[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 60-01, January - March, 2006 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]
News from the Society

New director of
music and training announced

By Barry Towner, Society Board member for ONT and NED

Greetings as your new Society Board Member.  Since being elected to the position at the International convention in Salt Lake City last July, I have been working diligently to become current with activities at the Society Board level.  The Ontario District was very well served by Paul Arnone for the past three years and has left large shoes for me to fill.

The past few years have resulted in some difficult times for the Society with changes in the executive director / CEO position and vacancies in important positions.  I am pleased to report that things are moving in a positive direction.

Many of you had the opportunity to meet Ed Watson at COTS and had the opportunity to sing a tag with him.  He has been a very positive influence on the Society staff who work so hard to provide services to all of us.

This past fall, approval was given by the board to move forward on the new computer system that has been needed so badly.  It will provide much more support for the Society and our staff to better serve us.

At the midwinter board meeting we voted to direct the relocation committee to find a site for the new Society headquarters in Nashville.  Many of you know Nashville for country music but Nashville is really Music City.  Many top artists of all music types do their recording in Nashville.  Over the next months the committee will be searching specific sites to accomplish the move in 2007.  The membership will be kept up to date on progress on the site and the move.

Another recent announcement was Rick Spencer being named the new Society director of music and training.  Rick brings a wealth of knowledge to the position and has developed a great rapport with Barbershoppers of all ages. He also has played a key role in the move forward of the Youth in Harmony program and the CBQC quartet competition.  We are sure he will do a wonderful job for all of us.

This spring, Sharon and I will be travelling to the North-Eastern District spring preliminaries and I will be the official Society representative to the Ontario District Spring Convention in Scarborough.  Please take some time to say hello and sing a tag with me and discuss any issues you have regarding the Society.  

Or drop me a note at <btowner  @  interhop.net>. I will do my best to answer your queries or get you an answer.

Fun! Fellowship! Service! Singing!      k