Volume 41, #6
Satisfy Inspire Nurture Grow
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Nov/Dec 2013
NOV / DEC 2013
Volume 41, Issue #5
NEXT DEADLINE DEC 01, 2013
© 2007 SMOKE SIGNALS is the official publication of the Seneca Land
District, Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop
Quartet Singing in America, Inc., dba Barbershop Harmony Society. It is
published bi-monthly, appearing online at http://sldsmokesignals.org and
printed/mailed to members
Send comments, inquiries or submissions to:
Seneca Land District Bulletin
Smoke Signals
Editor - Pat Close
5 Fourth Ave, Franklinville N.Y. 14737
716-912-4795 editor@sldsmokesignals.org
2013 Seneca Land District Board
District President----------------------------------------------------------- Eric Saile
Chief Operations Officer--------------------------------------------- Pete Carentz
Executive Vice‐ President---------------------------------------------- Bob Coant
District Secretary----------------------------------------------------------Tom Jones
District Treasurer-------------------------------------------------------Don Morgan
Board Member at Large---------------------------------------- Warren Capenos
Board Member at Large--------------------------------------------Jim Barickman
Board Member at Large-------------------------------------------- Don Stothard
Board Member at Large-----------------------------------------------Nathan Bell
Immediate Past President-------------------------------------------Pete Carentz
VP Marketing & PR------------------------------------------------------Jay Holman
VP Membership-------------------------------------------------------Art Zelesnikar
VP Human Resources-------------------------------------------------Glenn Jewell
VP Contest & Judging------------------------------------------------Don Stothard
VP Events----------------------------------------------------------------Todd Horton
VP Youth Outreach-------------------------------------------------------Matt Fruth
VP Director Development-------------------------------------------Louis Petroni
VP Music & Performance-----------------------------------Jerry Knickerbocker
VP Chapter Support and Leadership Training-------------John Schoonover
VP FUN----------------------------------------------------------------- Larry Brennan
VP Finance--------------------------------------------------------- Warren Capenos
VP Chapter Development---------------------------------------Barbershopper’s of the year------------ Ted Norton - & - Warren Capenos
Division Managers
Ontario------------------------------------------------------------------- Todd Horton
Appalachian-------------------------------------------------------------Dave Bender
Catskill-----------------------------------------------------------------------Tom Jones
Allegheny------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Barickman
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What a great end to another contest/convention!
There were lots of great people doing great things for
our members and our district and some of the
recognitions are included in this issue.
I would like to take this time to publicly thank Kath and
Mike Morgan for their assistance and coaching as I
took over the Smoke Signals from them a couple of
years ago. Since then I was also asked to take over the
convention program this past fall in Rochester.
My name was mentioned many times during
convention and while I appreciated the compliments,
the real work had already been done by many people.
Kath Morgan and Bob Coant helped me out with
templates that they already had and made check lists
for me to follow. They also advised me as to the do’s
and don’ts of district publications. All of the
convention team had input and made sure that
everything was correct. So I would like to thank them
for setting up successful publications.
Speaking of everything being correct… I must
make a correction from the convention program
that I sadly overlooked. The members of You
Don’t Know Jack were incorrectly identified by
names from a quartet past. The names should
have been listed as Pete Frank, Joel Gross, Jack
Gross, and Brian Marshal.
Included in this issue are two songs that Rob Hopkins
has graciously offered to the district to add to our
holiday repertoire. Thank you Rob for your gift of
holiday spirit!
Pat
$35
$50
$100
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When: January 17, 18 (Friday evening & Saturday, all day)
Where: Ramada Inn & Geneva High School, Geneva NY
50 Classes in Total are Being Offered
A Two hour session with facilitators so your board can
build your 2014 plan, utilizing all the District Tools and Programs that will be available in 2014.
Imagine every chapter growing together in unison and harmony.
Leadership Academy Schedule:
Friday Night
Registration: 6-7 pm Hotel Lobby
7:00 pm - Welcome
7:30 pm – Live Full, Die Empty
8:10 pm – Our History
8:30 pm – Past 2 the Future
10:00 pm - Fun
Saturday
Registration: 7 – 8 am Geneva High School
8:00 am - Good Morning SLD
8:10 am – General Session: Brandon Love
9:10 am – Track 1
10:30 am - Break
10:40 am – Track 2
12:00 pm – Lunch
12:45 pm – General Session: Start With WHY!
