[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 59-02, April - June, 2005 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]

A message from Society President Rob Hopkins

By Rob Hopkins, Society President

While all organizations with professional staffs periodically go through times of change in key personnel, I know that many members are concerned about the recent resignations of CEO Don Harris and Director of Music Education and Services Greg Lyne.  

Don made some significant and important contributions to the Society as our CEO, and of course Greg has been a particularly revered musical expert in the Society for many years. I expect that Greg will continue to be very active throughout the Society in helping us learn more about our unique style and how to perform it to the best of our musical ability. Indeed, his skills will now be more available to our membership, not less.  

Through this time of transition, we have the benefit of the leadership of two outstanding and longtime Barbershoppers who I am sure will be very effective in their interim positions.

Roger Lewis is our interim CEO and is particularly well-suited to serve in that position. A retired businessman and our current past international Society President, Roger is an accomplished manager and a great team leader, who also has extremely broad knowledge of the Society based on experience as a performer, leader, and judge. We are grateful that Roger has agreed to assume this position until we select a new Executive Director and CEO. (Details on the search, now underway, are available at www.spebsqsa.org/ceosearch).

At Roger’s request, Joe Liles has agreed temporarily to act in the role of Director of Music Education and Services, a position he held for many years prior to his being named Society Executive Director. Joe is a great musician, an inspiring leader, and a Barbershopper who knows and appreciates the needs of our members. He will ensure that our talented music staff continues serving the needs of our membership with outstanding dedication and skill.

With Roger and Joe in these interim positions, we are in good hands. You will not find two Society members more dedicated to our style, our members, and the prosperous future of our organization. Many of you know them, and know how deeply they love our Society.

Our staff will continue striving to meet the needs of our membership every day. Roger and Joe are helping to provide continuity; and our dedicated staff is, as usual, committed to handling the myriad details that keep our Society running well. Naturally, in addition to other ongoing projects, they are currently hard at work on arrangements for a fabulous celebration of barbershop at our international convention in Salt Lake City. Hope to see you there!  k