Official E-Note Publication of Harmony, Inc.
Original Message: https://mailchi.mp/harmonyinc/hi-note-feb-5-2023-issue
Table of Contents - President's Message
- Quartet Corner
- Director's Bring Passion And Dedication
- Get On Board With Directors First
- Check Out Our New Website
- It's Social! Join Harmony Chat To Be In The Know
- Convention Corner
- New Contest Song Registration Info
- Time To Renew Harmony Membership
- Seeking Nominees For The International Board
- Director Search: Classic Blend Chorus
- Volunteer Coordinator - a Volunteer Who Serves Volunteers
- Deadlines Approaching
- Copyright
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Beginning to see the light
(Spring - and AC&C - is coming!)
By Linda Brehaut, International President
For those of you (not including me!) who love winter, it is moving past us quickly! Only two months to go and already the daylight in the early evening is noticeable.
With the end of the winter season approaching, we are looking forward to the AC&C season (formerly known as the spring season!) I have a feeling this is going to be filled with much excitement and joy as more members will have a chance to see their Area friends who may have missed last year’s AC&C.
Welcome, new assistant!
I wanted to take a moment to send out a huge welcome to Angie Morton-Locke who will be starting her position as Corporate Office Assistant on February 1. Angie, if we are glad to have you on board, I expect Kelly Peterson is over-the-top excited to have you coming alongside! From all of us – welcome. Angie’s corporate email address will be: COassistant@harmonyinc.org
Welcome, new chapters!
Another piece of exciting news – we have a new chapter (correction – ANOTHER new chapter) in Area 6! Sunshine Harmony chorus chartered in December, and in January, we welcomed White Sands A Cappella. A huge Harmony hug from all of us!
Town Hall recap
Thank you to those who attended the recent town hall on January 22. We had a chance to answer a few questions about the process we used to reach our edited version of the definition of a woman. One point that was shared is that, rather than see this as a “definition of a woman,” we should be looking at this statement under the heading "for the purposes of membership" and then explain how a member is defined. Prior to the meeting, I received a question about how the chapters should use this statement. Subsequently, I received a request for clarification, and I apologize for possible confusion.
Question: Does a chapter have the privilege of choosing what they post on their website, i.e. can they choose to publicize or not publicize the definition if they want? Can they edit the definition to suit their chapter’s approach?
Response: While corporate does not police what chapters post on their websites, we do encourage chapters to find a place, perhaps under “all about us,” that shares this statement regarding membership. Now that Harmony has adopted this statement, you cannot edit it or post something that contradicts Harmony's position regarding this particular criterion for membership. While chapters have some degree of flexibility, there is a requirement that their policies and values are always in keeping with those of the entire organization. If you have a question as to whether your chapter policies are in line with those of Harmony, Inc., please check with Deb Parmerter, our Parliamentarian.
Question: Can a Chapter decide who to accept/who they are comfortable accepting in the inclusivity mode or definition?
Response: The musical leadership has always had the privilege to accept or not accept an individual into membership. They should not - and I hope would not - be able to reject an individual solely on a gender basis if they meet membership requirements (i.e. identifies as female, including assigned female at birth non-binary).
I am confident that Harmony will embrace those who walk through the door and have a desire to sing, along with the willingness to learn and be part of such a caring and respectful organization - as we always have.
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L to R: Kathy McDaniel (bari), Marcia O’Neil (bass), Paula Girard (lead), Barb Cioffi (tenor)
SUN-cerely plans to shine at senior contest
By Jess Leigh, HI Quartet Development Coordinator
These proud members of the newly chartered Sunshine Harmony Chorus are excited to share the news of their new quartet, SUN-cerely! Inspired by a hiatus from quartet singing and intrigued by the senior quartet option announced at IC&C, their magic number of 239 years of age solidified their eligibility and spurred them to make things official.
“We also feel that quarteting will only make the chorus stronger,” says Marcia. What a positive idea to believe in and a great example to set for your fellow chorus members and the organization!
It won’t surprise you to hear that the name stemmed from a very long list.
“Two of the members brought about 72,000 names to our rehearsal, and after we perused the list, Kathy came up with the name on the spot!” Marcia cheers.
Having a name connecting them to their new chorus was really important, so SUN-cerely was a perfect fit.
