#5

B A R B E R S H O P H A R M O N Y S O C I E T Y

TOOSDAY TOONS

Official publication of the NASSAU MID-ISLAND CHAPTER of the Barbershop Harmony SocietyThe Long Island Harmonizers Chorus meets every Tuesday at Winthrop Hall, Church of the Advent

555 Advent Street, Westbury, Long Island, Nassau County, New York at 8:00 p.m. From July 5 through September 13, chapter meetings will be held at the Calvary Protestant Church,

2801 Park Avenue, Baldwin, New York, also at 8:00 p.m.www.longislandharmonizers.org

VOLUME IX, NO. 9 SEPTEMBER 2011

TOOSDAY TOONS

Official publication of the NASSAU MID-ISLAND CHAPTER of the Barbershop Harmony SocietyThe Long Island Harmonizers Chorus meets every Tuesday at Winthrop Hall, Church of the Advent

555 Advent Street, Westbury, Long Island, Nassau County, New York at 8:00 p.m. From July 5 through September 13, chapter meetings will be held at the Calvary Protestant Church,

2801 Park Avenue, Baldwin, New York, also at 8:00 p.m.www.longislandharmonizers.org Mid-Atlantic District

VOLUME IX, NO. 9 “POST-IRENE” EDITION SEPTEMBER 2011

THE FIVE S’s OF SUMMER: #1 #2

#3

#4

AfterGloWormsSINGING SWINGING

SWELTERING

SWIMMING.

(MORE) SINGINGSee captions on page 3

PAGE 2 TOOSDAY TOONS SEPTEMBER 2011

TOOSDAY TOONS A monthly publication of the Nassau M i d - I s l a n d C h a p t e r o f t h e Barbershop Harmony Society, a nonprofit, charitable and educational society.All articles not accompanied by a byline have been written by the editor and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the members nor of the officers of the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter. Opposing points of view are welcomed and encouraged.

Editor and PublisherCharles Bell

67 Laurel Ave., Sea Cliff, NY 11579(516) 676-0448

chizbell@optonline.net

Associate EditorRobert Heim

heimbob@aol.com

Assistants to the EditorBess Bell

StephenStojowski

PhotographyRobert Heim

Eva MilauskasWilliam Vesely

VERILY VERITYSummer Song.

With the summer of 2011 coming to a close and the Long Island Harmonizers looking forward to their fall season, I would like to thank all the members who took part in our two major performances

and the change of our chapter meetings to Baldwin. Since our show in May, we have added three members and have started work on three songs for our next show. Steve Brausa, our show chairman for 2012, has already set the dates and booked our guest quartet; more to follow on these developments. Who said the lazy, hazy days of summer?

The chapter will take part in Nassau County’s 9/11 Memorial service. The chapter will sing “God Bless America” on Wednesday September 7, 2011, at the Harry Chapin Lakes ide Theater. This i s an impor tan t performance, not only to honor the memory of so many fellow Americans who lost their lives on that day but also to help us to stay in good favor with the County in hope of performing again at the Summer Lunch Program.

The chapter will again host an inter chapter meeting, scheduled for October 25, 2011. We as a chapter can be proud of our singing and should all be there to show our a b i l i t y a n d t o e n j o y f e l l o w s h i p w i t h o t h e r “barbershoppers.” That is why our society was started, not to compete but to share fellowship. O.C. Cash did not envision competition on that roof top in Tulsa. He sought, however, fellowship with other men wanting to sing the songs of the day.

Thank you all and let’s look forward to our fall season with enthusiasm and hard work.

Hal

SEPTEMBER 2011 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 3

♬ NASSAU NOTES ♬

THE 5 Sʼs OF SUMMER(as seen on page 1)

#1 The AfterGloWorms singing at the Brooklyn Cyclone game at MCU Park, Brooklyn, July 30.

#2 Bob Roth sinking a 35-foot putt at the U.S. Open on the Bethpage State Park Black Course in 2009.

#3 Imagine this is you.

#4 Any one of us on that record-setting day in July 2011.

#5 The Long Island Harmonizers at Eisenhower Park, July 2011.

COME TO THE FAIR!

IT DONʼT MEAN A THING IF IT AINʼT GOT THAT “SING”—The final night of a huge Summer Fair at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Hicksvi l le where the Long Is land Harmonizers performed. Pictured at the fairʼs entrance are Chapter President Hal Verity (right) and Board Secretary Ken Wunsch.

