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It's the journey
Every contest is a snapshot
Like many of you, I packed my car last Wednesday to travel to the Area 3 contest. It was 8 hours on the road for my daughter Alexa Beal, husband Dan Signor, granddaughter Bellamy, and me – but oh so worth it! Being an IBOD member, a chapter member, and a member of both a competing quartet and an “emerita” (Queen) quartet, I get how busy it feels to navigate a contest weekend. We see friends we’ve not seen for months, stay up way too late, eat on an irregular schedule, and worry about whether we’ve brought everything we need!
The bottom line (and this will be a short column, because I am guilty of all the previous items and need to run to the Family Chorus rehearsal!) is that every contest is a snapshot of a particular moment. Did you have the best hit of your life? Not your best rendition? Struggled with allergies or an ill-timed cold? Loved your scores? Took issue with the judges’ perceptions? Any of those may be true. But if you did your best, had fun preparing (it’s the journey, not the destination, right?) and have laughed and sung with friends, then it’s been a successful weekend by any standard.
Contest provides a measuring stick against which to assess our progress. Scores may not tell the entire story; do you think there are things you’ve improved that may not have been reflected in your score? That’s not uncommon - judges are human and judging is an art, not a science. But they are well trained to try to avoid “hot button responses” – and I know this first-hand, having been married to a conscientious and compassionate (now retired) BHS Singing Judge for years.
My philosophy is that you can learn something from every judge’s evaluation, and how lucky are we in Harmony, Inc. that the judging panel is accessible and generous in providing real-time feedback about our performances? (To my Sweet Adeline friends in Harmony, I know that’s something that differentiates Harmony from SAI.) Last night, my quartet eval began at 10 pm. When we entered each room and were asked how we were feeling, the temptation was to say, “Exhausted. Vocally tired. Ready for bed.” But instead, our response was to ask how THEY were feeling and to say thanks for volunteering their time to help us improve, after a long day of writing scores and paying close attention.
Thanks to all volunteers
I’m all about volunteer recognition (this time of year and always) and know that our volunteer judging community puts itself out there in ways many of us never have to. So do stage managers. So do the people who are adamant about copyright and licensing legalities. So are the Areas’ contest and judging teams.
I’m meandering (lack of sleep, perhaps.) But I want to reiterate… please say thanks to judges, even if you don’t love your scores. Remember that if you finished fourth instead of third, there are dozens of other ensembles that would be thrilled with your outcome. Remember to have fun in this hobby and be open to new things, bringing all you can bring to your chapter, your quartet, your Area.
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| Area 6: Denim, Diamonds, and Giving Back |
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CELEBRATING HARMONY AREA CONVENTIONS & CONTESTS
Over the next seven issues of the HI Note, we will be featuring accounts of the contests and shenanigans at each of our Harmony Area conventions. We begin down south with Area 6. |
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Members of Sisters of Sound present the collected board books to Clermont
Head Start children, and the Clermont Head Start Director. |
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AREA 6: APRIL 10-13
Denim, diamonds and giving back!
Area collects board books for Head Start at convention
By Shannon Shelton-Muller
Celebrating 30 years of Harmony with a theme of "Denim and Diamonds", it was only natural for Area 6 to look to the queen of denim and diamonds, Dolly Parton, as inspiration. Dolly is a believer in the power of reading and books for children. In her honor, Area 6 invited all our members (and their guests) to give back by bringing a new board book to Orlando to donate to Clermont Head Start, a local preschool serving some of the Orlando area's most vulnerable children. We are very proud to report that our members and guests contributed 139 board books over the course of the weekend! As Dolly would say, "Bless your generous hearts!" |
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| Novice Quartet Astro Notes shows off their awards. FROM LEFT: Aria Collins, Abigail Eggertsen, Dylin Crane, and Katie Dodson |
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Quartet awards
Following a bedazzling array of education classes Thursday evening, 15 quartets (including BHS quartet 4 For 4 as mic-testers) took the stage Friday.
All the quartets dazzled and four qualified for IC&C: Angel's Envy, Just Sayin', 'Shop Therapy, and The No Drama Llamas with Just Sayin' winning the first place Quartet Award and the Best in Show Award (for the highest scoring quartet in the Performance Category in a two-song package).
