Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, May 26

The annual Midwest Convention was held at Ida Noyes Hall on the University of Chicago campus, Chicago, Illinois, on Memorial Day weekend. Chairpersons Susan Geil and Randy Neufeld opened the convention leading 171. Herb Schroeder offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Ginny Landgraf and Jim Helke 77b; Cathryn Bearov 372; Anne Missavage 203; Katie Piché 95; Wendy Wahn 371; Erik Schwab 66; Cindy Overmyer and Carolyn Deacy 40; Wally Bloch 146; Suzanne Flandreau 276; Steve Warner 86; Michael Mosley 124 (in honor of his birthday).

A business meeting was held with the following officers elected or appointed: Chairpersons—Ginny Landgraf and Jim Helke; Vice Chairpersons—Anne Heider and Steve Warner; Secretaries—Rachel Adelstein and Sam Farwell. The business meeting was closed.

Leaders: Cathy Lutz 344; Paul Wyatt 496 (for Steve Schmidgall).

RECESS

Ginny Landgraf and Jim Helke brought the class back to order leading 457. Leaders: Christine Stevens 542; Ted Johnson 383; Julie Vea 327; Steve Helwig and Anita Shepherd 215; Jeannette DePoy 392; Judy Mincey 571; Bruce Rye 411; Reba Windom 216; Richard DeLong 419; Samuel Sommers 386; Darrell Swarens 335; Wendy Popp 472; Mike Hinton 527.

RECESS

Ginny Landgraf and Jim Helke brought the class back to order leading 63. Leaders: Johanna Fabke and Judy Wilson 122; Erika Wilson 480; Herb Schroeder 128; Presley Barker 505; Pleasance Crawford 466; Megan Dunning 84; Dave Barford 430; Jeremy Straughan 476; Terry Hogg 112; Karen Edwards and friend 278b; Debbie Barford 368; Carol Munro Mosley 312b; Carolyn Deacy 485; Matt Wells 272; Midge Olson 454; Jo Schultz and friend 501; James Eldridge 384; Marian Mitchell 178; Petrina Patti 217. Becky Browne offered prayer for the noon meal.

LUNCH

Anne Heider and Steve Warner brought the class back for the afternoon session leading 34b. Leaders: Karen Isbell 142; Virginia Douglas 49b; Jim Swanson 536; Melanie Hauff 277; Jan Ketelle 212; Jessica Beer 440; Kathy Williams 222; Bill Beverly 547; Jan May 99; Connie Karduck 498; Grace Scrimgeour 33b; Beverly Rose Enright and friend 441; Jim Pfau 474; Sam Farwell 268; Martha Beverly 504; Lori Graber 538; Dean Jens 38b; Katherine Eldridge and Virginia Eldridge 117; Aldo Ceresa 214; Anne Heider 362.

RECESS

Rachel Adelstein, Sam Farwell, and Robert Vandecheck brought the class back to order leading 114. Leaders: Donna Gunderson-Rogers 565; Gary Gronau 192; James Page and Julie Thompson 284; David Wright 313t; Molly Whedbee 73t; Nathan Barford 260; Rebecca Eldridge 168; Ryan Wheeler 191; Bob Borcherding 56b.

Leaders: Paul Wilson 332; Sue Kessell 365; Adrian Eldridge 101t; Tom Malone 550; Gillian Inksetter 36b; Wayne R. Dell 159; Gordon Olsen 497; Rachel Speer 336; John Seaton 47t.

Ginny Landgraf and Jim Helke led 347 as the closing song. Becky Browne offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, May 27

The convention was opened at 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning with Chairpersons Jim Helke and Ginny Landgraf leading 59. Becky Browne offered prayer.

Leaders: Karen Swenson 142; John Greven 178; Karen Bahler 551; Henry Schuman 532; Martha Henderson 456; Will Fitzgerald 77t; Virginia Eldridge 503; Steve Luttinen 85; Megan Jennings 436; Brad Bahler 277; Judy Hauff 377; Jeff Breting 288; Denise Kania 500; Steve Rogers 84; Kiri Miller 442; Peter Bradley 344.