1:30 pm – Track 3
2:40 pm – Break
2:50 pm – Track 4
4:00 pm – General Session The 2014 District Plan
4:20 pm - Chapter Flight Planning Session
6:30 pm – Dinner
7:30 pm – Installation / Show
9:00 pm – Depart for Home or Afterglow
You don’t need a title to be a Leaders or a chapter officer either.
Leadership Academy tuition is FREE to all Seneca Landers. All you have to do is register and
attend. Meals are $20 for the day (lunch& dinner)
For more information regarding classes and registration go to senecalanddistrict.org
Smoke Signals
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r q w h a x E Notes from the SLD President
Did you enjoy your 2013 Seneca Land District Fall Convention at the Convention Center in Rochester? If you
were singing, ringing chords, sharing memories -- and creating new ones, surrounded by your barbershop
friends, YOU DID. Our attendance increased from last year, which is POSITIVE GROWTH. This event provided
several opportunities for each of us to SING on stage and hear our own voice blending with others, as we
shared our musical gifts with each other. Each of us could SING and ENJOY OUR CONVENTION if we belong to
a chorus or a quartet that sang on stage, or stopped in at the NEW pickup quartet contest, or joined the
woodshedders in song, or participated at the sing-fest, or even by singing in the stairwell with Bravo, or with
our buddies in the halls! Opportunities to sing were everywhere.
We had several guests: Our Society President, Shannon Elswick, who emceed the Chorus Contest and spoke
to our House of Delegates on Sunday, and his wife Becky. Shawn Devine was here representing Harmony Foundation and was the
MC at the Saturday night Show. The Big Apple Chorus was also here because their Director will be out of the country during their
convention, so they asked our permission and sang here to be judged. Their points will be compared to their own District
competitors, not ours, and if they are high enough, they will represent the Mid-Atlantic District at the International Convention next
summer. The Big Apple brought about 50 members up from Manhattan to sing and they added extra fun and variety to the
convention. It was a pleasure to see a top 10 chorus up close, and their quartets, and we can only hope that some of the great
presentation skills they demonstrated, and how they use their many talents, will help get us more excited about the thrill of singing
in a big chorus!
Our audience members heard a variety of quartets from the novice level to the senior competitors. There were 17 quartets in the
Friday night SLD Quartet Contest! Our chorus pre-lims used the Joe Barbershopper Chorus as mic-testers. There were 14 choruses
performing on Saturday. The FALL SPECTACULAR SHOW featured the Big Apple Chorus and the Bayside Boys, our 1993 SLD Quartet
Champions. Every man that crossed the stage this weekend, all of our contestants and participants, each one that got involved, was
a true champion!
ALL OF THE CONTEST SCORES ARE POSTED IN DETAIL ON OUR DISTRICT WEBSITE: http://www.senecaland.org/.
The Upstate Harmonizers, from the Mohawk Valley Chapter, are our SLD Chorus representatives for the International Convention
next summer in Las Vegas. “Geezer Q” from the Geneva Chapter, is the SLD Seniors Quartet representative for the Midwinter
Convention in Long Beach. Congratulations to Todd Horton, Don Stothard, Robert Denison, and Keith Langdon. “Geneva Convention”
is the 2013 District Quartet Champion, also from Geneva Chapter! Congratulations to Todd Horton, Peter Covert, Keith Langdon and
George Azzam. Good work Todd for hitting a double, and to Keith who hit a triple (keep reading)!
Warren Capenos, Keith Langdon, Louis Petroni and Dr. Jerry Schmidt were inducted into the SLD Hall of Fame, each of them
deserving the recognition for all they have done for the District. Art Zelesnikar was awarded the 2013 SLD BOTY award as our
District’s Barbershopper of the Year. Art has been promoted from District Membership VP to SLD Vice President of Franchising,
where he will work on seeding and establishing new Chapters in areas where there could be a group but there is not. Previously he
worked with our existing Chapters, helping them find individual new members.
The Society video from the Saturday Night Spectacular in Toronto was played Saturday night in the contest venue between the
quartet finals and the Saturday night show. It can be seen more closely by going to the BHS home page and choosing “Saturday
Night Spectacular.” The video shares some of the great moments from the Toronto Convention and ends with a moving story about
one special person.
The quartet evaluations were Saturday night following the announcement of the winners after the District Quartet Contest. This
allowed competitors to come to the hospitality rooms earlier to sing. This change improved our spring schedule, and made our Fall
Convention even more fun, with more quartets singing in our hospitality rooms.
