[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 61-03, July - September, 2007 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]

Harmonize For Speech
and George Shields Tribute Event

By Greg Shields

Hello Ontario Barbershoppers and Families,

I just wanted to let you know that the May 27, 2007 tribute celebration honouring George Shields, hosted by The Speech Foundation Ontario, was a great celebration and a great success.

Geoff, Jill and I were very proud to be the event chairs. Thanks to an overwhelming amount of love and support this was an easy task. The staff and supporters of the Speech Foundation of Ontario are one of the most professional, committed and caring group of people with which we could ask to work.

We owe great thanks to the whole barbershop community, with special thanks to Neil Aitchison, Matthew and Corrine Penstone, Bill ‘Buddy’ O’Hara, Joel/Erik/Dave/Jordan of Chameleon, Ed/Ray/Bob/Wayne of Canadian Heritage, Bob Wilson, Duncan Macgregor, Ron Ball,
Ed and Marilyn Russell, Greg Backwell, Shelley Snoulten, Rick and Gaille Snoulten, the whole planning committee, honorary committee and advertisers.

An event like this cannot happen without major sponsors. The Gala Event Sponsor was the Harmonize For Speech Fund; the Silent Auction Sponsor was Crystal Fountains; the Tribute Book Sponsor was Korn / Ferry International; the Dinner Sponsor was Wilson Machine Knife; and the major advertisers were Chubb Insurance and Macgregors Meat & Seafood Ltd.

I think it is important to emphasize that Ontario Barbershoppers, through your very own Harmonize for Speech Fund, can be very proud of the great work being done every day for the children and adults in the Speech Foundation of Ontario’s two programs (the Stuttering Centre and the Toronto Children’s Centre). The organization would not exist without your support, and this event would not have gotten off the ground without the immediate and full support of the Harmonize for Speech Fund.

The early vision of a wonderful and successful evening gave a big group of planning committee members and honorary committee members the confidence they needed to pull it off. And pull it off they did, to the tune of over $115,000. Too bad we can’t get a return like that on our own investments. I urge you to visit http://www.harmonize4speech.org/index.html and play the “We Sing That They Shall Speak” video. It is a wonderful reminder of how valuable your support is.

The event naturally had the theme of music, and guests were entertained at the entrance and silent auction and dinner by four great young people in a string quartet, a Harpist and our very own Bill ‘Buddy’ O’Hara on piano.

The reception started with The East York Barbershoppers and continued with three young people,
R n’Soul, singing harmony a cappella. Elvis (Terry Chisholm) did a wonderful job with memorable songs for all age groups.

The audience did include some civilians, so it was great to demonstrate the barbershop sound of
The Canadian Heritage.

Matt Penstone is the greatest auctioneer I have every seen (and he is an East York Chapter member and family so he did it for free).

Family Ties performed and were auctioned-off for two performances.

Gordon Lightfoot made a surprise appearance to say hi to George (he had just received a lifetime achievement award from the Toronto Music Association) and mingled, posed for pictures and signed autographs until midnight.

Chameleon Quartet stole the show, and then performed in the halls until (and after) everyone had left the building. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that energy.

There were many wonderful speeches. But I think the highlight of the evening were three people who have benefited from the programs; Speech Foundation Board Chair Paul L’Heureux; an eleven year old boy named Hayden Katz, who was so strong and confident in front of this 300+ crowd (Neil had to be worried); and a young woman, who many of you will remember from the COTS Happening many years ago when her success story brought the whole group to tears, named Carolina Ayala.

Her success continues as she is in a Masters Degree program; she attributes much of her confidence to the support she received from the Barbershoppers and she said the “We Sing That They Shall Speak” video continues to raise consciousness and funds for communication disorders.

The thing that continues to surprise and impress me is that the hardest worker preparing for this event was George. Even though it was a tribute evening for him, it was an opportunity to raise greatly needed funds for an organization that is so important to so many.

A tribute event may be an opportunity to reflect on the achievements in one’s life, but we need him to continue to look forward and pursue his vision.

So, on behalf of the Speech Foundation of Ontario, the Harmonize for Speech Fund, Harmony Ranch, the Ontario District, Call-A-Service, Harmony Hall, and all his other interests, I would like to say,
Keep up the good work.     k