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Have it your way
Technology overcomes geography
By Gaye LaCasce, International President
One of the few upsides of the COVID pandemic was how well we all adapted to a new world order. We quickly learned to utilize technology – for our jobs, to visit with friends and family, to explore new hobbies, and to seek out creative ways to continue meaningful activities, virtually. After the pandemic waned, many of the new skills we learned along the way (hello, Zoom!) have remained a big part of our lives.
How does this affect Harmony? In a substantive way, as our members have realized that geography doesn’t need to dictate the ways and means of their barbershop experiences! Long-distance quartetting is nothing new, but is certainly more mainstream than it once was. Sometimes the impetus is for a quartet to remain intact after some life changes. My quartet, Aged to Perfection, began life as a chapter quartet in our New Hampshire mixed chorus. Then our bari, Ellie, left for college (the nerve!); my husband Dan and I headed to Florida, to defrost after decades in New England; lead Alexa moved to Virginia with her now-husband Matt, for employment purposes; and bass Kathy was left alone in NH. But thanks to a strong commitment to our music and the technologies available, we managed to continue our journey and become Harmony champs – a proud moment, indeed!
Other quartets form after meeting at an event, and realize that proximity isn’t necessary for enjoyment and musical progress, as long as goals are aligned.
Some choruses, too, have been positively impacted by virtual options. Many “snowbirds” are now able to maintain active membership with their home chapters. Individuals can choose a chorus opportunity that brings them joy – perhaps adding a contest-driven, long-distance chorus experience to active membership in a local, community focused chapter. Now that we are all able to become members of more than one Area (and to fully support local Area initiatives) there are choices available to us all that didn’t exist pre-pandemic. I, for one, love having more singing options within the musically diverse world of Harmony.
This story would be incomplete without mention of Vocal Moxie, from Harmony’s Expansion Area, and Music City Sound, from Nashville and Area 6. Those two hybrid chapters (and apologies if I've missed others) have shown that excellent leadership and a group of highly motivated singers (some local, but many long-distance) who embrace the benefits of technology can create great music AND a culture that reflects the best of Harmony.
I'm aware of the concerns about chorus "stacking" but that's not what I'm referring to; we have contest rules that address that. I'm talking about choosing the chorus or quartet experience (experiences?!) that bring you joy in our hobby. One size no longer needs to fit all… and that’s great!
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It's as easy as 1-2-3
Use the guidebook for exciting results
By Taralee Lashway, Director of Membership
Did you know that you can grow your Chapter membership as easy as 1-2-3 and that there are actual step-by-step instructions on how to do it? FIND YOUR VOICE is a comprehensive guide to inviting, orienting, and fortifying members to your Chapter.
This easy-to-follow instruction manual provides a breakdown of everything you need to help you prepare for a successful membership drive by offering ideas, examples, and advertising materials that can be personalized to fit your unique chapter. Once the exciting night arrives, you will be prepared with everything to make a prospective member feel welcomed, accepted, and informed.
After the guests have completed their first visit, FIND YOUR VOICE gives you activities that you can use to obtain feedback and be prepared for follow-up and an opportunity for prospective members to continue to ‘find their voice” with you.
FIND YOUR VOICE is a fantastic resource that is available to every member from our awesome website! It has recently been revamped and energized so that it is user-friendly, energizing, and helpful. Various sections will be spotlighted in the HI Note to help you become more familiar with this resource.
FIND YOUR VOICE can help you not only to grow your Chapter but also make your Chapter more robust. To see what all the excitement is about, log on and click FIND YOUR VOICE.
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REMEMBER TO REPORT!
Tax-filing deadline approaches
By Jan DelVecchio, VP Finance
Most Harmony, Inc. chapters operate with a fiscal year of April 1 – March 31.
- This will require US Chapters to file an electronic 990-N with the IRS by August 15, 2024.
- Canadian Chapters are required to file a T2 with CRA by September 15, 2024.
- Additionally, all Chapters are reminded that they are required to send to the VP Finance a copy of the notice that they receive from their respective tax agency advising that their filing has been received. You will receive this notice by email if you filed electronically or by ground mail if that is how you filed.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions.
