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

It’s all about membership

By Wylie Forster, Ontario District President

Too often I hear of the successes of the Suburbanaires, the Gospel chorus, the Vocal Maturity, the Men of Note, the Barons of Barbershop, and any other group that chooses to promote our hobby in your area. Why do they attend another meeting other than their chapter night? Could it be that they still love their hobby? Could it be they need more of their hobby?

Less often, I hear of the membership successes in their chapters. Then I remember that our target member is in the 35 to 54 age group.

Our Society and our district promote that there are tremendous benefits to joining in that age group and being welcomed. On the opposite end of the age thing, having a relationship with a youth chorus is a credit to any chapter and many do very well in that area.

In the middle, are those men that see both the past and the potential future. As chapter members, please be sure that your influence and your ability, ensure that the musical groups in your area understand that music in their life must be maintained and that you have the ability to give them an opportunity to showcase their music and expose them to ours.

But, back to the target.

Too often I hear of the “can’t” people that suggest and defend that “My chapter is fine. We like what we do.” When by some happenstance a prospective member arrives, he is blown away by what the group of men are singing and believes he can NEVER make it.

The Society knows, the district knows, and your chapter knows that we may NOT have done the right things to give him a home. We were rehearsing and he sat there. We had a break and he thought he could never make it. No one told him of the various ways he could fit in. He was a young guy amidst a group of seniors.

He never came back. He probably felt he could never be that good. He didn’t realize that he could be as good as you. The right person didn’t tell him. The right person didn’t offer to ease him into a wonderful hobby. He didn’t realize that he could have an influence on your chapter.

Too often, we say to ourselves, I don’t know any more candidates. Phshaw! If you can’t find any more friends or acquaintances and convince them to try your hobby, wear your little ribbon and become an ambassador to what YOU like to do. If you don’t enjoy the hobby, don’t wear it. If you don’t know about the program, find out about it and kick butt for not telling you.

Gentlemen, we lose track of what this hobby means to us. We lose track of the humble beginnings and the circumstances when we found it. We get complacent in our accomplishments and successes in our own chorus. There are tons of men out there missing out.

No matter how large or small in numbers, or successful in the community, or competitive in the district or beyond, renew your efforts to find one man that might enjoy what you do.

He will remember and thank you — haven’t YOU felt that way.  k