Pete Carentz facilitated a “Be Our Guest” program launch for interested chapters on Saturday morning. Several guys saw the new
program and learned how the folks at Disney would welcome a guest. Preparation is the key, and getting EVERYONE to be a cast
member will make a difference to the guest. This program encourages chapters to adopt a “hospitality culture focused on guest
relations”, and helps us see things from the guest perspective. Do you remember your first meeting?
All chapters were issued a promotional packet for the ChristmaSING program which included yard signs, fliers, business cards and
promotional PSAs. This program will be a major membership push for SLD in an effort to finish strong in 2013. Most chapters go out
and sing for the holidays. This program shows you how to invite guests to sing along and give them a taste of the fun, fraternity and
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fellowship that is ours as singers during the holidays, sharing our musical gifts with our communities. The kit can show your chapter
how to take advantage of these events to grow, and it has all the materials you need to pick up a few new members to welcome in
the New Year! It even has a timeline you can still use if you hurry!
At our House of Delegates meeting on Sunday morning, eighteen of our chapters were represented. Shannon gave us a society
update and presented the 2014 BHS AIMs. Our Society President said he was honored to formally present a Chapter licensing kit to
Mark Nelson, Director, for Ithaca, NY.
Sean Devine was here representing Harmony Foundation and addressed concerns relative to district funds being managed by
Harmony Foundation and overall communications with foundation staff. He gave the Harmony Foundation update and distributed
promotional material to the delegates.
The HOD passed motions to approve two new administrative positions, both to be appointed by the District President. A “VP of
Fundraising” will help us gather available funds to support more events in the District; and a “VP of Charitable Services” that will
help us to connect with the other groups and fraternal organizations in our communities.
The HOD approved a motion to increase district dues by $10 per year and eliminate the $200 chapter assessment used in the past to
support the training of chapter leaders. Our District dues of $38 will still be less than the average District dues in the Society. This will
mean that EVERY MEMBER OF SLD CAN ATTEND OUR POW-WOW (MUSICAL EDUCATION) AND OUR TRAINING ACADEMY
(LEADERSHIP EDUCATION) FREE OF ANY TUITION. This change to a fixed budget will guarantee the funding we need to bring in
better quality coaches and teachers. Pete Carentz reviewed the 2014 District Plan and presented the 2014 budget for review and
discussion before the budget was passed by the HOD.
We have to THANK the convention team and the District officers that all pulled together to make this event happen. Thanks to the
judges that come to share their gifts and give up their weekend, and to our wives and families for sharing every one of us, so we
could “convene”! And to the Big Apple Chorus and quartets for giving us a high standard to emulate, and to Sean Devine for fitting
us into his busy schedule, and to Shannon and Becky Elswick for giving us the chance to get to know them, and to their fine hosts Jim
and Peggy Barickman. Thank you to Pat Close for putting together the Fall Convention Program. We also thank Jack and Doris, who
have been running the Barbershop Shop for us for 30 consecutive conventions! The folks from Rite Aid ran the flu shot clinic for us
again. Don and George and their faithful teams did their usual superb job, and flawlessly ran another convention, so we could all just
come and have fun! Without all the selfless giving of these people, it would not have happened!
It was your chance to have a great weekend. IT WAS YOUR CONVENTION, I hope you ENJOYED IT!
Eric Saile, President, Seneca Land District
YIH VP
Matt Fruth
I am looking forward to seeing as many Youth in Harmony Chairmen from as many chapters as
possible. I(n January 2014, we will have the SLD's annual Leadership Academy. If you are a YIH
Chairman, please try to attend so we can meet one another. The more attendees that we have, the
more ideas and innovations we can discuss. It will be a learning and information experience for all of
us.
From Thursday, July 17, thru Saturday, July 19, 2014, we will hold our 2014
Harmony Explosion Camp. Last year, we had 54 students (male and
female) in attendance. I would like to strive for 100 attendees at the 2014 Camp. We can
reach the students through the choral directors in the high schools and junior high schools.
Please contact the directors in the schools in your area. One way to approach the schools is to
offer the choral groups assistance in some way. One way would be to distribute posters for a
school's upcoming concert; another, offer some of your members to usher at a concert. After you establish a relationship
with a choral director, you can offer some barbershop arrangements of music, which we can make available. It is
imperative that we reach the students to increase attendance at the camp.
