International President Sparks sets challenge for the Society into the Seventies
International President Wilbur Sparks delivered an outstanding keynote address at the opening of the 1970 midwinter Board meeting in Seattle in January of 1970. In it he both challenged and committed the Society to a `self-renewal through excellence in all things.' The provocative challenges and philosophy in his remarks provide the ingredients to fulfill his goal for 1970: "Let's Sing Better—For More People—With More Members."
Other challenges thrown out by Sparks included the adoption of significant changes in the contest and judging program providing improvement and sophistication to the program by upgrading the arrangement category and revising the voice expression category to a new category to be known as "interpretation."
Finally, his mention of the development of a high school quartet program and international contest would see high school youths from every state and province in the Society participating. This program is the forerunner of our present college quartet program recently announced (1991).
District Board meeting held in East Lansing
The annual January Board meeting was held January 23 at the Inn America in East Lansing, Michigan. Major discussion revolved around the concern as to the effect of the elimination of the show sanction fees, and the increase of district per-capita dues to $5. Motion was made and carried to utilize the international billing system to collect the per-capita dues from the chapter. In other business, it was reported that Zone I Vice President Tom Pollard stated that the Windsor Chapter had offered to present to the district a Canadian flag for display during conventions, and the Board responded enthusiastically. Visits by International Music Men Bob Johnson, Dave Stevens, and Mac Huff were announced. A motion was made and seconded that, beginning with the Muskegon convention in April, registration would be required for every participating contestant in the chorus or quartet competition. The cost of our convention package, which included the quartet preliminaries, the chorus competition, the quarter finals and district after-glows was set at $6. A special discount price was offered to all COMPETING members of $5.
SHARPLIFTERS acquire new lead
Joe Coburn, lead of the SHARPLIFTERS, was transferred to Chicago, Illinois. Bill Shannon, lead of the CHORD REPORTERS, replaced him in this spot. Have you ever thought how much time it takes to sing in an organized quartet? Bill Wickstrom reported that the quartet (when they were three years old in February of 1970) had been together as a quartet for five contests, 42 parades, eight chapter package shows, 77 chapter meetings, 68 other performances (USO, TV appearances, charities, etc.) and 179 rehearsals...a total of 439 times. That's nearly every other night for the three-year span. That they were still together after three years was a real tribute to their wives.
Chase Sanborn passes away on February 18, 1970
The district suffered the loss of a very dedicated Pioneer barbershopper when Chase Sanborn died from heart failure. Chase had held most of the Pontiac Chapter offices moving up to area counselor and then to the district vice president position in 1959. In 1962 a still higher honor was bestowed upon him when he was elected to represent our district on the International Board of Directors. Chase was the type of individual who worked behind the scenes, drawing very little attention to himself but accomplishing so very much. His loss was felt throughout the district chapters, and especially the Pontiac and the Oakland County Chapters. An example of his behind the scenes work for the chapters involved a situation in which the Oakland County Chapter in the early Fifties had fallen upon hard times membership-wise, and was in danger of losing their charter. Chase quietly took out a dual membership, allowing the chapter to maintain their required membership count. Hats off to a great barbershopper, Chase Sanborn.
Executive Board meeting held
The second Board meeting of the Pioneer District took place on March 15, 1970, at the Inn America in East Lansing. Major discussions involved the scheduling and establishment of district convention and contest dates. The international office had suggested that the district be set for the fourth weekend in April for the spring convention and the second weekend in October for the fall convention. The chorus competitions would remain the same, with the international representative chosen in the fall and the quartet representatives in the spring. It was duly noted that these dates were the same weekends that had traditionally been used, and the president was directed to advise Kenosha that we favored the suggested schedule. In other business, the use of an international staff for COTS was discussed. An international COTS faculty had been used the previous January with a favorable response from those attending; but, due to the expense involved, a motion was made to hold the COTS school in December of 1970 using a district faculty. It was just a matter of time until the decision to use an international faculty as we do now would be made. The education of our chapter administrative officers was becoming increasingly more important.
Zone I Vice President Tom Pollard reported that after extensive work on the part of Area Counselor Bob Miller and himself, all attempts to revive the Ann Arbor Chapter have proven fruitless. To date, none of the six remaining members will assume any responsibility for chapter office or do anything to help continue this chapter. After extensive discussion, it was moved and carried that the Pioneer District request the international headquarters to revoke the Ann Arbor charter.
Our quartets continued to entertain the troops
It was announced in April that the HARMONY HOUNDS had been selected by the USO to entertain our troops in hospitals and service men's clubs in Japan, the Philippines and Guam, for 17 days starting on the 11th of May. The HOUNDS were an extremely popular comedy quartet throughout the district and the Society.
