So, what goes in a chapter fact sheet?

By Robb Ollett, CHAIR, SOCIETY PR/MKTG. COMM.

There you are, staring at a blank screen. Somebody told you to create a chapter fact sheet for your newly created presentation folder to deliver to all media outlets and for sponsors to your annual show. Well, before you type the first word, you need to do some research!

When was your chapter founded?
Are any of the founders still around?
How many performances do you do per year?
How many/What types of shows do you perform per year?
How many men are in the chapter?
How many/Which major businesses do they represent?
How many quartets do you have (registered or unregistered)
How many performances do they do per year?
Who do they sing for?
Has the chorus competed at a divisional, district or International competition?
Have any quartets (current or previous) competed at a divisional, district, International competition?
How has the chapter participated in the community over the past three years?
What are the plans for community participation in the next three years?
Who is the best contact for more information?

Now, let's get back to the blank screen and write a fact sheet that reads something like:

Since 1995, the Petaluma Valley chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society has entertained audiences throughout the area. The chapter boasts 47 men and pleased that the seven founders are still singing with the group. The chapter meets every Tuesday evening at the Westridge Knolls Community Center, 313 Hash Court in Petaluma from 7:30 until 10 p.m. We welcome male singers of all ages and business backgrounds to join us.

The chapter chorus, the Sonoma County Chorus, hosts one annual show each spring and a cabaret-style show in the fall. In addition, the chorus (and hometown quartets Valleyaires and comedy Wine Country Whiners) are known for entertaining at the hospitals, retirement centers, school assemblies, Rotary Club and any community group who enjoys four-part barbershop harmony. The chapter and quartets stay active by performing four times per month for various groups. In addition to their spring and fall shows, the chorus performs at the South Sonoma-Marin County Fair, and provides strolling quartets every evening during the two-week event. The Valleyaires quartet has performed the National Anthem at the Sonoma Crushers baseball games since 1998.

As part of the 75-chapter Far Western District (comprised of California, Nevada, Hawaii and Arizona), the chapter has achieved 15th place in district-wide competitions and first place in county/ regional competitions. They have also won several humanitarian awards for contributions to the children's hospital, providing $500 annually to the music program at Sonoma State University, and for their assistance in the KPBS-TV membership drives.

The Petaluma Valley chapter is one of 800 chapters and part of a 100,000-member international association of singers from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain, Sweden, Norway, China, South Africa, and Japan. In North America, The Barbershop Harmony Society preserves an original American art form known as barbershop harmony, and is one of several a cappella organizations.

For additional information and a contact person, please visit our website at www.sccsingers.org.

Like it? Even though the "names were changed to protect the innocent," this is the type of snapshot, thumbnail sketch that tells your full story, yet allows media to probe deeper and tell more of your story to the community. If you need an additional sample, Kenosha HQ has samples of the Society's fact sheet on line. (And that's a nice one-pager to have with yours!)

That's all there is to it - research the questions, follow the flow provided, get some copies made and B# with your promotions!

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