Doran McTaggart reports on his first International Board meeting as I.B.M.
The midwinter convention was held in Colorado Springs, and below are listed a few of the decisions taken by the International Board:
The history of the Society will be updated for the 50th Anniversary year.
Some number changes were made to aid faltering chapters:
Any chapter dropping below that level, will be given 60 days to report the necessary membership increase before the charter will be automatically revoked by Society headquarters.
Some changes were made also to the Stage Presence category. From now on, each song will be given from 10 to 90 points. Attire will be awarded 0 to 8 (+ or -). There will be no disqualification because of color or cut. Non-singing time (entrance, applause acceptance, pitch-pipe technique, and exit) will be scored from 0 to 12 (+ or -).
There will be a dues increase of $5 effective April 1, 1980. This increase allows for the hiring of two new field men, in addition to Lyle Pettigrew, who will start July 1, 1980.
The 1982 midwinter bids from Hartford and New Orleans were not accepted. A new bidding procedure will be tried.
The Seattle and Pittsburgh conventions were flip-flopped. The 1982 international will be held in Pittsburgh, with 1983 to be held in Seattle.
The mortgage on Harmony Hall East is now COMPLETELY PAID!
A new system of half-yearly dues for NEW members was adopted. If the new member wishes, he may initially pay for six months and pay the balance due before the end of the six-month period. This proposal would have to be passed by the Pioneer District House of Delegates.
"Silver" Level Harmony Foundation Award approved
In 1980 the Harmony Foundation Board of Trustees approved a $25 (silver) Harmony Foundation Award. This was done as a further incentive to contribute to the Society's International Service Project since many chapters were exceeding to $10 (bronze) level of giving. The same plaque was to be used but the date tabs for the $25 would be in silver. There was also discussion about the possible need for a $50 (gold) Harmony Foundation Award in the future.
Fred Waring turns 80
Fred Waring, director of the PENNSYLVANIANS and an avid supporter of barbershopping, reached the age of 80 on June 9, 1980. In an effort to have the presidential "Medal of Freedom" awarded to him, because of his many contributions to music, barbershoppers were encouraged to write to President Carter urging that Fred receive the award as a "special recipient." At the same time, barbershoppers were asked to flood Fred with birthday cards.
CENTER STAGE quartet formed
 Center Stage
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At the time the CENTER STAGE quartet was formed, in late 1979, its members (Wendell Pryor, tenor; Dennis Gore, lead; Glenn Van Tassell, baritone; and Lee Hanson, bass) boasted a combined total of 75 years of membership in the Society. Among them, they proudly claim two international gold medals, one silver medal, four bronze medals and several district championship medals. All have competed at both district and international levels in both quartets and choruses many times, and have entertained on chapter shows and for general audiences, outside the Society, all over the United States and Canada.
Robert H. "Bob" Walker passes away at age 77 Bob Walker, a former Pioneer District and Grand Rapids Chapter president passed away in November of 1980. During his 38 years as a barbershopper he served as district secretary from 1944-46 and as district president from 1946 to 1948. He was very active, in the 1940's and the 1950's in the organizing of new chapters such as Niles, Sturgis, Marcellus, Three Rivers, Benton Harbor, Big Rapids, Ionia, Belding, Greenville, Ithaca, Alma, Cadillac, Traverse City, Beulah, Manistee, Ludington, Hart, Whitehall, Mackinaw City, Sault Ste. Marie, Alpena, Reed City and Petoskey. Bob's TRAVELLER'S quartet spent many hours entertaining servicemen at Percy Jones Hospital in Battle Creek. Bob served as president of the Grand Rapids chapter in 1960. Bob was inducted into the Pioneer District Hall of Fame because of his many contributions to Pioneer District barbershopping. Grand Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorus outscores Oakland County WOLVERINE'S for district crown Thirteen choruses dueled for the 1980 Pioneer