Muskegon hosts spring convention
The annual spring convention was held in Muskegon April 24-26, 1970, with contests being held at the Muskegon Michigan Theater and Board and House of Delegates meetings at the Occidental Hotel. Twelve quartets and twelve choruses entered the competitions. It was unfortunate but this year we could only send two quartets as our representatives to international competition in Atlantic City due to the re-compiling of population figures of all of the districts, the manner in which the number of quartets was selected.
 Gentlemen's Agreement
|  Sharplifters
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In the quartet competitions it was the GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT and SHARPLIFTERS all the way, leading in first and second place, respectively, throughout both sessions. The VAGABONDS were close in the semi-finals, but fell farther behind in the finals. In fourth place were the EVERSHARPS, fifth, the KASUAL-D'S, sixth, the NILE-LATERS, and rounding out the seven finalists was the SOUNDSATIONS. This was the first competition for the GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT (Al Rehkop, tenor; Drayton Justus, lead; Glenn Van Tassell, baritone, and Bob Whitledge, bass), although they were all veteran quartet men. Singing with the SHARPLIFTERS as their new lead, replacing Joe Coburn, was Bill Shannon. Other members of the foursome included Bill Wickstrom, tenor; John Seemann, baritone, and Lowell Wolfe, bass. The VAGABONDS with Ken Gibson, tenor; Dennis Gore, lead; Tony Scooros, baritone and Norm Thompson, bass, were selected as the alternate quartet to the Atlantic City contest.
 Wolverines 1970
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In the chorus competition it was the WOLVERINE Chorus under the direction of Carl Dahlke winning the district chorus championship for 1970 by 179 points over the second place Wayne WONDERLAND Chorus, followed by the Grand Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorus in third, TRAVERSE CITY Chorus in fourth, and the Saginaw-Bay TIMBERLAND CHORDSMEN in fifth place. Other choruses included the Grosse Pointe, Kalamazoo, Niles-Buchanan, Lansing, Holland, Windsor and Cadillac Chapters.
Past International President Bob Gall addresses House of Delegates
The Pioneer District House of Delegates meeting was held at 9:10 p.m. at the Occidental Hotel with 41 members present. The 1969 Area Counselor of the Year Award was presented to Noel "Bud" Carpenter of the Saginaw-Bay Chapter by President Damm for his outstanding work during the year. President Damm then introduced `Keynoter' Bob Gall whose address stressed the word `encouragement' and suggested we all get involved and try new ways to promote barbershopping. Gall presented the International `Protention' Awards to chapters as follows: First Plateau, Boyne City; Second Plateau, Windsor; Fourth Plateau, Muskegon, and Fifth Plateau, Detroit. The Fruit Belt Chapter was honored with a banner recognizing 100 percent retention of members for 1969.
In other actions, the Pontiac Chapter moved that the Area Counselor of the Year Award be re-named the Chase Sanborn Area Counselor Award. The move was seconded and was carried unanimously. It is a fitting honor for this award to be under his name, as he was an outstanding area counselor.
Pioneer members head for Atlantic City in June
Many Pioneer District members and their families headed east June 22-27, 1970, to attend the big international convention being held in Atlantic City. More than 7200 registrants were on hand with better than 10,000 alone attending the Saturday night finals. Leading the Pioneer delegation were not only most of our district officers but large contingents from the chapters as well, and they were rewarded for their loyalty when our own GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT finished in fourth place in the quartet finals, which was a tremendous accomplishment on their first journey to the big one. The SHARPLIFTERS with their new lead Bill Shannon performed well enough to earn 30th position in the final standings. The ORIOLE FOUR, from Dundalk Maryland, were declared the new international champs, with the Illinois District SUNDOWNERS finishing some 200 points behind in second place. Forty-five quartets competed in the overall quartet competition.
In the chorus competition, the Livingston, New Jersey, DAPPER DANS OF HARMONY nosed out the Phoenix, Arizona, PHOENICIANS by just 16 points, and outscored 13 other great choruses to take the championship honors. The Oakland County WOLVERINE Chorus sang very well, finishing in ninth position under the tutelage of Carl Dahlke. It was the WOLVERINE Chorus's third straight trip to the international chorus competition as Pioneer's representative. The contest itself was a big hit at the convention with all the elaborate choreography and dazzling uniforms, and the close scores added to the excitement.
In the International Board actions commensurate with the big convention, some major and some minor revisions were legislated into effect, as follows:
*Approved amendments to the district constitutions and by-laws that the Nominating Committee will commence on January 1 instead of March 15. All past district presidents, in addition to members of the House of Delegates, are eligible for appointment to the Nominating Committee. (Effective on January 1, 1971, only the three past district presidents immediately preceding the immediate past district president, shall be voting members of the House of Delegates.)
*The Society's Statements of Policy with regard to qualifications for an International Board member were revised to read: "A man must have served as district president, past district president or vice president in his district during no less than two of the five years prior to his election." These qualifications are guidelines, not mandatory requirements. The Board also approved, in principal, that the International Board member be designated as a district officer.
