Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, May 25

The 39th annual Midwest Convention took place at Kilbourn Park Fieldhouse, Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday before the fourth Sunday in May and the Ethical Humanist Society Skokie, Illinois, on the fourth Sunday in May. The class was called to order by Ginny Landgraf and Randy Neufeld leading 171. Carol Ann Munro offered the invocation.

Leaders: Mary Rogel 33b; Rochelle Lodder and Eileen Ferguson 140t (ShH); Randy Neufeld 29t; Matthew Siefert 135 (in memory of his mother Rhonda Siefert); Carol Ann Munro 392; Eleanor Haase 352; Lindsey Falbo 105 (ShH); Mark Bowman 454; Marian Mitchell 185; Brady Santoro 250.

A business meeting was convened to elect the following officers: Chairman—Mary Rogel; Vice Chairman—Brady Santoro; Secretary—Rochelle Lodder; Chaplains—Carol Ann Munro, Ginny Landgraf, and Jim Swanson. The following were appointed to serve as the Arranging Committee: Jim Swanson, Megan Dunning, and Susie Kauffman.

RECESS

Susan Geil called the class to order leading 52t. Leaders: Steven Schmidgall 24b (ShH); Martha Beverly 210; Anne Heider 189; Dick Patterson 417 (ShH); Catherine Brown 84; David Smead 214; Derek Buckland 160b; Christine Stevens 277; Fred Wilkey 12b (ShH); Myles Louis Dakan 148 (ShH); Grace Thomas 442; Myles Alexander 141; Jonathon Smith 226 (ShH); Jeshua Franklin 85.

RECESS

Jim Swanson called the class to order leading 106. Leaders: Cecelia Kramer 444; David Barford 542; Anne Missavage 157; Kerry Cullinan 155 (ShH); Dan Nickel 38b; Lisa Bennett 80b (in memory of Earl Ballinger); Steve Luttinen 112 (ShH); Ray Rechenberg 260b (ShH); Inga Buckland 271t (in memory of Eva Striebeck); Jim Helke 279; Shana Wenger 413 (ShH); Eric Morgan 300. Carol Ann Munro offered grace before the meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Mary Rogel leading 1b (ShH). Leaders: Lisa Grayson 80 (ShH); Paul Wyatt 319 (ShH); Gillian Inksetter 304; Ginny Landgraf “Rellys’ Third”; Brady Santoro “Regent Street”; Marcia Johnson 97; Kathy Williams 368; Judy Hauff 364b (ShH); John Seaton 47t; Alvaro Witt Duarte 276; Carol Buche 140b (ShH); John Wiens 147 (ShH); Steve Warner 47b.

RECESS

Eileen Ferguson called the class to order leading 183 (ShH). Leaders: Michael Mosley 191; Karen Swenson 282 (ShH); Randy Neufeld and Grace Thomas 242 (ShH); Eleanor Haase 455; David Barford 335; Jim Swanson 285 (ShH); Jonathon Smith 428; Lindsey Falbo 120t (ShH); Fred Wilkey 474; Catherine Brown 313b; Jeshua Franklin 170 (ShH); David Smead 278 (ShH) (in memory of Dan Brittain); Christine Stevens 310 (ShH); Myles Alexander 371; Anne Missavage 362; Eric Morgan 532; Kathy Williams 472; Carol Ann Munro 550. Mary Rogel led 347 as the closing song, and Carol Ann Munro dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, May 26

The Sunday session was held at the Ethical Humanist Society, Skokie, Illinois. Mary Rogel brought the class to order by leading 125 (ShH). Ginny Landgraf offered the invocation.

Leaders: Steve Warner 34b; John Seaton 37b; Michael Mosley 288t (ShH); Peter Bradley and Amy Anderson 84 (for Johanna Fabke); Jim Helke and Steve Schmidgall 496; Dick Patterson 416 (ShH); Bess Fitzgerald 87; Lindsey Falbo 3b (ShH); Ginny Landgraf and Gillian Inksetter 522; Cecelia Kramer 71; Mark Bowman 344; Lisa Bennett 340b (ShH); JoDell Albi 122; Martha Beverly 283.

RECESS

Jim Swanson called the class to order leading 274t. Leaders: Steve Schmidgall 156; Will Fitzgerald 447; Fred Wilkey 501; Derek Buckland 308 (in memory of Uschi Nolte); Gillian Inksetter 287 (ShH); David Smead 142; David Barford 70b; Myles Louis Dakan 114 (ShH); Catherine Brown 66; Carol Buche 504; Inga Buckland 460; Karen Swenson 291; Myles Alexander 538; Eleanor Haase 221 (ShH); Shana Wenger 7t (ShH).

RECESS

Randy Neufeld called the class to order leading 36b. Christine Stevens led 10 (ShH).

The memorial lesson was held at this time. Steve Warner read the names of the following deceased: Melanie Hauff, Rhonda Siefert, Sheila Waldek, Bob Sussman, Carol Ruth Kimmel, and Edwin Chen—Illinois; Tommie Spurlock, Earl Ballinger, Richard Mauldin, and Ozella Blackmon—Alabama; Grace Brazil—North Carolina; Becky Browne—Missouri; Robert Stevens and Pastor Sam Butler—Minnesota; Dan Brittain—Arkansas; Dorothy Landskroener, Steve Duff, and Mary Krogness—Ohio; Dan Burk and Jeff Begley—California; Jack Minton—Michigan; Joel Davis—Washington; Harlan Menk and Joyce Luttinen—Wisconsin; Eva Striebeck and Uschi Nolte—Germany.

