Moving on to 1968, things began to happen
Jim Davenport took over as editor of the Troubadour starting with the January, 1968 issue, replacing Pete Elkins who was only able to publish three editions during the 1967 year. It was at this time, also, that the Utica-Rochester Chapter fell on hard times, and merged with Oakland County in January, bringing Oakland County's membership to 114, the highest in the district at the time.
Newly-elected President Gene Gillem held his first District Board meeting in conjunction with the district COTS (Chapter Officer Training School) on January 21, 1968, at the Capitol Park Hotel in Lansing. Discussion revolved around International Representative Chet Fox's upcoming visitation schedule. It was also reported that the Greenville Chapter was about to fold. Plans were announced for the `Fabulous 400' Logopedics benefit show to be held in Battle Creek on June 8, 1968. The event was to feature a 400-voice chorus under the direction of Bob Johnson from international. Quartets were invited to bid to sing on the show, with proceeds to go to the Logopedics fund.
Other events occurring in early 1968 included the Pontiac Chapter's "Silver Anniversary Show" with present and former barbershopping dignitaries in attendance. Zone 1 Vice President E.E. "Pat" Ryan announced the meeting of the Zone 1 chapters and their plans for the upcoming year and for their election of officers.
International Board restructured
The big announcements came from the midwinter International Board meeting which was held at Harmony Hall in Kenosha on January 26, 1968. One was the adoption of the management-financial study which was approved by the Board and involved the complete restructuring of the International Executive Committee and the International Board. In essence, the following changes were to become effective on January 1, 1969. (1.) The seven past international presidents will no longer be members of the International Board. (2.) The International Executive Committee will be reduced to five voting members and one non-voting member consisting of the international president, the immediate past international president, two vice presidents, a vice president treasurer, and the executive director (as the non-voting member). (3.) In addition to the fifteen district-elected representatives and the Executive Committee, the three most recent past international presidents, preceding the immediate past international president, who are members of the Society and available and willing to serve, will also be on the International Board. (4.) International Standing Committees will be reduced to four. These changes remained in effect until 1990 when additional changes were made, but that's another story.
1968 international convention moved to Cincinnati
The second major development was the changing of the 1968 international convention which had been scheduled for Pittsburgh to Cincinnati due to a long hotel strike occurring at the proposed headquarters hotel in Pittsburgh. This also involved changing the dates of the convention from June 24-29 to July 1-6, 1968.
District saddened by death of R.J. "Mike" Schied
The district was truly stunned when District Treasurer Rayland J. "Mike" Schied was stricken and died from a coronary on April 3, 1968. An active barbershopper for 17 years, he served as the Flint Chapter treasurer from 1951 until 1965 when he assumed the duties of the Michigan District treasurer which he held until his death.
Muskegon hosted the spring district convention—District renamed "Pioneer"
Big changes were in the offing with the spring convention held in Muskegon May 4-5, 1968. The biggest change took place at the meeting of the House of Delegates on Friday evening, May 3, 1968. This involved a motion by the Windsor Chapter to rename the district from `The Michigan District' to the `Pioneer District.' After considerable discussion, the House voted to pass the motion by a vote of 25 to 18. In other business, a motion was made and passed that the resolution by the Dearborn Chapter to abolish the five percent show sanction fee be referred to a special committee for a study and a report at the fall convention as to its feasibility. It was also announced at this meeting that William Warner of the Detroit #1 Chapter had been appointed district treasurer to fulfill the unexpired term of the late R.J. Schied. In addition, the Nominating Committee requested that the election of an executive vice president, which was to take place at this meeting, be deferred until the fall convention, and this was passed by the assemblage.
 Sharplifters
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 Wolvernie "68"
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In chorus competition, Oakland County's newly renamed WOLVERINE Chorus under the direction of Carl Dahlke outscored 13 other district choruses to win their first district chorus championship. The Detroit MOTOR CITY Chorus under the direction of Bill Butler finished in second place.
Overall, the convention was well run by the Muskegon Chapter and its two chairmen Tom Damm and Don Courtwright, and it was not easy. When the headquarters hotel became involved in a labor strike, the Muskegon Chapter shifted its center of operations down the street one block to the Elks Lodge, whose facilities proved to be beautifully adequate in spite of the huge crowds of barbershoppers who turned out for this convention.
