Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The fourth annual Coastal Maine Singing was held on the Saturday before the first Sunday in August at St. Paul’s Union Chapel in Waldoboro, Maine. Chair Edith Berger brought the class to order, welcomed everyone, and led 72b. Corrone Bryant offered the morning prayer then led 566.

Officers for the day were Chairman—Edith Berger and Secretary—Harold Booth.

Leaders: Bobbie Goodell 276; Pleasance Crawford 391; Chris Holley 503; Sumner Roberts 401; Edith Berger 388; Paul Gauthier 59; Celia Devine 106; Chuck Crawford 378t; Paul Setford 37b; Bill Holt 84; Terry Ryan 339; Mary Neville 504; Leonard Spencer 304; Cathy Brochet 86; Bob Parr 313t; Edith Berger 384.

RECESS

The class was called together by Corrone Bryant leading 171. Leaders: Chris Holley 146; Hal Booth 51b; Francis Bliss 40; Karen Keller 268; Pleasance Crawford 309; Celia Devine 36b; Paul Gauthier 47b; Chuck Crawford 68b; Mary Neville 480; Terry Ryan 66; Chuck Crawford 68b.

Dan Purdy read the names of the sick and shut-in: Jim Bickford, Jacqueline Jones, and Franny Perkins—Maine.

Edith Berger read the names of the deceased and led 83t in their memory: Mark Seiler, Sandy Brown, Virginia Hadden, Rick Lemont, Susan Morris, and Kenneth Libbey—Maine; Myle Holley, Janet Crawford, Marie Burt, and Gene Reid—Massachusetts; Marian Ryan, Everett Silvia, and John Armstrong—New York; Ted Grossbaum—Montreal; Jerry Heiman—Romania; John Brunskill—Ottawa; Lynne Friedman—New Hampshire; Weeda Howard—Missouri; Stuart Baldwin—North Carolina.

Leaders: Marion Black 203; Bob Parr 528; Leonard Spencer 163b; Corrone Bryant 34b. Corrone Bryant offered the blessing for the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought together by Sumner Roberts leading 556. Leaders: Bill Holt 87; Karen Keller 159; Paul Gauthier 189; Katherine Thompson 99; Pleasance Crawford 547; Marion Black 474; Cathy Brochet 496; Celia Devine 326; Bobbie Goodell 496; Edith Berger 142.

RECESS

Chuck Crawford called the class together leading 155. Leaders: Hal Booth 254; Terry Ryan 32t; Paul Setford 31b; Francis Bliss 300; Chuck Neville 569b; Sumner Roberts 209; Katherine Thompson 162; Marj Awalt 178; Bob Parr 430; Leonard Spencer 250; Bobbie Goodell 473; Bill Holt 274 (t? b?); Pleasance Crawford and Hallie Wells 299; Chuck Neville 31t; Paul Setford 273; Marion Black and Dorothy Connor 327; Paul Gauthier 228; Cathy Brochet 56b; Karen Keller 107; Pleasance Crawford 381; Katherine Thompson 76b; Corrone Bryant 147t; Francis Bliss 198; Mary Neville 48t; Bobbie Goodell 218; John Van Sorosin 33t.

The Treasurer expressed thanks for the financial support that enabled the convention to meet its expenses. Edith Berger gave the Resolutions report, thanking all of those without whom the convention would not have been a success.

Corrone Bryant led 62 as the closing song while the class took the parting hand. Corrone Bryant offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Note: The Coastal Maine Singing will meet next year on Saturday before the first Sunday in August, August 4, 2007.

Chairman—Edith Berger; Secretary—Harold Booth.