1965

1965

Chapter Five

Support of the Institute of Logopedics promoted extensively

Support for the Institute of Logopedics gained momentum in the Michigan District during the year of 1965. A giant Logopedics spectacular show was announced, which was to be held in Battle Creek on May 22 at Kellogg Auditorium. The show was sponsored by the Battle Creek Chapter and produced what was reputed to be the greatest array of talent ever assembled in the Michigan District. Included as an additional event was the moving of the Boyne City "Bush League" contest from Boyne City to this show to add impetus. The event included this contest, a complete barbecued chicken dinner, a champion show, and afterglows all for the price of $5, with all proceeds to the Institute of Logopedics.

First district bulletin editor contest announced

A bulletin editor's contest was announced early in the year and all chapters were urged to submit their chapter bulletins for judging. The bulletins were to be judged on: 1) Content, 2) Neatness, and 3) Appearance. The top two winning bulletins would be announced as district winners and would be entered in Society competition.

At the regular meeting of the District Board of Directors held in Jackson on December 4, 1964, it was announced that Bart Tillit, vice president, had resigned from both his present and 1965 terms. The Board promptly moved that Don Lucas be selected as his replacement. It was also announced that Mike Mudgett, the Zone 1 vice president elect, had submitted his resignation for personal reasons. In view of the fact that area counselors had to be chosen for the coming year and plans made, the incumbent Vice President Eric Schultz agreed to continue serving until further notice. Among other actions, President Burgess announced that Bob Johnson would conduct a chorus director's school in Michigan on October 22-23, 1965. A standing vote of appreciation was given to Jack Klaiber for his many years of service to the district.

Grand Rapids hosted 1965 spring convention

The quartet international preliminaries were held in Grand Rapids in connection with the chapter's annual Great Lakes Invitational show. Once again the total membership of the district was down to 1485 members, which under the formula at the time only allowed Michigan to qualify two quartets. The Evergreen District, which had a membership of 1500 members, 15 more than Michigan, qualified three quartets, which gives the reader an idea how close Michigan was to having another qualified quartet.

Auto Towners

The AUTO TOWNERS and the AIRE-MALES were the two quartets selected to represent the district at the international contest in Boston. The AUTO TOWNERS had replaced their tenor Dominic Palmieri with Al Rehkop in March of 1965 when Dominic retired to devote more time to his family and business. Both quartets were experienced having sung in international competition many times prior to this contest. The Dearborn CHORD-O-MATIC Chorus, under the direction of Carl Dahlke, won the district chorus championship. This must have been a real heyday for Carl, having directed the winning district chorus and also a member of the AUTO TOWNERS who qualified for the international contest in Boston.

The district Logopedics effort held at Battle Creek was extremely successful. In the "Bush League" contest, the E'SPRIT de CHORDS from Mt. Clemens were declared the champions, outpointing the BUCKSTERS from Niles-Buchanan who were second, and the RAFTER RINGERS from Grand Rapids. Also competing were Battle Creek's KEY NOTERS, Three River's 4 DOORSMAN, and the HARMONY HOUNDS from Battle Creek. Loton Willson was crowned the Bush League King for 1965. The evening show included the E'SPRIT de CHORDS, the CLEF DWELLERS, the MERRI-MEN, the EXTENSION CHORDS, the AIRE-MALES, the AUTO TOWNERS, and the TREBLE SHOOTERS, plus a fine performance by Detroit's MOTOR CITY Chorus.

Membership matters were becoming crucial

At the district board meeting held on Friday night during the convention, considerable time was spent on membership and extension problems. It was pointed out that the district again had a drop in membership and in the number of chapters, and that three chapters had lost their charters since the beginning of the year—Downriver, South Haven, and Suburban Detroit. At the House of Delegates meeting, two resolutions introduced by the Redford Chapter—to instruct the International Board to negate the 25-member minimum requirement for chapters, and, that the grace period for renewals be extended to three months were defeated— by the house. International President Albert L. Smith Jr. spoke to the assemblage regarding goals and aims of the Society, and his presence no doubt affected the vote.

AUTO TOWNERS and AIRE-MALES finish fourth and thirtieth, respectively, at Boston

The Boston international contest and convention found the AUTO TOWNERS breaking into the medalist classification with a fine fourth place finish. The AIRE-MALES were confronted with a 25-point time penalty which kept them out of two more positions, but they still finished 30th. In the chorus competition, the Detroit MOTOR CITY Chorus under the direction of Bill Butler finished last with 15 choruses competing. The FOUR RENEGADES, a very popular quartet in the Midwest, were declared the international quartet champions, with the MIAMIANS from Miami, Florida, acquiring the chorus throne. At the International Board meeting, Reedie Wright was elected president for 1966.

The major decision coming out of the International Board meeting at Boston was the approval by that body of a blanket public liability and property damage insurance policy covering all chapter meetings, chapter-sponsored shows, district contests and district-sponsored events. The Board also approved a plan to form an international district which was to be comprised of chapters from foreign countries. It was specified that until such time as a sufficient number of chapters from any one geographic area warrants the creation of another district, all foreign chapters were to become part of the new international district.

