Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

On the second Sunday in July, Way’s Mills once again came alive with singing. The class was called to order by Laszlo Bois and philou leading 47t. The opening prayer was offered by Ruth Dörfler.

Leaders: névé dumas 480; Elea Regimbal 501; Ariane Roberge 34t; Lari Jalbert 84; Joan Nagy 49b; Dimitri Côté 122; Virginia Neville 48t; Evan Landon 108t; Steph Meunier 378t; Molly Claire Gillett 168; Meredith Browne 497; Grant Cook 32b; Annie-Lou Chester 479; Jim Coppock 481; Cathy Brochet 547.

The following officers and committee members served for the day: Chair—Laszlo Bois; Vice Chair—philou; Treasurer—Virginia Neville; Chaplain—Ruth Dörfler; Arranging—Anabel Gravel Chabot; Secretaries—Patrick Friesen, Ariane Roberge and philou.

RECESS

The class was called back together by Robin Luckwaldt leading 277. Leaders: Laurence Vézina 551; Kerry Cullinan 66; Jacob de Groot-Maggetti 209; Noah Mease 42; Virginia Neville 288; Elizabeth Stoddard 103; Cecilia Neville 38b; Klara Longfellow 80t; Chris Taylor 300; Sue Dwelle 347; Nicandra Galper 171; Anuhea Sebstad 383.

Chaplain Ruth Dörfler conducted the memorial lesson. She led 107 for the following list of sick and shut-ins: Becky Wright, Michaela Natal, Charles Biada, Gwen Gethner, Curt Rose, Dan Phemayotin, Ben Sachs Hamilton, Lorelei Erisis, Bobbie Goodell, Jean Tremblay, Peter Amidon, Steve Kriston, Penny, Genevieve Park, Greta Holbrooke, Larry Ballinger, Betty Shepherd, Joyce Walton, Ed Thacker, Margaret Thacker, Cecil Roberts, Judy Henry, Cornelia Van Den Doel, Catherine Joyce, Pat Callahan, Colleen Hayes, Erin Fulton, Ron Trial, Dan Hertzler, Jenny Wright, Kate Bergren, and Angela Ruggiero-Corliss.

The list of names of the deceased was read as follows: Honor Barrett, Bob Atkinson, Ginette Lavoie—Quebec; Ferne Crystale, Gordan Marshall, Mary McIllwraith, Tom McIllwraith, Justine McDonnell, Pippa Hall—Ontario; Dorothy Huebner—Manitoba; Lucy Heidorn, Buell Cobb, Julia Poston, Bob Goodman—Alabama; Susan Fetcho—California; Corrone Bryant, RuthAnne Bryant—Maine; Joe Fineman, Susie McIntosh, Richard Morris—Massachusetts; Sara Millers; Blair, Brooke, Mike & Charlene Harber, Chloe Webb—Texas; Meredith Holch, Regina Troiano, LVM La Verne Shelton, Eliza Riegelman, Bill Fellinger—Vermont; John Bennett—Germany; Michael Kennedy—Ireland; Rob Mahoney—UK. Ruth Dörfler led 313b in their memory.

Leaders: Chris Holley 146; Mycelium 569b; Maygan Barker 135. Ruth Dörfler gave a blessing before the meal.

LUNCH

Laszlo Bois called the class back to order by leading 385b. Leaders: Stuart Jackson 108t; Kit Walsh 215; Mishi 430; Tim Gregg 185; Esther Wade 532; Andy Ditzler 530; Jim Coppock 485; Edouard Beaudry 304; Robert Stoddard 446; Philippe Doyle-Gosselin 522; David Brodeur 517; Linda Coppock 455; Indigo Micciche 217; Pleasance Crawford 548; Marie Brandis 564; Meaghan Kachadoorian 270; Elsa Phemayotin 83b; Paul Chamberlain 254.

RECESS

The class was brought back together by philou leading 312b. Leaders: Sunny Doyle 274t; Jen Davies 178; Mak Ékoué 454; Scott Luscombe 181; Em Ekelund 149; Judy Carpenter 276; Janet Ross 183; Antoine Mageau and Jack Tremblay 235; Anabel Gravel Chabot 445 (in memory of Ginette); Alex Van Sant 335; Chlo Martin and Mak Ékoué 186; Patrick Friesen 377; Rosemary Wells 318; Sarah Maika 182; Howe Pearson 512; NIKA and Kerry Cullinan 86.

RECESS

Cathy Brochet, Chuck Neville, Virginia Neville, and Cecilia Neville brought the class back together leading 163b. Leaders: Meredith Brown and Kit Walsh 175; Grant Cook and Evan Landon 317; névé dumas and Anuhea Sebstad 198; Mishi and Patrick Friesen 269; Em Ekelund, Philippe Doyle-Gosselin, Elsa Phemayotin, Stuart Jackson, Esther Wade, Sunny Doyle, and Maeve Wade-Gosselin 337; Lari Jalbert and Indigo Micciche 70b; Marie Brandis and philou 278t; Andy Ditzler and Robert Stoddard 440; David Brodeur and Elea Regimbal 187; Judy Carpenter and Sue Dwelle 503.

A business meeting was held to receive the committee reports. The Treasurer announced that expenses had been met. The Chair and Vice Chair shared gratitude and resolved to return on the second Sunday in July, 2026. The Arranger announced that eighty-five singers had travelled from five Canadian provinces and thirteen American states. Eighty-two lessons were led by sixty-six leaders. Following announcements, Laszlo Bois and philou led 31t as singers took the parting hand. Chaplain Ruth Dörfler offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chair—Laszlo Bois; Vice Chair—philou; Secretaries—Patrick Friesen, Ariane Roberge, and philou