BQPA/PIONEERS

                  

       Barbershop Quartet Preservation Association




BQPA/Pioneers Membership Meeting – 4/11/2015

 

Meeting was called to order in the Tempe Ballroom of the Embassy Suites, Tempe, AZ, at approximately 10:00 am.  All current officers and directors were present except for Secretary Ed Simons.  Registrar June Noble took minutes.

 

The list of Departed Friends was read, including the names of Alan Clift (Phoenix area mover & shaker), Gerry Taylor (BQPA), Jean Patterson (3-time Harmony, Inc. Queen), both Thom (Midnight Oilers) and Carla Hine, Dan Henry Bowser (Merry Mugs), Charlie McCann (“World’s Greatest Tenor”), Dick Grapes (Buffalo Bills), Arlene Bauder (BQPA), George Hoffman (BQPA), Frank Goode (BQPA, Chicago No. 1).  A reverent version of The Old Songs was sung in remembrance.

 

Jim Milner provided a report on Bill Freck’s status: he was doing a good deal better after his on-stage problem Friday evening.  His problem was determined to be an insidious inner ear infection, but nothing worse, for which everyone was thankful.

 

Jim Gallagher provided the Treasurer’s Report, indicating that BQPA/Pioneers is still solvent.  The current balance in our accounts, after expenses of the Fall Festival but before the costs of the current Spring Festival, was $6597.18.  There are very low expenses from our Chicago festivals, as opposed to costs in Tempe, which are significantly higher.

 

Actions taken since last festival included the following:  

 

 

Gerry Carroll gave a report on our Chicago festivals, both last year and the coming September gathering.  The quest room rate for this year will again be $69.00, and our costs will again be very low, and we have a contract for our coming festival.  We’ll have a different gathering room this year, but it will be very near the room we usually have.

 

Jim Milner provided a report on our Spring festival.  Jim has researched a couple of other facilities which might be considered for our gatherings, but the amenities were not as good as those here at the Embassy Suites, and the cost would be only about ten dollars cheaper.  The sense of the membership was that there’s no need to move to a different facility: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”   Jim emphasized that the hotel has a very liberal cancellation policy, so reservations can be canceled even very close to the time of the festival. 

 

June Noble gave the Registrar’s report.  She requested that everyone register, as it’s the only way we know you were here, and we need the information to use in planning for future festivals.  She also mentioned the merchandize available at the registration table: self-adhesive, paper SPEBSQSA and BQPA labels, as well as embroidered BQPA patches.

 

Tom Noble gave a report on Communications and Public Relations activities: 

 

 

There has been considerable dissatisfaction with the round-robin judging arrangement used in Tempe this year and last.  We are taking under advisement the requests for better judging methods next year.

 

Mention was made of the fact that we miss Rosie and Shel Rosenthal, and we agreed we would send them a card expressing our sentiments.

 

Jim Milner reported Charlie Nardin had reserved for thirty at Four Peaks Brewery for dinner Saturday evening at 4:30.  A good number expressed interest.

 

Bill Myers noted that April 11 is the anniversary of the founding of SPEBSQSA in 1938.

 

Chuck Guthrie asked about our attendance at recent festivals.  Numbers have been somewhat smaller recently, but are ranging from 55 registered members to as many as 78.  The numbers of attendees at our parades have ranged from about 95 to close to 130.  The point was made that, due to Frank Fliszar’s membership records efforts, we’ve been able to report that 50 (fifty) new members have signed up on our roster over the past four festivals.  Not all have continued to attend, but we continue to encourage them to join us for as many gatherings as they can.

Rich Vormelker asked about encouraging tag singing.  We can put up signs at different corners to encourage tags.

 

Rex Reeve has provided free copies of his arrangement of Landmarks (I’m So Alone With A Crowd), which can be obtained at the registration table.

 

It was noted that we will be posting on our website a link to Paul Olguin’s masterful presentation on woodshedding.  In addition, Jim Gallagher has provided a sheet from Darwin Scheel on tag teaching and etiquette, which will also be posted.   

 

Jim Gallagher reported on an email message from Marty Monson to Montana Jack and other movers and shakers in BHS, which said, “You have my commitment that we will be promoting a lot more quartetting in the months and years ahead.”

 

Tom Noble reported sitting with Marty Monson, past BHS president Shannon Elswick, current president Don Fuson, and Harmony, Inc. president Jeanne O’Connor, at a Harmony, Inc. breakfast last November, discussing BQPA/Pioneers as well as promotion and encouragement of quartetting.

 

Gerry Carroll reminded us that Raymond Schwarzkopf continues to contact Sweet Adelines and Harmony, Inc. chapters in theChicago area for attendance at and participation in our festivals.

 

Talent Chair (West) Paul Ludwig reported sending more than 50 invites to quartets for Saturday evening’s parade, and that we will have a sufficient number of groups (six) appearing.  Our headliners will again be Audacity.

 

Lee Taylor noted that he has recently spoken with former BHS president Alan Lamson, who reported that we (BQPA/Pioneers) are considered by the BHS Board of Directors as going and complementary concern which is clearly engaged in the encouragement of quartetting.

 

Jim Gallagher reported some words of Tom Neal’s, this morning: “The Society needs us!”  He believes that the encouragement of quartetting we do needs to be brought to the BHS, to help them back on the track of encouragement.

 

Rex Touslee mentioned that he expects to be able to meet soon with Marty Monson to talk just a bit about BQPA/Pioneers.

 

It was mentioned that Brigades and Platoons are events where quartetters can be approached and encouraged to attend our gatherings.  We tend not to sing the gymnastic arrangements the elite singers do, but we like singable music in our classic style, rather than doo-wop, elite or non-barbershop a cappella music.

 

Roger Buehrer asked if the “new Barberpole Cat songs” have been selected, and Tom replied that an email message from the BHS Harmony Marketplace suggested that such a songbook is actually in the works.

  

Meeting was adjourned at about 11:00, with the singing of Keep America Singing.