AUGUST 2011—“BARBERSHOP BEHIND THE GLASS” MOVES TO ROCKVILLE CENTRE

“BARBERSHOP BEHIND THE GLASS” moves to the Rockville Centre Public Library, 221 North Village Avenue, for a two-casement look at the barbershop style of singing. The Nassau Mid-Island Chapterʼs traveling exhibit examines the Barbershop Harmony Societyʼs organizational roots (there are now about 25,000 members in the U.S, and Canada), famous barbershoppers of the past and present (President Truman was one in his youth, for example; Dick VanDyke does it today), along with other fascinating tidbits associated with the art form.

Photos by Bob Heim

Photos by Bob Heim

PAGE 4 TOOSDAY TOONS SEPTEMBER 2011

♬ NASSAU NOTES ♬DANNY FREEMAN RINGS CHORDS

AT DARTMOUTH

THAT ʼS OUR DANNY—Shown here with the Dartmouth Aires, the collegeʼs oldest a cappella group, which is slated to appear as contestants on the NBC TV show, “Sing Off,” on Monday evenings this fall, starting September 19, 2011.Danny Freeman sang with the Long Island Harmonizers (as did his dad, Steve) during the summer of 2009 before entering Dartmouth College. The Dartmouth Aires performed at a concert given by the the North Country Chordsmen, a barbershop chapter in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Danny said he had a great time singing with them and showing them all he had learned from his summer with the Long Island Harmonizers. ♬

STEVE BRAUSA IS CALLING, “ALL HANDS ON DECK!”

I am very pleased that Bob Heim has volunteered to handle the advertising and publicity for our 2012 annual show. He is a very creative person and works hard at the jobs he undertakes. One of the goals this year is to see if we can be even more effective in advertising to the seniors’ groups in Nassau County. In addition to Bob’s focus on the media, I would like to have at

least three volunteers to form a committee to provide ideas and leadership in marketing the show to seniors’ groups. Ideally, I’d like one man from each of the three towns in Nassau County—Oyster Bay, Hempstead and North Hempstead—to be on

that committee. Ultimately I think that we will want to reach out to seniors’ programs in each of these areas. Please let me know your interest as soon as possible. ♬

How Bob Roth finagled his wedding dateBob and Muriel Roth will be celebrating their 53rd wedding anniversary on September 17, as you will see in this month’s list of birthdays and wedding anniversar ies . However, Bob says there is more to the story of that date than most people know. Quoting Bob:“I was on active duty as a 1st

Lieutenant in the U.S Air Force, but (was) offered separation from active duty September 30, 1958. I was at the Portland AFB in Portland, Oregon. I had met Mo (now my wife) on Armed Forces Day in May 1957 at a base celebration.

“So, we get to planning our wedding night right before my separation from active duty. I was told we would get ten travel days to go from Portland to my home in Lynbrook, So, we set the wedding date of September 20 and got all the participants geared for that date. That would have gotten us married and qualified for travel pay for both of us. (I had it already, but needed to get my wife qualified, too.)

“So, what happens? The Finance Officer realizes he misstated the travel time; I was entitled to 11 (!) days. Oh, Oh! That means Mo doesn ’ t qua l i f y, a s I wou ld be s epa ra t ed September 19. However, being resourceful, we approached the minis te r of our church in Portland and got his approval to marry us in his office on September 17. Fortunately my parents would be there by then (train travelers from New York) , and the other participants were ava i lab le , too . So we got marr ied in the minister ’s office. We met the government’s travel time requirement and received travel pay for the two of us (I believe it was an additional $200.) It paid for the honeymoon trip across the continent in our 1957 Pontiac.

SEPTEMBER 2011 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 5

“We proceeded wi th the formal church wedding on September 20; it was a military wedding with eight sword bearers, seven brides-maids, seven ushers, best man and maid of honor. (Cast of thousands!) No one was told the story until months later. Now we celebrate our wedding anniversaries on a date (17 or 20) nearest to a weekend so we can gather with the children and grandchildren.

“That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.” ♬

Dictionary of Barbershop TermsBROLLY’S JOLLIES

This list of barbershop terms was created by a Keith Eckhardt (no relation to our Rudy, I daresay) and was submitted to us by John Brolly, hence to be known as “Brolly’s Jollies” A sample follows:A & R Analysis and Recommendation, often called

Aggravation and Ridicule.

Afterglow A cast party after a show.

After-Afterglow A smaller, more private party that takes place

after an afterglow.

AHSOWAncient Harmonious Order Of Woodshedders.

Ambigesturous The ability to perform the chorus moves from

either side of the risers.

Barbershop 7th

A flat 7th chord used frequently in barbershop arrangements. Example: C - E - G - B♭.