In order to make any project successful, it requires the interest, dedication, and effort of the expected individuals. For the
above, please be an interested, dedicated, and effort-offering YIH Chairman.
Smoke Signals
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Why a $10 Increase in District Dues was just passed by the House of Delegates.
Last year the HOD passed a chapter assessment to fund our new Leadership Academy by charging each chapter in the District
$200, except for chapters with under twelve men or newly licensed. That improvement suggestion has given us the freedom to
budget an actual amount to use to recruit the best teachers and instructors we can find for this upcoming Leadership Academy.
That will increase the quality of the instruction and eventually positively affect the quality of the leaders in our District!
Thanks to positive action by the House of Delegates, we now have an even better plan in place! We eliminated that $200 Chapter
assessment and spread the cost across the District membership dues instead. A five dollar increase per member allows for
roughly $4,000 in revenue, a budget amount with which we can use to put on a great leadership academy for everyone, with
absolutely no tuition charge to the attendees or chapters. A charge for meals and lodging (rooms are shared) would still be
necessary for each attendee, but all of the administrative costs would be taken care of by the District. It will be tuition-free to
attend the school, and the $200 assessment per chapter would go away!
The other five dollars in dues will allow the District to budget for POW-WOW (faculty, travel, meals, lodging) with the tuition for
Joe Barbershopper being lowered to FREE. That’s right FREE! The only expense for a student would be their own meals and
lodging should they decide to stay at Hobart. Several people have said that they would love to attend, but honestly cannot afford
the tuition. We all should be able to absorb the very small annual increase in dues. It is incredibly hard to put together a faculty,
incur expenses and not know if the students and revenue from tuition will be there. Once again this would allow us to work
within a budget and plan, and recruit the best coaches in the Society. We asked Jim Henry to come last year but did not know if
we could pay his expenses. He was already booked that weekend, and for the next two years, but now that we have a fixed
budget, we will ask him again! WE CAN’T KEEP DOING THE SAME OLD THINGS AND EXPECT ANY NEW GROWTH.
This is how we will build a better District for YOU. We need to recruit great people that will force YOU
OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE, to come and GROW with us. This is a good deal for Joe Barbershopper
BECAUSE last year’s tuition was $55, and next
year it WILL be Free for everyone.
We are experiencing reduced attendance at POW-WOW (our annual District Music Education event) and Leadership Academy
(formerly Chapter Officer Training School) which is forcing us to slowly decrease the quality of the events, because we have less
money to work with each year. We are putting less money into it, which causes reduced attendance; IT IS A DOWNWARD CYCLE
that we do not want to continue here in Seneca Land. Our District Mission is all about GROWTH, not decline.
INSTEAD, we came up with some ideas to fund the education programs so we can GROW MUSICAL and CHAPTER LEADERSHIP. We
tried to charge the chapters to train their
potential leaders and it did not work. We thought
if we charged them, they would send them
just to get their money’s worth, but NO. The same
people still came, and the others did not,
because most thought that it is still about how to
do a specific chapter job, like Treasurer or
Secretary, BUT that’s NOT what it is about now.
So the next logical step is TO CHARGE YOU,
and maybe YOU WILL COME TO GET YOUR
MONEY’S WORTH! Our LA had 88 different
sessions last year all geared toward helping YOU
grow as a person, a leader, and as a
Barbershopper. There was nothing else like it
anywhere in the Society. In addition to the
classes we asked them to teach, each instructor
was asked and then given the time on the schedule; to run an elective class about something they are passionate about teaching.
This school is NOT just for Chapter Officers to learn how to do their jobs like it was before, now it is a true Leadership Academy
for everyone that wants to grow as a person, discover their strengths, and learn how to lead along with others that are growing
and serving in whatever capacity they choose! We will help you find your gifts so you will be ready to share them with others, and
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add meaning to your lives and theirs. This is COTS on a whole new level where we answer all those basic questions and then soar
into the universe of unanswered questions where we discover and share much more.
So how do we compare against other District’s dues? District dues currently range from $25 to $65 a year. SLD dues were $28,
which was on the low side. The $10 increase to $38 put us a little over the half-way point on the scale of dues charged. So there
you have it, $200 Chapter assessments for Leadership Academy have gone away, and everyone can attend either one of our
major annual District training programs TUITION-FREE from now on. Make your plans NOW to attend them both!
