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Change is Good? ... continued from page 1   reluctant to change for any number of reasons. Maybe we don't trust the motives of the people making the changes. Maybe we are afraid of the consequences. One thing that is eminently clear is that without change we stagnate and when something stagnates for too long, it begins to stink. None of us, to my knowledge, are fortune tellers. We cannot see the long-term results of making personal changes in our lives, or others making changes in our lives. All we can do, for the most part, is go along for the ride, let the new changes have their effect, and hope they result in positive consequences.

I am suggesting that we as a chapter don't necessarily have to support the changes the society has put into play, but let's not spend too much time putting down their ideas, and start doing what we can to help them with their plans. Maybe it's time to get on the bandwagon. Who knows where it will take us, but we sure know where we are now.


A Woodshed Weekend by Bill Amos

During the weekend of February 18-19, 2005, North Hills and Greater Pittsburgh combined members won the "Cuthbed Bowl" at the wood shedders competition in Baltimore, Md. The Pittsburgh group of Orpheus Club regulars placed more men in winning quartets than any of the other groups of competitors. The Orpheus Pittsburgh dozen included Bill Amos, Max Brandt, Warren Capenos, Uri Carpenter, Jack Cox, Ed Dietz, Joe KIug, Tom Palamone Jr., Tom Palamone Sr., Glenn Schilberg, Stan Schultz and Charlie Vancheri. In addition, Gene Dadey checked in by telephone and was there in spirit.

Joe KIug took a gold medal singing tenor in the winning quartet and Max Brandt won a silver medal singing tenor in the second place quartet. Joe KIug was the fourth Orpheus singer to win gold in the past six years. Previous winners were Max Brandt in 2000, Uri Carpenter in 2003 and Tom Palamone Jr. in 2004. Overall, this was the third year the Orpheus contingent brought home the "Cuthbert Bowl" (1994, 2002 & 2005).

You say you're still not sure what wood shedding is? Join the group any first Thursday evening of the month at the Orpheus Club, 62nd St. at Allegheny Blvd. or call me, Bill Amos at 412-373-3432. I promise you'll have a fun filled evening and a chance to meet some great barbershoppers from various chapters.

As a final note, it was announced in Baltimore that the next wood shed competition will be held in Pittsburgh in the fall of '05.


What's Fred been up to?

I guess you are all aware that member Fred Dean and wife Pat, spend the winter months camped out on the Florida Keys (Big Pine Key near Key West). Thanks to Pat, I received the following photo of Fred and some Barbershop cronies [the photo is a news paper clipping scanned, e-mailed, reproduced and copied so the quality is not too good - sorry). This appeared in the key West Citizen Tuesday, February 15, 2005. The text under the photo is per Rob O'Neal/The Citizen. From left, Fred Dean, Brad Corbitt, Nelson Read and John VanDam of Old Island Harmony deliver an impromptu version of 'Let Me Call You Sweetheart' Monday afternoon on Simonton Street. The songsters, who were working one of their 15 Valentine's Day singing telegrams, will donate their earnings to local charities.

Pat Dean also sent me the following photo of one of Fred's "proud days." Fred is pictured below with a Cobia, which looks like a shark and is very seldom caught.

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