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May 2007 |
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This newsletter is intended to inform, encourage and inspire you on your journey towards chartering as a Sweet Adelines’ chorus. We hope you enjoy this issue. Please send your stories, letters, articles and photographs for the next issue to commdept@sweetadelineintl.org. Best wishes and happy reading!
Communications
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Prospective
Voices Northwest Chorus Nona Clifton found her niche in our Sweet Adelines Chorus when she noticed a paragraph in the free weekly paper that covers the small town of Snohomish, Washington. The short article, titled "Chorus Forms," noted that our new countywide chorus, Voices Northwest, was starting in January. As
soon as Nona entered the room the first night, she felt the energy
of the singers and was instantly hooked. As we discussed our intentions
of becoming a chorus of Sweet Adelines International - Nona could
not believe her luck. She fondly reminisced about her childhood
when her mother and aunt belonged to Sweet Adelines choruses. Ironically,
she had been describing the barbershop style of music to her husband.
She told him how exciting it would be to find a chorus. Now her
wish to sing barbershop music in a Sweet Adelines chorus ha It's been exciting to see the chorus form and come together. Recently, six of our members came back from Regional contest and four returned with a first place medal that they earned with Pacific Sound Chorus (where they enjoy dual membership). Among our members we have an experienced arranger, several who have sung in medalist quartets, and many who have belonged to various choruses throughout several regions. Although we are still working on our standing rules, dues structure and finding a regular rehearsal hall, we are thoroughly enjoying singing together. Our director, Sue Beck, very wisely had us singing immediately and we have surprised her with how quickly we are learning. She is hustling to find more music and moving us along in record time. Now every week, when Nona goes to rehearsal, she feels like she is in the middle of the wish she had been describing to her husband. With pure happiness, Nona concludes, "I am meeting new people and finding wonderful friends in an instant community. For whatever cosmic forces conspired to have all of these events come together for me, I am eternally grateful." Nona
Clifton Prospective
Oregon Spirit Chorus Prospective Oregon Spirit Chorus is spreading its voice to increase the size of the chorus and having tons of fun along the way. As it gets closer to actually chartering, the excitement is definitely building. We plan to perform for evaluation only at the Region 24 contest and are looking forward to getting the judges' comments as well as the supportive reaction from the entire region. We're
chartering with 20 singers and have a few in the wings. Plus, we've
developed a great membership growth/retention plan that will get
underway right after our convention. It's called "Girl's Night Out"
and we are inviting all the women who have visited us in the past
year to come and sing with us for an evening. We will perform for
them, have refreshments and give them the opportunity to learn a
song from a top regional quartet. Over 80 women have visited in
the past 12 months We have also been advertising each week in the local newspaper, under "Auditions." In addition to the one-evening open house event, we are excited to offer our visitors the wonderful opportunity to perform with us at the historic Elsinore Theater (Salem, Ore.) in October. That is a motivational goal for us to work towards and a nice way to inspire new singers. Our mantra as we go into our very first contest performance is in the form of a tag, "Believe, We Really Do Believe," and each week's rehearsal helps us develop skills and confidence. I'm thrilled with our progress, as well as the close relationships that are forming among the members. Kathy
Scheel Prospective
RiversEdge Chorus
In March, we had a booth at the Spokane Women's Show where we showed videos of recent International Competitions and had information available about our chorus and Sweet Adelines International. We felt it was a great way to reach women with similar demographics. We have had four ladies visit the chorus, two of whom will be joining. It was a great way to publicize our new chorus and add contacts to our mailing list. In order to promote our chorus next year we will not only have a booth at the show but we will also perform. On May 12th, we held our first annual Mother's Day Tea. It was a rousing success. We had a nearly sold-out crowd of beautifully dressed ladies who had a wonderful afternoon sharing tea, refreshments, and enjoying a style show by Chico's and a performance by the chorus and quartets. We are definitely scheduling this to be an annual event. It appeals to a wide variety of women who might never learn about us any other way. It was also great fun for the chorus members. We are looking forward to a busy summer with coaching sessions and performances, along with preparing for competition in the spring of 2008. Since we are all good friends, we will also be taking time to enjoy each other's company at a couple of patio and lake parties. Best of luck to all of you in prospective choruses - we hope you have the fun we have had in the past 10 months, and may you charter very soon!
