Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, September 14

The 29th annual Illinois State Sacred Harp Convention was called to order by James Page leading 31t. Don Bardsley offered the morning prayer.

The following officers and committees were previously elected or appointed: Chairman—James Page; Co-Chairman—Peggy Brayfield; Treasurer and Secretary—Martha Tyner; Chaplain—Don Bardsley; Arranging Officer—Janet Fraembs; Finance Officer—Mark Graber; Memorial Committee—Peggy Brayfield and Presley Barker; Food Committee—Lori Graber and Terry Hogg, Registrar—Frank Fraembs.

Leaders: Peggy Brayfield 34b; Don Bardsley 87; Lori Graber 77b; Janet Fraembs 74b; Darrell Swarens 36b; Martha Beverly 171; Patti Sontag 178; Samuel Sommers 349; Ann Miczulski 282; John Seaton 180; Joan Aldridge 217; Presley Barker 8 (MH); Debbie Barford 189; Jim Helke 20 (MH); Jan Ketelle 464 (in memory of Jeff Sheppard); Dave Barford 430; Karen Isbell 162 (MH); Les Sontag 335.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Peggy Brayfield leading 105. Leaders: Charlie Derleth 348b; Ted Mercer 129 (MH); Ginny Landgraf 88 (MH); Lou Kujawinski 13 (MH); Terry Hogg 135 (MH); Jonathan Smith 78 (MH); Nate Zweig 17 (MH); Penny Kujawinski 500; Samuel Sommers 89 (MH); James Page 45 (MH); Martha Beverly 34 (MH); Don Bardsley 127 (MH); Jan Ketelle 180 (MH) (in memory of Jim Hearne); Ted Mercer 70 (MH); John Seaton 62 (MH); Presley Barker 65 (MH); Debbie Barford 475; Jim Helke 48 (MH) (in memory of Ann Beasley.) Don Bardsley offered the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon singing was called to order by Karen Isbell leading 29t. Leaders: Peggy Brayfield 71; Les Sontag 143; Janelle Davis 81t; Nate Zweig 106 (MH); Joan Aldridge 228; Dave Barford 37b; Penny Kujawinski 474; Patti Sontag 268; Terry Hogg 172 (MH); Lou Kujawinski 216; Jonathan Smith 202; Ann Miczulski 556; Ginny Landgraf 77 (MH); Darrell Swarens 507 (for Josie Hyde); Lori Graber 426b; Karen Isbell 192.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by James Page leading 142. Leaders: Charlie Derleth 39t (in memory of Jeff Sheppard); Janelle Davis 146; Jim Helke 177 (MH); John Seaton 2 (MH); Martha Beverly 32 (MH); Nate Zweig 41 (MH); Ann Miczulski 300; Janet Fraembs 532; Samuel Sommers 112; Peggy Brayfield 151 (MH) (for Dixie McGregor); James Page 84 (MH); Presley Barker 147 (MH); Jan Ketelle 113 (MH).

RECESS

The class was called to order for the final session of the day by Penny Kujawinski leading 106. Leaders: Charlie Derleth 163b; Ted Mercer 80 (MH); Ginny Landgraf 91 (MH); Dave Barford 70b; Lou Kujawinski 497; Darrell Swarens 208.

Following announcements, James Page led 46. Don Bardsley closed the session with prayer.

Sunday, September 15

The Sunday session of the Illinois State Sacred Harp Convention was called to order by James Page leading 107. The morning prayer was offered by Don Bardsley.

Leaders: Peggy Brayfield 13 (MH); Don Bardsley 354t; Janet Fraembs 175 (MH); Terry Hogg 172 (MH); Martha Tyner 479; Les Sontag 145b; Samuel Sommers 283; Janelle Davis 159; Dave Barford 327; Lori Graber 368; Penny Kujawinski 475; Patti Sontag 313b; Dave Ressler 474; Ginny Landgraf 25 (MH); Darrell Swarens 341; Joan Aldridge 276.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Peggy Brayfield leading 40. Leaders: Presley Barker 503 (in memory of Jim Hearne); Debbie Barford 163t; Lou Kujawinski 515; LaMar Schlabach 270; James Page 139 (MH); Terry Hogg 138 (MH); Martha Tyner 147t; Don Bardsley 23 (MH); Lori Graber 174 (MH); Patti Sontag 86; Samuel Sommers 142 (MH) (for Berkley Moore); Peggy Brayfield 240.

RECESS

The class was called to order by Penny Kujawinski leading 32t. Janelle Davis led 148.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Peggy Brayfield and Presley Barker. Peggy spoke of the journeys we take to sing Sacred Harp, and how the people with whom we make these journeys have become like family, so that now a Sacred Harp singing is also a family reunion. Remembering those who are unable to attend this particular reunion while sick and shut-in, she read the following names: Berkley Moore, Karen Hojnacki, Doris Stienmetz, Mary Martin, Bob Scorgie, Loraine Bayer, David and Marlen Rust, Dora Martin, Pat Meek, and Josie Hyde. Peggy then led 330b.

Presley Barker read the following names of the deceased: Mary Wood, Lee Steinmetz, Richard Brayfield—Illinois; Marjorie Sommers, Kelly Day—Indiana; Carl Huyser, Eda Lou Keele, Bob Anderson—Wisconsin; Jim Hearne, Ann Marie Stone—Missouri; Jerry Jeys—Iowa; Jack Martin—Michigan; Jeff Sheppard, Myrtle Ann Beasley, Bud Oliver, Lessie Reed, Bufrey Dean—Alabama; Violet Thomason, Nancy Yeager—Georgia; Adrienne Chabot—Maine; Eva Padgett—Florida; Clayton Ezell—Tennessee; Don Buswell—Arkansas; Dennis Norlin—Illinois/Michigan/South Dakota; Andrea Nagy Smith—Ohio/Connecticut. Presley remarked on the remarkable length of the list of deceased, inviting us to remember their contributions, placing them in the long line of participants who have gone before and provide such a sense of timelessness to our singing. Presley led 505 in their memory. Don Bardsley closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Dave Barford led 65, and the class sang 164 (MH) as grace before adjourning for lunch.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was called to order by James Page leading 34b. Leaders: Les Sontag 350; Ginny Landgraf 447; Dave Ressler 48t; Debbie Barford 200; Darrell Swarens 145 (MH) (in honor of the wedding of Merle Mateika); Lou Kujawinski 137; LaMar Schlabach 47t; Joan Aldridge 166; Penny Kujawinski 62 (MH); James Page 67 (MH); Patti Sontag 476; Terry Hogg 523; Janelle Davis 448t; Don Bardsley 461; Martha Tyner 454; Lori Graber 548.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Janet Fraembs leading 168. Leaders: Presley Barker 481; Peggy Brayfield 178 (MH); Samuel Sommers 152 (MH); Les Sontag 361; Ginny Landgraf 12 (MH); Dave Ressler 70 (MH); Dave Barford 362; Darrell Swarens 198; Debbie Barford 383; Lou Kujawinski 473; LaMar Schlabach 131b; Penny Kujawinski 565; James Page 170 (MH); Presley Barker 472; Patti Sontag 337; Lou Kujawinski 66; Dave Ressler 215; Penny Kujawinski 440.

The Finance Officer reported that expenses had been met. Announcements were made.

The class sang 347 as participants took the parting hand. Don Bardsley offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—James Page; Co-Chairman—Peggy Brayfield; Secretary—Martha Tyner