*Due to the increase in the number of chapters with less than 25 members at the time, the Board reinstated the category of `Associate Status' for chapters who fall below the 25 member mark. The previous associate status restrictions were modified to provide that effective immediately all associate status chapters: a.) Have no vote in their district House of Delegates; b.) Can remain on associate status for one year after which time their charter is subject to revocation unless the district requests a six-month extension; c.) May enter quartets and choruses in competition if they meet Society contest requirements.
*The late renewal service charge of $2 was reinstated effective October 1, 1970, due to the increasing number of late renewing and reporting of members.
*In light of the increasing problem of tape recorders at Society contests, shows and afterglows causing severe copyright problems, the Board adopted the policy that "persons with recording devices will not be allowed to enter contests, shows or afterglows."
*Started direct member billing commencing with the fourth quarter of 1970. Under this new program the first renewal will be sent directly to the member from the international office with a duplicate copy of the invoice going to the chapter secretary for follow-up.
The secretary was instructed by the Board to cast a unanimous ballot for the slate of international officers as submitted by the Nominating Committee. Elected as the new president for 1971 was Ralph Ribble, Jr., from the Southwestern District, along with other vice presidents.
Our P.R. booth takes third place in PROBE displays
 Bob McDermott |
 John Morris |
 Bill Pascher |
The Pioneer District PROBE booth placed third in the district booth displays in the headquarters hotel lobby. The booth included the handiwork of Bill Pascher, Pontiac, and John Morris and Bob McDermott of the Oakland County Chapter. It was significant in that this was the first real exposure of the name "Pioneer" to the Society, and what it stood for.
Summer 1970 events proved interesting and exciting
The annual summer events occurred as scheduled with the Detroit #1 Chapter "Bob-Lo Cruise" in July drawing a capacity crowd. Entertaining were the MOTOR CITY Chorus, the INTERLOCHENS, the CHORD REPORTERS, the STATELINERS, the BROTHERS THREE AND ME, and the HARMONY HOUNDS; the crowd was met at the dock by Bob Farrington and the BANJOS OF MICHIGAN.
Harrisville was again as popular as ever, attracting 287 families, and over 19 chapters were represented. The Vet's Club again served the fabulous chicken dinners on Sunday (950 barbecued half-chickens were served), the golf match was held, the children's ghost walk (with over 300 adults and children participating) was scary (Dick Liddicoatt always had the imagination), and the big Sunday afternoon show for the citizens of Harrisville emceed by Tom Pollard had 11 quartets and nine choruses participating.
Some still bothered by district name change
Many in the district were still finding it difficult to accept the change of the name of the district from `Michigan' to `Pioneer'. The District Troubadour in mid-1970 had several articles suggesting name changes because it was felt the name `Pioneer' just didn't identify the district geographically.
District Board holds meeting in Cedarville in July
A meeting of the Pioneer District Board of Directors was held on Saturday, July 25, 1970, at the home of Capt. Cliff MacLean's home in Cedarville. Major discussions involved the clearing of details of the charter revocations of the Ann Arbor and Redford Chapters in Zone I, and in Zone III the Grand Haven Chapter members were being asked to transfer their memberships to the existing chapters in the area. E.E. "Pat" Ryan, as president of the Detroit #1 Chapter, asked that the Board consider the proposed merger of the Dearborn and Detroit Chapters. A motion was made and carried that the Pioneer District grants its permission for the Dearborn Chapter to merge with the Detroit #1 Chapter.
GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT are district champions
Gentlemen's Agreement
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The fall Pioneer District convention was held in Windsor on October 9-11, 1970. The GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENTleft no doubt in anyone's mind as to who the next district champs were going to be with a resounding total of 3019 points, 476 points ahead of the second place INVOICES. The quartet made the most of their songs singing "Make Believe," "Let Me Sing and I'm Happy," "Dixie," and their already famous "Sweetest Story Ever Told." In third place was the HARMONY HOUNDS followed by the CHORD REPORTERS, the CAR TUNES, the TWI-LIGHTERS and the SOUNDSATIONS. In all, 15 quartets competed. Quartets not making the finals included the HI-LITES, MILLION AIRES, INTERLOCHENS, RING MASTERS, DUTCH MASTERS, BURRILL BROTHERS, the VILLAGE AIRES and the HUM BUMS.
 Wolverines 1970
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In the chorus competition it was almost the same story. The WOLVERINE Chorus under the direction of Carl Dahlke, won the championship and the right to once again represent the district at the international convention in New Orleans in 1971. In second place was the Wayne WONDERLAND Chorus, followed by Detroit MOTOR CITY in third, the Grosse Pointe LAKESHORE Chorus in fourth, and the Monroe FLORAL CITY, Kalamazoo MALL CITY and HURON VALLEY Chorus in sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively. This would mark the fourth consecutive international preliminary chorus contest that the WOLVERINE Chorus had won to represent the district.
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