Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, February 18

The Washington Session of the 30th annual Pacific Northwest Sacred Harp Singing Convention was called to order by David Wright leading 101t. Sidra Schkerke offered the opening prayer.

The convention held a business meeting, and the following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—David Wright; Vice Chairman—Laura McMurray; Secretary—Erik Schwab; Arranging Committee—Bob Schinske and Laura McMurray; Chaplains—Sidra Schkerke and Karen Willard; Memorial Committee—Kate Coxon, Marie Brandis, and Gillian Inksetter; Resolutions Committee—Rosie Sokolov and Nancy

Novotny. The business session was closed.

Leaders: Gedney Barclay 99; Erik Schwab 378t; Alan Viola 42; Sara Ng 212; Karen Willard 181; Peter Schinske 163t; Susan Helf 34b; Aisha Morgan 82t; Bob Schinske 32t; Shannon McGuire 196; Carrie Walker 569b; Greg Saue 147t.

RECESS

Emma Swartz called the class to order leading 29t. Leaders: June Thomasson 455; Dorothy Robinson 401; Steven Golob 335; Pat Coghlan 351; Anne Huckins 454; Rosie Sokolov 548; Chris Noren 377; Doug Hill 288; Gillian Inksetter 392; Lucinda Larsen Saue 178; Ruth Linehan 56t; Ian Suchon 285t; Karen Stingle 318; Mischa Skeeter 372; Carolyn Gilkey 171; Scott Kennedy 162; Kathy Vlach 475.

RECESS

Rosie Sokolov called the class to order leading 56b. Leaders: Wren Hyde 500; Sophia Schinske 63; Kevin Barrans 225t; Dorothy Mitchell 354t; Betsy Jeronen 436; David Schmitt 217; Emma Swartz 65; Kate Fine 198; Laura McMurray 123t; Thom Fahrbach 482; Kate Coxon 430; Nancy Novotny 474; Kristofer Ilex 216; Andy Ditzler 380; Jenna Tompkins 532; Jane Cannon 32b. Sidra Schkerke asked a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

David Wright called the class to order leading 97. Leaders: Dave Barber 426b; Evelyn Lamb 202; Mark Godfrey 411; Inga Buckland 468; Stephanie Fida 232; David Brodeur 444; Marie Brandis 172; Lindy Groening 383; Leigh Cooper 142; Julia Zaffarano 442; Will Sims 277; Leah Coffin 245; Carolyn Deacy 91; Derek Buckland 165; Mryka Hall-Beyer 86; Katie Mahoney 425; Paul Chamberlain 49t; David Schmitt 313b.

RECESS

Laura McMurray called the class to order leading 138b. Leaders: Bethany Bylsma 282; Karen Willard 438; Jessica Hahl 121; Andy Ditzler 434; Gillian Inksetter 189; Inga Buckland 369; Jenna Tompkins 278t; Evelyn Lamb 441; Marie Brandis 527; Derek Buckland 44; David Brodeur 283; Carolyn Deacy 201; Wren Hyde 296; Kevin Barrans 511; Kate Fine 361; Mischa Skeeter 324; Jane Cannon 447. David Wright led 180 as the closing song. The closing prayer was offered by Sidra Schkerke.

Sunday, February 19

The Sunday session of the Pacific Northwest Convention was called to order by David Wright leading 495. The opening prayer was offered by Karen Willard. Leaders: Erik Schwab 30t; Gedney Barclay 384; Karen Willard 128; Andy Ditzler 390; Scott Kennedy 344; Susan Helf 547; Ian Suchon 163b; Laura McMurray 565; Kathy Vlach 34b; Kristofer Ilex 432; Peter Schinske 299; Chris Noren 507; Mark Godfrey 176t.

RECESS

Kevin Barrans called the class to order leading 111b. Leaders: Ruth Linehan 112; Lindy Groening 315; Derek Buckland 52b; Carolyn Deacy 286; Doug Hill 101t; Shannon McGuire 472; Carrie Walker 290; David Schmitt 268; Carolyn Gilkey 504; Paul Chamberlain 159; Anne Huckins 479; Sara Ng 430; Karen Stingle 106; Alan Viola 457; Mischa Skeeter 448t; Jenna Tompkins 455; Dorothy Robinson 419.