Barbershop Brats Children of barbershoppers, who often become

members, a precious commodity.

Barbershop Squat A physical stance at the end of a song that looks

amateurish and hokey.

Barberteens Teenaged children of barbershoppers, the

smartest of all.

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

September 2 Arline EnnisSeptember 4 Dorothy KammererSeptember 8 Mary McCoySeptember 9 Will McCoySeptember 14 Eleanor SchlegelSeptember 19 Andrew JorqueraSeptember 20 Carolyn EckhardtSeptember 21 Rudy EckhardtSeptember 22 Sharon RitzSeptember 28 Vida BrausaSeptember 29 Bill Vesely

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

Sept. 8, 1974 Hal & Lois VeritySept. 14, 1957 Jim & Eleanor SchlegelSept. 17, 1958 Bob & Mo Roth (see page 4)Sept. 22, 1973 Bill & Marie HardmanSept. 24, 1960 Bill & Arline EnnisSept. 26, 1953 Jim & Joan MeehanSept. 30, 1950 Gene & Dorothy Kammerer

Before you know it, the World Series will be here.

PAGE 6 TOOSDAY TOONS SEPTEMBER 2011

They're out there at every annual show. Happy and excited to be in the auditorium. Thrilled by s o n g s t h e y ' v e h e a r d u s p e r f o r m before. Delighted by the additions to our repertoire. Sons, daughters, grandchildren, in-laws, aunts and uncles—all beaming with a sense of obvious pride. The reason they've come together to join in the applause? They are, first and foremost, family, OUR extended families. There to support your love of barbershopping. There to underscore their special affection for you. On hand as first-responders in answering your call for support. We as a chapter are forever grateful. There is no way to minimize this "relative importance" in sustaining chapter growth. And, when they leave, what then? Is your responsibility to involve them in our efforts over? Do we forget them for another year before calling on them again for support? Not on your life. There are many, many ways your relatives can continue to help. Let's face it, they are our "army," our front-line battlers in our fight to preserve our art form. Let's examine just a few of the ways they can step up to the plate and magnify our collective mission:

• Let THEM carry a quantity of our flyers soliciting new members for the chapter. Family and relatives can talk from first-hand experience about the sounds of barbershop; the camaraderie, the enjoyment. They are truly persuasive ambassadors of our art.

• Your family members and relatives reach friends of all ages—at jobs, at schools, at churches and synagogues, at meetings of social and fraternal organizations or at the bowling alley. Out on golf courses (all that downtime conversation looking for balls in the woods). At your family gatherings, explain what we're doing, how THEY can help.

• Your immediate family and relatives can point the way in encouraging friends to find out about a local institution serving their community for over 60 years. It's as simple as having your family members urging them to "check them out at longislandharmonizers.org."

• Remind them how you stay so young—by singing. Remind them about the healthful benefits of it all. Of those deep breaths. Your relatives can bring up such discussion at gyms, in waiting rooms at the doctor's office, etc.

• Give your relatives copies of The Harmonizer and Toosday Toons to read on buses, subways etc. to spark dialogue about what "dad" does.

Oh, there are so many ways. (I can see you're way ahead of me here.) I am sure "Toons" editor Chiz Bell would welcome hearing from any of you on how you enlisted others in your family to help and...what they did to maximize "relative importance." THEIR "grains of sand" are enormously important, too, in building our beach for barbershopping. Every day, in every way, they all add up to our success, as well. ♬

MAXIMIZING “RELATIVE IMPORTANCE”FOR BARBERSHOP CHAPTER GROWTH

Bob HeimNassau Mid-Island Chapter

VP—Marketing and Public Relations(A Public Relations practitioner for close to 60 years)

SEPTEMBER 2011 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 7

BELL AND STOJOWSKI RAVE ABOUT THE ATLANTIC HARMONY BRIGADE EXPERIENCE

The Brigade is one of the Society’s best kept secretsA participant’s perspective

By Steve Stojowski " The Harmony Brigades (also known as “Extreme Quartetting”) are optional, BHS-sanctioned programs for barbershoppers looking for the ultimate quartetting challenge. The first one was the North Carolina Harmony Brigade which is now 20 years old. There

are by now a handful of Harmony Brigades scattered around the country and around the calendar (because some aficionados participate in all of them). The Atlantic Harmony Brigade started in 2006, and we just put on our sixth annual show last month in Clayton, Delaware (near Wilmington). In September 2012 the brand new New England Harmony Brigade will be launched. If you can learn 12 songs note perfect and word perfect by yourself in 16 to 18 weeks by listening to practice CD’s and following the sheet music, and if you are hungry for a chance to sing with other similarly-inclined barbershoppers, one of these Harmony Brigades may be for you. See Lorin May’s article and cover story about his brigade experience in the July/August 2007 issue of the Harmonizer. There are also several related letters to the editor in the following Sep/Oct 2007 edition. (All back issues of the Harmonizer can be accessed by all Society members free of charge on the Society web site.) ♬

A member of the audience’s point of viewBy Chiz Bell

If you’re looking for “pure” barbershop sound, rafter-ringing c h o r d s o r s o l i d m u s i c a l entertainment, the best thing you

pencil down the Atlantic Harmony Brigade in your little black books for next year.

