Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, September 25

The Saturday session of the 21st Minnesota State Sacred Harp Convention was held at St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. The class was called to order by Nancy Koester and Kit Canright leading 171. Gordon Olsen offered the opening prayer.

The following officers were previously elected or appointed to serve: Co-Chairpersons—Nancy Koester and Kit Canright; Secretaries—Noelle Copeland and Alexa Copeland; Memorial Committee—Steven Schmidgall and Aubrey Hemminger.

Leaders: Kristie Harju 300; Stacey Berkheimer 68b; Midge Olsen 276; Carol Buche 47t; Donna Gunderson-Rogers 155; Francis Gurtz 475; Noelle Copeland 378b; Aubrey Hemminger 142; Jeannette Nelson 269; Nathan Berry 313t; Christine Stevens and friend 277; James Page 272; Priscilla Wiggins 176b; Stephen Parker 32t; Shirley Figura 146; Will Gilman and Bea Comte 312b; Laura Densmore 542; Steve Copeland 117.

RECESS

Karen Swenson called the class back to order by leading 148. Leaders: Hans Guttman 480; Cheryl Foreman 187; Ted Mercer “Hinton”; Olivia Powell 128; Mike Hinton 532; Caroline Helmeczi 457; Steven T. Schmidgall 333; Melanie Hauff 421; Michael L. Moore 28t; Cathy Lutz 383; Dan Edwards and Karen Edwards 99; Kevin Bullock, Janell Draper, and Rory Bullock 53; Steven Levine 350; Martha Henderson 172; Kevin Powell 240; Judy Whiting 354t.

RECESS

Paul Landskroener led 473 to call the class back together. Leaders: Bill Waddington 474; Colette Miller 348b; Leon Pulsinelle 192; Julie Vea 436; Paul Figura 145t; Jo Pendleton 59; Ben Copenhaver 220; Cody Hunter 448b.

A business session was held and the following officers were elected for 2011: Co-Chairpersons for the fall Minnesota State Convention—Jane Wells and Stephen Levine; Chairman for the February Cooper Book singing—Paul Wyatt. Gordon Olsen offered prayer for the noon meal.

LUNCH

Matt Wells brought the class to order leading 49b. Leaders: Paul Wyatt 456; Johanna Fabke 150; Hubert Nall 40; Lisa Grayson 528; Pete Mathewson 379; Cornelia Stanton 344; Gaylon Powell 442; Jim Pfau 496; Roberta Strauss 384; Robin Fox 271t; Rochelle Lodder 497; Kris Wiggins 163t; Bridgett Hill 411; Chris Brown 466; Judy Hauff 254; Sonny Erwin 454; Donna Bell 503; Ann Sleeva 66; Sonya Lee 566.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Steve Luttinen leading 282. Leaders: Claudia Egelhoff 556; Scott Schroeder 84; Tammy Powell 189; Rick Foreman 106; Carol V. Crawford 52t; Jim Goetz 218; Gordon Olsen 86; Kim Bahmer 448t; Jeff Bell 30t; Eleanor Haase 352; Denise Kania 500; Kristie Harju and Gaylon Powell 438.

Kit Canright and Nancy Koester led 323t as the closing song. The closing prayer was offered by Gordon Olsen, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, September 26

The Sunday session of the 21st Minnesota State Sacred Harp Convention was held at The Landing in Shakopee, Minnesota. The class was called to order by Kit Canright and Nancy Koester leading 34b. The opening prayer was offered by Gordon Olsen.

