Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, April 6

The Saturday session of the 33rd annual Potomac River Convention met at Church of the Ascension, Silver Spring, Maryland. on the first Saturday in April. Song selections were from The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition, and The Shenandoah Harmony. The class was called to order by Alexa Silverman leading 34b.

In a business meeting, the following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Alexa Silverman; Vice Chairman—David Shulman; Treasurer—Lucas Husted; Secretary—Nina Burris; Chaplains—Thomas Ward and Robin Banerji. Thomas Ward offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Matt Ference 81t; Doe Lowinger 162; Kelly Macklin 24b (ShH); Katie Browne 282; Korey Guerrieri 12b (ShH); Eli Snyder 344; Bridget Jamison 42; John delRe 334 (ShH); Thomas Ward 296; Gabe Simerson 178; Jonathan Een Newton 105; Chris Wolf 137 (ShH); Don Fahey 441 (ShH); Lucas Husted 197 (ShH); Richard Green 137.

RECESS

Don Fahey led 41 (ShH) to bring the class back together. Leaders: Kathy Manning 431 (ShH); Alexa Silverman 335; Beverly Yaeger 310 (ShH); Madeline Senger 472; Susan Green 363 (ShH); Liz Meitzler Guevara 213t; Carol Dissmeyer and Chris Wolf 337; Ginny Klein and Matt Ference 117; Bailey Myers and Kelly Hughes 354t; Mary Ann Daly 126; Nina Burris 480; Alice Noyes 66; Francesca Costantino and Liz Meitzler Guevara 245; David Shulman 52t; Lynn Thye and David Shulman 268; Clare Chapin 486; Judy Getrich 546; Leyland delRe 270 (ShH); Emily Ross 83b; Julia Seidenstein 59; Adele Anderson 106; Karen Ashbrook and Alexa Silverman 312b; Lucas Husted and Gillie Campbell 40; Matt Ference 242 (ShH); Doe Lowinger 69t; Katie Browne 277; Kelly Macklin 440 (ShH); Lucas Husted 448b; Korey Guerrieri 414b (ShH). Thomas Ward offered the lunch blessing.

LUNCH

Emily Ross led 305 (ShH) to bring the class back together. Leaders: Chris Wolf 171 (ShH); Liz Meitzler Guevara 243 (ShH); Kyle Johnston 420t (ShH); Corinne Ducey and Lucas Husted 227; Gabe Simerson 254; John delRe 80 (ShH); Barbara Barry 132 (ShH); Eric Ames and Susan Green 198; Susan Green and Richard Green 99; Sharon Watts and Emily Ross 299; Gabe Simerson 411; Korey Guerrieri 300; Richard Green 266 (ShH); Jonathan Een Newton 322 (ShH).

RECESS

Eli Snyder led 7b (ShH) to bring the class back together. Leaders: Thomas Ward 397 (ShH); Don Fahey 285 (ShH); Kathy Manning 209 (ShH); Alexa Silverman 169 (ShH); Lynn Thye 265 (ShH); Madeline Senger 294 (ShH); Leyland delRe 220 (ShH); Kyle Johnston 416 (ShH); Julia Seidenstein 417 (ShH); Emily Ross 367 (ShH); Chris Wolf 351 (ShH); John A. Morriberón 162 (ShH); David Shulman 236; Eli Snyder 189; Judy Getrich 270; Mary Ann Daly 150 (ShH); Alice Noyes 284; Clare Chapin 418t (ShH). Announcements were made.

Alexa Silverman led 129b (ShH) as the closing song. Thomas Ward offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, April 7

The Sunday session of the 33rd annual Potomac River Convention met at Lacey Woods Park, Arlington, Virginia, on Sunday after the first Saturday in April. Song selections were from The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition, and The Shenandoah Harmony. The class was called to order by David Shulman leading 276. Robin Banerji offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Kelly Macklin 14 (ShH); Kevin Isaac Slaughter 82t; John delRe 152 (ShH); Matt Ference 18b (ShH); Doe Lowinger 114 (ShH); Susan Green 338 (ShH); Liz Meitzler Guevara 60b (ShH); Thomas Ward 232 (ShH); Jonathan Een Newton 17 (ShH); Don Fahey 267; Lucas Husted 125 (ShH); Robin Banerji 211 (ShH); Richard Vinson 140b (ShH); Joseph Vinson 71; Ian Little 197 (ShH); Shea Hendren 186.

