Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 30th annual Ohio State Convention was held on the first weekend in March. The class was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Ray Rechenberg leading 34b. Chaplain Nigel Ewan offered the opening prayer.

A business session was held and the 2025 slate of officers approved by unanimous vote. Incoming Co-Chair Allison Lindner asked Greg Creech and Timothy Morton to serve as the Memorial Committee. After announcements and reminders, the business session closed. Co-Chair Keith Yutzy led 59 and asked the Arranging Committee to begin calling leaders.

Leaders: Greg Creech 127; Nigel Ewan 344; Liz Hayes 209; Rich Overturf 39t; Clara Herr 106; Idy Kiser 81t; Jackson Pietrzak 117; Karen Arnett 448t; Tim Gregg 91; Andrew Sheffer 122; Megan Jenning and family 203; Hollie Long 391; Jim Herr 120; Stephanie Taylor 277; Thomas L. Koehnline 111b; Molly V. Sander 569b; Mike Mullin 489; Sarah Ward 66; Beth Garfinkel 504; Michael Domino 390.

RECESS

Laura Ann Russell called the class back to order leading 107. Leaders: Beth Todd 73t; Adrian Eldridge 318; Mary Donnellay 495; Brad Oglesby 192; Barb Patterson 534; Tom Morton 496; Shannon Tibbs 47t; Will Fitzgerald 130; Bill McNiece 503; Barbara Lehr 319; Timothy Morton 187; Alice Bean 164; Darrell Wayne Lahm 282; Tom Kochan 323b.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Timothy Morton speaking about the importance of reaching out to our fellow singers during times of illness and distress. He led 330b after reading the following names from the sick and shut-ins list: Cindy Beaule, Joetta Klampett, Roger Crabtee, Ed Walton, Enid Thomas, Debbie Hall, Sue Duff, and Donald Sprague.

Greg Creech spoke beautifully of the importance of tradition, the Sacred Harp community, and the singers gone before who shared that tradition with us. He read the following list of names of the deceased: Olga Chandler—California; Curtis Cook and Joe Hays (2025)—Indiana; Steve Duff, Jimmie Carol Nelson, Donald Oglesby (2024), and Allison Bonnell—Ohio; Estella Leopold and Reed Schilbach—Washington. Concluding with “We miss their voices, We miss their spirits,” he led 235.

Joel-Henry Mansfield made an announcement about lunch proceedings, and then led 171. Chaplain Nigel Ewan offered the noontime prayer.

LUNCH

Ray Rechenberg, with Hannah Musser in the square, began the afternoon session by leading 40. Leaders: Hollie Long 208; Dick Patterson 362; Samuel Sommers 397; Will Fitzgerald 447; Jim Herr 454; Barb Patterson 475; Adrian Eldridge 474; Nigel Ewan 155; Beth Todd 373; Brad Oglesby 68b; Shannon Tibbs 38t; Jackson Pietrzak and Luke Lehman 47b; Greg Creech 74b; Liz Hayes 198; Mike Mullin 332; Lia Mansfield 369; Bill McNiece 147t.

RECESS

Rich Overturf lad 479 to call the class back together. Leaders: Rich Overturf 479; Karen Arnett 532; Barb Lund and Adrian Eldridge 384; Ben Owen and Ben Griffin 236; Thomas L. Koehnline 317; Sarah Ward 455; Samuel Sommers 232; Alice Bean 334; Ray Rechenberg 300; Beth Garfinkel 178; Dick Patterson and Barb Patterson 399t; Clara Herr 564; Timothy Morton 112; Andrew Sheffer 339; Barbara Lehr 268; Tom Morton 49b; Molly V. Sander 472; Tom Kochan 426t; Stephanie Taylor 146; Joel-Henry Mansfield 365; Darrell Wayne Lahm 354b. Allison Lindner led 485.

Co-Chair Keith Yutzy thanked everyone for a great day of singing and called for committee reports. Laura Ann Russell, Arranging Committee, reported that eighty songs had been led by forty-eight leaders representing eight states. In addition, there were ninety-six individuals registered with another twenty plus children and visitors present. Treasurer Lia Mansfield reported that all convention expenses had been met. Food Committee Chair Joel-Henry Mansfield thanked everyone for their delicious offerings, reported that all dishes had been cleaned, and leftovers were packaged for pick-up. He expressed special thanks to Mary Creech, Johanna Harris, Clara Herr, and Jim Revelos for their assistance.

Co-Chairs Keith Yutzy and Allison Lindner led 62, and the class took the parting hand. Chaplain Nigel Ewan offered the closing prayer. The Ohio Convention was dismissed until it resumes February 28-March 1, 2026.

Co-Chairs—Allison Lindner and Keith Yutzy; Vice Chair—Ray Rechenberg; Recording Secretary—Michael Domino