Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, June 28

The 155th session of the Union Musical Sacred Harp Singing Convention was held on the fifth Sunday and Saturday before in June. The class was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Lauren Bock leading 31t. Judy Mincey offered the opening prayer.

Tom George directed the introductory lesson. To recognize the upcoming new revision of the Sacred Harp, he led songs that were added to the book in 20th century revisions. Tom George led 549, 506, 477, 354t, 330b, 325, 26, and 507. Leaders: Shawn Taylor 67; David Smead 99; Lisa Bennett 141; Jesse P. Karlsberg 462; James Burrell 30t; Bill DuPre 201; Helen Bryson 546 (for Karen Rollins); Malinda Snow 569b; David Brodeur 140; Scott DePoy 277; John Plunkett 125; Pat Lowder 236; Jake Harmon and Lorene Harmon 542; Joan Durdin 148.

RECESS

Leaders: Malinda Snow 87; Delaney Waters and Andy Ditzler 86.

A business session was held and the following officers elected or appointed to serve: Chair—Shawn Taylor; Vice Chair—Andy Ditzler; Secretary—David Smead; Treasurer—Lisa Bennett; Arranging Committee—Jesse P. Karlsberg and Anna Hinton; Chaplain—Judy Mincey; Memorial Committee—Sasha Hsuczyk and Bill DuPre; Locating Committee—Andy Ditzler and David Brodeur; Finance Committee—Lisa Bennett; Resolutions Committee—Esther Morgan-Ellis, Lily Hammond, and Cooper Sandefur.

Leaders: Jeannette DePoy 89; Christy Sinksen 448t; Tony Hammock 112; Jane Cannon 466; Matt Hinton 182; Phillip Langley 272; Cameron Adams 479; Isaac Green 242; Sasha Hsuczyk 422; Cooper Sandefur 70b; Lisa Bennett 318; Bill Hollingsworth 320; Bert Collins 97; Caroline Barron 268; Judy Mincey 301; Glenda Collins 300; Andy Ditzler 386.

LUNCH

Phillip Langley called the class to order leading 100. Leaders: Jeremiah Ledbetter 412; Lily Hammond 328; Rebekah Gilmore 411; Jonathan Wood 407; James George and Tonia Edmondson 354b; Jose Camacho 280; Anita Landess 137; Dami Osoba 538; Becca Harrington 547; Paul Chamberlain 562; Philip Gilmore 498; Jenny Solheim 384; Esther Morgan-Ellis 151 (in memory of Betty Florence); Gail Doss 504; Maygan Barker 72b; Seth Rutledge 107; Jim Solheim 378b; Adrian Eldridge 344; Dean Jens 536; Tom George 530; Rachel Speer 54; Laura Akerman 532.

RECESS

Lucey Rose Karlsberg and Lauren Bock brought the class to order leading 146. Leaders: Bill Hollingsworth 39b; Marjorie Harrington and Becca Harrington 39t; Isaac Green 476 (for Judy Henry); Anton Popov 128; Philip Gilmore 47b; Jose Camacho 196; Delaney Waters and David Brodeur 288; Rebekah Gilmore 276; Jeremiah Ledbetter 437; Christy Sinksen 29b; Cameron Adams 178; Jake Harmon 408.

After announcements, Shawn Taylor and Andy Ditzler led 129 as the closing song. Judy Mincey offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, June 29

Shawn Taylor called the class to order leading 220. Judy Mincey offered the opening prayer. Leaders: Andy Ditzler 558; David Smead 70t; Lisa Bennett 380; Judy Mincey 475; Jesse P. Karlsberg 254; James Burrell 33b; Scott DePoy 201; David Brodeur 228; Matt Hinton 234; Helen Bryson 411; Bill DuPre 385t; Sasha Hsuczyk 101b; Sandra Wilkinson 155; John Plunkett 492; Pat Lowder 198; Erica Hinton 83t; Jeannette DePoy 565; Lauren Bock 275b; Cathy Bonk 59; Esther Morgan-Ellis 351; Dan Edwards 497.

RECESS

John Plunkett brought the class to order leading 467. Leaders: Michael Spencer 191; Idy Kiser 448t; Valerie Coe Lowder and Andy Ditzler 277; Cody Gonzalez 117; Maygan Barker and Rachel Speer 417; Lisa Bennett 56b; Jim Solheim 318; Gail Doss and Jesse P. Karlsberg 232; Adrian Eldridge 434; Lily Hammond 383; Anna Hinton 142.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Sasha Hsuczyk and Bill DuPre. Sasha Hsuczyk spoke about how beautiful it is that Sacred Harp has a ritual of recognizing those who can’t be with us, and reminded us to reach out to those who are shut-in. The sick and shut-ins list included Ed and Margaret Thacker, Cecil Roberts, Beth Ballinger Wallace, Judy Henry, Don Bowen, Betty Shepherd, Joyce Walton, Cornelia van den Doel, Paul Sandefur, and Cindy Preece. Sasha Hsuczyk led 227 for the sick and shut-ins.

Bill DuPre read the list of the deceased: Susan Johnson, Bob Goodman, and Susan Morgan—Georgia; Lucy Heidorn, Buell Cobb, Julia Poston, Henry Guthery, and Pauline Oliver—Alabama; John Acton and Susan Fetcho—California; John Smead—Missouri; Phil Perrin—North Carolina; Chloe Webb and Tom Kane—Texas; Ginette Lavoie—Canada; John Bennett—Germany; Michael Kennedy—Ireland; Rob Mahoney—United Kingdom. Bill encouraged the class to share their stories with others about the people on this list, and together strengthen the community. Bill DuPre led 176t for the deceased. Judy Mincey closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Samantha Adioetomo 503; Anita Landess 379; Seth Rutledge 313b.

LUNCH

Anna Hinton brought the class back to order leading 203. Leaders: Jonathan Wood 355; Becca Harrington 79; Anabel Gravel Chabot 121; Jonathon Smith 505; Anne Evers 384; Susan Loucks 70b; Rachel Speer 208; Gillian Inksetter 377; Paul Chamberlain 524; Eléa Regembal 564; Dami Osoba 260; Dean Jens 174; Jenny Solheim 216; Nathan Rees 449 (in memory of Buell Cobb); Tom Evers 229; Anton Popov 551; Cooper Sandefur 163t; Malinda Snow 472; Lucey Karlsberg and Jesse P. Karlsberg 274t.

RECESS

Matt Hinton brought the class back to order leading 99. Leaders: Lily Hammond 183; Seth Rutledge 49t; Maygan Barker and Rachel Speer 159; Eléa Regembal and Anabel Gravel Chabot 474; Samantha Adioetomo 528; Gillian Inksetter 132; Jonathon Smith 296; Jenny Solheim and Jim Solheim 218; Susan Loucks 454; Paul Chamberlain 464; Dami Osoba 29t; Dean Jens 375; Adrian Eldridge 406; Tom Evers and Anne Evers 501; Becca Harrington and Marjorie Harrington 348t; Anton Popov 500.

The convention entered into a business session for the purpose of hearing reports. The class voted to hold the 156th session of the Union Musical Sacred Harp Convention on the fifth Sunday and Saturday before in May. Lisa Bennett gave the Financial report, and reported that expenses were met. The Resolutions Report was presented by Esther Morgan-Ellis, Lily Hammond, and Cooper Sandefur, who thanked everyone who helped to make the convention possible. The reports were approved and the business session was closed.

After announcements, Shawn Taylor and Andy Ditzler led 418 as the closing song. Judy Mincey offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chair—Shawn Taylor; Vice Chair—Andy Ditzler; Secretary—David Smead