President’s Message
Recounting the Past
and Looking Ahead — Our Future is Bright
Sweet Adelines’ commitment
to vocal excellence and education was on display again at the International
Education Symposium (IES) in July. Our directors were the focus
of this best-ever symposium, but I think everyone walked away BUZZing
with excitement. We are more knocked-out every year by the quality
of our Young Women in Harmony participants and competitors, and
it is not pandering to say that the future is very bright with these
young people in our midst. Likewise, our midsize- and small-chorus
competitors keep pushing the bar higher for the entire organization.
And those directors! Are they
still pulling new tricks out of the hat at your rehearsals? Education
is offered, but it must be received, and I’m happy to say
your musical leaders are some of the biggest sponges around. Walking
around IES, I heard many directors chatting merrily about a new
technique or twist they had picked up in a class. I saw them try
ideas out on each other. The feedback from this IES has been outstanding
and we, too, learned from your comments. Here’s something
we’ll do more of in the future: communicate!
* * *
We are reminded on a daily basis
of our good fortune as Sweet Adelines and friends. To say our hearts
go out to the gulf region in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is an
understatement. I am humbled at the immediate response from Sweet
Adelines all over the world offering thoughts, funds and support.
I hope you will join me in congratulating our outstanding headquarters
staff for turning around the uncertainty surrounding our New Orleans
convention. The logistics of stuffing two years’ worth of
planning into four weeks is staggering, and headquarters is handling
it all with your best interests at heart. I hope Sweet Adelines
International can return to the gulf region some day. Until then,
we wish them peace.
* * *
When you look into the future
of Sweet Adelines International, I’ll bet we see many of the
same things: increased membership, vocal excellence and commitment
to education.
Come to think of it, our dreams for the future look a lot like what’s
happening right now. Sweet Adelines is already reaping the rewards
of the innovative and exciting Divas Wanted program. The campaign
seems to have struck a chord with a segment of the public that had
not previously considered adding Sweet Adelines to their lives.
And isn’t that what we’re
really trying to do? Aren’t we always hoping to share this
secret that has enriched all our lives? If you’re turned off
by membership campaigns because it feels like another product to
sell, think again. Divas Wanted aims to inform and invite people
into the wonderful world of music — our music — women’s
a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. Look around for a woman
who needs some time to stretch out and be herself, and invite her
to your rehearsal. She’ll be glad you did.
Being a Sweet Adeline is fun,
rewarding and educational — tell someone!
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