Harmony, Incorporated HI Note: June 2022 Issue #1

President's Message:: It's about the members

IBOD focuses on supporting members
By Linda Brehaut, International President

Another round of AC&Cs are happening! Congratulations to all who have participated and thank you to all of you who have signed in to watch your friends when streaming was available. Our intention is to have streaming available for IC&C, so no one misses the celebration!

Speaking of IC&C, remember to go to the website to stay up to date on IC&C news (under the EVENTS tab). Time flies when we are not watching. The first date to remember is that room bookings are opening on July 15 – a link will be sent to you to complete this step.

IBOD Midyear Meeting
Last month the IBOD held their mid-year meeting. Over recent months, we have heard from a few of our members regarding our desire to be an inclusive organization and what we can do to ensure our non-binary friends feel included. At the same time, we have heard from some members that say one of the things they value is that we are a women’s organization, strengthened by women supporting other women.

This leaves us with the question, how do we ensure that we are an inclusive women’s organization? We do not want to pretend or assume we know what we can do to help our non-binary members feel included. I would very much appreciate hearing directly from these members. If you are a member of Harmony who identifies as non-binary, and you'd be willing to share your thoughts with me, please send me an email at president@harmonyinc.org.

There is a task force in the making to focus on some specific questions which have already been raised. Please be assured that the IBOD has committed that we will remain a women’s organization. We have heard your concerns and desire to learn more so that we can make Harmony Stronger!

Grateful for music
While the joy and excitement of being back together are rising, we are saddened by the many distressing events in the news. This is a time for us to hold each other up. We must never stop trying to make the world a better place, and I believe music has the power to do that! At times like this, I am grateful for the music (and all that comes with it) that Harmony brings to my life.

AC&C News

Congratulations to all the contestants
at the Area 5 Convention and Contests!
Congratulations to Generations, the 2022 Area 5 quartet champs! Congratulations, as well, to Area 5 Chorus Champions, A Cappella Showcase, and small chorus winner, Scarborough Harmony Chorus. Great job by all of the choruses crossing the stage! Check out the results on the website.

Area Contests
Just two more AC&Cs left!

Area 1 AC&C
June 2-5, 2022
REGISTRATION CLOSED

Area 4 AC&C
June 10-12, 2022
REGISTRATION CLOSED

Join the Team!

Join an amazing team!

By Gaye LaCasce, Executive Vice-President

Dip your toe into the Harmony, Inc. volunteer pool! You'll meet great people, learn new things, and get the "inside scoop" about how your organization works - all by simply contributing a few hours of your skill and talent. What can YOU do to help? Contact me at executivevp@harmonyinc.org and plan a chat if you are interested in learning more about:

PR Coordinator
Graphic Illustrator
Copyright and Licensing
IC&C Convention Team (Registration Manager In Training - see article, below)

Time to Renew Your Quartet

Quartet Renewals Due July 1
By Jess Jones, Quartet Development Coordinator

It’s renewal time! Keep your quartet active for the remainder of the 2022-2023 year with Harmony, Inc. by submitting the HAR-028 Official Quartet Registration Form by July 1. Have a new quartet? Use the same form to register. Please make sure all of your members are up-to-date with their Harmony, Inc. memberships, and dues are paid.

Keeping your active status protects your quartet name, maintains your eligibility for the Susan C. Trenchard Service award, and keeps you in the know about quartet-related happenings! As of May’s Mid-Year meeting, the IBOD approved the use of medalist quartet and chorus names beyond 20 years from the date of renewal/registration. First place champion chorus and champion quartet (Queen) names remain protected and are not permitted for use.

The IBOD has reinstated the requirement of Harmony Queen quartets to complete the HAR-028 Official Quartet Registration Form (minus the fee). This helps us to track Champion Quartet activity and any changes since their reigning year. We appreciate your cooperation!

Questions? Contact Jess at quartets@harmonyinc.org.

Half Notes quartet wins Area 3 Novice Award

Novice Quartet ‘Half Notes’ new in Area 3
By Jess Jones, Quartet Development Coordinator

L to R: Anita Prather Harvell (bass), Jeannie Greenwood (bari), Phoebe Hall (lead), Hazel Coughlin (tenor)

In February/March 2020 when Hazel asked Phoebe, Anita, and Jeannie if they’d like to be in a quartet, they all eagerly responded, “Yes!” Anita and Jeannie were excited for the opportunity to give Hazel and Phoebe their very first quartet experience – and return to quartetting themselves. Little did they know they wouldn’t be able to test their sound until nearly six months later, in August 2020.

