The Choo Choo Chorus Newsletter For February 29

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February 29, 2024

Valentine/Awards Banquet

In This E-mail

Script For Thursday's Meeting
From The Prez
Directly Speaking
From The Program VP
Art Southerlin Has Passed

Calendar
(Click For Details)

Meeting. Thursday, February 29, 7 PM Ponders

Dixie Spring Convention, Friday - Sunday, March 15-17, Chattanooga, TN. Details

Gandy - Dan Bruns to Hobby Thomas

From The Program VP

The chorus banquet was held at the Park Place restaurant in Fort Oglethorpe. Forty members and guests were in attendance to enjoy fellowship and installation of our 2024 officers. Led by our Director, we sang a few songs from our repertory. We were also entertained four quartets who were chosen by virtue of the position they held in the district, or in the chorus, or volunteered, or wore the same color shirt. None knew they would be singing, and none rehearsed , and it sounded like it. A big thank you for those who willingly participated

The highlight of the evening was swearing in the officers by Tom Cain from the Tuscaloosa chapter. He is a fifty year member of the society and spoke on how important an active chapter is and how this makes our hobby so much fun. Bill Slack

Valentine/Awards Banquet attendees: from top to bottom, left to right; Adams, Grubb, Bullock, Hill, Jessie and friend, JJ, Malone, McKeel, Morris, Moselage, Murphree, Peek, Pete and friend, Peterson, Slack, Strickland, Tompkin, Whitmire, Wilson, Wright. Not shown and I apologize, Robbins.

Script For Thursday's Meeting

7:00 PM - Meeting at Ponders. Below is an updated song list.

Blue Skies arr. by Clay Hine
Down Our Way
The Old Songs
You Tell Me Your Dream

Repertory: America the Beautiful, Armed Forces Medley, Blue Skies, California Here I Come, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, Darkness on the Delta, Georgia on My Mind, God Bless America, Hello Mary Lou, I’m Sittin’ on Top of the World, It’s the Music that Brings Us Together, Let’s Get Away from it All, Old Folks at Home, Star Spangled Banner, Welcome Song, When She Loved Me, When There’s Love at Home, Yesterday, and You Tell Me Your Dream

From The Prez

Another good night of work by all in attendance Thursday. We should present an outstanding package in March. Register before March 5th to get the Early Bird Special rate.

Thanks to all for a respectful discussion about the recommendations from the District committee. I am aware this is a passionate topic for many in Dixie but do feel changing the name to Heart of the South is the best path to travel at this time. Whatever name our District is known by, I will continue to serve this Chapter and enjoy singing with you all to the best of my ability. Until Thursday, KTWWS! Steve Grubb

Directly Speaking

Come prepared this Thursday for some coaching provided by Chris Lofton. He will be working with us on our performance and we are excited to have him here.

Please be off the music on the two contest songs going forward. We are nearing the home stretch on our contest preparation, so we need these next three weeks to make them our best.

Remember that all of the things that we put into these songs work on EVERY song! The main reason, to me, for contest preparation and performance is for us to be able to perform better everywhere so that we give our audience our very best gift. You guys are singing better every week! Spend a few minutes every day singing, and it will make you feel better and will help all of us sound better! Jimmy Tompkin

Art Southerlin Has Passed

Arthur "Art" Harding Southerlin, 74, of Lexington, SC, passed away on February 19, 2024. Art was a member for several years, and his quartet, Four Grand, won the Dixie District Novice Quartet award. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home in Lexington, SC. Wilbur Strickland