Edwin S. Smith passes away
 Edwin Smith
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Ed Smith passed away on Sunday, March 7, 1982, at the age of 84. Ed was a self-taught musician who played piano, saxophone, clarinet, and a number of other string instruments and horns. He was a key figure in the organization of the Wayne Chapter in 1944, and served as its first president. He also was the first president of the Metropolitan Association of Chapters and president of the district in 1948-49. He was elected international president in 1952, having served prior as international vice president for two terms, and had been a member of the International Board for 3 and one-half years. He was also elected in the Seventies to the Pioneer District Hall of Fame. The Society, the district, the Wayne Chapter, and all who knew him have lost a friend of barbershop, indeed.
Westland Chapter added to district rolls
The new Westland Chapter was chartered on April 1, 1982. Sponsored by the Livingston County Chapter, the charter included thirty (30) members. Leaders in the organization included former Detroit #1 members Bill Warner, Jim Stephens, Bill Butler, and Larry King. The first charter show was held on the 19th of February, 1983.
All lines led to Lansing for the spring convention
 Center Stage
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 Saturday Nite Feature
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 Motor City, International 1982 | |
Lansing, Michigan, was the big site for the upcoming spring convention. Fourteen choruses and fourteen quartets vied for the championships. In the quartet contests, CENTER STAGE, SATURDAY NITE FEATURE, and POINTE CLASSICS won the right to represent the district at international. Pioneer was allowed an additional spot because CENTER STAGE had medalled the year before, and therefore earned a spot directly, allowing us another quartet.
In the chorus competition, the Wayne WONDERLAND Chorus outscored the Oakland County WOLVERINE Chorus for the chorus championship of 1982. Grosse Pointe ended up in third, Lansing in fourth, and Benton Harbor-St. Joseph in fifth place.
CLASSIC COLLECTION wins big in July—CENTER STAGE finishes second
CENTER STAGE came on strong in the finals at Pittsburgh, but still were outdistanced by the CLASSIC COLLECTION for the outright championship. Our other two quartets, the SATURDAY NITE FEATURE and the POINTE CLASSICS finished in 42nd place and 48th place respectively, even though both did good jobs. In the chorus contest, the Detroit #1 MOTOR CITY Chorus under the direction of Carl Dahlke wound up in 13th place of the 16 choruses competing.
GOOD NEWS sweeps in fall contest!
 Great Lakes
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The fall district contest was held in Grand Rapids on October 16, 1982. Sixteen choruses showed up to determine the chorus to represent the district at the next international, with the Grand Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorus winning out over the Wayne WONDERLAND Chorus in a close contest. Other choruses competing included Detroit #1, Lansing, Oakland County, Grosse Pointe, Huron Valley, Traverse City, Clinton Valley, Benton Harbor-St. Joseph, Battle Creek, Flint, Holland, Windsor, Muskegon and Milford.
 Good News
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The GOOD NEWS Quartet (Gary Stoze, tenor; Wally Dorosh, lead; Mike McClary, bass, and Brian Kaufman, bari) outscored the SOUNDS AROUND to win district championship by 54 points. BLACK VELVET finished third, followed by the TRI-COUNTY CONNECTION fourth and the GOOD COMPANY fifth. Rounding out the top eight included THE VERY IDEA, the SOUND AMBASSADORS, and the ACCENTS. THE VERY IDEA were declared the junior champs and the TRI-COUNTY CONNECTION were declared the novice champs.
In House of Delegates actions in conjunction with the convention, President Fran Jones announced the appointment of Mr. Russ Seely to a newly-established position of district convention planning manager, the purpose of which to assist chapters in planning for district conventions. In other business, the Monroe Chapter was officially given district permission to merge with the Toledo Chapter of the Johnny Appleseed District. This was based on the approval to be obtained from the International Laws & Regulations Committee.
 Jim Gougeon
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New officers were elected at the House of Delegates meeting for the Pioneer District for 1983, and included the following for the 1983 calendar year: Jim Gougeon, president; Bob McDermott, executive vice president; vice presidents—Earl Berry, Division I, Robert Dixon, Division II, Robert Goldschmeding, Division III, Marty Chirgwin, Division IV, Gene Weston, Division V; Jack Schneider, treasurer; and Jack Teubert, secretary;
Swan Valley becomes newest Pioneer chapter
The Swan Valley Chapter was admitted into the Pioneer District on November 12, 1982 with 30 members. The key men in the undertaking included Gene Weston, Deon Moore, and David Smith. The charter show was held on the same night, with the Saginaw-Bay Chapter sponsoring the new chapter.
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