The Golden Girls Award (for the highest-scoring seniors quartet) went to The No Drama Llamas and TOQ took home the Heart & Soul Award (the quartet showing the greatest improvement in consecutive area contests as indicated by the greatest increase in score for a two-song package). Rounding out the awards for the day were the Astro Notes with the Major Minor Award (for the highest scoring youth quartet) and the Novice Quartet Award (the highest scoring quartet containing no more than one member who has competed in a barbershop quartet contest). With the young ladies of Astro Notes leading us, the future of barbershop is bright indeed!
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Ray and Trayce Elenteny, aka Dolly Partonteny, strut their denim and diamonds. |
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Party time
Yes, Area 6 held TWO parties on Convention weekend! Friday evening brought us to the "Putting the HA in Harmony For 30 Years PARTAY" with Sandi Lipscomb of Harmony Sound Waves and Coastal Voices sharing a historical summary of Area 6 with the gathered members and guests. She played a video montage of images from choruses and quartets through the years.
And if that wasn't enough to get those assembled misty-eyed, we surprised our beautiful, loving, smart, funny, witty, talented, (I could go on and on), Trayce Elenteny, with a happy retirement party celebrating her 17 years as Area 6 ACJC. There are not enough words to express what Trayce, aka Trayce Ayceejaycee, aka Mimi, aka Dolly Partonteny, and her wonderful, dedicated family (Ray we love ya!) mean to Area 6.
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Sisters of Sound won First-Place medals for the first time in 17 years!
Trayce Elenteny and Shannon Elswick present Tiana Sandh with the First Place Director and First Place Chorus Awards |
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Tight Chorus Contest yields surprise champ
For the first time in their 17-year history, Sisters of Sound scored a first-place finish with the director's award going to Tiana Sandh. Atlanta Harmony Celebration! placed second and Music City Sound placed third with just eight points separating these top three choruses. Rounding out the five qualifiers were Sunshine Harmony Chorus and Unaccompanied MInors.
The Audience Choice Award went to Sisters of Sound. The Most Improved Chorus Award and the Sparkle Award (to the chorus showing the greatest improvement in Performance score in consecutive area contests for a two-song package) were given to Coastal Voices! The Every Voice Matters Award (to the chorus with the highest score per person on the stage) went to Unaccompanied Minors. The Celebration of Sound Award (to the Director with the highest score in the Musicality category for a two-song package) went to the director of Sisters of Sound, Tiana Sandh.
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| Coastal Voices Directors Pam Beatty-Ringo and Jeanne O'Connor proudly display their Most Improved Chorus and Sparkle awards |
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Bedazzled
Saturday night saw everyone donning their bedazzled denim and sparkling footwear, as well as some celebration of the baseball diamond, at the closing banquet. Quartets and choruses sparkled once again during a showcase of talent that culminated with the presentation of two awards. The NGBD Big Astounding Trophy is given each year to an Area 6 member who has done more than their fair share of heavy lifting in service to the area. The recipient of this trophy, a very large blow-up trophy because who wants a heavy trophy after all that heavy lifting, in association with the Area Director, determines who will receive next year’s award. This year's honor goes to Tina Gleason! And finally, the Area 6 Janet Lipscomb Service Award was presented to the very talented and dedicated, Lindsay Fontana, Area 6 Social Media & Graphic Designer.
Thank you, Area 6, for an absolutely dazzling weekend of fun, dedication, love, and giving hearts! Area 6 is proud of our donation to Clermont Head Start and of embodying "Harmony from our hearts, as well as voices." See ya'll in Hershey!
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| Take the Tempe Trail to HarmonyFest West! |
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The Harmony Fest West contest entry process is NOW OPEN! Enter your ensemble today using HAR-070.
Hotel booking is now open! Reservations can be made here |
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It’s time to take the Tempe Trail to Harmony Fest West!
Harmony, Inc. will be descending on the Omni ASU Hotel in Tempe to host its inaugural Harmony Fest West, featuring both treble and mixed voice choruses and quartets!
EVERYONE is invited (and encouraged) to join us for a weekend of hot harmonies featuring a festival chorus and quartet contest along with lots of singing, laughter, and education from some of your favorite members of the judging community, drawing brilliant talent from across all barbershop organizations!