This year’s concert, entitled “A Night of Classic American Song,” marked the sixth consecutive year the Atlantic Harmony Brigade has performed in Wilmington, Delaware. The Concord Senior High School auditorium is an excellent venue.

The twelve chorus renditions were randomly interspersed with selections by five different quartets. Good Times, in a onetime guest appearance, was the featured quartet of the show. Well-known singers in this group included, Tim Waurick, Tenor and Gold Medallist with Vocal Spectrum in 2006; Sean Devine, Lead and Gold Medallist with O.C. Times in 2008; Jack Pinto, Bass and Gold Medallist with this year’s championship quartet at International, Old School; and Dan Deisroth, Bari and a Sweet Adelines Director. Pinto and Deisroth have appeared with guest quartets in our annual shows in previous years. They also were two of the six chorus directors who conducted this evening’s twelve chorus numbers.

When Good Times sang “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” I found in Tim Waurick a worthy rival to our own Hal Verity, who performs that number so nobly.

The three local barbershoppers in the show, whom I really knew—Steve Stojowski, Neal Siegal, and Paul Santino—made the night complete for me and my wife, Bess. ♬

Your Chapter Business -- by Steve StojowskiSteve is a CPA specializing in accounting for exempt organizations. He is the Assistant Musical Director of the Long Island Harmonizers, former Treasurer and Secretary of the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter, a current member of the Board of Trustees of the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter, an instructor in the Society’s Leadership Academies and Harmony College East, and Chairman of the Joint Audit Committee of the Barbershop Harmony Society and Harmony Foundation, International, Inc.

PAGE 8 TOOSDAY TOONS SEPTEMBER 2011

Both of them have members covering a wide range of musical talents who simply love to sing. Both of them claim Joe Cerutti, Jr. as a member. Both of them have a top notch web site, chapter publication, musical director, dedicated and innovative board of directors, and on and on. Both of them can put on an entertaining show.

At Harmony College East in June 2011, the Alexandria Harmonizers presented a fascinating master class on how they run things in their chapter. It was as much about their administrative policies and procedures (their “Chapter Business”) as it was about their music. I’m not suggesting we drop everything and make ourselves over in Alexandria’s image, but we may find some inspiration and ideas in their methods.

We could hardly be more similar in the make-up of our boards of directors and the ways we run our board meetings. Alexandria does have one or two VP positions we don’t have and probably don’t need. Agendas and VP reports distributed in advance, Roberts Rules, voting— these are all the same between us. Their meetings generally last about three hours, while we like to hold ours down to one or two hours. No surprises here.

Their sources of income and expenses are basically similar, albeit on different scales. Alexandria generally has three “home” shows in addition to four to six “package shows” (presumably akin to our “sing-outs”) per year. Each “Package Show” has its own Show Producer—a different producer for each package show. Their income comes from dues and chapter shows like us, but they also receive grants from the Alexandria Arts Council, they sell CD’s, and a few other minor categories of revenue we don’t have. They didn’t mention singing valentines.

The most striking differences are in how their members become and stay members. It’s easy to assume they are a “dream team” of unbelievably talented singers

who just can never be compared to us. I don’t think so. Their vocal standards are based upon self-evaluation and self-improvement rather than on setting entrance requirements that we would assume none of us could meet. They have a one-page vocal self-evaluation form and a one-page visual self-evaluation form. They measure their evaluations on a standard of comparing their (required) self-tape-recordings not to some master standard but to their own individual past performances.

Incidentally, the Nassau Mid-Island Board of Directors voted several years ago to require each of our chorus members to make tape recordings of ourselves, and to use them along with the section leaders for assessment and self improvement. To the best of my knowledge, this rule is still on our books, although I’m sure we haven’t given any thought to enforcing it for many years now. By design, the first time any man on the Alexandria Harmonizers risers (no matter how accomplished or how many medals around his neck) completes his initial vocal self-evaluation on a new song, he is expected to fail himself. Then he is expected to find things to improve and improve them. No one of them is that good to start, and each one of them is going to improve.

