Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, November 14

The seventh annual James River Convention was held on the third Sunday and Saturday before in November. The Saturday session was held at the Parish Hall, Church of the Epiphany. The Sunday session was held at the Dorey Recreation Center.

The class was called to order by outgoing chairman, Blake Morris, leading song on page 84. The morning prayer was led by Chaplain Jim North. Stephen McMaster led song on page 59; Mary Wright 354b; and Craig Baughan 178.

Nominations for officers were opened and the following were elected: Chairman—Stephen McMaster; Vice Chairman—Gail Doss; Secretary—Mary Wright; Treasurer—Don Polaski.

Leaders: Stephen McMaster 403; Homer Rudolph 58; Kelly Macklin 216; Don Polaski 228; Chris Sepic 350; Sandra Polaski 142; Gail Doss 37b; Hal Kunkel 302; Mary DeNys 274t; Pat Temple 39t; Cathy Tucker 480; Gillie Campbell 143; Tom Tucker 49b; Paula McGray 47t; Cheryl Foreman 77t; John delRe 296; Bonnie Tober 186; Joyce Saxon 495; Kat Kinkade 419; Leyland delRe 32t.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Blake Morris leading song on page 145t. Leaders: Doron Henkin 189; Frank Evans 87; Guy Bankes 65; Peter Pate 457; Fred Beardsley 474; Kelly Macklin 441; Don Polaski 200; Chris Sepic 515; Sandra Polaski 146; Homer Rudolph 47b; Gail Doss 35; Hal Kunkel 362; Mary DeNys 267; Kathy Manning 327; Cathy Tucker 547; Paula McGray 164.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Peter Pate leading song on page 38t. Leaders: Pat Temple 535; Tom Tucker 300; Cheryl Foreman 122; John delRe 448b; Bonnie Tober 38b; Joyce Saxon 145b; Stephen McMaster 312b; Jim North 49t. Chaplain Jim North gave the lunch blessing.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with John delRe and Leyland delRe leading song on page 201. Leaders: Kat Kinkade 163t; Leyland delRe 212; Frank Evans 315; Doron Henkin 372; Marty DeNys 454; Guy Bankes 120; Peter Pate 522; Fred Beardsley 513; Blake Morris 195; Craig Baughan 229; Mary Wright 180; Stephen McMaster 532; Don Polaski 236; Chris Sepic 415; Kelly Macklin 220; Sandra Polaski 183; Homer Rudolph 163 (t? b?); Gail Doss 270; Hal Kunkel 380; Mary DeNys 155.

RECESS

Marty DeNys brought the class to order leading song on page 40. Leaders: Pat Temple 277; Joyce Saxon 148; Cathy Tucker 34b; Kathy Manning 291; Paula McGray 432; Tom Tucker 294; Cheryl Foreman 479; Bonnie Tober 405; Doron Henkin 100; Kat Kinkade 542; John delRe 29t; Frank Evans 181; Blake Morris 378 (t? b?); Marty DeNys 198; Guy Bankes 28b; Peter Pate 269; Fred Beardsley 478; Chris Sepic 351; Stephen McMaster 56 (t? b?). The class was dimissed with prayer by Jim North.

A late afternoon session organized by Blake Morris featured new music led by the composers and song from other sources.

Sunday, November 15

The Sunday session was called to order by Stephen McMaster leading song on page 89. The morning prayer was led by Jim North. Leaders: John Fedderson 532; Hal Kunkel 34t; Karen Foley 186; Leyland delRe 288; Lynda Hambourger 472; Janine Smith 176t; Gail Doss 378b; Paula McGray 48t; Doron Henkin 31t; Kathy Manning 39b; Mary DeNys 335; John delRe 458; Mary Wright 290; Guy Bankes 556; Jim North 159; Blake Morris 179; Kelsey Taylor 97; Joyce Saxon 106.

RECESS

Don Polaski called the class together with song on page 318. Leaders: Pat Temple 85; Donna Abrahams 315; John Daniel delRe 101t; Craig Baughan 86; Kacy Pate 440; Frank Evans 66; Peter Pate 365; Kelly Macklin 123b; Kat Kinkade 45t; Stephen McMaster 282; Kat Kinkade 224; John Fedderson 415; Hal Kunkel 527; Lynda Hambourger 210; Karen Foley 49t; Janine Smith 111b; Gail Doss 222.

Sandra Polaski introduced the Memorial Lesson. Lynda Hambourger remembered those deceased from states south of Virginia and led song on page 452. Doron Henkin remembered those deceased from states north of Virginia and led song on page 128. A special notice was made of the contributions of Mary Hulbert, one of the organizers of the Richmond Sacred Harp Singers. In addition to her other musical talents, she had two songs in the Quaker Hymnal, one of which, “Star Song,” was sung in her memory. The following deceased were remembered: Edna Lundgren—Pennsylvania; Phil Goulding—Maryland; Mary Hulburt and Shirley Green—Virginia; Grace Bizzel—North Carolina; Gregory Cole—Georgia; Lois Smiley—Florida.

Kelly Macklin remembered the following sick and shut-ins with song on page 475: Willard Gurris and Linda Toner—Virginia; Edward Hampton and Jack Miller—North Carolina. The Memorial Lesson was closed.

The class resumed singing with Mary Wright leading song on page 270. Leaders: Sandra Polaski 497; Leyland delRe 484; Paula McGray 410b; Doron Henkin 217; Mary DeNys 313b; Kathy Manning 76b. Jim North gave the lunch blessing.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought together by John delRe leading song on page 213t. Leaders: Karen Foley 84; Janine Smith 154; Blake Morris 73t; Donna Abrahams 373; Gail Doss 107; Guy Bankes 444; Joyce Saxon 99; Fred Beardsley 441; Don Polaski 124; Craig Baughan 566; Kelly Macklin 275b; Stephen McMaster 540; Frank Evans 344; Kat Kinkade 383; John Fedderson 528; Stephen McMaster 35; Mary Wright 490; John Fedderson 250; Pat Temple 209.

RECESS

The afternoon session resumed with Sandra Polaski leading song on page 203. Leaders: Lynda Hambourger 361; Kathy Manning 204; Mary DeNys 312b; John delRe 445; John Fedderson 163b; Janine Smith 384; Karen Foley 38b; Blake Morris 57; Donna Abrahams 192; Blake Morris 351.

Chairman Stephen McMaster recognized the attendees from their respective states.

Kathy Manning of the Resolutions Committee recognized those without whom the convention would not have been a success: Pitching—Blake Morris, Chris Sepic, John delRe, Paula McGray, and John Fedderson; Arrangements—Kelly Macklin, Blake Morris, and Pat Temple; Food—George Tutwiler, Homer Rudolph, and Pat Temple; Chaplain—Jim North; Memorial—Sandra Polaski; Registration—Norma Morris; Housing—Blake Morris.

Treasurer Don Polaski reported that the convention had made its monetary goal.

It was proposed that this convention would be known as the Mary Hulbert Memorial Convention.

Kelly Macklin led song on page 98. Stephen McMaster lead song on page 62 as the closing song. The benediction was given by Jim North.

The 1999 James River Convention will meet on the Saturday before the second Sunday, November 13-14.

Chairman—Stephen McMaster; Vice Chairman—Gail Doss; Secretary—Mary Wright.