Costs
Attend Only (not performing):
Performance/Contest Entry Fees:
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Early Bird fees paid before May 12: Quartet $40 and Chorus $65.
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Post May 12 add $10. Late entries will be required to sing.
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Entry remains open until June 10.
All performers will also be required to purchase one of the below:
$50 - ONE DAY Pass (Friday OR Saturday)
$90 - TWO DAY Pass (Friday AND Saturday)
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Two Contests (i.e., participate in one and attend other, OR participate in both)
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Evaluations / Coaching
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May add Saturday dinner and Showcase for $155 total
$165 - ALL EVENTS Pass
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Thursday Classes and Welcome reception
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Two Contests (Quartet AND Chorus - attend and / or perform)
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Evaluations / Coaching
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Saturday dinner and Showcase
For more information visit our Harmony Fest West website!
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| New Offerings in the HIVE! |
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Supporting our members is one of the goals of HI’s strategic plan, Harmony. Stronger. Harmony, Inc. Virtual Education (HIVE) is a key activity to address this goal through offering educational opportunities to our membership. Whether it's growing your vocal skills or leadership skills or just wanting to know more about the wonderful world of Harmony, we’ve got a course for that!
I had the chance to speak with Education Coordinator Wendy Spilker about HIVE and upcoming course offerings.
MARCOM: As our organization grows there may be new members to Harmony that aren’t familiar with the HIVE. Can you tell us more about what HIVE is?
WENDY: HIVE is the Harmony. Inc. Virtual Education! Each month is packed with FREE online classes on a wide variety of relevant topics to virtually every layer of our craft and culture. HIVE is an opportunity to learn from experts in real time on topics like music, performance, singing, administrative leadership, theory, culture, technology, chapter development, strategic planning,… if it exists in barbershop, we either have a class already in our library or one on the list of up and coming.
Anyone can register for a class but only Harmony members have access to our full library where every HIVE class is archived for reference. The best part is, you can customize it for your own personal development and the specific needs of your ensemble. It’s education in your living room, on your own time, by some of the best of the best in barbershop!
MARCOM: Can you share what courses you have coming up?
Classes run spring through early fall. We currently have May & June filled with excellent topics and top-notch instructors:
| Jen Cooke |
Engaging Technology in Rehearsals |
5/6/25 |
| Tessa Walker |
Building an Inclusive Chorus Culture I |
5/8/25 |
| Debra Lynn |
Trouble Shooting Vocal Issues |
5/15/25 |
| Sandi Wright |
DIRECTORS SERIES - Building a Music Committee |
5/22/25 |
| David Wright |
History of Gender and Race in Barbershop |
5/27/25 |
| Tessa Walker |
Building an Inclusive Chorus Culture II |
6/12/25 |
| Sandi Wright |
DIRECTORS SERIES - Creating a Chorus Experience |
6/17/25 |
| Debra Lynn |
Mastering the Emotional Body Connection |
6/26/25 |
| Tessa Walker |
Building an Inclusive Chorus Culture III |
7/10/25 |
| Tessa Walker |
Building an Inclusive Chorus Culture IV |
8/14/25 |
| Tessa Walker |
Building an Inclusive Chorus Culture V |
9/11/25 |
MARCOM: The course offerings cover individual skill development as well as development for our Music Leaders. Can you share a bit about the Directors Series and what your goals for this program?
WENDY: We’ve received a lot of requests for continuing education & resources for Chorus Directors, and pretty much anyone in Leadership. Our hope is to bring fresh techniques, insight, references and support for our musical leaders. While the Directors Series classes are tailored more for our musical chorus leaders, any member is welcome to attend Directors Series Classes. If you want to learn how to build your music committee, create engaging rehearsal experiences, improve your Director skills and more, we have classes for you.
MARCOM: I noticed the Building an Inclusive Chorus Culture course will be offered over several weeks. Can you tell us more about this?
WENDY: Chorus culture is something that can make or break any ensemble. How we define our chorus experiences will keep us coming back or push us towards other options. Chorus culture can accelerate our greatness and growth or it can stifle learning and creativity. The significance and nuances we often don’t consider can make all the difference in our membership and our results. That is why Tessa Walker normally gives this class at week-long Barbershop schools. We are thrilled to be offering a series on something so universal and critical to our community and craft.