RECESS

Alexa Silverman led 9b (ShH) to bring the class back together. Leaders: Jim Strube 236; Richard Green 7b (ShH); Maria Cramer 126; Alexa Silverman 504; Bridget Jamison 125; Madeline Senger 374b (ShH); Lindsey Falbo 403 (ShH); Elena Conway 80 (ShH); Mona Lewandoski 48 (ShH); Kathy Manning 340b (ShH); Adrienne Robertson and Mollie Ogle 198; Josh Barnett 472; David Shulman 89; Chris Wolf 200; Julia Seidenstein 129.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Gillie Campbell and Jim Strube. Gillie Campbell gave the memorial lesson, connecting our practice of speaking the names of the deceased to thousands of years of tradition, of importance both historical and deeply personal. She paid special honor to Nancy Macklin, a beloved member of our local singing community who passed away in January of this year. She read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins: Mike Hinton, Pat Coghlan, Ethel Strube, Mike House, Ted Johnson, Marty De Nys, and Dana Byrd.

She also read the following list of names of the deceased: Jeff Begley—California; Denny Cook—Maryland; Cynthia Wilson, Shane Rogers, Bob Nichols, Nancy Macklin, Samuel Morriberón, and Samson Stabler—Virginia; Dan Brittain—Arkansas; David Wilson—North Carolina; Rosita Lee—Hong Kong; Matthew Burns—Vermont. Gillie Campbell and Jim Strube led 246b (ShH).

Leaders: Jim Strube 296 (ShH); Corinne Ducey 373b (ShH); Leyland delRe 76t (ShH); Eli Snyder 280 (ShH); Liz Meitzler Guevara 270 (ShH); Kevin Isaac Slaughter 268; Doe Lowinger 547; Matt Ference 105 (ShH); Mary Helen Dupree 128 (ShH); Mary De Nys 306 (ShH); Theo Carney 327; Emily Ross 3t (ShH). Robin Banerji offered the lunch blessing.

LUNCH

Robin Banerji led 163b to bring the class back together. Leaders: Kyle Johnston 129t (ShH); Pete Sandeen 47b; Kelly Macklin 154 (ShH); Theo Carney 146; Steven Sabol 567; Susan Green 157; Lucas Husted 287; Bridget Jamison 315; Kelly Hughes 431 (ShH); Lindsey Falbo 122; Thomas Ward 76b; John delRe 466; Chris Wolf 309 (ShH); Jonathan Een Newton 428 (ShH); Richard Vinson 242 (ShH); Joseph (Jo) Vinson 457.

RECESS

Nina Burris led 105 to bring the class back together. Leaders: Shea Hendren 282; Jim Strube 254 (ShH); Richard Green 424b (ShH); Don Fahey 413 (ShH); Mona Lewandoski 404t (ShH); Madeline Senger 481; Alexa Silverman 260b (ShH); Martha Burns 288; Maria Cramer 424t (ShH); Kathy Manning 170; Adrienne Robertson and Mollie Ogle 84; Eli Snyder 22b (ShH); Nina Burris 287 (ShH); Emily Ross 457 (ShH); Julia Seidenstein 305 (ShH); David Shulman 344.

A business meeting was held in order to hear reports from various committees. Lucas Husted reported for the Finance Committee that expenses were met. Alexa Silverman reported that the Potomac River Convention would meet again on the first Saturday of April and the Sunday after in 2025. The meeting was closed. Announcements were made.

Alexa Silverman invited Potomac River Convention officers and volunteers to join her in leading 246b (ShH) as the closing song. She offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairperson—Alexa Silverman; Vice Chairperson—David Shulman; Secretary—Nina Burris