What a Journey! What A Ride!

By Reneé Porzel, Melodeers Chorus, Region 3

Have you ever noticed how we all love to tell the story of our first visit to a Sweet Adelines chorus rehearsal? We also love to share how long we have been members of the organization. Maybe it’s because we’re all shocked at how quickly time goes by! We show up at a rehearsal, and in the blink of an eye, we are celebrating 20 years of busy and fulfilling membership. Where does the time go? What would our lives be like if we hadn’t walked into that rehearsal?

My first visit in 1990 was at the suggestion of my sister, Marcia. At the time, she was a member of Cyprus Sounds Chorus in Florida, and loved the music and friendships she found there. I wasn’t doing any performing at the time, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. She found the name of a Sweet Adelines chorus rehearsing seven miles from my house. And then my entire family –including my husband, Bob– began the Rehearsal Attendance Campaign in earnest! They were not going to take no for an answer.

My focus at that time was taking care of our two sons. Aaron was a happy and active three-year-old who kept me very busy. Our second son Ethan’s birth seven months earlier brought new challenges to our family that we were not prepared for. He was born with severe disabilities, and his care was intensely stressful. I was reeling from the often depressing and frustrating realities of our situation when they all decided I should go sing for an evening! They just knew I needed to be involved in something musical, and in order to get them to leave me alone I agreed to visit one rehearsal. I attended a rehearsal of the Melodeers Chorus, and had no idea my life was about to change in such a dramatic way.

I still get a little choked up when I think of the woman I was back then. I walked in that room a quiet, slightly depressed, worn-out mom who just wanted her family to stop worrying about her. I watched Jim direct, listened to the chorus sing, and was hooked in an instant. Nothing prepared me for what it would feel like to hold music in my hands again. I had been too busy to even notice that music had disappeared from my life. I watched in fascination as they rehearsed, and sensed the cobwebs disappearing from the music center of my brain as I followed along. I was intrigued, and a little confused as to why they were holding all of their quarter notes such a long time — but I knew I wanted to do what they were doing. I wanted to glow the way they did when they sang!

It was a magical night and there are no words to thank my family enough for insisting I attend. I have to continually pinch myself when I realize that 17 years later I am traveling the world coaching showmanship, creating choreography for my chorus and others, serving on the International Board of Directors and judging contests for an organization I love. What a journey. What a ride.

Once I became a member of the Melodeers I jumped in with both feet — toes pointed, of course! I worked on our regional boutique committee, helped put risers up and down every week, became a tape evaluator and tried out for the front row. I was added to the choreography committee, and signed up for the show committee. I also got involved with the holiday and installation parties. I loved leaving my troubles behind for a few hours to share songs, laughter and fun with fellow musicians. I was definitely a “lifer.”

In 1993, Jim asked me to be the choreographer of the chorus and I was thrilled! I learned so much from watching him teach every week, and was honored to have the chance to work with such a dedicated director and singers. After 14 years in the position I am still humbled by the opportunity to work with all of them. The job in the chorus led to so many other things, and I am grateful for each of them. Everything I have experienced in Sweet Adelines has carried over into my real life in ways I never imagined. I have gained the strength to be able to handle tough situations, and perform under pressure. I have learned to communicate through my committee involvement, and I have been able to turn the teaching skills I have learned into a way to educate about our family’s struggles with handling Ethan’s disabilities. I never planned for this to be a life changing experience — but that’s what my membership became.

The Power of Possibility
The gift of Sweet Adelines is the power of possibility. I joined my chorus to sing and have some time away from my everyday life. What I have found is a whole world of opportunity and education. Every time I turn around there is another opportunity to grow, another chance to learn, a new skill to be conquered. These opportunities are available to all of us, and it’s important that we take advantage of them. The best way to keep our organization strong and moving forward is to give back by trying new things. There are big jobs and small jobs — and every size job in between. There is something for everyone. It is up to us to find our niche and seize the opportunity to become a leader.

• If you have always wanted to design a costume, or learn more about choreography — start now.
• If you have wondered what it would be like to be in a quartet — try it now!
• If you are curious to see if you can be an effective emcee — do it now!
• If you have always wanted to design a newsletter for your region — sign up to do it now!
• If you think you might be a good regional team manager — make it happen!
• If you have thought about joining your chorus management team/board — do it now!
• If you have always dreamed of becoming a judge — make the dream a reality!
• If you have always wanted to find out what it is like to serve on an International committee — start laying the groundwork now by getting involved and meeting as many Sweet Adelines as you can!
• If you are curious about what it would be like to serve on a Regional committee — get an application and do it now! Jump in and make it the best committee that has ever existed!

These are just a few of the ways you can get involved. The list of opportunities is endless, and your chance to learn more about yourself is right around the corner.

The leaders in Sweet Adelines are women who love the organization. They feel passionate about making sure this organization continues to grow and thrive. They are willing to work in a team setting to reach goals that will benefit us all. They are musicians who also happen to be mothers, wives, nurses, doctors, attorneys, bankers, accountants, artists, day care providers, gardeners, bakers and candle stick makers! They are all of us and it’s up to us to accept the responsibility and joy of leadership. We must do it to provide a place for women of the future to experience and tell the story of their first visit to a Sweet Adelines rehearsal!

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