MARCOM: If members have suggestions for course offerings whom should they contact?
WENDY: Our search for identifying the educational needs of our membership is an ongoing effort and an open door. If anyone attends a class at their Area (or other barbershop) conventions that they find insightful, or if there is something you’re looking for we don’t currently have, we would love to hear about it to make it happen. Please send an email that includes the class title or topic and instructor name or the subject you need. If it exists, we’ll find it and if it doesn’t, there’s always someone to create it. Submissions and suggestions can be sent to: educationcoord@harmonyinc.org
Because the HIVE sessions are recorded, we have an extensive HIVE Library that is chocked full of amazing educational offerings covering everything from the history of barbershop to vocal production. This allows our members to find an education opportunity at a time that’s right for them.
Whether you join us during a HIVE session or chart your own educational journey through the HIVE library, Harmony, Inc. is here to support you on your development goals. We can’t wait for you to join us! |
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| Could You Be A HIVE Moderator? |
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Could you be a HIVE Moderator?
This volunteer reports to the Education Coordinator.
The HIVE moderator is responsible for connecting with the instructor prior to class time to go over details. During the class, they handle the class/instructor introductions, goes over the rules, records the class, and manages the chat and the Q&A.
Candidates for this position should possess sound organizational and communication skills. If this sounds interesting to you, please reach out to our education coordinator at educationcoord@harmonyinc.org |
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| The Sweetest Place On Earth! |
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Three Area Convention and Contests are now in the books for 2025. And you know what that means -- it's time to start planning for your journey to Hershey, PA, for International Convention and Contests 2025!
As you start to make your travel decisions, here's some great information from the Hershey and Harrisburg Convention Bureau to get you started:
• General info for guests
• Chocolate World discount tickets
• General Destination Deals
Are you excited yet? But wait, there's more! The IC&C Area of the Harmony, Inc. website is up and running and will be continually updated as more information becomes available, including the answers to your questions in the FAQs! Check out the website for info on staying at Hershey Lodge, the convention timeline, sign-ups for activities, selling items at Harmony Mall, and so much more! |
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| Teri's Promoted! Now We Need A New PR Coordinator... |
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| Announcing a New Mentorship Program Pilot |
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Looking for Mentors
Harmony launches Administrative Leadership Program Pilot
By Sara Stone, Administrative Leadership Mentoring Coordinator
“I think mentors are important and I don’t think anybody makes it in the world without some form of mentorship. Nobody makes it alone. Nobody has made it alone. And we are all mentors to people even when we don’t know it.” - Oprah Winfrey
I’m excited to announce the launch of a mentoring program pilot for future leaders! We are establishing this Administrative Leadership program to help develop leadership skills in our members so they feel confident, better prepared, and more readily available to assume leadership positions within Harmony, Inc. We will pilot the program this year with a focus on building leadership skills at the Chapter level.
The first step in this process is recruiting Mentors. I’ve developed a questionnaire for prospective Mentors to complete to identify their leadership skills, leadership positions they have held in their careers, and leadership positions they have held in Harmony, Inc. Next, I will ask members who are interested in being mentored to fill out a separate questionnaire letting me know what development and leadership skills they want to build and/or what kind of chapter leadership positions they are aspiring to.
Here are some initial answers to questions you may have:
Q – How much time will this commitment take?
A – minimum of 1-2 hours a month for 6 months working specific skills, primarily via Zoom
Q – When will the program start?
A – Once I receive the questionnaires from both Mentors and Mentees, I will perform a “matching” process and contact both parties of the match. The projected start date is June 2025 with the pilot ending in December 2025.
Q – Is there a training program?
A – I have developed training for both Mentors and Mentees. This training is approximately an hour long via Zoom.
Please consider sharing your skills and expertise to develop our future leaders. If you are interested, drop me an email and I will send the Mentor questionnaire to you to complete.
"While I made my living as a coach, I have lived my life to be a mentor-and to be mentored!-constantly. Everything in the world has been passed down. Every piece of knowledge is something that has been shared by someone else. If you understand it as I do, mentoring becomes your true legacy. It is the greatest inheritance you can give to others. It is why you get up every day-to teach and be taught."
