I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the get well cards and the phone calls to me after my recent operation. It sure helps to know there are so many people who care. It lifted my spirits immensely. Also, this is a good time for me to say thanks to all for your wonderful support during my reign as director of the Three Rivers Chorus. It was a wonderful and rewarding experience for me and I loved it. I will always cherish the memories.

I would like to welcome Ron Brooks to the fold. He and I have always been friends for many, many years and I think he is a great director and I am looking forward to working with him in the coming months as soon as I recover from my setback. It shouldn't be too long.

I just wanted to send a quick note to say thank you to all the guys who continue to support the Boy Scouts by buying popcorn. Thanks especially to Fred Donofrio, Ken Ernst, Gordon Knapp, Bob Cavanaugh and Bill McVeagh. Because of their continued support, the Boy Scouts in Pittsburgh raised over one million dollars. Our best year ever.

Mark A. Pascarella
Grtr. Pgh. Council Popcorn Vice Chair
Tecumsa District Popcorn Colonel
Troop 58 Assistant Scout Master
Pack 58 Den Leader Coach

Proud grandpa, Ken Moelk, reports that his grandson, Caleb William, won another international gold medal when he out-lifted all others from different nations in his weight class at the International Power- lifting Federation's World Junior Championships in Fort Wayne, Indiana in September 2005. [see previous articles about Caleb's power lifting exploits in the Sept.-Oct. 2004 and the July-August 2005 bulletins].

Are any Birthday or Anniversary credits either missing or wrong in the monthly listing on page two of the bulletin? If so, please notify your editor. I know I am missing a few anniversary dates as they were never forwarded to me and they are not on the Society web site.

Speaking about the Society web site, I often urge each of you to make reference to it. There is much valuable information available on the site and associated links. I often go to the "members only" section and print out a Greater Pittsburgh Chapter roster as it is a handy reference, listing all members, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, spouse names, dues expiration dates, years of service and birth dates. However, I note that information is not always complete or correct. In the current roster I note instances of missing or misspelled spouse names, incorrect or old e-mail addresses, misspelled street names, etc. This is not the fault of the society; they print what information you forward to them. I request that each of you take the time to check your own personal information and submit any updates or corrections required. Thank you...

Got the photo below (photo not shown) from our Secretary, Gary Corpora, of himself standing outside a barbershop in Madrid, Spain. He was taking some free time while on a recent business trip and somehow just naturally gravitated to a barbershop. He reports there was no singing going on and he wasn't about to go in and start any as no one would understand him. We know he wouldn't be going in for a haircut!

Your editor would like to wish everyone a very blessed Christmas, happy Chanukah and best wishes in the coming New Year. May we all continue to enjoy the fellowship we share, and let us all make a resolution to be a better singing chorus in 2006.