Report of House of Delegates Meeting
1. District president, Mark Blake wants better communications, non-competitors to come to conventions, better programming at chapter meetings and wants chapter counselors to be more active.
2. The most important acUvity in the Society at present is a massive membership drive. Refer to the March/April Harmonizer, pages 16 through 20, for details on the membership campaign. Awards will be given and are listed on page 17 (of the Harmonizer]. Everyone is encouraged to invite someone to a chapter meeting.
3. JAD is the only district with three choruses competing in Salt Lake City.
4. Four quartets qualified to compete in Salt Lake City: Matrix; Rhythmix; Odds On; and Hot Air Buffoons. There's a possibility that two other quartets may be "wild cards." They are, You Bet and Impulse.
5. The Sour Apple award is in Defiance, where it originated, and the rules for the program are being revised.
6. Lots of changes are going on in our Society and the outcome of these changes, good or bad, will not be know for some time. Don Harris, Society CEO, has turned in his resignation.
7. There is an active Headquarters Relocation Commitfee currently considenng four cities. Two of these are Atlanta and Nashville. I don't have a record of the other two.
8. The way to communicate to the Society is at the House Of Delegates meeting.
9. New classes have been added to Apple Corps:
A. Grantwriting.
B. Chapter meetings and all it could be.
C. Talk to the president.
D. How to get across to your audience.
10. There will not be a charge for contestant tapes at contests. Starting with divisional contests in the fall of 2005, they will be using DVD, not VHS.
11. When looking for someway to spend your money, think of Harmony Foundation.
12. The concept of having seven divisions was adopted. The division names are: Baldwin, Jonathan, Cortland, Mcintosh, Melrose, Rome and Stayman. The Greater Pittsburgh Chapter is part of the Rome Division along with Pittsburgh South Hills, McKeesport, Mon Valley, Alle Kiski, Johnstown, Pittsburgh North Hills, Wheeling, Indiana and Pittsburgh Metro.
13. A Division Manager will be the executive of his assigned division and will be the "go between" of the district and the chapter.
14. The chapter counselor's role will be expanded to fit into the division structure. Chapter presidents should maintain a list of potential Chapter Counselor candidates from their chapter.
| Memorial Service For Angelo Spampinato |
Thirty-six barbershoppers, family and Aspinwall personnel gathered to remember Ange in a special service lead by Chaplain Gary Clise.
The assembly sang "Love This World Through Me" and "In The Garden." "Nearer My God To Thee" was sung by the harmonizers with solo verse by Ron Thomas. John Power did a solo performance of "The Lord's Prayer."
The music included instrumental accompaniment by Clara Fahnestock on violin and Ginger Dougherty on the piano.
Angelo passed away on October 22, 2004. He served in the US Army from January 8, 1943 to December 9, 1945. He was a volunteer at the VA Hospital from 1989 until the time of his death in 2004
Ange will be sorely missed by all at the VA Hospital and within the Barbershop Harmony Society.