Mark P. Roberts passes away in Largo, Florida
 Mark P. Roberts
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It was sad news when the word quickly spread that Mark P. Roberts had died April 4, 1983, in Florida. Mark, who was a real pioneer of our district, contributed significantly to the Society and to the district. In fact, this history, which you are presently reading, was struck from an idea of Mark's earlier writings, many of which have been included in the early chapters of this edition. His stories were famous, and deserved to be preserved in this manner. In addition, Mark was probably the sole man who helped our Society become a tax-free non-profit Society. His legal work with the government on behalf of the Society is a matter of history. His gift to our district cannot be described eloquently enough, as only the Grosse Pointe Chapter can tell you. Ask Russ Seely, who will talk for hours about Mark.
Midland Arts Center selected as the competition site
Always a treat to sing in, the Midland Performing Arts Center again lived up to its name. Eighteen choruses and seventeen quartets were drawn April 22-24 to the beautiful center to compete for the right to represent the district at the international quartet competition and/or become district chorus champion. In the chorus competition, the Grand Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorus outscored all others in taking the district championship for 1983. Other choruses competing included Lansing second, Oakland County third, Grosse Pointe fourth, Huron Valley fifth, Saginaw-Bay sixth, Gratiot County seventh, Flint eighth, Clinton Valley ninth, Traverse City tenth, Benton Harbor-St. Joe eleventh, Muskegon twelfth, Windsor thirteenth, Port Huron fourteenth, Kalamazoo fifteenth, Milford sixteenth, Swan Valley seventeenth and Au Sable Valley eighteenth.
 Center Stage
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 Good News
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In the quartet finals, CENTER STAGE, GOOD NEWS, and the SOUNDS AROUND finished as the three ranked quartets to represent the Pioneer District at the 1983 international contest in Seattle. Rounding out the top eight finalist included the ACCENTS, BLACK VELVET, DUTCH MASTERS, HARBOR HI-LITES and the CROSS COUNTY CONNECTION, respectively.
CENTER STAGE medals for third time in a row at Seattle
The 45th international quartet contest was held July 7-8, 1983, in Seattle, Washington. The CENTER STAGE finished in second place for the second time in a row, and medalled for the third time, to put them closer to the big gold. Unfortunately the SIDE STREET RAMBLERS spoiled things for them by walking off with the top honors, 4514 to 4372. The other two quartets from Pioneer placed 40th and 43rd, with the SOUNDS AROUND scoring 1111 points and the GOOD NEWS with 1085 points to place in those positions. All in all, they did an excellent job considering the competition.
In the chorus contest, the Grand Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorus finished 14th out of the 16 choruses competing. Phoenix, Arizona, another perennial winner, won the title with 1563 points, edging Scarbourough, Ontario and Lombard, Illinois with 1549 and 1539 points respectively.
Oakland County Chapter hosts Pioneer District convention for the first time
For a long time Oakland County had wanted to sponsor a district convention, but it seemed like facilities or other problems would just not allow it to happen. But this time they put it all together, and for the first time Oakland County was the host chapter.
 Tri-County Connection
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Fourteen quartets competed for the 1984-85 quartet competition, with the TRI-COUNTY CONNECTION (Rick Sims, tenor; Mike Dixon, lead; Mike Woodruff, bari, and Tom Conway, bass) walking off with the honors for '84. In second place was the DUTCH MASTERS, followed by the HARMONY ROADSHOW, HEIRLOOM, PATCH CHORDS, THE SOUND AMBASSADORS, THE IVY LEAGUE, and the FURNITURE CITY CHORD COMPANY to round out the top eight. Other quartets competing in the semi-finals included COLLECTOR'S CHOICE, STOCK ARRANGEMENT, MUTUAL ACCORD, THE FIRST ENDEAVOR, OL' TIME HARMONY and TODAY'S SPECIAL.
In the chorus competition to determine the representative district at the international chorus contest in Minneapolis in 1984, the Wayne WONDERLAND Chorus outscored the Grand Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorus by 23 points to take the title. Other choruses competing included those from Grosse Pointe, Lansing, Huron Valley, Monroe, Port Huron, Clinton Valley, Windsor and Kalamazoo.
At the House of Delegates meeting held in conjunction with the convention, district officers were reelected with the exception that Bob Huntley replaced Bob Dixon as the Division Vice President for Division II. It was announced that Mr. Gene Weston had resigned due to ill health, as Chairman of the Membership and Extension Committee and as District Membership Development Coordinator, and that Mr. Robert Dixon had been appointed to fill those offices.
In earlier actions of the Board, the following awards were presented:
Gene Weston was elected as Area Counselor of the Year.
Pioneer District Achievement Award for 1982: Gold Achievement—Grand Rapids Chapter; Silver Division—Clinton Valley Chapter.
District Achievement Award winners for 1982 as awarded by international: Plateau I—Clinton Valley; Plateau II—Battle Creek; Plateau III—Huron Valley; Plateau IV—Benton Harbor-St. Joe; Plateau V—Wayne; and Plateau VI—Oakland County.
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