Their weekly performances will propel them to compete in Area 6 this April, and they’re very interested in community performances to share and spread their joy of singing. Lead Paula brings a unique experience to the quartet.
“When she was sixteen years old, she and her six sisters danced on the Ted Mack television show. She carried that forward by teaching two tap dancing classes in The Villages every Sunday for ten years!” Marcia shares.
Listen for these four voices to shine on the Area 6 stage this spring and be sure to give them a warm, Harmony welcome!
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| Director's Bring Passion And Dedication |
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Passion and Dedication
By Anne Bureau, Chorus Director Development Coordinator
This is not an informational or educational notice of any kind. Sometimes one just needs to take a moment to recognize and thank spectacular people.
So here goes.
- This is a thank you note, addressed to our front-line directors, assistants and co-directors, our section leaders, and our coaches:
- “Hats off” for having the vision, taking the time, and carefully planning how to keep your members active and engaged over the last three years.
- It wasn’t easy. No one signed up for this, but you did it. As a result, Harmony, Inc. is thriving. Our leadership made it possible this past year to hold Area conventions, as well as a stellar International Convention where your ensembles competed, glowed, and rang some pretty darn grand chords.
- Friendships were re-kindled, and your spirits and hearts grew as you watched your members gather, feel the love, and feel the music.
So folks, please take a moment this week, and any other week you feel the urge, to hug your Musical Leaders - tell them how much you appreciate the work they do for you. Yes, you, the singers, and members of your chapters. Let these leaders know that you feel their passion and devotion, and the reason behind it all, is to provide you with a safe place to sing, grow, and flourish in this wonderful art form we call barbershop.
Happy hugging!
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| Get On Board With Directors First |
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By Jennifer Bratis, Directors First Program Coordinator
At the opening ceremony of the 2016 International Convention & Contest, Harmony, Inc. launched a program unlike any other, aimed at supporting the strength of the organization’s musical leadership. Roll forward to 2023 and this program is still going strong.
The Directors First program has been a fundraising campaign with one goal — to send Harmony, Inc.’s musical directors and supporting musical leadership to Harmony University for a world-class barbershop harmony education. The initiative aimed to send one director or musical leader from each chapter of Harmony, Inc. to Harmony University (HU), hosted by the Barbershop Harmony Society each summer.
Since the beginning, we have sent 50 directors to this program. This year, we are opening the application process to ALL chapters who would like to send a musical leader (that includes musical leaders who have already attended HU!) However, priority in awarding funds will be given to new directors in newly chartered chapters, directors who have not yet attended HU, and musical leaders from chapters that haven't previously sent someone. Bottom line – all musical leaders may apply! Application deadline is APRIL 30, and information can be found under Resources in the Members section of the website.
If you are a musical leader in a Canadian chapter, the process is different, because Sing Canada Harmony (SCH) provides generous HU scholarships; Harmony, Inc. will award to those recipients funding to "top off" the scholarship, if the SCH scholarship doesn't cover the entire cost of HU tuition.The Members Resources page also contains the Sing Canada Harmony Application - please note that SCH's application deadlines are March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year - different from Harmoy's. Applications must be emailed to ScholarshipSelection@SingCanadaHarmony.ca.
At Harmony, Inc., we know that stronger directors equal stronger chapters, and stronger chapters equal stronger areas, and stronger areas equal a stronger international organization. Learn more about the program on the Harmony, Inc. page under resources/Directors First or contact me at directorsfirstcoord@harmonyinc.org.
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| Check Out Our New Website |
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| It's Social! Join Harmony Chat To Be In The Know |
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For the latest news, join Harmony Chat!
By Anita Prather Harvell, Social Media Coordinator
As a reminder, we have established a Facebook group with a purpose similar to the old Harmony Connection Yahoo Group. Harmony Chat is a communications medium providing an opportunity to discuss with other Harmony, Incorporated members any number of topics relating to Harmony, Incorporated and barbershop in general.
FAQs
Q: How do I join Harmony Chat?
A: Joining Harmony Chat is easy. Launch https://www.facebook.com/groups/HarmonyChat/ and then request to join the group. You will be presented with questions which you must answer to be allowed in the group. Once we confirm your question, your group membership will be approved (please be patient as it may take a bit of time to approve you - we have a lot of members!)
