Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, February 27

The eighth annual session of the Washington portion of the Pacific Northwest Convention was held on Saturday before the fourth Sunday in February, and was called to order at 9:30 a.m. Joanne Hoover offered prayer. Karen Willard introduced Hugh McGraw, who proceeded with a singing school until noon. Craig Brandis asked the blessing upon the food, and the class was recessed until 1:00 p.m.

LUNCH

David Hough brought the class to order leading song on page 59. Reed Schilbach opened our formal singing afternoon with prayer. A brief business session confirmed the current officers in their positions for another year, and committee appointments were made.

Leaders: Jim Van Horn 312b; Jessica Holland 299; David Jensen 86; Scott Adams 344; Erik Moore 82t; James Brock 569b; Kathy Vlach 84; Katharine Hough 376; Edith Tate 73t; Anne Huckins 313b; Reed Schilbach 61; Craig Brandis 49b; Myrka Hall-Beyer 210; Joanne Hoover 362; Marie Brandis 380; Gary Plough 114; Alexis Drum 163t; Hal Kunkel 335; Jack Lofton 318; Scott Luscombe 324; Bruce Rowland 282; Martha Applegate 145t.

RECESS

Ken Cofield brought the class back to order leading song on page 38t. Leaders: Hugh McGraw 553; Jon Singer 117; Aura Lee Furgason 535; Karen Willard 316; David Hough 33b; Jinx McGuire 148; Darlene Simpson-Brown 39b; Pauline Childers 269; Shannon McGuire 135; Susan Helf 66; Berkley Moore 71; Angie Johnson 30t; Betty Jones 235; Sarajane Siegfriedt 159; Tim Shepard 277; Hal Kunkel 550; Jim Van Horn 72b; Jack Lofton 276.

Announcements were made. Chairman David Hough led “Washington” as the closing song, and the class was dismissed with prayer led by Craig Brandis.

Sunday, February 28

David Hough opened the day of singing at 9:30 a.m. leading song on page 101t. Craig Brandis led the class in prayer.

Leaders: Joanne Hoover 171; Kathy Vlach 145 (t? b?); Susan Helf 497; Ken Cofield 189; Anne Huckins 442; Jinx McGuire 163 (t? b?); Reed Schilbach 312b; Hal Kunkel 527; Karen Willard 142; Marcia Stedman 448t; John Carson 38b; Shannon McGuire 196; Gary Plouff 567; Jill Accetta 122; Jean Murphy 380; Mary Steuben 95.

RECESS

Katharine Hough called the class to order leading song on page 47b. Leaders: Mryka Hall-Beyer 280; Raoul Titus 49b; Marie Brandis 515; Scott Luscombe 195; Alice Poinier 35; Pauline Childers 475; Hugh McGraw 549 (by request); Edith Tate 532; James Brock 184.

Memorial Lesson: Pauline Childers spoke of the tradition of singing songs in memory of those among us who have died in the past year. She led song on page 84b for Hadyn Creel, her brother, and 111b for: Ray Lindeke—Washington; Ken Sowards and Elsie Hopkins—Oregon; Mamie Creel—Alabama; Bill Johnson—North Carolina; Barbara Scudder—Nebraska; Catherine Cessna—Pennsylvania; Norman Berkshire—Indiana.

Karen Willard read the names of those remembered who are listed as sick and shut-ins. We sang song on page 217 for Marie Aldridge, and song on page 384 for: Katharine Poinier, Paul McGuire, Essie Calvert, Virgil Phillips, Ruby Phillips, Dorothy Garber, Lou DeFelice, Carla Smith, Jerry Schreiber, Kathy Johnson, Muriel Plouff, Rev. Don Jolly, Lucille Lembke, David Wood, and Dodge Wiggins. Berkley Moore closed the Memorial Lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Craig Brandis 58; Teryl Dirks 106; Bruce Rowland 32t; Jan Johnson 455; Berkley Moore 215; Darlene Simpson-Brown 354t; Alexis Drum 327; Jack Lofton 193. Craig Brandis offered prayer for the blessing of the food for the noon meal.

LUNCH

Kathy Vlach brought the class back to order leading song on page 40. Leaders: Ken Cofield “Cascadia”; Jim Friedrich 344; Polly Ogden 370; Anne Zuckerman 268; Erik Moore 179; Jean Murphy 551; Glen Buschmann 358; Tim Shepard 324; Sarajane Siegfriedt 457; Jacob Priestley 569b; Aura Lee Furgason 59; Bruce Rowland 99; Diana Paulson 65; Edith Tate 342; Martha Smith 408.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Jim Friedrich leading song on page 53. Leaders: Elizabeth Riggs 107; Scott Luscombe 148; Robert Gilmour 209; Martha Applegate 143; Hugh McGraw 68 (t? b?); Meg Larson 503; Angie Johnson 36t; Mryka Hall-Beyer 454; Craig Brandis 117; Pauline Childers 234; Marie Brandis 566; James Brock 354b; Marcia Stedman 200; Gary Plouff 128; Joanne Hoover 176 (t? b?); Hugh McGraw 531.

The class was called into a business session for the purpose of hearing reports of the various committees.

The Locating Committee reported that we will meet at this same location again next year on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in February.

The Treasurer reported that all expenses were met and thanked the class for their generosity.

The Resolutions Committee, Rodney Willard and Reed Schilbach, thanked “our Maker for the gifts of song and praise, and for family and fellowship.” Thanks were given to: Brice Hannoli for sharing his grandfather with us; Hugh McGraw for pointing us to the straight and narrow way, and urging us to walk therein; all of the officers, convention committees, local singers and cooks who labored with such obvious love and skill to make the convention a success were thanked by name, as were the visitors who traveled so far to be with us.

The Arranging Committee reported that 90 people had registered during the two days, with singers from eleven states and Alberta, Canada.

David Hough led song on page 62 as the closing song, inviting all those who wished, to take the parting hand. Craig Brandis closed the convention with prayer.

Chairman—David Hough; Treasurer—Katharine Hough; Secretary—Karen Willard.