The visual evaluation process is similar. They regularly video themselves and then critique themselves from the videos. (As Yogi Berra famously said, “You can observe a lot just by watching.”) In addition to having four section leaders and several assistant section leaders for each voice part, they also have what they call “quad” leaders and assistant quad leaders—men in charge of four “pie-slices” of the risers charged with monitoring the stage moves and seeing them improve. Once again, they aren’t expected to be better than all the other barbershoppers in the world, just better than each one of them was the last time. If each of us could aim each week to be just a little better than our last-week selves, how good would we eventually become? ♬

ALEXANDRIA HARMONIZERS’ CHAPTER BUSINESS

In your wildest dreams, have you ever compared the Alexandria Harmonizers to the Long Island Harmonizers? They both live in the shadows of a major influential East Coast city. One of them is more than twice as large as the other. One of them regularly qualifies in the top ten International choruses, and the other is steadily making its way back to qualifying for the district competition stage. There is little danger of either one’s ever being mistaken for the other. (Oh, you mean those harmonizers?)

SEPTEMBER 2011 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 9

Fall District ConventionCompetition Schedule

Quartet CompetitionQuartet CompetitionLocation:Lancaster Marriott Convention Center

Date/Time:Sept 30, 2011 @ 6:00 PM  

Chorus CompetitionChorus CompetitionLocation:Lancaster Marriott Convention Center

Date/Time:Oct 1, 2011 @ 9:00 AM  

Quartet Competition - FinalsQuartet Competition - FinalsLocation:Lancaster Marriott Convention Center

Date/Time:Oct 1, 2011 @ 6:30 PM  

Show of ChampionsShow of ChampionsLocation:Lancaster Marriott Convention Center

Date/Time:Following Quartet Finals

LANCASTER, PA, HERE WE COME!Vinnie Colonna, our perennial Mid-Atlantic District Fall Convention Chairman, has assembled an

enthusiastic group of Nassau Mid-Islanders to descend upon Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the hub of the famous Amish country, for three days of music, sightseeing, dining and revelry that’s sure to increase their waking hours while cutting back drastically on their sleeping time. The delegation from the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter includes George and Pat Seelinger, Hal and Lois Verity, Maurice and Mary Jane Debar, and Steve Stojowski.

PAGE 10 TOOSDAY TOONS SEPTEMBER 2011

TIME FOR DISCUSSION

TIME—A PRECIOUS COMMODITY. Jeff Glemboski (left), outstanding bass with the award-winning ʻRound Midnight barbershop quartet, obligingly gave some of his time in order to serve as guest conductor of the Long Island Harmonizers chorus in the brief absence of Musical Director Maurice Debar. Shown with Glemboski at a summertime rehearsal were Tony Leone, a recent newcomer to our ranks, and Joe Massaro, a 14-year veteran and a past president. ♬

SPONTANEOUS SINGINGAn editorial

Page one of this newsletter displays the “five S’s of summer.” There are two more S’s (not applicabIe to summer) I would ask you to consider; namely, SPONTANEOUS SINGING. That is an element in our weekly chapter meetings that I have found missing over the past few years in contrast to my early years in this organization. Why is that?

I would lay the responsibility at the feet of the veteran members of our chapter, who grew up enjoying this particular phase of our chapter meetings. Our newer members, never having been exposed to this spontaneity, cannot be expected to ignite something they have never experienced.

The opportunities for spontaneous singing come (1) before the opening of the night’s program at 8 p.m.; (2) during the first break at 9:15; (3) during the second break (if any); and (4) at the conclusion of the meeting at 10:30. In the “old days,” guys would stick around for more singing. Such is not the case today. All it takes is for one guy to round up three other guys and sing a polecat, a tag, or other familiar song. What we need is more of these “one guys.” Could that possibly be you? ♬ CFB

American Harmony MovieSoon to Be Released for

Individual Chapter Promotion Get ready to rent a big popcorn machine, because beginning September 6, your chapter can sponsor its own showing of "American Harmony.” raising awareness of barbershop in your community and perhaps some money, too! Instead of trying to get a traditional theatre to show the film, which is difficult and expensive, your chapter will be able to show it in a church, community center, hotel ballroom or library, for one night, or two! It's called a Four Wall Release, which literally means any space that has four walls and adequate seating. Appropriate projection and sound equipment, if not available in the space already, can be rented.

