking on methods to move us up several places in theSLC contest.

Each of us needs to ask what his level of commitment,and whether his attendance pattern is helping orhindering what Pete and the music team are trying toaccomplish. The plan is there - but it requires each of usto carry our share of the load.

Live Wire had a little extra time after a high schoolperformance to “play” in the snow! They also had thepleasure of singing for Julia Holzemer on her 104th

birthday later in the week.

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A quartet made up of GNU and St Croix Valley members had22 singing valentines in a variety of locations. The membersof the quartet were:

Tom Kurkowski ,Tenor, "Croix Chordsmen"Michael Franssen, Lead, "GNU" & "Croix Chordsmen"Art Warnke, Bari, "Croix Chordsmen"Jeff Hickman, Bass, "GNU"

Clockwise from the top are some of the pictures taken duringtheir day.

- A 98 year old woman in the New Richmond "Deer FieldAssisted Living"- A counselor at Hudson Middle School- A student in class at New Richmond High School - Michael’s mom, MaryAnn Franssen at the Good SamaritanCenter in Mounds Park- Jeff's Wife, Cathy Hickman at work in Plymouth

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John Babbs, Harvey Berwin, Bob Cannella and I(pictured bottom left) did 10 gigs yesterday.Lots of happy ladies got the chocolate rose,photo and a song serenade!

We drove all over the west side of town (howmany times did we cross I-494?) from 11:30 amto nearly 9 pm. We sang for friends (my workofficemate's wife, and one of my former co-worker's wife), a church choir director, a teacher,barbershoppers (a Minneapolis Commodorecame out of the woodwork at one gig to joke"more bass, more tenor!"), retirees (two PRfreebies were at senior citizen residences) andmore. We also ran into another S.V. quartetfrom the Commodores at a break at Perkins. Itwas great. We wore out the "Just PlainBarbershop" polecat book while waitingbetween gigs.

So if you didn't get to participate this year, markyour calendar for next year! Don't miss it!

CU@GNU!

John Klieber

We (Don Knecht, Bob Barnes, Roger Meyerand I), pictured at left, had a fun, but less busyday with 5 gigs. We had one no-show atWCCO-TV who was late coming back fromlunch and was told on the phone that there wasa surprise waiting for her. She called back abit later, saying she wasn't coming back today.We speculated she didn't want her surprise, sowe ended up giving the rose to thereceptionists, and sang for them. Then onesaid, why don't you come and sing for thenewsroom? So we did and I recognized acouple of the anchors/reporters present. Wegot a nice hand and left the card and photo forour missing "victim". That was the highlight ofour day.

Since Roger has always sung tenor onValentine's Day, I got to sing Bari, which Ienjoyed very much. Thanks, guys!

Chuck Mc Kown

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JIM JOHANNSEN

Jim, who has beenperforming with us forabout one year, singsbaritone. He is also aCommodore. Althoughhe grew up in Faribault,he has also lived inChicago as well asCharleston, SouthCarolina. Together withhis wife, Judy, theyhave two kids; andnow, two grandkids,age 8 and 10. Retiredin 2001, he was an

electronics engineer. In the 60s, he served on PolarisNuclear Submarines. I doubt any of us know someoneelse who has that on the resume!

And now, for theimpressive musicalresume of this fineaddition to GreatNorthern Union. Hisexperience in thatrealm includes playinga mean trumpet inhigh school; andmarching band at theUniversity ofMinnesota. Thistalented guy had theprivilege of playing in sunny California at the New Year'sDay 1961 and '62 Rose Bowl Parades & Games! As forsinging, Jim did that in high school; and while in theNavy, like others of the era, he sang in a fun little folkgroup. Then later, when he joined barbershopping, hesang in Elgin, Illinois. Illinois has so many chapters thatthe one state is the entire district! He also sang with agroup in Charleston. His (now inactive) Senior quartetwas "Boundary Waters", whose members are alsoCommodores, here in the Twin Cities.

Jim's main reason for joining the Great Northern Unionwas because he wanted to compete Internationally. Likeall good members, he has selected a position ofresponsibility where he can contribute in addition tostanding on the risers. He currently serves as BaritoneAdministrative Section Leader. Jim, nice resume! Weare glad you are with us.

