Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

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New York State Sacred Harp Convention

Unity Hall, Barneveld, New York

October 14-15, 2023

Saturday, October 14

The 33rd New York State Sacred Harp Convention was held on the third weekend in October. The class was called to order by Dennis Leipold leading 49t. The opening prayer was offered by Lynn Wilson.

Leaders: Mary Skidmore 131b; Tarik Wareh 85; Laura Densmore 313t; Ernest Blake 84; Lynn Wilson 171; Barbara Swetman 475; Jan May 49b; Ginny Huszagh 209; George Sigut 547; Jean Seiler 142; Chuck Crawford 107; Joanne Fuller 564; Bob Wheeler 68b; Pleasance Crawford 196; Laurel Dempsey 178.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Ginny Huszagh leading 155. Leaders: Laura Densmore 542; Dennis Leipold 192; Ernest Blake 48t; Barbara Swetman 287; Mary Skidmore 532; Tarik Wareh 111t; Jan May 228; Pleasance Crawford 227; George Sigut 38t; Rebeka Radna-Crasta 86; Chuck Crawford 114; Laurel Dempsey 159; Ginny Huszagh 191; Bob Wheeler 40; Joanne Fuller 352; Jean Seiler 313b.

RECESS

The class was brought together by Jan May leading 66. Leaders: Dennis Leipold 300; Lynn Wilson and Jean Seiler 217; Tarik Wareh 131t; Ginny Huszagh 269; Bob Wheeler 452; Joy Pople and Jean Seiler 236; Ernest Blake 82t; Laurel Dempsey 312b; George Sigut 448t; Claudia Smigelski 503. The grace before the noontime meal was offered by Tarik Wareh.

LUNCH

The class was called to order by Rebeka Radna-Crasta leading 106. Leaders: Barbara Swetman 277; Jean Seiler 299; Chuck Crawford 288; Mary Skidmore 203; Jan May 489; Dev Crasta 39t; Joanne Fuller 39b; Pleasance Crawford 272; Laura Densmore 500; Dennis Leipold 73t; Kathy Collett 344; Tarik Wareh 282; Lynn Wilson 515; Ginny Huszagh and Seth Rutledge 200; Joy Pople and Barbara Swetman 569b; Traci Misko 182.

RECESS

Bob Wheeler brought the class together leading 147b. Leaders: Ernest Blake 183; Claudia Smigelski 146; George Sigut 72b; Laurel Dempsey 268; Rebeka Radna-Crasta 122; Bob Wheeler 47b; Dev Crasta 376; Barbara Swetman 312t; Jean Seiler 315; Kathy Collett 472; Chuck Crawford 473; Jan May 474; Traci Misko 59; Joanne Fuller 121; Dennis Leipold 480; Pleasance Crawford 266; Tarik Wareh 187; Mary Skidmore 440; Lynn Wilson 523; Ginny Huszagh 56b; Dennis Leipold 347. A prayer was offered by Laurel Dempsey to close the Saturday singing.

Sunday, October 15

The Sunday session of the New York State Convention was called to order by Dennis Leipold leading 34b. The opening prayer was offered by Lynn Wilson. Leaders: Tarik Wareh 330t; Mary Skidmore 32t; Laura Densmore 228; Ginny Huszagh 63; Jean Seiler 148; Laurel Dempsey 146; Barbara Swetman 115; Chuck Crawford 114; Claudia Smigelski 503; Lynn Wilson 68b; Jan May 538; Pleasance Crawford 283.

RECESS

The class was called to order by Laura Densmore leading 101b. Joanne Fuller led 129.

The memorial lesson was held at this time. Dennis Leipold spoke and led 65 for the following sick and shut-ins: Judy Pardee, Margaret Bornick, Laura Ayotte, Daniel Hertzler, Cindy Bean, Jim Bean, Pat Callahan, Lael Birch, Bill Sniegowski, Corrone Bryant, Ruth Anne Bryant, Bobbie Goodell, Dan Purdy, and Clara Fagan.

Mary Skidmore spoke and led 285t in memory of the following: Lucy Heyerman, Rebecca Ferris, Charlotte Ehrman, and Ronnie Decker—New York; Zoe Clay—North Carolina; Joan Sheldon and Robert Taylor—Maine; Charlotte Powell and Cheryl Foreman—Texas; Juanita Beasley, Hubert Nall, Norma Green, and Claudene Townson—Alabama; Ted Mercer and Melanie Hauff—Illinois; Mary Wright—Virginia; Eva Striebeck—Germany. The memorial lesson was closed with prayer offered by Barbara Swetman.

Leaders: Ernest Blake 106; JoRean Sicks 178; Seth Rutledge 481; Tarik Wareh 231; Benjamin Fenton 360; Traci Misko 142; Ginny Huszagh 189; Chuck Crawford 145t; Jean Seiler 168; Pleasance Crawford 504; Joanne Fuller 460; Laurel Dempsey 171; Dennis Leipold 105; Barbara Swetman 29t; Laura Densmore 522; Claudia Smigelski 452; Mary Skidmore 198; Benjamin Fenton 99. Tarik Wareh gave a blessing for the midday meal.

LUNCH

Dennis Leipold led 273 to bring the class back together. Leaders: Tarik Wareh 91; Seth Rutledge 95; Ernest Blake 84; Traci Misko 288; Adam Breaux 312b; Ginny Huszagh 195; Chuck Crawford 473; Jan May 276; Jean Seiler 318; Claudia Smigelski 569t; Pleasance Crawford 384; Jason Law 66; Joanne Fuller 426t; Benjamin Fenton 300; Kathy Collett 448t; Barbara Swetman 254; Mary Skidmore 186; Seth Rutledge 294; Dennis Leipold 133; Adam Breaux 47b; Ernest Blake 49b; Tarik Wareh 220.

RECESS

Dennis Leipold called the class to order leading 147t. Leaders: Pleasance Crawford 157; Kathy Collett 47t; Jan May 351; Charles Collett 474; Jason Law 122; Chuck Crawford 72b. Announcements were made.

The treasurer stated that expenses were met. The secretary reported that one hundred forty-nine songs were led by twenty-eight leaders. Singers came from two Canadian provinces and four U.S. states. The 34th annual New York State Sacred Harp Convention will be held in the Ithaca, New York area on the third Sunday and Saturday before in October, 2024.

Dennis Leipold led 62 as the closing song. The closing prayer was offered by Ernest Blake.

Chairperson—Dennis Leipold; Secretary—Mary Skidmore