Page 2                                                       InCider Press                                            August  2009

Bulletin Editor

Karen Nanninga  
1379 26th Road
 Axtell,  Kansas 66403

 Phone: 785-736-2870
email:
taren@bluevalley.net

 Unless carrying a byline or some form of credit to borrowed sources, all items in this bulletin are by the editor and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the chapter or board.  All photos in the bulletin are by the editor, unless otherwise identified.
    All chapter officers are expected and chapter members are encouraged to contribute their ideas on a regular basis

Chapter Officers

President…………...……….…..Harvey Kiser

Membership and Chapter Development VP

and President Elect ………….……...Bill Hanson

Music & Performance VP……..Loren Alexander

Marketing and 

Public Relations VP…………….John Thomaso

Secretary…………………….....…….Pat Caffey

Treasurer…………………………..Bob Swenson

Member at Large…….……...Don Thomson

Member at Large……….……………David Fink

Member at Large ………....…...Chuck Marr

Member at Large …………………Jim Lindquist

Member at Large ……………. Fred Wachsmuth

Member at Large ……………………. Ken Lyle

Appointments

Musical Director.……………………KenLang

Associate Musical Director ….…..Don Thomson

Assistant Musical Director……...Myron Calhoun

Music Chairman……….….................Bob Ridley

Show Chairmen...……….........Jim Lindquist and

………………………….….….... Don Thomson

Singing Valentine Chairman ………….Ken Lyle

Youth in Harmony Chairman …….Travis Troyer

Equipment Manager …………..Fred Wachsmuth

Uniform Manager……………….….Chuck Marr

Bulletin Editor…….....…..……..Karen Nanninga

Web Master…………………..Bart Bartholomew
      
www.littleapplechorus.org

     InCider Press, a monthly publication,  is the official publication of the Manhattan, Kansas  chapter of the Central States District (CSD) of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

     The Manhattan Chapter is the home of the Little Apple Chorus.  The chapter and chorus meet  every Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. at the First Methodist Church Activity Center on the corner of Poyntz and  6th Street, Manhattan, Kansas.

     For more information about meetings or joining call or write to the Editor. (see below)

   “Building a Great Barbershop Organization” was the theme of the Central States District (CSD) workshop that your music leadership, officers and members attended on Saturday, July 25 in St. Joseph, MO.  We attended knowing that our chapter is blessed with a great amount of musical leadership.  A goal of attending was to listen for and learn what our chapter could use as we seek to grow musically and in membership.

    The thirteen Manhattan Chapter members who attended were – Ken Lang, Director; Don Thomson, Associate Director; Travis Troyer, Tenor Section Leader; Bob Ridley, Music Librarian; Loren Alexander, VP (Vice President) - Music and Performance; Bill Hanson, VP - Membership and Chapter Development; John Thomason, VP - Marketing and Public Relations; Bob Swenson, Treasurer; Harvey Kiser, President; Dave Fink, Board Member; and Mason Swenson, Cam Beatty and John Trail, Chapter Members.

    You may ask what qualifies Chuck Greene to lead these workshops.  He is a former CEO, an active barbershopper and a student of our nation’s cultural changes.  He has directed Barbershop and Sweet Adeline choruses for about 20 years total.  He has sung in quartets being in the top 20 twice at the International Convention.  Those who attended the HU Saturday night show, August 1, saw him as one of the directors of the Extreme Quartetting Brigade chorus. 

   Chuck Greene demonstrated different musical activities by having all 128 attendees from 28 chapters participate.  These demonstrations were designed to have us experience the first adaptive priority – to have “Compellingly Attractive Chapter Meetings.”  One point he made is that chapters can shift priorities, be vitalized and thrive.

   His chapter changed its priorities.  As a result, the active members (those who are regular Tuesday night singers) were 26, now 53.  The average attendance of active members was 18, now 41.  The average age of the active members has gone from 67 to 58.  The percentage of visitors becoming chapter members has gone from less than 10% to 70%.  Men started arriving at chapter meetings a half hour early to sing and stayed afterwards singing tags.  These active members are singing, listening, watching, coaching and directing.  The chorus members do not consider themselves being in a competitive chorus, but in one that competes to improve.

    He says that with the faster paced life in which we live, “…current generations are looking for the ‘best value’ for their discretionary time.  Instead of a fun pastime, men now seek time-efficiency – opportunities to be creative, learn new skills, be energized by diversity, enjoy variety, be appreciated for their talents, have a voice in transforming society for the better – all with fun interwoven.”  Time-efficiency is calculated by – dividing Value gained by Time used.  “Chapters who efficiently offer opportunities of this nature will grow, thrive and wield significant positive influence.”

 Chuck made the point that barbershop-styled singing is still incredibly worthwhile!  His rallying point was – barbershop harmony with its constant overtones is the ‘black belt’ of a cappella singing.♪

Building a great barbershop
or
ganization ,

By  Harvey Kiser, President

Tenor

Bass

Lead

Bari

Director

Members

Leadership

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