Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, February 19

The fourteenth annual session of the Washington portion of the Pacific Northwest Convention met at the Sunset Hill Community Club in Seattle on the third Sunday and Saturday before in February. Co-Chairs David Wright and Karen Willard opened the convention at 9:30 a.m. leading 73t. Chaplain Jim Friedrich offered the opening prayer. Jinx McGuire led 276 and Jack Lofton led 217.

A business meeting was held with the following officers elected or appointed: Chairman—David Wright; Vice Chairman—Jack Lofton; Treasurer—Kathy Vlach; Secretary—Joanne Hoover; Arranging Committee—Karen Willard, Anne Huckins, Reed Schilbach, Kathy Vlach, and David Wright; Memorial Committee—Joanne Hoover, Alice Poinier, and Mike Hinton; Resolutions Committee—Susan Helf and Jessica Beer; Chaplains—Jim Friedrich and Reed Schilbach.

Chairman David Wright announced that, as the result of a survey during last year’s convention, there is currently no plan or proposal to hold a singing school during the Saturday morning session of this convention in the future.

Leaders: Joanne Hoover 91; Kathy Vlach 565; Darlene Simpson-Brown 299; Jim Friedrich and Sommer Maisel 178; Susan Helf 112; Greg Saue and Thom Fahrbach 31t; Jordan Singer and Corinna Singer 49b; Shannon McGuire 38b; Dan Thoma 535; Meg Larson and Dick Lewis 330b; Erik Schwab 344; Fran Ross with Erika Wilson 497.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by David Hough leading 30t. Leaders: John Carson 40; Mryka Hall-Beyer and Linda Wolfe 569b; Ros Clements 77b; Scott Kennedy 68b; Alice Poinier and Gaea Singer 47b; Ken Cofield 84; Martha Johnson 480; Lucinda Saue 300; Mike Hinton and Chris Geer 146; Jean Murphy 454; Anne Huckins 313b; Idy Kiser and Norm Boynton 49t; Mary McDonald-Lewis 107; Leon Ballinger 195; Karen Stingle 76b.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Jessica Beer leading 270. Leaders: Katharine Hough 442; Alan Weeks 291; Jinx McGuire 473; Matthew Sellens 74b; Reed Schilbach 312b; Rachel Foster 335; Eric Holt 290; David Wright 383; Jack Lofton 532; David Hough 384; Karen Willard 550; Jessica Beer 77t. A blessing on the meal to follow was given by Chaplain Jim Friedrich.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with David Wright leading 100. Leaders: Susan Helf 61; Mryka Hall-Beyer 350; Connie Stanton 66; Ros Clements 340; Mike Hinton 373; Suzanne Denker 504; Karen Stingle 236; Idy Kiser 47t; Matthew Sellens and Dave Dumas 245; Rachel Foster 128; Erik Schwab 155; Joanne Hoover and Donna Pitblado 477; Phil Wisor 400; Mary McDonald-Lewis 361; Leon Ballinger 269; Lucinda Saue 186; Martha Johnson and Nina Narelle 282; John Carson 163t; Kathy Vlach 280.

RECESS

Karen Stingle called the class back to order by leading 106. Leaders: Fran Ross 455; Alan Weeks “The Idumean Way” (a new composition by Tony Singleton); Katharine Hough 376; Dan Thoma 203; Anne Huckins 159; Melisa Doss 362; Meg Larson 323b; Jim Friedrich 56b; Linda Laing 479; Alice Poinier 64; Scott Kennedy 503; Jean Murphy 65; Greg Saue 163b; Shannon McGuire 196; Jordan Singer 101t; Carolyn Gilkey 142; Eric Holt 83b; Darlene Simpson-Brown 285t; Reed Schilbach 324.

After announcements were made, David Wright and Jack Lofton led 157 (CB) for the closing song. Chaplain Jim Friedrich dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, February 20

The Sunday session was called to order with David Wright and Jack Lofton leading 277. Chaplain Reed Schilbach offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Kathy Vlach 31b; Jack Lofton 37b; Joanne Hoover 415; John Carson 46; David Hough 53; Ken Cofield 324; Erik Schwab 268; Scott Kennedy 146; Jessica Beer 73t; Katharine Hough 408; Leon Ballinger 424; Matthew Sellens 26; Susan Helf and Roxann Ketch 217.

RECESS

Matthew Sellens called the class back to order leading 39t. Leaders: Shannon McGuire 34b; Gerry Currens 191; Reed Schilbach 61; Linda Laing 47t; Greg Saue 143; Dan Thoma 52b; Fran Ross 184; Karen Willard 349; David Wright and Maude Richards 546; Mike Hinton 543; Alan Weeks 173; Tamara Harris 86; Mryka Hall-Beyer 327; Jim Friedrich and Karen Haig 361; Jinx McGuire 148.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Reed Schilbach leading 38b. Leaders: Lucinda Saue 523; Mary McDonald-Lewis 49b; Martha Johnson 328; Leon Ballinger 137; Ros Clements 538.

