Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The Berks County Sacred Harp Singings hosted the tenth annual Maidencreek All Day Singing on Saturday before Labor Day at Maidencreek Meeting House near Leesport, Pennsylvania. Guy Bankes called the class to order leading 34b. Lamar Matthew offered the opening prayer.

The following officers for the singing were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Guy Bankes; Treasurer—Ruth Shaffer; Secretary—Doron Henkin; Arranging Committee—Laura Densmore; Chaplains—Lamar Matthew and Karen Wilcox; Keying—Dennis Leipold, Paula Picton, Jean Seiler, and Blake Morris.

Leaders: Guy Bankes 173; Laura Densmore 142; Doron Henkin 215; Susan Munch 77t; Lamar Matthew 35; Ted Stokes 377; Betty Hanf 353; Lynn Hoyt 39t; Gerry Hoffman 314; Laura Parrish 178; Kevin Moreno 121; Ina Henkin 125; Cindy Sadler 456; Victoria Bolles 426b; Terry Ryan 299; Martha Beverly 504.

RECESS

Guy Bankes called the class back to order by leading 120. Leaders: Merv Horst 350; Molly Sayvetz 99; Nancy Trout 430; George Pomfret 542; Jim Wantland 344; Elizabeth Stokes 203; Joan Trout 476; Gerry Hoffman 68b; Inga Knets 319; Gina Balestracci 214; Jim Ulrich 273; Claire Simon 107; Dennis Leipold 416; Steve Hoyt 445b.

RECESS

Bill Beverly called the class back to order with 376. Leaders: Erin Kelley 290; John Pushkar 361; Nancy Tkacs 497.

Kevin Moreno conducted the memorial lesson, spoke and led 318 for the sick and shut-ins. The following sick were remembered: Marian Ryan—New York; Lindsay Kunkel—Pennsylvania; Ilmars Knets—Connecticut; those affected by hurricane Katrina, particularly in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Information was shared about singers and their families from those states.

Aldo Ceresa spoke and led 285t for the deceased. The class remembered the following: Allen Fannin, Nancy Levy, Marie Hanss, Adolph Kauzlanskas, Roxanne Mennella, and Frank Dumin—New York; Tom Gibney—New Jersey; Phil Tabor—Tennessee; Al Frank and Vi Stark—Illinois; John Hocutt and Ivalene Donaldson—Alabama; Walter Manning—Virginia; Laurette Elizabeth Wojcik and Elsie Balestracci—Massachusetts; Dean Slaton—Indiana; Dawn Culbertson, Julian Stanley, and Harry Stallings—Maryland; Georgio Garelli—Italy; Vicky Betts, Kevin Jesteadt, and Russell Smith—Pennsylvania; Art Broadus—North Carolina. Lamar Matthew closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: George Seiler 31t; Nora Dunn 381; John Hewes 358. The blessing for the midday meal was offered by Karen Wilcox.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Jean Seiler leading 106. Leaders: Ruth Shaffer “Harrisburg” (German-language shape note tune); Violet Crumbein 547; Aldo Ceresa 245; Mary Ellen Shrock 171; Thom Metzger 269; Liz Cusick 324; Bill Beverly 297; Cathy Tucker, 385b; Mairi Quodomine 339; Ina Henkin 124; Kathryn Larma 282; Tom Tucker 274 (t? b?); Jean Seiler 236; Dean Jens 117; Susan Bingham 362; Roland Hutchinson 260.

RECESS

Guy Bankes called the class back to order with 276. Leaders: Laura Lee Thompson 270; Blake Morris 179; Paula Picton 32t; Eileen Metzger 101t; Gabriel Kastelle 70b; Carly Goss 42; Carol Myers 287; Victoria Bolles 473; Gerry Hoffman 272; Cathy Tucker 480; Jim Ulrich 474; Martha Beverly 368; George Pomfret 535; Bill Beverly 515; Dennis Leipold 286; Jean Seiler 217; Blake Morris 216; Paula Picton 432; Thom Metzger 89; Gabriel Kastelle 33t; John Hewes 38t; Thom Tucker 384; Eileen Metzger 326; Violet Crumben 455; George Seiler and Jean Seiler 146.

Resolutions were offered, and the closing prayer was offered by Karen Wilcox. The class was dismissed.

Chairman—Guy Bankes; Secretary—Doron Henkin.