Mary Ann Milette Prospective
Emerald City Chorus The Prospective Emerald City Chorus is growing by leaps and bounds. Since the beginning of May, we now boast a total of 35 members. Beginning last fall, at our initial meeting to discuss organizing a new chorus; there were 11 in attendance. We have gained membership by word of mouth, through articles in the local West Side Story paper and calls for audition in the Wichita Eagle. One
of our newest members, These
ladies are a very welcome addition to the chorus as we grow. Our
youngest Sweet Adeline, Samantha Decker, recently celebrated her
birthday on February 8th, and to make the day even more memorable
for her young family, little Clara Catherine was born. Samantha
moved to This article may well be our last one sent to the Prospective Quarterly Newsletter simply because we intend to complete our chartering process early this summer. We are looking forward to the opportunity to perform our music for the entire Wichita community and surrounding areas. Rachel
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New Publicity/Membership Resources Page A plethora of publicity, marketing and membership resources are now available for easy access and/or download. Visit the Resources Page on the Sweet Adelines International Web site. You will find the following downloadable tools and much more to help promote your chapter:
New Marketing Kits Now you can purchase a complete kit of marketing tools through the International Sales department to help boost your membership. With brochures, multimedia CDs, posters, and conversation-starters such as temporary tattoos, static decals, business cards and an enamel pin you are sure to increase awareness of your chapter. Available for $20 plus shipping and handling. Call 877.545.5441 or visit the Sweet Adelines International Web site. 61st
Annual International Convention and Competition This year the voices of Sweet Adelines will fill the mountain air in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. For the first time in 30 years the international convention has moved outside of the U.S. With heart-pounding chorus competitions, spine-chilling quartet competitions, music education classes, and camaraderie with old and new friends, this year's convention will keep you captivated. Although convention may have all you need to stay occupied, experience Calgary, Heart of the New West™, and all it has to offer. Entering the city alone will draw your eyes directly to the amazing skyline that is spanned by Alberta's majestic Rocky Mountains. Situated on the banks of the Bow River, Calgary has something to offer every enthusiast. From the Calgary Stampede to the trendy downtown nightspots, you can enjoy a world-class rodeo, award-winning cuisine, a wealth of cultural attractions, live performances, a shopper's paradise and much more. Find all the information you need on the convention schedule and events, how to register, where to make hotel reservations and learn more about the endless attractions offered in Calgary by visiting the Sweet Adelines International Web Site. We can't wait to see you there! International
Education Symposium The city of San Antonio, Texas, will be serenaded this July as it hosts the Sweet Adelines International Education Symposium (IES). This year's Symposium offers more than 200 educational classes, thrilling barbershop competitions and daily performances by the 2007 international champion quartet, SALT. Trinity University is looking forward to filling its corridors with the big sound of barbershop music as the Rising Star Quartet and Harmony Classic competitions bring new winners for 2007. All competition sessions are open to the public. Tickets may be purchased locally in the Sweet Adelines International headquarters office located in the Woodlawn Room of the Coates University Center. Tickets will also be available at the door prior to each event in the Laurie Auditorium lobby. For advance information, contact 800-992-7464, or visit the Sweet Adelines International Web Site. Keep your eyes posted in July for a list of the 2007 Rising Star Quartet winners and the Harmony Classic winners. For contact details for all prospective choruses, go to: http://www.sweetadelineintl.org/ProspChorusContacts.pdf. Sweet Adelines on MySpaceCheck out the Sweet Adelines’ MySpace page at: www.myspace.com/sweetadelines. This page is a resource tool and intended to be informational for women interested in singing. We hope to make many new friends and inspire many new people to try barbershop. Be sure to spread the word and let your friends know to check us out.
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d
finally come true. 
in
Spokane, Wash., where we rehearse every Tuesday evening. 
Cindy Duggan, learned about the new chorus from her husband. He
read the article in the West Side Story and took it
home to her, suggesting that she indeed needed to get involved.
She is a former member of the Hutchinson Sweet Adeline Chorus. Bonnie
Holeman, another former Sweet Adeline, attended the "Unwrapped
Party" we hosted in December. Cindy Yde read about us in the
call for auditions in the Wichita Eagle. Cindy is new to
barbershop singing and is very eager to learn all about it. She
is also currently taking vocal lessons from co-director Dana Evans
in order to improve her singing skills. Carole Durch is another
former Sweet Adeline who has recently joined us. Our very newest
member, Mary Ann Barstow, was welcomed into the chorus at the beginning
of May. She read about the chorus in a local newspaper. Mary Ann
is another novice to singing barbershop. 
Wichita last year so her husband could pursue his career in anesthesiology.
Samantha was a member of the Talk of Tulsa Sweet Adeline Chorus
and was very anxious to find a Sweet Adeline Chorus in Wichita.
They moved to town during a
weekend and she was at rehearsal on Monday night. Samantha is now
a member of the Prospective Emerald City Chorus and everyone is
very happy that she came along. She is the choreographer for the
chorus and is introducing us to some very innovative steps that
really get us moving. During
the month of May we belatedly celebrated little Clara's birth. We
had cake and punch and lots of cute and practical gifts for her.