On August 1, 2003 an 8 man VLQ attended the 11th' annual picnic for "special" individuals at the Heilwood Sportsmen's Club in Indiana County. This picnic is held annually by Indiana County Workshop (ICW) Vocational Services, Inc. for handicapped people and attendant caregivers under their auspices. For several years Bill Amos has organized and arranged for a group of barbershoppers from Greater Pittsburgh chapter to attend this picnic to pass out small token gifts to everyone and sing for the picnic goers. A donation check from Greater Pittsburgh Chapter was presented to ICW by Bill Amos.
This year's VLQ included Bill Amos, Fred Dean, Ken Ernst, Bill Hamilton, Tom Koch, Jim Hughes, Russ Keyser and Jim McCarthy.
As in years past, Bill bought all the gifts presented, from his own pocket. Before the picnic the VLQ assembled at Bill's camp near Yellow Creek for coffee and donuts and after leaving the picnic the VLQ returned to Bill's camp for chicken wings (prepared over an open fire), other fine food and liquid refreshment, all compliments of Bill Amos. What a great guy!
I have to mention that in horseshoes, the team of Bill Amos and Fred Dean managed to eek out a narrow victory over the team of Tom Koch and Jim McCarthy. Fred's last shoe managed to ring the stake and eliminate Tom's winning 2 point effort.
By Jim McCarthy
On Saturday, July 5th, 21 guys represented the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter and sang on stage at Kennywood Park. Directed by Lou Vlahos, the chapter singers put on a half-hour show for the Park audience. The Chapter's VLQ, the "Backyard Boys," followed with an eight-minute show of their own.
In what has become an annual event, the membership seems to enjoy this particular outing because Kennywood provides each singer with two-entrance tickets and two-ride tickets good for all day. John Lynch of the North Hills Chapter organized the event this year and invited our chapter, along with several others, to sing.