District chorus championship with the Grand Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorus outscoring the second place Oakland County WOLVERINE Chorus by 45 points to take the championship. Other choruses competing finished in the following order: Grosse Pointe, third; Huron Valley, fourth; Lansing, fifth; Traverse City, sixth; Gratiot County, seventh; Holland, eighth; Windsor, ninth; Benton Harbor-St. Joseph, tenth; Kalamazoo, eleventh; Flint and Battle Creek, twelfth and thirteenth respectively. The competition was held at Ann Arbor, Michigan, on April 26, 1980. Oakland County was awarded the 1980 Gold Division Chorus Championship Award, with Huron Valley named the winner of the 1980 Silver Division Chorus Championship Award. In the convention's quartet contest, which determined the two quartets to represent the Pioneer District at the upcoming international convention, the Grand Rapids, Michigan, SOUNDS AROUND (Bob Buffham, bari; Larry Humphrey, bass; Bill Land, lead, and Lloyd Bevee, tenor) quartet and the B & L EXCHANGE from both the Grand Rapids and Saginaw-Bay chapters (Jim Johnson, tenor; Tom Peil, lead; Dick Miller, bass, and Jim Gross, bari) came up winners from among the fourteen quartets competing. Other quartets competing and their scoring placement included the GREAT LAKES EXPRESS, third; BLACK VELVET, fourth; SATURDAY NITE FEATURE, fifth; CROSSTOWN EXCHANGE, sixth; HARMONY HOUNDS, seventh; SOUND AMBASSADORS, eighth; the TUNESTERS UNION, ninth; VILLAGE RAMBLERS, tenth; A POSITIVE ENDEAVOR, eleventh; ARBOR EDITION, twelfth; FOR-WARDS OF HARMONY, thirteenth, and the ALL FOR A SONG, fourteenth. The two quartets, SOUNDS AROUND and the B & L EXCHANGE won the right to represent the Pioneer District convention at Salt Lake City, with the GREAT LAKES EXPRESS being declared the alternate. A POSITIVE ENDEAVOR wins Boyne City "Bush League" quartet contest The 1980 Boyne City "Bush League" contest held on May 3, 1980, at the Boyne City High School was a complete success with 14 quartets competing and vying for the big gaboon. This year's winner turned out to be A POSITIVE ENDEAVOR followed closely by the PARTS UNKNOWN, perennial competitors from the Detroit area. The evening show was opened by the SNOW BELT Chorus singing several of Loton Willson's arrangements. The previous year's champs, the BLACK VELVET, then sang before presenting the gaboon to the new winners. The CROSSTOWN EXCHANGE, featured quartet for the evening, announced that they were calling it quits. As the emcee pointed out at the end of the show, the beautiful performance they just put on makes it even harder to say goodbye to this great quartet. Southeast Michigan Association of Chapters make big plans for Pine Knob Theater presentation and 1981 international convention Buoyed by their initial spectacular in the previous year (1979), the S.M.A.C. organization laid plans for an even more spectacular show scheduled for May 24 of 1980, and an even better show was produced. Special commendations in for the 1980 show went to Darl Wiley of Oakland County assisted by Roger Morris of Milford (promotion), to Phil Wright and Earl Berry of Detroit #1 (tickets, talent and miscellaneous), and to Thomas Hine, one of the original sparkplugs of S.M.A.C. who returned from Chicagoland, where he had been transferred, to direct the S.M.A.C. chorus. Quartets appearing on the big spectacular included our district champion GREAT LAKES EXPRESS, the SCHIZO-PHONICS from Chicago, and the CLASSIC COLLECTION from Colorado. Choruses participating included the MOTOR CITY Chorus from Detroit #1, the LAKESHORE Chorus from Grosse Pointe, the WOLVERINE Chorus from Oakland County, the Wayne WONDERLAND Chorus, and a massed chorus of all S.M.A.C. chapters directed by Thom Hine. Overall, the talent performed well and the price of $4.50 in advance ($5 at the door) was well worth the price for such a great show. A follow-up show was planned at Detroit's Hart plaza on Sunday, July 16, directed by Russ Seely of the Grosse Pointe Chapter. This was to be under the auspices of the Detroit Renaissance (a promotion of the City of Detroit), as part of their "Detroit is Song" music festival in the Civic Center on that Sunday preceding the Republican National convention, beginning July 14, 1980. Plans were also being made by the S.M.A.C. organization