Kathy Williams presented a plaque to Judy Hauff in memory of her sister Melanie, saying, “As a member of the board of directors of the Sacred Harp Publishing Company, I’m here to honor one of your own. Melanie Hauff was a strong supporter of Sacred Harp on the local level. She was an outstanding leader and a stalwart of the treble section. Melanie traveled for years across the country as long as she was able. She didn’t write or actively teach, but I wonder how many present-day trebles learned under her tutelage. Melanie contributed much beautiful original artwork to posters, flyers, fans, aprons, and more. She served as the treasurer of the Midwest Sacred Harp convention for years. She cooked and delivered way more than her share of food to dinner on the grounds. I always told Melanie that her coconut cake was the reason I attended the Midwest Convention. And way behind the scenes, she hauled and stored drinks supplies, a job we would all describe as an unwelcome task.

“It is a tradition of the Publishing Company to present a posthumous award in honor of outstanding shareholders such as Melanie Hauff. I now have the pleasure of making this presentation to Judy Hauff in memory and in honor of her sister, Melanie.” Anne Heider led “Melanie” in memory of the deceased.

Steve Warner read the names of the following sick and shut-ins: Mary Owen, Johanna Fabke, Robert Owen, Ed Walton, Deborah Gogola, Jewel Klein, Donna Gunderson-Rogers, Jeff Bell, Marsha Camp, Ruth Bryant, Corrone Bryant, and Gary Gronau. Jim Swanson offered a prayer and led 312t for the sick and shut-ins.

Leaders: Kerry Cullinan 404t (ShH); Megan Dunning 235; John Wiens 34t. Ginny Landgraf offered grace before the meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Ginny Landgraf leading 340t (ShH). Leaders: Mary Rogel 390 (ShH); Steve Luttinen 171 (ShH); Ray Rechenberg 203; Paul Wyatt 266 (ShH); Kathy Williams 273; Judy Hauff 421 (noting that this was possibly Melanie’s favorite song); Lisa Grayson 536; Alex Calhoun 30b; Eileen Ferguson 501; Matthew Siefert 398; Susan Geil 296 (ShH); Myles Louis Dakan 363 (ShH); Derek Buckland 267 (in memory of Eva Striebeck); David Barford 168.

RECESS

Megan Dunning called the class to order leading 76b. Leaders: Rochelle Lodder and Jim Swanson 200 (ShH); Lindsey Falbo 162 (ShH); David Smead 528; Gillian Inksetter 572; Fred Wilkey 99; Lisa Bennett 204 (ShH); Kerry Cullinan 251 (ShH); Inga Buckland and Judy Hauff 547; Anne Heider 236; Dick Patterson 110 (ShH); Randy Neufeld 270; Martha Beverly 197 (ShH) (in memory of Bill Beverly); Will Fitzgerald 424t (ShH); Marian Mitchell 146 (ShH); Steve Schmidgall 333.

Reports were presented. The Finance Committee reported that all expenses had been met. On behalf of the Resolutions Committee, Randy Neufeld thanked all who worked hard to make our convention comfortable and welcoming, including the officers, as well as Jim Helke and helpers for setup; Ginny Landgraf, Dick Patterson, Gillian Inksetter, and Steve Luttinen for pitching; Michael Mosley for registration, with help from Eileen Ferguson, Anne Heider, and Carol Ann Munro; Susan Geil for kitchen coordination, with assistance from Mark Bowman and Randy Neufeld; and all who brought food. He then presented the following additional resolutions for approval:

“First, we are resolved to make a few improvements next year. We are resolved to bring back the Saturday evening social in 2025. We also resolve to make sure future Midwest Conventions have fully and comfortably accessible facilities to ensure we are welcoming to all. And Lisa Grayson and Randy Neufeld are personally resolved to try, to try, to secure Ida Noyes at the University of Chicago for next year’s convention. If we fail, and we may well fail, we will find something just as good if not better. If you all come back.

“Be it further resolved. We declare that the Midwest Convention is back, Sacred Harp is back, the visceral joy of full-throated harmony with invigorating dissonance again rejuvenates our bones and gives us a calm and thankful heart. The shaped notes have eclipsed the spiky spherical virus that has choked us, shaken us and taken some friends too soon. Sacred Harp is back. Now again it is our turn to be contagious—with our catchy earworms. No mask can protect you from catching what Marcia calls the virus in the center of the square. We resolve to spread this shapenote virus as fast and as far as we are able. Gathering back here in Chicago in one year, bringing your new converts with you. Therefore be it resolved to gather again next year on the last Sunday in May and the Saturday before in 2025, for the 40th anniversary Midwest Convention.” The class approved the resolutions.

The officers led 62 as the closing song, and those who wished took the parting hand. Ginny Landgraf offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairperson—Mary Rogel; Vice Chairman—Brady Santoro; Secretary—Rochelle Lodder