Joanne Hoover opened the memorial lesson by reminding us that we are privileged to be grafted into that living tree which is the Sacred Harp family. Mike Hinton related the heritage of his Denson family and the joy of that legacy. He spoke movingly of his father’s recent passing.

Alice Poinier then stated that in her church’s liturgy they pray every Sunday for “those who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity”, and offered a quotation from Julian of Norwich before reading the names of the sick and homebound. We were asked to remember not only those who are sick, but those who care for them. She then led 315 in honor of the following: Chris Devereaux, Marianne Costello, Jan Johnson, and Richard Chamberlin—Washington; Orval Etter and Jim Brock—Oregon; Steven Hough, Marilyn Murata, and Marjorie Venden—California; Amanda Denson Brady, Mary Bullock Johnson, and Thomas Denson Hinton—Alabama; Ophelia Matthews, Kelly Beard, and Edith Owen—Texas; Everen Lacy Miller and Glen Porter, Sr.—Wisconsin; Vince Ella—Minnesota.

Joanne Hoover read the names of the deceased: Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence, Leona LePenske, and Jaye Vee—Washington; Ernie Goertzen, Katy Lee, Diane Lewis-Moles, Elbert Little, Roy Settlemeyer, Cathy Thaler, and Mel Thompson—Oregon; Ann Friend, Elizabeth Lloyd Mayer, and Steve Susskind—California; G.L. Hinton and John Hocutt—Alabama; Harold Nachison—Florida; David Jensen—Utah; Ruth Recker—Indiana; Donald Pointer—Connecticut; Vernon Paasch—Iowa; John H. Roth—South Carolina; Evanne—Vermont; Elvira Tippettes—Wyoming; Marlon Hickey—British Columbia, Canada; Mike Walcot—United Kingdom, and those who perished in the Indian Ocean tsunami. Joanne Hoover, Alice Poinier and Mike Hinton led 498, and Mike Hinton closed the memorial with prayer.

Leader: Darlene Simpson-Brown 303. Reed Schilbach gave the blessing for the noon meal.

LUNCH

David Wright began the afternoon session by leading 421. Leaders: Marcia Stedman 455; Martie Hoadley and John Carson 350; Connie Stanton 99; Jordan Singer and Sarah Hauser 385b; Carolyn Gilkey 273; Mike Hinton 436; Jack Lofton 456; Mryka Hall-Beyer 114; Angie Johnson and Jordan Singer 48t; Alan Weeks 228; Kathy Vlach 32t; Karen Stingle 254; Ken Cofield 47b; Janice Bridges 551; Ros Clements 287; Jessica Beer and Brooks Callison 448t; Joanne Hoover 496; Katharine Hough, Valerie Cohen, and Brad Reynolds 29t.

RECESS

Karen Willard called the class back to order by leading 388. Leaders: Idy Kiser 122; Scott Kennedy 347; Rebecca Nachison 159; Melisa Doss 49t; Connie Stanton 73b; Jonathan Wilson 163b; Alice Poinier 171; Sarah Hauser 448b; Gerry Currens 178; Christopher Geer 128; Eric Holt 147t; Marcia Stedman 504; Raoul Titus 391; Tamara Harris 67; David Hough 480; John Carson and Elena Hartwell 313b; Angie Johnson and Martha Johnson 63; Linda Laing 84; Jean Murphy 189; Matthew Sellens 36b; Susan Helf 198; Ros Clements and Alan Weeks 28b; Mike Hinton 490.

The class went into a business session to hear committee reports and announcements.

The Treasurer reported that expenses had been met and thanked the class for their generosity.

The Secretary reported there were 125 registrants and many others who stopped in to listen. States represented were Washington—78; Oregon—34; Texas—3; California—2; Massachusetts—1; Michigan—1; Wisconsin—1; Canada—3; United Kingdom—2. A total of 85 songs were led on Saturday and 83 (t? b?) on Sunday.

Susan Helf gave the Resolutions Committee report and thanked the officers; those who supplied food, refreshments and supplies; greeted registrants and visitors; staffed the arranging table; provided housing; arranged for the Saturday night dinner and hosted the social; helped with set-up and clean-up. Announcements were made of upcoming singings. All reports were accepted as submitted, and the business session was closed.

David Wright and Jack Lofton led 549 as the closing song, inviting everyone to give the parting hand. Chaplain Reed Schilbach closed the convention with prayer.

Chairman—David Wright; Vice Chairman—Jack Lofton; Secretary—Joanne Hoover.