to beef up their regular convention planning meetings, which would soon be upon the city in 1981. These meetings became more regular as the year progressed. The Detroit S.M.A.C. organization hadn't sponsored an international convention since 1953, and much had changed since that time as to schedules, etc. Bill Warner, the chairman of the convention for the S.M.A.C. organization, truly had his hands full in getting this planning endeavor underway. Fortunately he was ably assisted by some top notch talent such as Bob Miquelon, Earl Berry, Larry King, Clay Jones and many, many other top planners. BOSTON COMMON, Scarborough's DUKES OF HARMONY win big at Salt Lake City Few barbershop quartets in the world enjoy the popularity equal to that of the BOSTON COMMON. This quartet swept the feet off those in attendance at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City for the international quartet contest held on July 11, 1980. Leading through all three contests, they wound up the championship with a tremendous score of 4716 followed by the CHICAGO NEWS with a score of 4490. The third, fourth, and fifth place quartets included the ROARING 20'S, the GRAND TRADITION, and the CLASSIC COLLECTION, in that order. Pioneer's representatives, the SOUNDS AROUND finished 23rd while the B & L EXCHANGE ended up in 47th position of the 48 quartets competing. In the chorus contests, the Wayne WONDERLAND Chorus ended up in 14th position of the 16 choruses competing. The DUKES OF HARMONY from Scarborough, Ontario, came in first, outpointing the second place Alexandria, Virginia, HARMONIZERS by 44 points. Wayne had 59 men on stage in the contest, about 53 less than the winners. In fact it was quite interesting to see how the numbers finished in the overall total. The lowest six choruses, from tenth on down, all had 59 or less competitors on stage. The top four choruses in the contest staged 112, 118, 117, and 97 respectively. Does size have an effect on the contest? Judging from this contest, it certainly has some semblance of reality. Jackson Chapter hosts fall convention on October 18, 1980 In one of the closest chorus contests in a long time, the Grand Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorus under the direction of Clay Shumard eked out a slim eight-point victory over the Wayne WONDERLAND Chorus to take the contest and the right to represent the Pioneer District in Detroit the next July. It was truly one of the closest contests to be held in a long time. The Detroit #1 MOTOR CITY Chorus came in third, followed by the Oakland County WOLVERINE Chorus and the Grosse Pointe LAKESHORE Chorus in fourth and fifth place respectively. Other choruses competing included Huron Valley, Monroe, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor-St. Joseph, and Port Huron, from sixth to eleventh, respectively. In the quartet competition, CENTER STAGE from the Huron Valley and Oakland County, Michigan, chapters (Wendell Pryor, tenor; Dennis Gore, Lead; Lee Hanson, bass, and Glenn Van Tassell, baritone) started its long journey of winning in the quartet arena by taking the Pioneer District quartet championship in their stride at Jackson, Michigan. Twelve other quartets vied for the crown also, but none were even close as the BLACK VELVET, SATURDAY NITE FEATURE, SOUNDS AROUND, CADENCE COUNTS, DUTCH MASTERS, the TUNESTERS UNION, and the SOUND AMBASSADORS rounded out the eight finalists. Quartets not qualifying in the top eight of the semi-finals round included A POSITIVE ENDEAVOR, THE VERY IDEA!, THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT, BLUE PLATE SPECIAL, and the MUSIC MAESTROS. Logopedics Quartet Award established Because of their interest in and commitment to our International Service Project, the GREAT LAKES EXPRESS quartet established a traveling quartet trophy. The trophy is to be awarded each year to the quartet in the Pioneer District that has contributed the greatest amount of money to Logopedics during the year. The name of the winning quartet will be inscribed on a plate on the trophy. The trophy will be presented to the winning quartet at the spring convention each year.
Robert Walker
Great Lakes
Crosstown Exchange
Center Stage
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Great Lakes Express
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