The annual 22nd running of the Boyne City "Bush League" contest was held on April 6, 1968, and the Pontiac Chapter's HARMONY KNIGHTS (Cliff Douglas, bass; Ray Guerin, bari; Lyle Howard, lead**, and Ed Lilly, tenor) were the victors with Saginaw-Bay's BEAN TOWN FOUR (Bob Deming, bass; Doug Beaver, lead; Bud Carpenter, bari, and Jack Stephan, tenor) as runners-up.
"We Sing That They Shall Speak"
With this theme, a contingent of Pioneer District barbershop singers gathered in Battle Creek on June 8, 1968, to raise money for the fight against children's speech impediments. The show was held inside Battle Creek's W. K. Kellogg Auditorium.
Ten fine barbershop quartets were present for the Battle Creek event. In addition, a male chorus, some 300 strong, were on hand. Each quartet had to donate at least $40 to be allowed to sing on the show, with some donations running close to $300. Each member of the chorus donated at least $5 for the privilege of singing under Dr. Bob Johnson. In addition, tickets for the public cost $2.50. All the proceeds were donated toward furthering the work of `Speechtown, U.S.A..' In a special ceremony at the state capitol prior to the event, Governor George Romney signed a letter congratulating the organizers of the event and offering his endorsement of the show.
SHARPLIFTERS almost make "top ten" in Cinci
 Eversharps
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In the chorus competition the PEKIN Chorus under the direction of Jim Moses outscored a fine field of 14 other choruses. What was unusual about this victory was that they had only 48 singers on stage, and they didn't make one move during the entire performance. But they didn't have to as they sang up a storm and did their selling with their faces. In their first international chorus competition ever, Oakland County's WOLVERINE Chorus performed in a professional manner and wound up in tenth place under Carl Dahlke's direction.
Our afterglow at International was the best ever
I was very much involved with the WOLVERINE Chorus during those very exciting years. It just happens that I was the Oakland County chapter president when we made our first appearance at international competition, and I have to relate this incident concerning our arrangements for the hospitality suite on Saturday evening following the chorus contest, as follows:
"Usually the chapter who represented the district was in charge of the district hospitality room at international. We had made prior arrangements with the headquarters Netherlands Hotel to furnish us with a room, which they did. We also had made arrangements with the Hudepohl Brewery in Cincinnati to supply us with the beer for the hospitality room, which I was to pick up at the brewery (because I had a station wagon) and deliver to the room after the chorus contest on Saturday. I went to the brewery and picked up 62 cases of beer, and loaded my station wagon to the hilt. From there I proceeded to the hotel parking lot, where I bribed the attendant and a couple of his helpers with six-packs of beer to help me unload and transport it into the hotel. Most hotels have corkage laws, and the Netherlands was no exception; but fortunately one of the bell boys decided to help me anyway up the back elevator to the room. (I bribed him also with six-packs of beer because he was so helpful.)
"Upon arriving at the room, the bell boy promptly put me on to the head bell boy for more assistance, such as tubs, ice, etc. This cost me a couple more six-packs, but I thought it was well worth it. When the night shift crew came on, again I was very liberal with six-packs, and by this time I must have gone through four cases of beer. At any rate, during the entire evening until five in the morning, I had ice and anything else I wanted delivered to the room every fifteen minutes.
"When the hospitality room started later, Tony Scooros and a few of the other guys had been inviting quartets up to the room to sing. In addition, we had a big buffet table and all that free beer. Needless to say, everybody attending that convention came to our room, and it was jam packed all night. When we closed it at 5 a.m., we had 29 quartets sing for us and we had about four cases of beer left. It's a night I'll never forget, but what a time it was!"
It was times like these that leave a lasting reflection on my many years of barbershopping. It's funny how an event will stick in your mind after that many years.
Carroll Adams honorarium reinstated
 Carroll Adams
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Carroll Adams was compelled, for health reasons only, to tender his resignation after a devoted eleven years of service to the Society in 1953. At the time, the International Board recognized the tremendous work he had done over so many years in building SPEBSQSA into the great Society it is; the Board voted an honorarium of $300 a month to be paid to him for the remainder of his life. This came as a tremendous blessing, as he and his wife had made no plans for the future but felt that they would best be served by taking a cottage back east in Montpelier, Vermont, where they had come from. The then Board and successive Boards honored the commitment made in 1953 until January 1965.
