Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, October 19

The 32nd annual Pacific Northwest Sacred Harp Convention, Oregon Session met at the Laurelhurst Club in Portland, Oregon, on the third Sunday and Saturday before in October. Kate Fine called the class to order leading 448b. Jabbara Edwards offered the opening prayer. Kate Fine offered a land acknowledgement to recognize the Indigenous Peoples who have tended these lands since time immemorial.

In a business meeting, the following officers were approved: Chairperson—Kate Fine; Treasurer—Dorothy Mitchell; Secretary—Tamara Wallace.

Leaders: Tamara Wallace 31t; Betsy Jeronen 30b; Dorothy Mitchell 162; Chris Noren 377 (for Leah Coffin); Nancy Novotny 224; Jamie Dawson 191; Emma Swartz 410b; Dorothy Robinson 368; Jennifer Jones 522; Steve Cackley 502; Ruth Linehan 163b; Paul Chamberlain 86; Laura McMurray 498; Douglas Hill 426t (for Anya Valsamakis and her mother Marina); Rosie Sokolov 283; Dan Thoma 228; Greg Saue 99.

RECESS

Cornelia Stanton led 441 to bring the class back together. Leaders: Carolyn Deacy 411; Peter Abrahamsen 159; Carrie Walker 312b; Jeff McLeod 32b; Marci Cutler 510; Peter Schinske 166; Kate Coxon 430; Porter Lontz-Underhill 421; Maggie Gammons 178; Thom Fahrbach 77t; Kristofer Ilex 89; Anne Huckins 114; Jullia Zaffarano 183; Ben Brown 142; Deb Koch 147t; Ian Suchon 296; Nell Whitman 324; Kevin Barrans 196.

RECESS

Peter Schinske called the class back to order by leading 105. Leaders: Jenna Tompkins 426b; Karen Willard 193; David Wright 447; Wren Hyde 278t (in memory of her aunt, Gilsa Alves); Andy Ditzler 372; Pat Coghlan 218; Irene Gilb 383; Bob Schinske 326; Kathy Manning 280; David Brodeur 538; Pippa Stoddard 392; Dorothy Mitchell 68b; Claire Hogan 445; Mitchell Gustin 507; Nadia Bolz-Weber 203. Jabbara Edwards led the prayer before lunch.

LUNCH

Kristofer Ilex called the class back together leading 30t. Leaders: Rachel Speer 187; Linda Selph 564 (in memory of Susan Fetcho); Gillian Inksetter 217; Stephanie Fida 309; John Wiens 274t; Kathy Manning 380; Porter Lontz-Underhill 300; Rosie Sokolov 500; David Brodeur 556; Irene Gilb 143; Dan Thoma 326; Julia Zaffarano 315; Pippa Stoddard 134; Wren Hyde 227; Kevin Barrans 495; Maggie Gammons 85; Claire Hogan 79; Jeff McLeod 229; Peter Schinske 276; Nadia Bolz-Weber 277; Mitchell Gustin 473.

RECESS

Stephanie Fida and Marie Brandis called the class back together leading 29t. Leaders: Chris Noren 254 (for Ivy Hauser, in honor of her wedding); Dolan Dolan-Wolfe 108b; David Wright 416; Kristofer Ilex 345b; Andy Ditzler 292; Anne Huckins 501; Karen Willard 294; Will Jevne 410t; Bob Schinske 349; Ben Brown 268; Deb Koch 81t; Paul Chamberlain 192; Mischa Skeeter 448t; Greg Saue 523; Jenna Tompkins 532; Laura McMurray 435; Carolyn Deacy and Michael Rice 112.

Kate Fine closed the session by leading 330b. Jabbara Edwards offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, October 20

The Sunday session of the Pacific Northwest Sacred Harp Convention was brought to order by Kate Fine leading 171. Mischa Skeeter offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Thom Fahrbach 39t; Dorothy Mitchell 474; Ruth Linehan 225t; Tamara Wallace 354t; Mischa Skeeter 159; Betsy Jeronen 440; Jamie Dawson 504; Joseph Coghlan and Pat Coghlan 501; Carrie Walker 76b; Chris Noren 454 (in memory of Ruth Steggles); Andy Ditzler 403; Pippa Stoddard 123t; Greg Saue 535; Laura McMurray 499; Porter Lontz-Underhill 536; Steve Cackley 546.