Four-Fits reign as district champions

4 Fits

The fall convention of the Michigan District was held in Battle Creek on October 8-10, 1965. Seven quartets vied for the district crown, with the FOUR-FITS of Grosse Pointe (John Wearing, tenor; Russ Seely, lead; Ray McCalpin, bari, and Marv Burke, bass) outpointing the others to take the district honors. Second place went to The CLOSE CHORDERS from the Oakland County Chapter (Gene Bulka, tenor; Ron DuMonthier, lead; Norm Thompson, bass, and Tony Scooros, bari) followed closely by Saginaw Bay's DELTA AIRES (Herb Benjamin, tenor; Doug Beaver, lead; Bill Grumbley, bari, and Len Johnson, bass). In fourth place was the E'SPRIT de CHORDS from the Utica-Rochester Chapter, and THE BARONS, the ARBOR CITY FOUR, and the DUNE TONES in fifth, sixth and seventh place, respectively.

Port City

In the district chorus contest, the right to represent the district at the international competition in Chicago in 1966 was won by the Muskegon PORT CITY Chorus under their new director Webb Scrivnor. Only five points separated them from the Detroit MOTOR CITY Chorus under the direction of Bill Butler. Other choruses competing included the Dearborn CHORD-O-MATIC Chorus, the Wayne WONDERLAND chorus, the Niles-Buchanan GATEWAY Chorus, the Oakland County BARBERY HOST Chorus, Monroe, Sault Ste. Marie, and the Milford-Huron Valley choruses, finishing from third through ninth positions respectively.

Eric Schultz elected new district president for 1966

The annual meeting of the Michigan District House of Delegates convened at the Post Tavern Hotel in Battle Creek on Friday, October 8, 1965. Guest visitors included International President-Elect Reedie Wright and Hugh Ingraham. President-Elect Wright addressed the representatives of the 26 chapters in attendance with a theme concerning "Today, Not Tomorrow." He reviewed the history of the Michigan District and urged a rejuvenation of the spirit that once prevailed throughout the district and pointed out the loss of membership in the district. He charged the officers and delegates with the duty of a vigorous campaign to strengthen the district both from a musical and membership standpoint.

Secretary Harrington then gave his report in which he pointed out that the membership of the district had again fallen, and that the membership as of October 1, 1965, stood at 1,274 members and 33 chapters—the district having lost Ionia, Suburban Detroit, South Haven and Coldwater during 1965.

Awards presented at the meeting included the Jackson Chapter winning the 1964 Achievement Award in the Gold Division, Battle Creek winning the award in the Silver Division, and the Chase D. Sanborn Area Counselor of the Year Award for 1964 was presented to Bob Tracy.

The International Board's proposal concerning the adoption of the blanket public liability and property damage insurance policy was discussed thoroughly. Since the chapters did not have a copy of the policy, it was moved that the chapters be furnished a copy and then be allowed thirty days to examine it before voting on it. The motion was passed and the chapters were to forward their vote to the district secretary within 20 days after receipt of the specimen policy.

Chase D. Sanborn submitted the report of the Nominating Committee which included Eric Schultz as president, E.E. "Pat" Ryan, E.A. Vande Zande, Don Lucas and Gene Gillem as vice presidents, R.J. Schied as treasurer and Louis Harrington as secretary. The slate was then elected, and Eric Schultz was presented his president's pin by Reedie Wright.

It was announced at the convention that the TREBLE SHOOTERS were disbanding, and this news was accepted with much misgiving throughout the district.

Close Chorders

A meeting of the District Board was held at Marshall, Michigan, on Saturday, December 4, 1965. Among the various items discussed, a mistake was discovered in the awarding of trophies at the fall contest. It was brought out that due to a misconception of the rules, the CLOSE CHORDERS were awarded two sets of trophies. According to the district rules, the second-place medalist were the winners of the second place trophies and that according to these rules and past practice, the next ranking novice quartet was to have been named novice champions. By action of the Board, it was moved that the BARONS of Kalamazoo be named as novice champions for 1965, and that suitable trophies be presented to them at the spring convention.

Secretary Harrington reported that, on the question of blanket liability insurance, the question was now moot because of the fact that it had been ratified by all other districts in the Society and would become effective January 1, 1966, regardless of the Michigan vote.

Secretary Harrington also pointed out that the rules covering Michigan district chorus contests provided that no chorus can compete for three years after winning the championship. He suggested this rule be changed to two years to comply with the practice throughout the Society. The Board agreed, and the two-year policy was placed in effect, and is still in effect today.

District chapter bulletin contest was big success

The first Michigan District chapter bulletin editor contest was deemed a huge success, with 13 entries vying for the top honors. Winning top spots were the Grand Rapids Forecast, edited by Del Hathaway and the Muskegon Beacon, edited by Gordon Gunn. Other bulletins entered in the contest were from Holly-Fenton, Jackson, Saginaw, Pontiac, Windsor, Utica-Rochester, Battle Creek, Dearborn, Flint, Wayne, and Grosse Pointe. Judging the contest were Bill Hansen, Michigan District international representative; Jack Oonk, Troubadour editor and Fred Velhuis, a non-barbershopper who had done work in the journalism field. The two top entries were entered into the Society contest, which was won by the Bingham-Tone of the Binghampton, New York, Chapter, from more than one hundred entries.

Reviewing 1965, it was clear the major problem encountered was that of membership, dropping below 1300 members for the first time in twenty years. The International Board, the Society's governing body, failed to heed the pleas of the district with regard to the minimum membership for chapters to retain their charter. It is not known how many chapters would not have folded if it were not for this minimum membership rule. The one bright spot was that our quartets were beginning to smell the roses, and were very active throughout the entire district.

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