In case you haven't seen the movie, it focuses on OC Times, Max Q, Vocal Spectrum, and Reveille over a span of years, on stage and at home, in their personal quests for international gold. ♬

(Copied from LiveWire, dated 09/01/11)

SEPTEMBER 2011 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 11

Hi Chiz,

Writing to you from Sun City Hilton Head, S. C. We were on pins and needles wondering what to expect from hurricane Irene. Since we are located in the crook of the coast line just north of Savannah and south of Charleston, the hurricane bypassed us. We were lucky. We are getting a little wind and rain so far but nothing too threatening. Don has been feeling fairly well. Our house is now up for sale and the critique of our home from all the MLS agents has been very positive. We hope someone will buy soon. We plan on moving to Connecticut—yes—away from the hot weather and palm trees to the snow storms and pine trees. However, the most beautiful fall season is in New England. Further, we will be in shorter traveling distance to see our friends and family. We enjoy getting emails from Bob Heim and from you. We look forward to the Toosday Toons, too.

Because of our moving plans, we are not singing in chorus this year. We hope to join a chorus in Connecticut when we move. Don has been singing with the barbershoppers down here and enjoying his time with them.

Hi to everyone. Take care.

Don and Adriana Paris

****************************

In response to an e-mail Chiz sent out, offering apologies for the tardiness of this month’s publication, Bill Hardman wrote:

“I am honored to be a part of the 9/11 Ceremony at Eisenhower Park, Wednesday, September 7, with the Long Island Harmonizers.”

Joel Fairman, the consumate gentleman wrote:“I had my response to this prepared before I read Hal's email. You never have to apologize for anything you do with Toosday Toons. The group is so very fortunate to have your talents producing this exceptional product. Regards,

Joel”

From: heimbob@aol.com

Subject: Response to your request, ChizDate: August 27, 2011 2:17:02 PM EDT

To: chizbell@optonline.net

visual in response to your request for e-mails

New wider, larger and expanded format in place for our Nassau Mid-Island Chapter website. I invite you to take a look at: www.longislandharmonizers.orgBob Heim ♬

PAGE 12 TOOSDAY TOONS SEPTEMBER 2011

Look, we sell learning tracks here at the Society, and some awesome musicians among us are creating masterpieces. They can be really helpful for learning.But, has the pendulum swung too far?I’ve seen chapters scrap songs that were perfect for them, and only because there wasn’t a learning track available! I fear that one of a musician’s most important skills sets—the ability to read music— could atrophy among barbershoppers if we aren’t careful.Quite often, when new music is handed out I’l l hear, “I can’t sight read.” [Insert sigh.] Many shrug and accept this as an unalterable fact, as if they’d stated “I’m left-handed,” “I’m allergic to peanuts,” or “I’m a Sagittarius.” While barbershop has s t r o n g a u r a l t r a d i t i o n s ( c o n s i d e r woodshedding and the way most of us learn tags), completely ignoring sight singing skills is like going through school and never taking a math class; sure you can st i l l funct ion, but not wi thout a handicap.I can tel l which barbershoppers play instruments because they generally have better sight singing chops, they learn faster, and are better with rhythm songs. A l l o f u s c o u l d u s e s o m e o f that. Wouldn’t it be great if you could literally learn a piece of music in one night?

I n f u s i n g s i g h t s i n g i n g i n t o y o u r chorus/quartet rehearsalHow do we start? Just dive in. Even if your chorus uses little to no sight singing in the rehearsal, begin small. Use the

Barberpole Cat book and sing a song you’ve never tried before. Pass out a song from the Free and Easy website; they’re short and usually a good place to start for novices. Try handing out a weekly tag on a small slip of paper. It is possible to learn a song in one rehearsal. Remember we have HEP schools and HU courses to teach you sight singing, but if it’s reinforced by your chorus members, your chapter ’s musicality grows. With that growth comes a more prepared chorus that produces better shows that excite and promote chapter membership that … you get the point.It’s really all about the music in the end, anyway, isn’t it? If there’s a way to do it better, shouldn’t we be open to it? Sight singing can and should be part of what we teach our members each week , p r o m o t i n g b e t t e r m u s i c i a n s h i p , b u t perhaps most important, getting us off the music and into the spotlight. I’m not suggesting that we scrap learning tracks, but let it supplement our music, not drive the car.Your turnDo you agree that sight-singing is a dying art among barbershoppers? Do you have any success stories (or maybe stories of warning) you would like to share with others?How can chapters do a better job of teaching sight-singing to their members? How can district and Society leaders better encourage sight singing?Your input and insights are welcome!Adam ScottSociety Music Education/Publishing

Learning tracks: Too much of a good thing?Posted by Adam Scott | Posted in Chapters, Chorus, Music, Quartetting | Posted on January 12, 2011, 7:00 A.M. There can be too much of a good thing, and learning tracks are one of those things.