In 1965, a new Board, apparently without any apparent reason, suddenly terminated the honorarium without notice or explanation to Adams. One can hardly imagine the shock which Adams must have felt when he finally heard what had happened.
A movement developed, spearheaded by Past International President Art Merrill and joined in by Joe Wolff and Duane Mosier and many Michigan district supporters, to reinstate the honorarium. The movement was successful, because the Executive Committee met in advance of the full Board at the Cincinnati convention to consider the proposal to reinstate the honorarium, and the full Board agreed. When the question was put up by International President Wes Meier there was not a voice raised in dissent. It was a heart-warming conclusion by a Board whose members deserve a robust `well done.'
Harrisville attendance up over Labor Day in 1968
It was reported the attendance at the annual Harrisville `Camp-Out' had reached 720 people, which exceeded last year's attendance of around 500. The park was loaded and late comers had difficulty in finding housing. Some slept on inflated beach pads with sky and stars above for their ceiling, but they claimed they would be back next year at Harrisville.
WOLVERINE Chorus and EVERSHARPS reign supreme at fall convention in Monroe
 Wolverine "68"
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The fall convention of 1968 was held October 18-20 in the floral city of Monroe at the southern end of the district, and it was all roses for Carl Dahlke's WOLVERINE Chorus as they outpointed the Detroit MOTOR CITY Chorus to win the right to represent the district at the international convention held in St. Louis the next year. Seven choruses competed including the Wayne WONDERLAND Chorus in third, followed by the Saginaw-Bay, Monroe, Muskegon and Battle Creek choruses, respectively.
The EVERSHARPS out dueled seven other quartets to win the Pioneer District quartet championship for 1968-69. Other quartets competing included the KASUAL D'S in second place, followed by the WONDER LADS in third, the BEAN TOWN FOUR, the HARMONY HOUNDS, the HUSTLERS, the TWI-LIGHTERS and the DUNE TONES in that order. The BEAN TOWN FOUR were declared the junior champions and the HARMONY HOUNDS were declared the novice champs.
The EVERSHARPS included Frank Bateson, tenor; Jim Gross, lead; Bob Glover, baritone, and Len Johnson, bass. They had formed two weeks prior to the 1967 "Bush League" contest with Bob Glover singing lead originally and Bill Dolezal baritone. Bill developed a health problem, so Jim Gross, the tenor of the BAY TONICS was enticed to join them. A voicing session was held, and it was decided that Glover would switch to baritone and Gross would sing lead. The switch created an entire new sound, and it must have worked since they won the ultimate district prize.
At the District Board meeting held in conjunction with the convention on October 18, the Nominating Committee headed by Eric Schultz presented the slate of candidates for the coming year and the nominees were unanimously elected as follows: President, Gene Gillem; First Vice President, Tom Damm; Vice President Zone 1, William Warner; VP Zone 2, Emerson Sperling; VP Zone 3, Don Funk; VP Zone 4, Ron Gillies; Treasurer, E.E. "Pat" Ryan, and Secretary Louis R. Harrington. Other business at the meeting included discussions as to the financial status of the district and the budget by the Project and Finance Committee headed up by Jack Klaiber. They reported that if present services were to be continued the budget should be maintained at the present level. They pointed out that the elimination of sanction fees on Parades would necessitate finding other sources of revenue. They also reported that a change to a double panel of judges would materially reduce income. Other actions included the presentation of the Gold Division Achievement Award to the Oakland County Chapter and the Silver Division Award to the Wayne Chapter. The newly chartered Les Cheneaux Chapter was recognized, and the chair announced that the chartering of the new Tecumseh Chapter would be held in November. All in all, four new chapters were taken into the fold in 1968, those being Tecumseh, Grand Haven, Les Cheneaux and Cadillac.
In November of 1968, the Detroit MOTOR CITY Chorus, under the direction of Bill Butler, made two appearances with the Detroit Lions on national color television. During one, the chorus formed in a semi-circle on the podium in back of Al Hirt and sang "When the Saints Come Marching In" while Al played the trumpet.
**Correction from Lyle Howard| [index] | [1966] | [1967] | [1968] | [1969] | [1970] | [Contents] |