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 This Is her circus, and these are her monkeys
By Lindsay Fontana, Area 6 PR Chair
Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Angie Beatty is a quintessential “barberbrat,” raised in a barbershop-loving household by her mom Bumper (a member of SAI since 1973), and her dad Rob, a five-time international gold medalist through his BHS chorus, The Louisville Thoroughbreds. In Angie’s words, “Barbershop kept me in line growing up. I didn’t have time to get into trouble. Not only that but there were so many people I loved and respected in the barbershop world that I couldn’t get into trouble and let them down.”
Finally, after 12 years of singing, at the age of 16, Angie joined the SAI chorus Pride of Kentucky, one of the first youth members to be admitted to Sweet Adelines, Region 4. For 33 years Angie sang with Pride of Kentucky as well as various SAI quartets, most notably spending 17 years as the baritone for Toast of The Town, made up of her mom and future Harmony, Inc. members Allison Thompson and Cathy Muse. Her years with choruses Pride of Kentucky and White River Sound, and quartets Toast of the Town, WOW!, and Rumor Has It culminated in many championships, medals, and International medals.
In 2015, Angie’s partner, Pam Ringo, accepted the offer to direct prospective Harmony, Inc. chorus Bluegrass Harmony. Angie joined her on this new adventure, immediately adding her voice to the board for this new group which was soon able to charter and went on to win the chorus contest in Area 4 in their first year of contest. Her ascension through the Harmony ranks was meteoric and within six months she was appointed to serve as PR Coordinator at the International level and was soon elected President of Bluegrass Harmony. Angie attributes her leadership skills to the many formative years spent with SAI and BHS “just soaking it all in.” Of course, college and life helped as well!
The next chapter of Angie and Pam’s lives led them to Fort Myers, Florida, where they settled in 2019 and, within three months of their arrival, founded Coastal Voices Chorus. Two years later, Angie was elected Area 6 Director, where she leads with her signature energy, frankness, and humor.
“I love to be surrounded by people even crazier than I am,” she says, “and Area 6 is full of people who are funny and creative but still serious about the organization and the art form. It’s kind of a circus but we get the job done.”
In addition to having a good time, Angie must be doing something right, as Area 6’s membership has doubled under her watch and the area is continually pushing the envelope with innovative and successful programs. Even if Area 6 is one tent short of being a circus, it has flourished with Angie as the ringmaster!
 Hello Harmony! I’d like to introduce myself to you. I am Julie Schwingbeck, serving in my 5th year as the Area 2 Director.
I’ve been a Harmony, Inc. member for 35 years and a charter member of Women of Note. I’ve spent many years in administrative and music team positions for Women of Note.
In my non-Harmony life, I’ve been married to my husband, Dave, for 25 years, and have a 22-year-old kid, Carlyn.
While I live in Massachusetts, I am able to spend time in the summer near my Canadian relatives in Nova Scotia in Area 1 land!
Harmony, Inc. has been an enormous part of my life and has developed me as a person for the last 35 years. I am forever grateful for the impact it has had on me.
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Vim and vigor...Will you share it?
Seeking a Youth Programs Coordinator
By Taralee Lashway, Director of Membership
Youth members are the heartbeat of Harmony, Inc. They keep us full of energy and help us to stay young at heart.
Do you like working with our youth? Are you full of vigor and vim? Are you willing to step up and share your enthusiasm with Harmony, Inc.? Then the Youth Programs Coordinator position is perfect for you!
In this position, you will assist in coordinating the Minor Chords Youth Chorus for IC&C, work with the Membership Team and Area Youth Program Coordinators to develop youth programs and extend youth outreach as well as be the liaison between the youth members and the IBOD.
Give back to Harmony and be the voice of our greatest assets, our young women in Harmony.
For more information, contact the Director of Membership Taralee Lashway, and review the Youth Programs Coordinator job description on page 215 of the corporate manual. Ready to take the plunge? Complete the application (HAR-001).
And we are still seeking ...
A volunteer for the Survey Resource Team
Are you a detail-oriented person who is interested in the preparation and analysis of Harmony, Inc. surveys? Do you have experience working with surveys? The Survey Resource Team welcomes your help.
Ready to apply? Complete the assistant application HAR-001
A volunteer to serve as Associate Member Coordinator
The Associate Member Coordinator works closely with our Area Associate Representatives and also serves as a liaison for Associate members in the expansion area. The Associate Member Coordinator reports to the Director of Membership as the voice of our Associate members. A detailed job description can be found in the Corporate Manual, page 136.