HERE’S THE BIG PICTURE:
WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AT POW-WOW AND LA IF WE ARE GOING TO
GROW AND INCREASE THE QUALITY OF SINGING AND LEADERSHIP IN THE SENECA LAND DISTRICT.
1. ATTENDANCE IS GETTING LOWER AT POW-WOW AND LA.
2. WE WAIT TO SEE HOW MANY ARE COMING TO GET AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH WE CAN SPEND
3. OUT OF DISTRICT COACHES AND INSTRUCTORS ARE BOOKED UP BY THAT TIME
4. WE FILL IN WITH GOOD LOCAL TEACHERS, INSTRUCTORS AND COACHES
5. GUYS DON’T COME TO POW-WOW AND LA BECAUSE INSTRUCTORS AND COACHES ARE THE SAME
1. REVENUE FROM LA AND POW-WOW IS LOWER BECAUSE ATTENDANCE IS GETTING LOWER
2. WE WAIT TO SEE HOW MANY ARE COMING TO GET AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH WE CAN SPEND
3. OUT OF DISTRICT COACHES AND INSTRUCTORS ARE BOOKED UP BY THAT TIME
4. WE FILL IN WITH GOOD LOCAL TEACHERS, INSTRUCTORS AND COACHES
5. GUYS DON’T COME TO POW-WOW AND LA BECAUSE INSTRUCTORS AND COACHES ARE THE SAME
WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AT POW-WOW AND LA IF WE ARE GOING TO
GROW AND INCREASE THE QUALITY OF SINGING AND LEADERSHIP IN THE SENECA LAND DISTRICT !
th
On September 28 at the Saturday evening District Show in Rochester, New York, I was presented the Barbershopper of the Year
Award for 2013. Honestly, this was the furthest thought from my mind at the time. I am deeply honored and humbled by your
encouraging expressions of kindness and many, many words of congratulations. It will be forever among one my finest
achievements in this incredibly unique and wonderful pastime we enjoy.
I will continue to serve and work for the good of the District and Society until I can no longer function. I am hoping at least 30 more
years, Pretty Optimistic! Again, thank you Seneca Land District Members for this incredible honor. Now, Let’s GO Christmas Sing!
Enjoy the Holidays!
Art Zelesnikar
SLD VP Membership/Franchising
Smoke Signals
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Happenings for Chorus Directors
By time this newsletter goes to print the “Chorus Director Workshop Intensive 1” or CDWI One, will have taken place in Binghamton
on November 16th, hosted by the Southerntiersmen Chapter. CDWI is one of the most enduring and successful programs that the
Society has implemented. If you haven’t taken a CDWI, there are actually three levels, then please do sign up the next time one is
available. The primary reason to take a CDWI is that it will help you be a more effective director, no matter what your level of
proficiency. In this program you not only work with a live chorus, you get the coaching of two certified CDWI trainers, and on top of
that you get video of your endeavors. But that’s not all; you also get analysis in the form of immediate feedback after your video is
completed, twice! This program packs a lot of punch; if you’ve never taken it please seek it out. If you have taken it, then consider
taking the next step which is CDWI Two, and if you’ve completed that then think about “The Next Level” which is CDWI Three and
involves your entire chapter. A bonus reason to take a CDWI course is that one is need to complete “Director Certification”
requirements.
Coming up next will be a course offering for directors that will be held in mid-January 2014 at the Leadership Academy. At the time
of this writing the course is yet to be decided but I am hopeful that it will be one of the following three, any of which will count
towards “Director Certification”:
- History of Barbershop
- You Be the Judge
- How to Teach What You Know
Please do try to support this course when it is offered, so that these relevant courses can continue to be offered. Even if you are not
currently pursuing “Director Certification” accumulating these courses will be of benefit to you and your chapter, and if you ever do
decide to go for the certification you will already have a head start.
Below or on a related page of this newsletter you will find a copy of the “Director Certification Checklist”. Here you can enter in your
progress as you whittle away the requirements to achieve “Director Certification”. Also you can check the official record of your
progress by going to the “Society” homepage, find the “Education” tab, then find the “Director Education” tab, next comes the
“Director Certification” tab, and finally click on the link that says “Click here for more information on this program”. Or you can
simply follow this link - http://barbershop.org/director-certification/director-certification-details.html. You will see an orange box
that says “Check Your Certification Record”. Once you click on that box you will need to enter your membership number and then
your record should come up. You can contact Larry Bean Larry@TheNexxtLevel.biz if there are any discrepancies contained in your
record, like a course you took and is not recorded.