Leaders: Claudia Egelhoff 77b; Gordon Olsen 39t; Denise Kania 203; Tivey, Will Matczynski, Lydia Brosnahan, and Madiha Bataineh 49t; Eleanor Haase 274t; Jim Goetz 159; Donna Bell 426b; Jeff Bell 154; Jenny Willard 318; Leon Pulsinelle 299; Cassie Lang 472; Pete Mathewson 313b; Rochelle Lodder 344; Michael L. Moore 162; Lisa Grayson 428; Cody Hunter 479; Johanna Fabke 71.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Robin Fox leading 112. Leaders: Roberta Strauss 270; Will Gilman 146; Charlie Obert “Nightfall”; Kim Bahmer 209; Walt Graff 137; Tammy Powell 216; Paul Wyatt 319; Dan Edwards and Karen Edwards 84; Becky Browne 300; Rick Foreman 107; Judy Whiting 273; Sonny Erwin 441; Ann Sleeva 47b; Chris Brown 28b.

RECESS

Jim Pfau called the class back to order leading 63. Leaders: Sonya Lee 49b; Hubert Nall and Bridgett Hill 196.

Steve Schmidgall and Aubrey Hemminger conducted the memorial lesson for the sick and shut-ins, read the following names, and led 504 in their honor: Skip Trout, John C. Landskroener, Bob Meek, Ruth A. Dale, Matt Riccio, Kayla Parker, Penny Pixler, Jean Berquist, Bob Scorgie, Bob Anderson, Joyce Anderson, Scott Page, Lonnie Rogers, Gloria Rosen Kaplan, Ted Egelhoff, Judy Freeman, John Blattner, Val Eng, Annie Luttinen, Sally Foreman, Nancy Henderson, and Peg Pearson.

Steve Schmidgall and Aubrey Hemminger conducted the memorial lesson for the following deceased and led 565 in their memory: David Bornick and George Seiler—New York; Nancy Katzen—Pennsylvania; Milton Russell Wilson and Christiane Kleiner—Canada; Sallie Munn, George Hartman, Ruth Minnick, and Dale Minnick—Wisconsin; Jerry Enright—Illinois; Chris Shanks—England; Ethan Rogers, Paul K., Betty Phelps, Cindy Kissee, eight kids who died by suicide in the Anoka-Hennepin school district, Deb Sorensen-Boeh, Bill Hinkley, and Crystal Haunaman—Minnesota; H. Japeth Jackson—Alabama; Arlene Miller and Louise Capron—New Jersey; Dennis Andersen—Iowa; Myra Palmer, Ada Fisher, and Morris Nowlin—Texas, Margaret Larijani—California/Oklahoma; Esther Lang—North Dakota. Aubrey Hemminger closed the memorial lesson with a prayer.

Leaders: Steve Parker 362. Gordon Olsen offered prayer for the noon meal.

LUNCH

The class was brought to order by Matt Wells leading 31t. Leaders: Julie Vea 142; Gaylon Powell and Kristie Powell 564; Caroline Helmeczi 440; Gary Gronau 384; Carol Crawford 501; Paul Figura 417; Karen Swenson 546; Ted Mercer 328; Cathy Lutz 290; Mike Hinton 434; Priscilla Wiggins 365; Judy Hauff 536; Steve Luttinen 153; Bridgett Hill 522; Cheryl Foreman 455; Paul Landskroener 232; Shirley Figura 30b. A raffle was held for the Elouise Jerome quilt. It was won by Karen Swenson.

RECESS

Christine Stevens brought the class back together leading 52t. Leaders: Laura Densmore 302; Kevin Powell 200; James Page 212; Olivia Powell 236; Kris Wiggins 198; Keith Willard 74b; Melissa Kelley 102; Steven Levine 373; Martha Henderson 336; Melanie Hauff and Carol Buche 178; Ben Copenhaver and Steve Copeland 569b; Nathan Berry and Stacey Berkheimer 129; Jeanette Nelson and Hans Guttman 268; Midge Olsen, Donna Gunderson-Rogers, and Steve Parker 454.

The treasurer’s report indicated that expenses were met. The Secretary reported that 152 songs were led by 95 leaders. The Resolutions report was made and announcements followed.

Kit Canright and Nancy Koester led 347 as the closing song, while those who wished took the parting hand. Gordon Olsen offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Co-Chairpersons—Nancy Koester and Kit Canright; Secretaries—Noelle Copeland and Alexa Copeland