RECESS

Kevin Barrans brought the class back to order leading 317. Leaders: Jennifer Jones and Lucy Stirling 527; John Wiens 288; Pat Coghlan 550; Kathy Manning 543; Gillian Inksetter 327; Maggie Gammons 82t; Kate Coxon 340; Emma Swartz 216; Rachel Speer 353; Dan Thoma 128; David Brodeur 250; Deb Koch 313b; Nancy Novotny 302; Will Jevne 268; Karen Willard 532 (for Darlene Simpson-Brown); Nadia Bolz-Weber 384; Peter Abrahamsen 335.

RECESS

Peter Schinske brought the class back together leading 37t. Leaders: Marie Brandis 212; Kristofer Ilex 74b; Jenna Tomkins 183; Linda Selph 534; Nell Whitman 99; Ian Suchon 417; Wing Mui 155.

Betsy Jeronen spoke for the following sick and housebound: Darlene Simpson-Brown, Kate Fortin, Kim Lusk, Linda Berkemeier, Kelsey Taylor, Cornelia Vandendoel, Mark Wiens, Marcia Hadley, and Pleasance Crawford. Betsy reminded us of what we can do to continue to support them, while keeping them in our thoughts—noting that these don’t have to be new things—these are the same things we have always done: cards, notes, texts, casseroles.

Carrie Walker then led the memorial lesson for the following deceased: Reed Schilbach, Susan Fetcho, Ruth Anne Bryant, Rosaland Gabbard, Jeffrey Benton, John Van Duzer, Alfred Sausotte, Jeff Begley, Eva Striebeck, Phoenix McKay Phippen, Marcia Klenbor, Dan Brittain, Richard Mauldin, Tommie Spurlock, Dan L. Burk, Martha Ann Stegar, and Earl Ballinger. Carrie spoke of the death of her father and the emotions that come with that, noting that we have time for ALL of the feelings associated with the loss and grief over our loved ones. Betsy and Carrie together led 176t.

Leaders: David Wright 347; Dorothy Robinson 400; Bob Schinske 475.

LUNCH

The class was brought to order by Carolyn Deacy leading 421. Leaders: Irene Gilb 299; Peter Schinske 548; Julia Zaffarano 106; Mitchell Gustin 189; Stephanie Fida 275t; Paul Chamberlain 84; Wren Hyde 458; Jeff McLeod 319; Kevin Barrans 566; Marla Elliott 236; Rosie Sokolov 337; Andy Ditzler 198; Matthew Porter 503; John Wiens 383; Hazel Briar and her daughter, Alice Briar 47b; David Brodeur 436; Pippa Stoddard 512; Kathy Manning and Lucy Stirling 320; Peter Lontz-Underhill 549 (in memory of his father, Phil).

RECESS

Nancy Novotny brought the class back to order by leading 39b. Leaders: Gillian Inksetter 230; Rachel Speer 411; Dolan Dolan-Wolf 58; Marie Brandis 168; Nadia Bolz-Weber 146; Peter Freeman 312b; Jenna Tompkins 34t; Bob Schinske 68b; Linda Selph 215; Douglas Hill 497; David Wright 318; Steve Tarr 102 (in memory of Reed Schilbach); Wren Hyde 542; Mitchell Gustin 27; Kristofer Ilex 73t; Irene Gilb 455; Julia Zaffarano 442; Jeff McLeod 290; Deb Koch 111b; Dan Thoma 201.

Kate Fine re-opened the business meeting. The Treasurer reported that contributions had exceeded our expenses. The Secretary reported we had one hundred thirty-four registered singers from thirteen states and two provinces of Canada, as well as one hundred eighty-four songs sung, and sixty-five leaders. The Resolutions Committee (Rosie Sokolov and Grace Neuber) thanked everyone who contributed to a successful convention and resolved to meet again next year. The business meeting was closed, and announcements of future singings were shared.

Kate Fine led 367 as the closing song. Mischa Skeeter offered the closing, and the class was dismissed.

Chairperson—Kate Fine; Secretary—Tamara Wallace