Members:Get to know “em

“Our new logo is a marvelously elegant statementof who we are: singers of four-part harmony,” saidSociety President Rob Hopkins. “It brings to minda quartet, but it also could be four men in any rowof a chorus,” he explained. “The different colors ofthe facial profiles reminds me that our memberscome from all different walks of life, yet share thecore elements of singing, fellowship, fun,enrichment, and creativity. I love the way that thefacial profiles add depth to the design, and theclean, uncluttered, contemporary look is great"

Barbershop Harmony Societyreleases new graphic identity

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Luther College Mens Chorus joinsGNU in ConcertSaturday, March 12, 2005, was a great musical day inMahtomedi. Eighty hand-picked students from theFreshman class of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa,along with our Great Northern Union chorus performedin concert. Devoteesjourneyed, in somecases, for hundreds ofmiles to be surroundedby soul-enrichingsound, whichreverberated inside thecathedral-like facilityand spilled over into thescenic outdoors. Lutherchoral director TimothyPeter and GreatNorthern Union directorPeter Benson, alongwith assistant GNUdirector Scott Kvignetook the stage at various portions of the evening.

The magnificent and recently restored "antique" 1927Casavant pipe organ is the centerpiece of the newly builtvery large Danish modern church which sits on abeautiful tree-filled acreage. Bill Chouinard masterfullypresented the capabilities of the beautiful instrument; byaccompanying both choruses on selected pieces withunsurpassed full-bodied sound.

GNU members Marty Monson and Wally Brink, bothAlumni of Luther, anticipate eventual new GNUmembers from among their "younger brothers". TheGNU marketing team, and others, headed up by LoringHarrop did a fine job in helping to orchestrate the affair.All look forward to repeat joint performances.

Newer member SamSather did a fine jobon his first solo forthis occasion; and"BRAVO!" formerLOL DistrictChampion quartet,performed, withMarty singing tenor,lead Dan Schroeder,bass Mike Faris andbaritone DaveRoessler,. Alsosinging was collegequartet, "Late NightSerenade" from theNorsemen.

Our own Peter Benson directed the combined chorus in"This Train - When the Saints Go Marching In Medley";while Dr. Timothy Peter directed the grand finale BattleHymn of the Republic. Sharing the stage for that closingsong was a fine Luther College brass quintet and snaredrum. As the audience enthusiastically joined in for thelast chorus, the rafters literally rang and people weptwith joy!

By all accounts, the exciting day was a resoundingsuccess. Folks who had never heard us before nowknow what good entertainment is; and for sure, ourmembers found it to be a peak experience! It was suchfun to encourage young men in music appreciation.Let's do it again, and soon.

Big thanks to Theresa Meyer for all the Norsemenconcert photos

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Luther College Norsemen (top) and a shot of the combined chorus and that magnificent pipe organ (below)

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Mark Hale, singing judge and director of theMasters of Harmony came to coach us onWhen the Midnight Choo Choo leaves forAlabam’ and our new ballad Young andFoolish. His main focus was on energy. Asyou can see, it sure got Pete fired up. As if heneeded it!

GNUs News March 2005 Page 10

SupporttheseGNU

quartets!

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The Great Northern UnionChorus meets every Thursdayfrom 7:00pm to 10:00pm, at theUnited Methodist Church ofPeace, 6345 Xerxes Ave S,Richfield MN 55423“Early-Bird” rehearsals are heldat 6:00pm for practicingchoreography. Members areurged to call the GNU Hotline at763-476-7383 weekly for thelatest word on rehearsals,performances, and otherpertinent information. Also findus on the web atwww.gnunion.com

Hey guys,

I'm Vinny Haynes from the Big Apple Chorus. Some ofyou guys know me as the NYPD officer who sang withyou guys on November 2001 at the Metrodome after9/11. I am also one of the hosts of The HarmonyNetwork.(Barbershop Radio) We received a copy ofyour new CD, "Bound For Glory" and my buddy MartyIsrael, Music Judge and a host of "Tuesday NightSwipes" will be debuting the CD tonight March 8 at 7:00PM...Come and join us atwww.harmonize.com/thnas we bring you the bestin barbershop and acappella music. We areon 7:00 P.M.- 11: 00P.M. New JerseyTime.(E. S. T.)

Thanks...see you guys atSLC