East Meadow, NY - With the 10th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 Attack on America quickly approaching, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced today that the County will honor the memory of those who lost their lives. The region’s largest Remembrance Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, September 7th at 7:00p.m. at Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre in Eisenhower Park.

Participating in the ceremony will be Tom Van Essen, former New York City Fire Commissioner; Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre; Rabbi Dr. Marc Gellman of the Temple Beth Torah in Melville; the United States Marine Corp. District Honor Guard, the Nassau County Police Department Pipe and Drum Band and Color Guard; many Nassau County Fire Departments; Long Island Harmonizers; and the North Shore Pops.

“Nearly ten Septembers have come and gone, yet time does not diminish the pain and the loss of that day, nor dull the meaning of this remembrance ceremony,” said County Executive Mangano. “As we gather to remember those we lost, we will read their names in admiration and hold their photos close to our hearts. We will recall the beauty and meaning of their lives and share the grief of the 350 Nassau County families whose lives were forever changed.”

Names of Nassau County residents who lost their lives in the attacks will be read by family members at Lakeside Theatre, adjacent to Nassau County’s 9/11 Memorial in Eisenhower Park. The memorial features two semi-transparent aluminum towers, representing the World Trade Center towers, rising 30 feet from a fountain, and also contains two pieces of steel recovered from the World Trade Center.

Immediately following the Remembrance Ceremony, attendees will participate in a moving candle light vigil at the County’s 9/11 Memorial.

SEPTEMBER 2011 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 13

PAGE 14 TOOSDAY TOONS SEPTEMBER 11

Northern Division Thoughtsby Oley Olson, Northern Division Vice president

A lot has happened in the Northern Division in these last few months. Our competition at the Morristown Beard School included a number of chapters competing for the first time in years and was a great success. Because of the increased participation, I am pleased to report we actually turned a profit after many years of $5-6,000 losses.

As a direct result of this, the District felt confident enough to return to the two-day format and has signed a contract with Morristown Beard for June 1-2, 2012. This later date is after the school closes and will increase parking availability. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend. More information is forthcoming on local hotels and restaurants. Thank you all for supporting the one-day experiment. I look forward to seeing even more participants next June.

International President Alan Lamson and the Society Board have developed a Chapter Visitation Program whereby every chapter in our Society will be visited during 2011. I am pleased to report this assignment has been completed in the Northern Division primarily th rough the e f fo r ts o f your Chapte r Counselors.

I was able to visit twelve chapters in the course of this program. It has been a pleasure to meet so many of you and to hear your thoughts which we have forwarded to Nashville. This information will help the Society Board and Headquarters Staff direct their efforts to help us all.

As your Division VP, I am pleased to say I have now visited all twenty-four chapters in the Northern Division and I look forward to future repeat visits over the coming year.

An item I brought up to each chapter visited has to do with the importance of an ongoing membership recruiting program. In the last two years two Northern Division chapters ceased operations. In their case, they simply dwindled down to one or three members.

What happened?Over the years some members moved

away, others passed on, some lost interest, and each week the remaining members became a week older. Then “suddenly” they realized they were all in their 70ʼs and 80ʼs!

I urge you not to let this happen to your chapter! Every member should be a part of the membership committee and every week needs to be a “Guest Night.” Do whatever you must to remind yourself to be on the lookout for someone you can share this wonderful hobby with. Suggestion—carry chapter cards with you at all times to give to a prospect. Get his name, call him, offer to pick him up, and take him to your meeting. Amazingly, 100% of the men you drive to a chapter meeting will actually show up.

Send out weekly e-mails reminding members to bring a guest to a chapter meeting and public performances and afterglows. Let them see how much fun you are having and offer to share it with them. Pretty soon your problem will be finding a bigger rehearsal hall and that is a fun problem to have.