On a personal note, it is time for me to step down as Chorus Director Development Chair for SLD. I have held the position since
2003, even though I just finally learned how to do it! Besides 10 years being long enough, my wife and I are planning to move to
the Carolinas as soon as our house sells, which could be soon or much, much later, but we are ready to go as soon as that event
takes place. In addition this coming new year I will be out of district for 3 months avoiding snow, etc. (I believe the term
“snowbird” applies) and this year I will not be present (for the first time) for the SLD Leadership Academy. I have been honored to
serve the district and am very appreciative of the SLD Hall of Fame Award that was presented to me at the fall convention. It
means a lot to me and I thank you all for the privilege. I am awed by the direction the district has taken in the last few years, with
the outreach to chapters in the way of helpful and productive programs, (like the Christmas Sing, welcome back Kotter Night, and
the yard signs just to name a few) and the energy and positivity to encourage all chapters and even form new chapters. Also to
be commended is the emphasis on giving back to the community through sponsoring a charity, and the efforts to revitalize
conventions have all been such positive and productive things to happen to SLD. I wish SLD every success to grow and prosper.
Thank you all again!
Louis Petroni,
SLD Chorus Director Development Chair
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Seneca Land District
Hall of Fame Inductees
(Class of 2013)
Warren Capenos
(Grove City, PA)
Warren’s accomplishments are many. A barbershopper for more than 60 years, he started 4 different chapters
both in the Seneca Land and Johnny Appleseed districts. His latest chapter was the reformation of the Grove
City, PA Chapter. Warren serves as a board member-at-large. He has sung in many quartets throughout his 64year Barbershopping career, mostly as a tenor. Warren fully understands what the term “legacy” means. He
also currently serves on the Society level as a board member of the Harmony Foundation. Warren is one of the
largest, single contributor to the foundation and has afforded his beloved Seneca Land District many new
program opportunities due to his generosity. Warren, Seneca Land proudly welcomes you to the Hall of Fame!
Keith Langdon
(Geneva, NY)
A second generation barbershopper, Keith has the unique distinction of taking over as director of his chapter
from his father. He has directed (or co-directed) Geneva’s Finger Lake Chorus for more than 30 years. Keith
has sung in 3 district quartet championships including Lake Effect Harmony 1990, New York News 1996, and
Liberty Street 1999. Keith has been a long-time sought after coach for choruses and quartets in all three
barbershop organizations (Barbershop Harmony Society, Sweet Adelines International and Harmony
Incorporated). Keith served one year as SLD VP Chorus Director Development. He was honored by his chapter
by being named Barbershopper of the Year. Seneca Land thanks you, Keith for your lifetime dedication to our
wonderful hobby!
Louis Petroni
(Olean, NY)
Louis Petroni is the epitome of the term “volunteer.” His entire life has been based on service to his
community. He directed his church choir for 25 consecutive years. It was in that church choir that he was
introduced to Barbershopping by Marshall Allen. It wasn’t long that the Olean Enchanted Mountain Chorus
talked him into directing them. Louis’ professional career spanned over 32 years as an elementary music
teacher. He was named “teacher of the Year” in 2006 and retired in 2011. He also was named BOTY for the
Enchanted Mountain Chorus for 2011. On the district level, Louis has dedicated more than a decade as
Seneca Land District’s VP Chorus Director Development. The district’s CDD program has literally blossomed
under Louis’ direction. Seneca Land’s loss will be The Carolinas’ gain. Louis and Patti will be relocating to
Wilmington, NC sometime this fall and we will miss him a great deal. SLD honors and thank you for
everything you have done for us, Louis!
Dr. Jerry Schmidt
(Binghamton, NY)
Jerry Schmidt began his Barbershopping career in the 1970’s. In 1978 he assumed the role of director of the
Binghamton Southerntiersmen Chorus and attained several district chorus championships under his
direction. He is a two-time district quartet champion in 1978 Local Chord Co. and again in 1985 B.C.
Connection. He is also a two-time district senior quartet champion in 2004 and 2005 with Anything Goes.
Jerry has represented the Seneca Land District in International competition with both B.C. Connection and
Anything Goes. Jerry retired as director of the Southertiersmen after 25 years and was named director
emeritus after his retirement. He has also a three-time chapter Barbershopper of the Year in 1994, 2005 and
2011. After all of these accomplishments over a 37 year career, Jerry chose to give back the district by
working behind the scenes as a chorus and quartet runner for many years. Jerry, the Seneca Land District
honors and welcomes you to the district Hall of Fame for a lifetime of service!