RECESS

Chris Noren called the class to order leading 49b. Leaders: Nancy Novotny 385b; Adam Morgan Berey 47b; Pat Coghlan 218; Lucinda

Larsen Saue 503; Rosie Sokolov 414.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Kate Coxon, Marie Brandis, and Gillian Inksetter. Kate said that we remember not only those on the sick and shut-ins list, but also those who have not felt safe to return to singing since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Kate Coxon and Marie Brandis led 70t in honor of the following sick and shut-ins: Linda Berkemeier, Kate Fortin, Bud Murphy, Patricia Coffin, Sharon Skeeter, Martha Leff, Gary Leff, Lenny Zilz, Nell Whitman, Seth Dickens, Grace Ann Baker, Paul McGuire, Jinx McGuire, Mike Greene, Tom Fickel, Tina Tanaka, Eric Holt, Mary Green, Karen LaBonté, Marla Elliott, Lu Zeng, Alfred Saussotte, Melanie Hauff, Jeff Begley, and

Joan Durdin.

In remembering the deceased, Kate Coxon said that we are privileged to know through singing a variety of people we would never meet otherwise. Kate Coxon and Gillian Inksetter led 176b in honor of the following deceased since the last full convention in 2020: Alice Hammond, Ken Sunderland, Bill Windom, Joan Aldridge, Hubert Nall—Alabama; Sydney Lindeke—Alaska; Katie Holldber, Joanne Cone, Judi Clark, David Fetcho—California; Stella Wyens, Sue Bunch—Florida; Philip Denney—Georgia; Matt Osterholt, Ted Mercer—Illinois; Jackie Bryant—Maryland; Bill Beverly—Michigan; Tom Deacy—Missouri; Leila Roberson—New Jersey; Daniel Davis—New Mexico; Daniel Nicholich—New York; Dorothy Lane, Timothy Aldridge, Lydia Lewallen—North Carolina; Nick Cohen—Ontario; Martha Sherwood—Oregon; Judy Toole—Tennessee; Charlotte Powell, Landis Powell, Beverly Nelms—Texas; Graham DeZarn—Virginia; Edwin Charles Walker, Grace Burns, Donna Rennick, Solomon Ossa, Rosella Helf—Washington; and Rebecca Over—England. Prayer to close the memorial lesson was offered by Gillian Inksetter.

Leaders: Emma Swartz 410b; David Brodeur 140. Karen Willard asked a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

David Wright called the class to order leading 108t. Leaders: Wren Hyde 269; Stephanie Fida 528; Dave Barber 362; Leah Coffin 133; Evelyn Lamb 230; Inga Buckland 94; Will Sims 71; Kevin Barrans 137; Sophia Schinske 527; Thom Fahrbach 263; Lindy Groening 546; Julia Zaffarano 271t; Leigh Cooper 512; Betsy Jeronen 440; Mryka Hall-Beyer 148; Bob Schinske 498; Mark Godfrey 83t; Jane Cannon 367; David Schmitt 499; Kate Fine and Justine Cruise-Robersen 489; Andy Ditzler and David Brodeur 543; Dorothy Mitchell 287; Gillian Inksetter 192; Jack Lofton 550.

RECESS

Stephanie Fida called the class to order leading 29t. Leaders: Nancy Novotny 340; Greg Saue 143; Marie Brandis 352; Kelly Kennedy 492; Kate Coxon 114; Derek Buckland and Inga Buckland 341; Carolyn Deacy 273; Scott Kennedy 228; Wren Hyde 416; Susannah Cummins 27; Carolyn Gilkey and Karen Stingle 209; Ruth Linehan 67; Emma Swartz 215; Julia

Zaffarano 58; Kevin Barrans 68b.

A business meeting was held to hear committee reports. The Chair reported that expenses were met through the generosity of attendees and made a motion to remit the Convention’s purse to Pacific Northwest Sacred Harp Singers, Inc. , which was accepted. Nancy Novotny and Rosie Sokolov submitted a resolution, which was accepted, thanking the officers, committees, and volunteers, and setting the 2024 Washington Session on the third Sunday and Saturday before in February. The meeting was closed. Announcements were made.

David Wright and Laura McMurray led 62 as the closing song, while those who wished took the parting hand. Karen Willard offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—David Wright; Vice Chairman—Laura McMurray; Secretary—Erik Schwab