RECESS

Anne Heider and Steve Warner brought the class back to order leading 40. Leaders: Doug Stapleton 189; John Bahler 163b; Lisa Grayson 269; Brad Oglesbey 144; Marcia Johnson 163t; Richard Popp 361; Jo Dell Albi 214; Dean Jens 266; Judy Mincey 475; Erik Schwab 510; Christine Stevens 352; David Wright 391; Cindy Overmyer and Carolyn Deacy 133; Aldo Ceresa 320; Erika Wilson 162; Paul Wyatt 384.

RECESS

Rachel Adelstein brought the class back to order leading 106. Leaders: Molly Whedbee 287; Jeff Gauthier “Many More Days;” Jessica Beer 378b; Jan May 155.

Mike Hinton conducted the memorial lesson. Jeannette DePoy read the names of the sick and shut-ins: Violet Thomason, Lilia Springer, Homer Benefield, Katherine Benefield, Charlene Wallace, Irene Anderson, Janet Fraembs, Tracy Poyser, Claire Cardy, John Long, William Kelley, Harvey Wahn, Ophelia Matthews, Kelly Day, Myra Palmer, Jeanette Lowry, Bill Ellison, Bob Scorgie, Bob Anderson, Nancy Yugo, Mary Wood, Pauline Childers, Helen Russell, Sharon Johnson, and Edith Tate. Lisa Grayson led 318 in their honor.

Judy Mincey spoke for the deceased, and Lisa Grayson read the following names: Heath Jett, Flarce Creel, and John Hyde—Alabama; Alan Anderson and Aurelia Grieshop—Iowa; Mary Ballinger—Texas; Starkey Duncan, Johnathan Fields, Ned Sterane, Dallas Oschwald, Stephen Sinon, Ruth Young, and Louis Ross—Illinois; Winifred Treffinger—Florida; Jill Gibbs—Colorado; Edna Harris and Dr. Robert Bozarth—Indiana; Marcia Tucker—California; Helen Stevens—Minnesota; Walter Nelson—Connecticut; and Mary Hackney—Georgia. Judy Mincey led 549 in their memory. Bruce Rye offered prayer to close the memorial lesson.

Leaders: Kathy Kaiser 86. Ryan Wheeler offered prayer before lunch.

LUNCH

Jim Swanson brought the class back to order leading 111b. Leaders: Bill Beverly 546; Mary Doyle 535; Dave Ressler 192; Kathy Williams 273; Bruce Rye 434; Ted Mercer 300; Becky Browne 304; Samuel Sommers 426 (t? b?); Sarah Burghardt and friend 181; Richard DeLong 395; Rachel Adelstein 236 (by request); Mike Hinton 340; Reba Windom 196; Jim Swanson 197; Rachel Speer 296; Gary Gronau 385t; Emmie Barford 479; Jim Pfau 270; Carolyn Deacy 29t.

RECESS

Anne Heider and Steve Warner brought the class back to order leading 168. Leaders: Steve Helwig 528; Jeannette DePoy 328; Eric Saylor 183; Cathy Lutz and guests 218; Brad Bahler, Kathy Bahler, John Bahler, and Rob Bahler 448t; Pattie Doss 76b; Kiri Miller and guests 224; Jim Lawrie 148; Assunta Osterholt and guests 39t; Jo Dell Albi and guests 201; Jo Schultz and guests 448b; Nathan Barford 274t; Gillian Inksetter and guests 171; Tom Malone and guests 568.

Ted Mercer made a special presentation of a prop “Sacred Harp” book from the movie “Cold Mountain” to Reba Windom in recognition of her twenty years’ support of this Convention. Judy Hauff made a speech of recognition as well.

A business meeting was held for the purpose of hearing reports from various committees. The Secretary reported that 164 songs were led by 122 leaders, and that singers had attended from 25 states, 2 provinces of Canada, and Scotland. The Finance Committee reported that expenses were almost met. The Resolutions Committee reported that the Convention was resolved to meet again next year. The reports were adopted unanimously. The business meeting was concluded.

Announcements were made. Ginny Landgraf and Jim Helke led 62 as the closing song, and those who wished took the parting hand. Becky Browne offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairpersons—Ginny Landgraf and Jim Helke; Vice Chairpersons—Anne Heider and Steve Warner; Secretaries—Rachel Adelstein and Sam Farwell