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT m
THE BIG BOY SCOUTS
The quartet Revised Arrangement, for the
last several years has had the pleasure of
singing for the four weeks of the Boy
Scout Camp Gorton on Wanneta Lake in
Tyrone, N.Y. Since the quartet's baritone
and also the Painted Post, N.Y chapter
director is a camp counselor, the quartet's
-lead, Gary Johnson -tenor Tom Knoll and
bass Bob Miller have the fun of joining him
to sing and reach five to six hundred boys
in the summer camp time with the
barbershop style of music. The quartet
even gets to eat a ham dinner almost each
Monday night.
Bob Miller
Painted Post Chapter President
Lake Erie Sound
On Wednesday, July 31, 2013, the 30th Annual Lake Erie Fanfare was held at Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium. While the
Vanguard Cadets received the Open Class Crown (they were the ONLY band in that category, I don't get it), the World
Class Crown was captured by the Santa Clara Vanguard with a score of 92,550 points.
Prior to the main event, Lake Erie Sound helped kick things off with its main selection of songs. Showcasing some of the
newer additions to the repertoire (Happy Together, Lullaby [Goodnight, My Angel]) while keeping recent classics alive
(Hi, Neighbor, The Lion Sleeps Tonight), L.E.S. helped set the stage for a monumental night on the edge of downtown.
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Greg Roberts
th
On the weekend of October 13 , Seneca Land District, The Barbershop Harmony Society
(BHS), and all of our communities lost a truly remarkable person, Mr. Greg Roberts.
Greg was the Chorus Director of the newly Chartered, Rome New York Chapter of the BHS,
known as the “Knights of the Mohawk”. Beside his natural musical abilities, Greg was the
barbershoppers barbershopper. He was the most positive individual anyone could have had
the privilege of knowing. He was so tenacious not only in his profound quest for life but for
caring for his fellow mankind. Everyone of us who has any reason for singing harmony with
his fellow mankind would jump at the opportunity to even get close to Greg and feel his zest for harmony and life.
I am honored and truly blessed to have had Greg Roberts in my life. I am sure many of you feel the same as I. Please keep Greg’s
Family in your prayers as they sail rough waters ahead. Greg will be forever missed in my heart and many others.
Art Zelesnikar
SLD VP Membership/Franchising
Harmony Foundation International has acknowledged contributions from the following
Seneca Land District members who have stipulated that a portion of their contributions be
given to the District through their Donors' Choice program. Accordingly the District has
received a check for a percentage of their contributions.
Alan B. Hunter
Eric Van Druff
Nathan H. Bell
Albert H. Talada
Francis W. Tesseyman
Pernell L. Caster
Arthur H. Zelesnikar
George V. Schwerdt
Peter L. Frank
Charles G. Wert
Gregory C, Bell
Phillip Marmelstein
Christopher Bucher
James R. Barickman
Richard A. Collins
Christopher Keir
Jay C. Holman
Robert E. Coant
Craig A. Chorney
John F. Schramm
Robert J. Feldman
Daniel R. Norton
John J. Berenguer
Robert J. King
Willard G. Rowlands
John W. Fabian
Thomas L. Jones
David Bay
Lawrence E. Brennan
Ward E. Votava
Warren Capenos
Mathew D. Clancy
Wayne Bailey
Donald L. Drake
Matthew J. Fruth
Edward P. Lyons
Michael Honeyman
Seneca Land is indebted to these members for their dedication to the Society and to the District.
Don Morgan, Treasurer
Please do not forget to submit your chapter event dates to
the Sld Webmaster!
Everyone would like to see all of the events available
around the district
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Successful people never have to go to the bathroom.
PNEWS FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT - CONTINUED m
BOB PORTER RECOGNISED!
After a patriotic presentation by the Rome Chapter on August 6th for the American Legion Regional Meeting held
at the Smith Post, Erie Boulevard in Rome, New York, President Bobby Porter was presented with a Bronze
Award buy Seneca Land District Membership VP Art Zelesnikar for recruiting during Operation Harold Hill. The
chapter gained seven new members in 2012.
Art Z
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Please send in your pictures and stories at any time! This is your publication - so why not be in it!
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