Summer 2005: AOSFYC Alumni Newsletter

Below is a small portion of the full Summer 2005 AOSFYC Alumni Newsletter.  Paid members receive the full version of the Alumni Association Newsletter by mail.

In this issue ...

• Alumni Day Schedule Re-Formatted
• "Dare to Dream" - only available to paid members, in the paper-version of the newsletter
• 4th Annual CLEANING DAY
• Alumni Day Workers Needed!
• 2005 Auction
• From the Director’s Stand - only available to paid members, in the paper-version of the newsletter
• Alumni Accomplishments
• Alumni Board Nominees
• Hey all of you 1980 choir alumni!
• In Memoriam

Alumni Day Schedule Re-Formatted
Alumni Day is scheduled for Saturday, August 13th. Responding to survey comments from last year, the schedule for Alumni Day has been revised to accommodate your wishes. One of the highlights of the day will be the 10:00 Alumni Rehearsal. This year, four pieces will be rehearsed with Mr. Snyder, including “Let Freedom Ring,” “This Is My Father’s World, “ “Song of Farewell, “ and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Bring your own copies, or purchase them at the rehearsal. Approximate cost is $6-$9 for the total set. These pieces will be sung in mass during the Glenville Thomas Memorial Concert at 1:00.

Also new this year, Alumni will be permitted to march in the daily parade behind the 2005 Choir. To help us look more uniform, you will need to wear nice jeans or khaki pants/shorts as well as a shirt from the year you were in the choir. Do not fear – you can purchase an Alumni shirt. If there is any question as to if your choir shirt still fits, you probably shouldn’t wear it. (Rule of thumb: What would Mr. Thomas or Mr. Snyder say about it?) The shirts are a red polo with white lettering that reads, “All-Ohio Youth Choir Alumni.” They are $10.00 for S-XL and $12.00 for 2X-4X. They need to be pre-ordered by July 25th! