Harmony, Incorporated HI Note: July 2023, Issue #1

President's Message

Thank you to our donors
Stephen Hagerdon has a passion for supporting youth in harmony
By Linda Brehaut, International President

For months I’ve been commenting on the energy and pure joy connected to our AC&Cs, and now that energy has shifted to getting ourselves to IC&C. Let’s see – June, focus on travel; July, focus on accommodations; and August, make sure those AEPs are paid for! Got it. While I’m not wishing time away, I am certainly looking forward to another opportunity to be together with so many more of you.

This past week, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with one of our most philanthropic lifetime affiliate members, Stephen Hagerdon. My heart was bursting while he shared his stories of how Harmony has brought joy into his life. His passion for our youth is rooted in his teaching days, when he provided opportunities for his students to be part of quartets, as well as the absolute pleasure he had watching his daughters experience 4-part harmony. There is so much more to his journey. Someday, I hope you will have a story to relate about how Harmony has brought joy into your life as well.

To our youth: When you get your free AEP to ACC or ICC, please know that it is the generosity of donors like Steve (and others) that allows this to happen. Your involvement in the organization is an inspiration to him, and hopefully you are inspired to keep on singing!

Bylaws revision and voting
I mentioned last month that a few (OK..more than a few!) bylaws changes would be coming your way for your approval/vote. If you do not get the blast email announcing this, or have unsubscribed to our electronic voting program (Survey Monkey), please contact our parliamentarian, Debbie Parmerter at parliament@harmonyinc.org to ensure that you get a paper copy mailed to you. First notice will be coming within the next day or so. There will be a town hall on Thursday, July 13, to answer any questions you might have.

Enjoy your summer – hopefully you can schedule some special family or friends time and maybe do something different! Take a moment and find those people, places, things, that remind you, amid all that life throws at us, life is good.

IBOD Mid-Year Meeting minutes have been posted
By Angie Morton-Locke, Corporate Office Assistant

Your IBOD met on May 12 and 13, 2023 for the Mid-Year meeting. I am pleased to let you, the membership, know that the meeting minutes and supporting documents have been approved and are posted in the Members Only section of the website for your reading pleasure. If you are looking for quick access because you just can't wait to read all the pages, you can find IBOD Meeting Minutes from 2022 forward here. Thank you for taking the time to be informed. Happy reading.

Area Conventions and Contests

EDITOR'S NOTE: Through this season, we have been featuring reports of the Area Conventions and Contests. We wrap up the AC&C coverage in this issue of the HI Note with Area 4's Celebration of Disney.
Official contest results are posted on the website.

Area Four AC&C was truly MAGICAL!
By Allison Thompson

Area Four was so excited to be back in Normal, Illinois, for this year’s convention and contest, where we had 18 quartets and seven choruses showcase some amazing contest packages!

The weekend began on Thursday evening with some great education classes taught by many of our Area 4 members and our judging panel. Some highlights included:

How can I be a superhero to my director?
Time to grow chapters
HarmonySite 101
From beginning to winning with Take 4 quartet

Friday morning started with our annual Area 4 membership meeting, where we celebrated two chorus achievements:

40 Year Charter Celebration: Misty River Music Makers
Area 4 Membership Award: Wolf River Harmony

We also presented the following members with their impressive membership awards!

Name Chapter Years of membership
Ann McAlexander   Area 4 Associate 25
Beth Pasek Misty River Music Makers 25
Charlotte Moore Bluegrass Harmony 25
Holly Singer Village Vocal Chords 25
Jen Wheaton Village Vocal Chords 25
Kathy Custis Covered Bridge Harmony   25
Marilyn Arana St. Louis Chordinals, Inc 25
Michelle Evans Bluegrass Harmony 25
Sandi Wright St. Louis Vocal Project 25
Valinda Petri Bluegrass Harmony 25
Marianne Cooke Sound Celebration 35
Robin Gould Village Vocal Chords 40
Lauren Lindeman   Village Vocal Chords 50
Wanda Olsen Village Vocal Chords 55
Betty Gunterman   Village Vocal Chords 60

Fierce is Area 4's highest scoring quartet, winning the Kaleidoscope Entertainment award and qualifying for International along with Blue Phoenix, Sublime, Friendzie, Violet Sky, and Sweet Addiction.

Friday afternoon Harmony Queens Take 4 kicked off the quartet contest which included five quartets that were newly registered or competing for the first time - Lost and Found, Top Notch, Vintage, Violet Sky, and Zenith. It was a highly entertaining afternoon, with six quartets out of 18 qualifying for our international contest (requirement = a total score of 816 or more). Fierce came out on top with an impressive score of 925!
Highlights include:

Kaleidoscope Entertainment Award: Fierce
Sequel Novice Quartet Award: Violet Sky
Change of Heart Achievement Award: Lyric
International qualifiers
- Fierce
- Blue Phoenix
- Sublime
- Friendzie
- Violet Sky
- Sweet Addiction

With a score of 923, St. Louis Vocal Project was the winner of the Area 4 chorus contest. They qualified for International along with Bluegrass Harmony, Lake Ridge Legacy Chorus, Village Vocal Chords, Covered Bridge Harmony, and Harmony Magic.

Saturday began with our chorus competition – and what a competition it was! Six out of seven competing choruses qualified for international contest (requirement = a total score of 792 or more). St. Louis Vocal Project was the winner with a score of 923.
Highlights include:

Most Improved Chorus Award: Bluegrass Harmony
Nancy Stephenson Memorial Trophy: Bluegrass Harmony
International qualifiers
- St. Louis Vocal Project
- Bluegrass Harmony
- Lake Ridge Legacy Chorus
- Village Vocal Chords
- Covered Bridge Harmony
- Harmony Magic

Congratulations to everyone who crossed the stage!

Covered Bridge Harmony welcomes Area 4 to the Moonglow with a rousing rendition of Be Our Guest. Click picture for the video.

On to the moonglow
Saturday evening was a magical night that Walt Disney himself would be proud of! Covered Bridge Harmony greeted us with their rendition of Be Our Guest. The night was filled with many laughs and much joy as we were entertained by our choruses and quartets who all had their own interpretation of well-known and loved Disney characters and movies, from Toy Story to Hocus Pocus! Things got a little heated when the dalmatians of The Village Vocal Chords came across Cruella de Vil in the audience – but harmony prevailed!

The evening ended with members of Bluegrass Harmony doing a quick costume change to reveal next year’s theme – Singing Through the Decades. They invited a member from each chorus to come on stage to draw the decade they will represent in 2024.

J-U-D - - G-E-S... Area 4 judging panel joins in the Disney fun. Click the picture to enjoy the video.

We want to thank the Area 4 Convention Team, Covered Bridge Harmony and our judging panel for putting together such a magical weekend! Here’s what some of our first timers had to say about their experience:
Top Notch Quartet - For first timers competing in the quartet contest, we loved being able to speak with our judges; what an awesome experience! We also really want to say thank you for being so welcoming and supportive.
Fource of Nature Quartet - As first timers (two of us. and two of us haven’t been in like 8 years) it was a new and wonderful experience all around! Being able to have friends and family watch and chat with Take 4, work with the judges, and feeling the support as soon as we walked out on the stage!
Rose McAndrew - First timer here. I really didn’t know what to expect…but everything exceeded my expectations. The expertise of the judges, the super fun and well-executed moonglow, learning tags with strangers in the lobby, and the collegiality of everyone…I can’t wait until next year's ACC! (But first IC&C!)

You can watch the Area 4 contest – as well as all Area contests – through Acaville’s replays! For more information, go to: acaville.org/harmonyinc.

Area 4 can’t wait to see you all in Grand Rapids!

IC&C Convention Corner

Who's who and what's what
By Shannon Shelton-Muller, IC&C Marketing Manager

Our 2023 International Convention & Contest is approximately 4½ months away! If you're new to the IC&C experience, or even if you've been before but didn't have a chance to do it all, you may have questions about who's who and what's what. That's where your IC&C Convention Team comes into play, providing answers and help when needed. One tool we have to help is the FAQ Sheet, found online under the forms section of the Harmony, Inc IC&C page. Here's just some of the information you can find in the FAQ's:

What happens at the Opening Ceremonies?
You don’t want to miss the opening ceremonies and annual membership meeting! We will have our annual introduction of the new Board and Assistants, officer installation and our awards. And following the opening ceremonies is our

Welcome Reception combined with our Sing with the Queens event.

Opening Ceremonies Raffle!
Don’t miss an opportunity to win a gift card for a FREE Night’s Stay! A name will be drawn at the Opening Ceremonies, and you MUST BE PRESENT to win.

What is the Parade of Champions?
One of the highlights of IC&C, the Association of Harmony Queens will entertain you with their annual Parade of Champions show. You’ll get to hear many of our past Quartet Champions sing some of your favorite songs, as well as this year’s champion chorus – Northern Blend. Please note the cost to attend this event is included in your AEP. We will have a bar available and close by for drink purchases.

What is the Saturday Showcase?
All members and guests are invited to the annual showcase event. It’s a great way to close out ICC as we recognize and hear from our top medalists. Anyone attending the dinner will have reserved seating to ensure you get the best seats. For all others, seating will be on a first come, first served basis. Doors open at 8:00 pm.

What is the International Chorus?
One of the best parts about IC&C is getting to meet so many people from so many places who share your love of singing. This is exemplified in our International Chorus, comprised of singers from each chorus as well as Associates, who come together to learn a song and perform on the IC&C stage after the Chorus Competition on Friday. An email will be sent to all choruses about participating in the International Chorus. We encourage you to sign up for this incredible experience. You will be sent the music ahead of time and there will be a rehearsal on Thursday morning.

What are education classes?
Want to be a better singer? Need help getting your chapter off the ground? IC&C is more than just contests and singing. We are fortunate that our talented members and panel volunteer their time to help us all become Harmony Stronger. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity during IC&C. Classes will be offered on Thursday and Saturday mornings. Once the classes are finalized, they will be posted on the IC&C page of our website and mobile app.

What is the Minor Chords?
Minor Chords is a chorus made up of Harmony’s youth members, age 25 and under. They meet at IC&C to rehearse a song that they will perform after the Chorus Finals. Every year, a new director is chosen to provide an unforgettable experience for these talented young singers.

What is the IC&C mobile app?
Everything you need to know about this year’s IC&C will be at your fingertips using the mobile app! You can see the full agenda and chat with other attendees, all from your mobile device. Instructions on how to download and use the app will be sent out prior to IC&C.

My Chorus/Quartet received an award at the last IC&C. Where and when shall we return it?
If your chorus or quartet is in possession of one of the following awards, it will need to be returned at IC&C in Grand Rapids, MI. Awards must be returned in their travel cases or bags, be in good condition, and be engraved if this is required.
Return the Award to the hospitality room as soon as you arrive. Awards are required to be returned no later than Thursday, November 9. If your chorus or quartet is not attending IC&C this year, it is still the responsibility of the award holder to make the necessary arrangements to return the award as required.

CHORUS AWARDS

The Jerry Dunlop Award
The G. Ruth Giels Award
The L.A.B.B.S Trophy
The MacIntosh Award
The Tait Trophy
Skidge Heath Award
Jeanne O’Connor Championship Chorus Award

QUARTET AWARDS

The Accord Award
The Findlay Plaque
The Susan C. Trenchard Award (formerly Image of Harmony Award)
The Audience Entertainment Award

GENERAL AWARDS

Sandi White International Membership Award (to be returned prior to the Opening Ceremony, Wed. November 8)

If you have questions, please contact the Convention Team Assistant at ICCTeamAsst@harmonyinc.org

What is a Quartet Celebration Room?
The Quartet Celebration Room provides an opportunity for our competing quartets in the semi-finals to “re-group” after they leave the stage and before they return to the audience. It’s a private place for you to celebrate your great accomplishment! The celebration room will be included in your pattern schedule, but it is optional.

How is the order of appearance determined?
A live drawing for the order of appearance will take place September 11. Information on how to watch the live drawing will be sent to all membership once the drawing date and time are finalized. After the drawing, the order of appearance will be added to the IC&C webpage.

How do I find out when I am onstage and the pattern schedule?
The International Contest and Judging Chair (ICJC) will send the contest pattern and related information to each competitor after the order of appearance is published and prior to contest.

Where can I get contest scores after contest?
In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, we will only be printing the Official Scoring Summary for contestants (one per quartet, four per chorus). Scores will be posted online shortly after each contest, and also posted on the mobile app.

My chorus wants to rehearse before we compete. Will there be rooms available?
All choruses will have an opportunity to schedule rehearsal time on Thursday and Friday. Friday’s time will be pre-assigned based on the order of appearance, and you will be notified of that time via email. If you are interested in signing up for a time on Thursday, please email the ICCTeamAssistant@harmonyinc.org.

Will I get to practice on the stage before contest?
Due to the size of our contests, and time constraints, we are not able to allow all choruses and quartets time to practice on the actual stage. We are able to offer a brief stage “viewing” which allows quartets and a limited number of people from a chorus to walk onto the stage. Please note, there is no singing allowed during this time. Times for the stage viewing will be included in the IC&C schedule, as well as your contestant packets once available.

Can I bring personal belongings with me backstage before I compete?
We encourage all contestants not to bring your personal belongings with you in the pattern, as they will not be allowed backstage. If you must bring something, please make it small; consolidate chorus belongings, etc. We will provide a table in a hallway that will be monitored by volunteers. You can drop your belongings on the table before going on stage and pick them up after you compete.

Volunteering at IC&C
By Anne Leinen, IC&C Volunteer Manager

If you’ll be attending IC&C in Grand Rapids, you are thinking about contest songs, costumes, coaching and all those exciting things that come with Convention. I’m here to ask you to also think about volunteering at Convention, and here are a few good reasons why:

We all love Harmony and the opportunity it gives us to gather and do what we love best. Here is your chance to give back - even an hour or two will make a difference.
It is super easy to become a volunteer. When the Volunteer Signup link comes out in August, click on the link, and browse through the many volunteer opportunities. Find a job that interests you and fits with your schedule, and sign up. And the last, and most important reason . . .
It is FUN. You meet new people, see contestants preparing themselves for the stage as they go through the pattern, and get a different perspective on the convention. A recent volunteer who worked backstage said “I knew that excitement from past experiences, but to see and feel it from this perspective was electric.”

Whether you work the pattern, help with an education class, or choose one of the many other volunteer jobs, I promise you’ll enjoy the experience. Check back in August for the official signup link with easy instructions.

TUNE UP TIPS: AEP Registration is open!
Mark August 27, 2023, on your calendars for our Know Before You Go Call!
We will be hosting a Zoom call at 4 pm EDT on that date to help you get all the information you need before you go to IC&C. So that we can be prepared and as helpful to you as possible, please submit any questions to Convention Manager Allison Thompson by August 20, 2023.

Can't make it to Grand Rapids for IC&C? Don't miss a note! Acaville has extended their partnership with Harmony, Inc. and you can get in on all the fun in Michigan. Membership Levels – Harmony, Inc on Acaville

Getting Around Grand Rapids

Exclusive offers in Grand Rapids
By Allison Thompson, ICC Convention Manager

There is so much to do and see in Grand Rapids! Be sure to sign up for GR Attendee Exclusives before you visit. You’ll enjoy special attendee-only discounts at local restaurants and attractions, just by showing your smartphone!

Grand Rapids transportation
Experience Grand Rapids will be providing Harmony, Inc. IC&C attendees complimentary airport transportation from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport to the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel on the dates and times below. Transportation will be by full-size motor coach departing from the airport every hour. To take the shuttle, please exit through door #3 (across from Baggage Claim). Return trips will depart from the Amway Grand Plaza, Lyon Street entrance on the hour.
ARRIVALS:
Wednesday, November 8th
10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
DEPARTURES:
Sunday, November 12th
4:00 AM – 2:00 PM
If you are traveling outside of the dates and times that the shuttle is running, please review the information below for alternate options;

Ground Transportation is available from the airport.
Metro Cab: Cost and Reservations
Rideshare: To catch your rideshare at GFIA, exit the terminal through door #2 (across from the Delta ticket counter), and go to the Rideshare Shelter on the boulevard. This is the designated pick-up/drop-off point for all rideshare vehicles.

Need a scooter for IC&C? You can rent one by calling Amigo Mobility Center at 616-361-7559. Cost is $190 for the week and includes delivery and pick-up. Reservation deadline is 10/25.

Fiscal Year End Reporting Due

U.S. Chapters are required to file an electronic postcard 990-N with the IRS by August 15, 2023. Canadian Chapters are required to file a T2 with CRA by September 30, 2023.

Chapters are also reminded that they are required to send 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. Ʝ

Please do not hesitate to contact Jan DelVecchio if you have questions.

HIVE Classes

Paul Ellinger returns to the HIVE with a follow-up to his Now Perspective on Growth class.
A Now Perspective on Growth - Creating Your Action Plan
Paul Ellinger
Saturday, July 15 @ 2:00 PM ET
Class Description:
It's great to have knowledge and concepts on how to grow, but you know what's even better? An individualized action plan to put in place for YOUR chorus. In this session, you will have the opportunity to design your growth plan while being gently guided by Paul Ellinger. Although you can attend solo, there will be greater benefits if as many people as possible from a chapter attend together! It is highly recommended that you/your chapter watch the two prior sessions of "A Now Perspective on Growth." Now, let's get GROWING!

For The Love Of Harmony

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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In memory of Cynthia Anne Donahue, mother of Kelly Annette

Condolences From The Membership

Those we cherish will always live on in memory.

to Women in Harmony (Expansion Area) on the death of member and friend, Pat Turner.

Need to post a condolence notice? Please have the information sent to the Corporate Office to be recorded. Thank you.

Deadlines Approaching

15 JULY - IC&C hotel room block opens

15 AUGUST - U.S. Chapters file 990-N with IRS,

16 AUGUST - IBOD Q3 meeting, 6-10 pm ET, via Zoom.

1 SEPTEMBER - End of late entries for IC&C. End of early bird AEP pricing for IC&C.

SEPTEMBER 30 - Canadian Chapters file T2 with Revenue Canada.

1 OCTOBER - Big Screen Ads cutoff

3 NOVEMBER - End of Online IC&C registration. Tickets may still be purchased at the door.

5-8 NOVEMBER - IBOD Annual Meeting, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Future International Conventions & Contests

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

Next Issue

The next issue of the HI Note comes to your inbox July 20. What would YOU like to read about in that issue? Share your thoughts with editor@harmonyinc.org by July 18.

See you in a couple weeks!