- John Wooden
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| File Your Chapter's Tax Forms! |
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TAXESTAXESTAXESTAXESTAXES
REMEMBER TO FILE!
Tax deadlines are approaching!
By Donna Clarkson, VP Finance
Most Harmony, Inc. chapters have a fiscal year of April 1 – March 31.
This will require:
- US Chapters to file an electronic 990-N Postcard (if your gross receipts are $50,000 or less, if they are more than $50,000, please contact me) with the IRS by August 15, 2025.
- Canadian Chapters are required to file a T2 with CRA by September 15, 2025.
- All Chapters are required to send proof from your taxing agency using HAR-085 that your forms have filed.
As always, please contact me with any questions.
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| Sue Trenchard Award Nominations Due |
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| METAL: Member Experience Toolkit and Library |
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By Jennifer Palus, Member Experience Working Group Lead
WHAT? Membership value exchange
Great membership experiences are built on balanced investment-a give and take. Members invest their time and energy, and in return, they should feel inspired, supported, and valued. That's the heart of a strong value exchange-and it's what keeps people coming back.
SO WHAT?
When members see and feel the impact they're making-and the impact the chorus has on them-engagement naturally grows. And when leadership fosters that connection through recognition, communication, and opportunities to grow, the whole chorus benefits.
NOW WHAT?
What does the value exchange look like in your chapter? No doubt you're already doing some wonderful things to make members feel valued, and there may be even more ways to strengthen that connection! Explore simple, meaningful ideas to build on what's working and spark new energy in your membership experience. Read the full article-and please share your chapter's ideas through our Member Engagement Feedback Form!
Read more at https://www.harmonyinc.org/metal-2-value-exchange
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Your donations to the For Love of Harmony program enable you to identify individuals or groups to receive special recognition, while at the same time providing a monetary gift to Harmony, Inc.
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Island A Cappella in memory of Dawn Elaine Roberts
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- to Mary Ann Wert (Northern Blend, Area 3) on the passing of her brother, Douglas Nadler
- to Katie Taylor (Northern Blend, Area 3) on the passing of her uncle, Douglas Nadler
- to Lorie Autote (Norther Blend, Area 3) on the passing of her uncle, Douglas Nadler
- to Brenda Smith (Island A Cappella, Area 1) with heartfelt sympathy on the death of her sister, Dawn Elaine Roberts
Need to post a condolence notice? Please have the information sent to the Administrative Coordinator to be recorded. Thank you. |
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| International Board of Directors Meetings |
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International Board of Directors (IBOD) Meetings
IBOD quarterly meetings are open to the membership.
Members are invited to submit items for consideration on the agenda (note deadline for Mid-Year agenda item submission has passed).
Agendas are posted in advance on the Members Only website. Please contact the Corporate Office for details on how to join the virtual meetings or where to attend the live meetings.
Upcoming 2025 meetings are scheduled:
- Q3: August 20
- Annual: November 2-5
Q1 2025 Meeting Minutes have been posted and can be found here.
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The Contest Information Forms for AC&C are now available.
HAR-061 Official Area Quartet Contest Information Form
HAR-063 Official Area Chorus Contest Information Form
Note there has been a change in the Song Registration Form deadline from 2 weeks prior to contest to 30 days prior to contest. Best to get it in early.
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| International Convention & Contests |
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2025 NOVEMBER 5-8, HERSHEY LODGE, HERSHEY, PA
2026 NOVEMBER 11-14, GALT HOUSE, LOUISVILLE, KY
2027 NOVEMBER 10-13, NIAGARA FALLS CONVENTION CENTER, NIAGARA FALLS, ON
2028 NOVEMBER 1-4, HERSHEY LODGE, HERSHEY, PA
2029 NOVEMBER 7-11, HALIFAX CONVENTION CENTER, HALIFAX, NS
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The next issue of the HI Note comes to your inbox May 20. What would you like to see covered in our pages? Drop a line to editor@harmonyinc.org and we'll tell the world. Next deadline is May 13.
See you again, soon!
Copyright © 2025 Harmony, Inc., All rights reserved.
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