Q. I tried to join Harmony Chat but was unsuccessful. What happened?
A. There are several reasons a request to join is declined:
1. You possibly responded to someone inviting you to the group. Please do not invite members - send them the link ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/HarmonyChat).
2. Your Facebook name does not match your name registered with Harmony, Inc. Please list any differences in the comments when you register.
3. You didn't answer the questions or acknowledge the group rules.
4. Your information is not in the current Corporate directory. If you recently joined HI, please indicate that as well, so we can confirm with the corporate office.
5. Your Facebook account is shared with another person (which is against Facebook's terms of service). Please register with an account assigned to the Harmony, Inc. member only.
If you have any further questions about Harmony Chat, check out the group FAQs, or please reach out to the Social Media Coordinator.
We know everyone is excitedly waiting for contest videos on YouTube. Good news - we expect them to be released in the next two weeks. We have new co-Copyright and Licensing Coordinators who are jumping into tasks to finalize the sync rights that will allow us to legally post videos. Stay tuned - we may drop a few sneak peeks before the major launch!
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Join the team!
By Allison Thompson, IC&C Manager
Location for 2027 IC&C
You’re going to FALL in love with it!
We have secured a venue and dates for IC&C 2027! After many long years, we are heading back to Canada to the beautiful Niagara Falls area.
November 10 – 13
Niagara Falls Convention Center
Marriott on the Falls
Marriot Fallsview
We can’t wait to host you in this wonderful destination location!
Be a part of our team!
The convention team is still looking for someone to fill the role of On-site Manager. If you are good with details and are interested in learning more about how this position works with the hotel on all of our set-up (outside the contest area), please reach out to me.
We also have three new supporting roles for anyone who may want to be involved in the pre-planning of IC&C but doesn’t want to manage anything during the event.
Marketing Manager
This person will work closely with the Convention Manager and the Communications team to develop a robust communication plan for IC&C to ensure membership is aware of all deadlines and activities surrounding IC&C. They would also be involved in creating the IC&C website content, writing our monthly Hi-note articles, FAQ document, and more!
Project Manager
This person will work closely with the Convention Manager to project manage all things related to IC&C to ensure we stay on task for everything leading up to the event. This includes being the liaison not only within the IC&C team but with other teams in the organization (Corporate, AHQ, Education etc.) and third-party vendors. They would also support some of the more admin specific tasks such as monthly call notes, dinner seating plan, hotel rooming lists, fair share assessment charges, and other tasks as needed.
Business Services Manager
This person would be responsible for securing vendors for the Harmony Mall, including updating and distributing contracts, as well as soliciting IC&C big screen ads from those companies with whom Harmony, Inc. does business as well as the general membership. If space is available, this person also informs chapters that they may sell merchandise in the IC&C Hospitality Room.
We are a fun-loving, diverse, and dynamic team. We’d love to have you join us!
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| New Contest Song Registration Info |
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By Kathy Greason, ICJC and Sara Stone, Director Programs (Music and Education)
The bottom line: Starting this year, ensembles performing at our contests (contestants, mic testers, outgoing champs, any others) will be required to upload, as part of song registration, a copy of the page that shows the correct title and copyright information for any arrangement that the ensemble plans to perform.
The reason: Accurate information from the song registration form is critical for assuring accuracy of Official Scoring Summaries, legal performances at our contest, and legal airing of any videos on our website. That’s a lot. Our move a few years ago to an online song registration form has certainly improved efficiency in getting necessary information to Administrative Judges and to our Copyright and Licensing folks, who are the ones who need it. But we’re not there yet.
For IC&C 2022, our Administrative Judges had to contact fully a third of our contestants separately to clarify song information provided on the form. Yikes. We can’t say exactly how often our copyright researchers were challenged by incomplete or inaccurate information, but the word “lots” comes to mind. The efforts of our volunteers in these positions will be much more efficient if each contestant can provide the tools, in this case the uploaded song information, that support those volunteers.
The process: When contestants (or other performers) go on line to the song registration form (HAR- 082), they will see, in addition to the usual fields, a “Browse Files” button for each song. Filling out the rest of the form as usual, they will also use the Browse Files button to upload song title and copyright information. Using that button will require two additional steps.