Phoebe, lead, will be entering her sophomore year at Nazareth College in the fall and Hazel, tenor, will be a high school freshman. Many of you know Anita, bass and fabulous Social Media Coordinator, whose day job is with IT at Fort Drum, New York. Jeannie, baritone, is a happily retired primary/elementary teacher.

At their first meeting, they tossed around name ideas and quickly agreed that Hazel’s dad’s suggestion of ‘Half Notes’ would be the one. One year after that, they met again and decided to go for it! About eight rehearsals later, they competed for the first time at the Area 3 Contest & Convention and took home the Novice Quartet Award. Thrilled and spurred on by their win and the inspiration of their fellow Northern Blend Chorus quartets Roulette and Lip Service, they are ready to continue their journey to improvement.

In spite of Phoebe’s busy college schedule and Hazel’s many school and sports activities, they hope to squeeze in enough rehearsals to be able to sing at chorus gigs including Northern Blend’s annual Sing Fling this upcoming October and International Contest and Convention in the fall.

Be sure to show some love for this Area 3 Novice Quartet when you see them!

Harmony Shoppe

Attention all Harmony, Inc. shoppers!

Looking for Harmony, Inc. merchandise? Don’t forget to check out the Harmony Shoppe, where you will find HI drinkware (insulated bottles and cups) and miscellaneous accessories (masks, totes, magnets & stickers).

Click on the Harmony Shoppe logo on the Harmony, Inc. homepage to enter the Harmony Shoppe. Remember that you can choose to have prices displayed (and make payment) in Canadian or U.S. dollars. Visit https://harmonyshoppe.org/en/usd to shop.

Convention Corner: IC&C in Verona, NY

Together again in Verona!
Interested in becoming part of the Convention Team? We are looking for a Registration Manager (to start next year - but to shadow the role at this year's IC&C). The registration manager is responsible for all aspects of registration, including pre-registration and the sale of individual tickets. It's a great way to get involved in international convention - and to get to know our members! A special thanks to Chris Hembel for her many years of service in this role! Please reach out to iccmanager@harmonyinc.org for more information or to apply.

Invitation: Harmony College East

Harmony College East
You are invited to register for Harmony College East 2022. Get your calendars out and reserve June 16-19, 2022, for the best barbershop school ANYWHERE!

Briefly, here are the particulars:
WHAT: Harmony College East 2022
WHERE: The beautiful campus of McDaniel College, Westminster, MD
WHEN: Thursday, June 16 through Sunday, June 19, 2022
COURSES: We are excited to report that, in addition to our standard amazing course offerings, we have added many NEW courses. For the rest of the story, check out the April 20, 2022 issue of the HI Note.

REGISTRATION LINK: Please go to www.midatlanticdistrict.com/HCE and follow the links to the registration page. You will receive an email confirmation upon completion of your registration.

Harmony Notes

Condolences from the Membership

To the family and friends of Ruth Olschewske, long time member of Rochester Rhapsody (Area 3) and truest Harmony sister, who passed away 1 May 2022. Ruth’s leadership and song will be greatly missed by the many quartets and larger groups with which she shared her talents.
to Mickey Melanson (ScotianAires, Area 1) on the death of her father, Ted (Thaddee) Melanson, who passed away 22 March 2022
to Donna Rideout (ScotianAires, Area 1) on the death of her father-in-law, Weldon Rodney Rideout, who passed away 26 March 2022
to Ros Ritcey-Watt (ScotianAires, Area 1) on the death of her husband, Edward James Watt, who passed away 2 April 2022

For Love of Harmony
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.

from Area 6 in grateful appreciation of all the judging panel did to make this year's AC&C a huge success
from Betsy Long in honor of Angie Beatty and a successful Area 6 AC&C 2022
from the Area 2 Council in lieu of judges' gifts at Area 2 AC&C 2022
from Harmony Sound Waves in memory of Annie Collier. You will be missed.

Deadlines approaching!
JULY 1: Deadline to submit application package and a General Knowledge Test for the judging program. Contact Sue Novosad, the ICJ Committee Training Coordinator to request an application now.

JULY 15: IC&C room reservations open.

AUGUST 15: U.S. Chapters file 990-N with IRS.

SEPTEMBER 30: Canadian Chapters file T2 with Revenue Canada.

NOVEMBER 2-6: IC&C, Verona, N.Y.

The next issue of the HI Note comes to your inbox June 20. What would YOU like to read about in that issue? Share your thoughts with editor@harmonyinc.org by June 18.

See you in a couple weeks!

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