We have made big strides these last few months thanks to each of you. The Northern Division is moving forward into a bright and harmonious future. Donʼt be left out of the fun. ♬

SEPTEMBER 2011 TOOSDAY TOONS PAGE 15

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011OFFICERS:President Harold Verity (516) 208-3483 sanman99@optonline.net VP Music & Performance Eugene Kammerer (631) 486-1270

dcfefk@optonline,netVP Chapter Development John Brolly (516) 938-4272 brollys@optonline.netVP Marketing & PR Robert Heim (516) 652-0601 heimbob@aol.comVP Program Wayne Lazar (516) 292-0021 jwayne314@aol.comSecretary Kenneth Wunsch (516) 328-4716 kensroom@hotmail.comTreasurer Jonathan Ayers (631) 223-2911 jayers1@optonline.netImmediate Past President George Seelinger (516) 333-0803 gs1027@aol.com

TRUSTEES:Class of 2013 Rudolph Eckhardt and Stephen StojowskiClass of 2012 Steven Brausa and Robert MiragliaClass of 2011 Charles Muscarnera and Willard McCoy

Chorus Director Maurice Debar (631) 587-8694 mjdebar40@aol.comAssistant Chorus Director StephenStojowski (516) 747-4715 Stephen.Stojowski@gmail.comSection Leaders: Tenors: William Ruth and Harold Verity Leads: Vincent Colonna and Eugene Kammerer Baritones: Robert Miraglia and Robert Roth Basses: Stephen Stojowski

Librarian George SeelingerUniforms Rudy EckhardtAttendance Eugene KammererShow Chairman 2012 Steven BrausaWeb Site Robert Heim Bulletin Editor Charles BellMid-Atlantic District Delegate George SeelingerChapter Counselor Stephen MarrinMAD Northern Division VP George “Oley” OlsonBHS Leadership Academy Instructor Stephen Stojowski

2010 BARBERSHOPPER OF THE YEARJOHN BROLLY

CHAPTER QUARTETS

AfterGloWorms Harold Verity, Tenor Bob Miraglia, Lead

Steve Stojowski, Bass Maurice Debar, Baritone

Contact: aftergloworms@aol.com

All In A ChordBill Ruth, Tenor

Steve Brausa, LeadBernie Genzer, Bass

Peter Kenny, BaritoneContact: Sbrausa@verizon.net

BBQKevin Montevirgen, Tenor

Shawn Geller, LeadGerald Tabaosares, Bass

Andrew Jorquera, BaritoneContact: montevik@bxscience.edu

Cloud 9Howie Bailin, Tenor

Vinnie Colonna, Lead Mike Santino, Bass

George Seelinger, BaritoneContact: vinmar9@optonline.net

Long Island Express

Bill Ruth, TenorGene Kammerer, LeadJohn Laughlin, BassBob Roth, Baritone

Contact: bjr52@optimum.net

No Treble At AllTommy Barone, Tenor

Bill Vesely, LeadKen Wunsch, Bass

Wayne Lazar, BaritoneContact:wvesely1@aol.com

Quatrain

Bob Kelly, TenorSteve Marrin, Lead

Al Fennell, BassTom Brucia, Baritone

Contact: Smarrin1@aol.com

BACK PAGE TOOSDAY TOONS SEPTEMBER 2011

SEPTEMBER 6 - 13: Final two chapter meetings at Calvary Protestant Church, Baldwin, 8:00p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7: Chorus performs at Nassau County “Remembering 9/11” Memorial Concert, Eisenhower Park, Harry Chapin Theatre-Field 6, at 7 p.m. (Long Island Harmonizers arrive at 6:15 p.m.) Navy blazers, white shirts, striped tie, white pants, white shoes, white socks and white belt.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12: Board of Directors Meeting at Seacrest Diner, 4 Glen Cove Rd., Old Westbury, at 8:00 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 20 - 27:"Chapter Meetings at Winthrop Hall, Westbury, at 8:00 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 2011:"“BARBERSHOP BEHIND THE GLASS” checks in at the Hicksville Public Library, 169 Jerusalem Avenue, Hicksville, with its lobby casement providing a free understanding of our preserved style of singing.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24: The Long Island Harmonizers and their talented quartets take the stage in the Library Theater of the Syosset Public Library, 225 South Oyster Bay Road, Syosset, at 7:30 p.m. (For further information, visit the libraryʼs website)

MID-ATLANTIC DISTRICT CONFERENCE, LANCASTER CONFERENCE CENTER, LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, SEPTEMBER 30 TO OCTOBER 2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23: Chorus performance at the Cold Spring Hills Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Woodbury, at 2:30 p.m. (arrive 1:45 p.m.).

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25: INTERCHAPTER MEETING at Winthrop Hall, 8:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1: The Long Island Harmonizers Chorus and its quartets bring their talents to Helen Butler, O.P. Hall at Dominican Village, 565 Albany Avenue, Amityville at 7 p.m. (arrive at 6:15 p.m.).

To our readers: Our editorial staff appreciates your patience during the delay caused by our uninvited guest, Tropical Storm Irene.

LOOKING AHEAD

! ! ! ! ! ! ! Horseshoe Bend in the Colorado River — Page, Arizona

SEPTEMBER 201 1