Additional Step One, the photo or scan: Before going to the online song registration form, the person filling out the form will have to scan or photograph the first page of each song being registered, and save those files to an easily accessible place on her device.
Additional Step Two, the upload: To upload the song title page into the form, the person filling out the form must (1) click on Browse Files, (2) locate and select the previously-saved scan or the photo, and (3) click Open. That’s how it’s done. And don’t worry – these instructions will be included right on the form!
Note to ensembles that have already submitted song registration forms this year: Thanks for your promptness. You are encouraged, but not required, to edit your submission with an image or scan of the title/copyright page.
Thanks to all performers at our contest weekends for supporting our legal use of music. As you take this extra step to register your songs correctly, feel free to pat yourself on the back for being part of lifting a burden from your contest and copyright volunteers!
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| Time To Renew Harmony Membership |
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Membership renewals begin this month
By Kelly Peterson, Corporate Assistant
On February 15, 2023, documents and information will be distributed to all Chapter Presidents, Chapter Secretaries, Associate Members, and Affiliate Members. Current forms will be available in the Members section of the website beginning February 15. International dues are $75 USD ($38 USD for members 25 and under as of April 1). Affiliate dues are $57 USD ($29 USD for Affiliates age 25 and under).
Any member who joined Harmony, Inc. prior to January 1, 2023, will be required to renew by April 1. Members who join January-March of 2023 under the new dues policy need not renew until 2024.
CHAPTERS:
- If you have had any change in chapter leadership in the past few months, please notify the Corporate Office and provide updated contact information.
- Please complete a Loss of Member form for any members who are no longer involved in the chapter so they may be invited to remain active as Associate members.
- Your renewal documents will be specific to your chapter. Please follow the instructions provided in your renewal notice.
- Area dues must be submitted along with International dues for all renewing members, including Affiliate directors.
ASSOCIATE & AFFILIATE MEMBERS:
- Renewal documents will be sent by email. Please notify the Corporate Office if your email address has changed in the past year. For members without an email address, renewal documents will be sent by mail.
- Your renewal documents will be specific to your Area and will include the correct Area dues amount, if applicable. Please follow the instructions provided in your renewal notice.
Please call the corporate office, 855-750-3341, or send an email with any questions. I am happy to help with this process!
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| Seeking Nominees For The International Board |
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2023 Nominees for International Board: Area Directors and Board Directors
By Nancy Flagel, Elections Committee Chair
The International Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers with a genuine interest in the future of Harmony, Inc. Serving on the International Board is a privilege we hope many of you will want to experience. It is time to seek nominations for Board Directors and Area Directors to the International Board of Directors. This year four (4) Board Directors will be elected by the membership at large. Directors of Areas 2, 4 and 6 will be elected by the members of the respective areas.
Detailed information on requirements and expectations was emailed to all Harmony members earlier this week. For further information, see the Corporate Manual.
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| Director Search: Classic Blend Chorus |
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CLASSIC BLEND LADIES BARBERSHOP CHORUS
Hamilton, Ontario chapter of Harmony, Incorporated
MUSICAL DIRECTOR REQUIRED
Classic Blend is a 25-voice performing and competing chorus in its 59th year.
We sing a cappella in the Barbershop Style and seek a director to help us move forward in a positive direction.
We require a director who will:
– Work well with our Music Team
– Create an enjoyable atmosphere in which our members can learn and improve
– Focus on success for our chorus and personal achievement for our members
Please send resume or request for further information to:
Sue Blunt, Music Team Chair – Classic Blend blunty1000@hotmail.com
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| Volunteer Coordinator - a Volunteer Who Serves Volunteers |
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Matchmaker, Matchmaker....
We need your enthusiasm! This new Volunteer Coordinator position is one that will serve the entire organization, and will also support the Convention Volunteer Manager. Help Harmony members find their perfect volunteer match with a committee, a task group, an Area Council or event... you name it!
For more information, please contact Gaye LaCasce, Exec VP, or click here to apply.
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Copyright © 2023 Harmony, Inc., All rights reserved.
As a member of Harmony, Inc. you are entitled to all communication from Harmony, Inc.
Our mailing address is:
Harmony, Inc.
Corporate Office
9466 Pleasant Level Rd
Mechanicsville, VA 23116
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