Please contact Taralee Lashway, Director of Membership if you are interested in finding out more about this position and/or applying. Ready to volunteer? Use this form.
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| Harmony Explosion Camp NE |
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Harmony partners with BHS and SAI for
Harmony Explosion Camp Northeast
By Michelle Dionne, Area 2 Youth Outreach Coordinator
Hey Harmony Inc, we need your help!
As you many have heard or seen, Harmony Explosion Camp Northeast (HXNE) is finally happening again this year! Mark your calendars for July 20 at Worcester State University in Worcester, MA. Harmony, Inc. has partnered with the Barbershop Harmony Society and Sweet Adelines International to make this event happen in conjunction with Harmony College Northeast (HCNE).
This is a great opportunity to encourage the young singers in your life (it could be chorus members, children, siblings, cousins, students, etc.) to make life-long friends and memories while engaging with and learning from world-class musicians. We have the opportunity to invite music teachers as well to help them become educated barbershop fans, too!
To make the camp a reality, we made two important decisions early:
- We will not ask campers to pay “out of pocket” tuition
- Registration opens April 15 at nedistrict.org/HXNE
We also decided:
- The camp will accept high school students (including those entering ninth grade this year and those who will graduate in June)
- We will have one “All Voice” chorus (SATB)
- We will have a one-day format
- The faculty, as always, will be world-class (as mentioned above)
- Tony Colosimo, Chorus Director
- Sweet and Sour, Faculty Quartet and Section Leaders
- Kirk Young, Music Educator Track Leader
To make it all happen, WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Please consider:
- Volunteering to staff our camp
- Donating to help us raise the necessary funds to pay for the camp
- Helping us identify and enroll students and music educators
- Inviting your own kids to go to HXNE!
Call for Volunteers
We need chaperones and staff members to administer and run the camp. If you are interested, please let me know ASAP.
Donating Funds
In order to succeed, we also need financial assistance. Please consider:
- Making a personal contribution of $200 (the actual cost for one student) or whatever you can afford
- Seeking sponsorships from music supporters who are not members
- Encouraging your chapter to make a sponsorship pledge of $200/student
- Asking your members to run a FUNdraiser
- Inviting your chapter quartets to consider a sponsorship pledge of $200 for a student
How to donate:
- Click on the Donate button on the HI web page. Choose OTHER and write Area 2 HX.
- You can also send a check payable to the Northeastern District, 3 Owls Head Drive, Nashua, NH 03063. Please put HXNE or HX camp in the memo field to make sure your gift gets to the right program.
Help Us Spread the Word and Identify Campers
Please invite high school youth and their teachers to come to our camp. We need to fill spots over the next 60 days!
PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION. Get on social media and talk up this event!
Thank you for your interest. For more detailed information, check out the website or email me.
LET’S MAKE THIS HAPPEN, HARMONY, INC!
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Your donations to the For Love of Harmony program enable you to identify individuals or groups to receive special recognition, while at the same time providing a monetary gift to Harmony, Inc.
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Newfound Sound in memory of Patrick Power
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| Condolences From The Membership |
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- to Corrine Bissonette (Associate Member & Charter Member of The Champlain Echoes Chapter) on the passing of your son
Need to post a condolence notice? Please have the information sent to the Corporate Office Assistant to be recorded. Thank you.
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30 APRIL - Directors First Scholarship Application Deadline
11 MAY 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET - IBOD Mid-Year Meeting. Members wishing to observe may request access by contacting the International President.
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| 2024 Area Conventions & Contests |
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| International Conventions & Contests |
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2024 NOVEMBER 6-9, GALT HOUSE, LOUISVILLE, KY
2025 NOVEMBER 5-8, HERSHEY LODGE, HERSHEY, PA
2026 NOVEMBER 11-14, GALT HOUSE, LOUISVILLE, KY
2027 NOVEMBER 10-13, NIAGARA FALLS CONVENTION CENTER, NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO
2028 NOVEMBER 1-4, HERSHEY LODGE, HERSHEY, PA
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The next issue of the HI Note comes to your inbox May 5. What would you like to see covered in our pages? Drop a line to editor@harmonyinc.org and we'll tell the world. Next deadline is April 28.
See you again, soon!
Copyright © 2024 Harmony, Inc., All rights reserved.
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