Here are a few highlights from the last two board meetings.

April 19, 2006:

Attendees: Gary Corpora, Joe DeFilippo, Tom Koch, Jim McCarthy, Bob Parker, Bob Cavanaugh, Skip Gillis, John Powers, George Mayer, Don Anderson.

Our "non-profit org." mailing permit is still not approved due to red tape in the post office [it was terminated by the post office due to Society name changes and supposed problems with the original application submitted many years ago]. George Mayer recommended that our mailing list be beefed up with names of AARP organizations, etc.

Returns from the show indicated a potential for ten new members.

Skip Gillis met with the music committee and identified several possible new songs for the year.

Show - Approx. a 1,000 seats were sold. Soldiers & Sailors venue worked well although some seats on the far right and left did not provide a good view. S&S mentioned they would add railings in the balcony to provide more seats with a good view. Next year's show is April 14, 2007. John Kirwin recommended adding the names of chorus performance sponsors to our mailing list. A motion was passed to donate $400 dollars to the Banjo Club.

Social - Tentative date for ladies night is Dec. 9 (Tom Steimer to confirm). Tentative picnic date is Aug.19.

Other business - Changing our meeting to Etna or Braddock Elks was nixed. There were discussions concerning possible problems scheduling too many chorus performances.

May 17, 2006:

Attendees: Gary Corpora, Joe DeFilippo, Jim McCarthy, Bob Cavanaugh, John Powers, Don Redshaw, George Mayer, Don Anderson, Fred Donofno,

Addition was made to the previous meeting minutes that the Pittsburgh Zoo performance was cancelled.

Concerning the non-profit org. postal permit, we are still trying to locate the original Articles of Incorporation that were, or should have been, issued in 1978 when the chapter was formed.

Music & Performance - Two new guest books have been prepared. Fred Donofrio would like a list of members who have been missing lately.

Program - Discussed using a quartet at each chorus performance. Guy Russo will be asked to review the four new songs we learned for the show to help us keep them in our repertoire. Discussed need for a backup to Joe Veltre for performances.

Other business No serious interest in a merger with North Hills. Gary Corpora is the only one signed up to go to Apple Corps.

House of Delegates Meeting, June 3, 2006
Concourse Hotel - Columbus, Ohio

By Joe Veltre, Greater Pittsburgh, District Delegate

1. District and host chapters are losing money on conventions due to small attendance.

2. 2006 conventions:

Eastern Divisional - Charleston, WV - Sept.16
Western Divisional - Fostoria, Ohio - Sept. 9
District - Mavbe Independence, Ohio - Oct. 20-22
New rule - Chapters may choose which Divisional they wish to take part in.

3. It was almost unanimous, with the attendees, that the communications from the District have not been good. Changes in communications must be made and the Divisions will play a big part in accomplishing better communications.

4. President Mark Blake's goal is to have the chapters tell the District what they want the District to do, not the District telling the Chapters what to do. We spent most of the meeting discussing this.

5. District is planning for conventions to be more inclusive of non-competitive Chapters and members.

6. Rome Division has 10 Chapters: Allekiski, Greater Pittsburgh, Indiana, Johnstown, KcKeesport, Mon Valley, Pittsburgh Metro, Pittsburgh North Hills, Pittsburgh South Hills, Uniontown and Washington have folded and the status of Indiana and Johnstown is unknown [it is believed they have also folded].

7. The Cider Press has a new editor, Jeff Ulrich. He has introduced a new format and we will probably be pleased with the new format and content. The Cider Press will come out in a more timely manner.

8. A web page is being created for each Division.

Item: "Barbershop harmony really begins at the end and works backwards. If a quartet is well equipped with 'wicked' endings, the body of the song may be fairly conventional. It is the close that leaves the final fragrance of the barbershop, and if this be beautifully flavored with a nostalgic aroma, it matters little what has gone before. The most obvious harmonies are forgotten in a really subtle finish."

(Source: "Barbershop Ballads and How to Sing Them," Dr. Sigmund Spaeth, 1925)

Editor - I sure hope our concept of singing barbershop has improved since 1925.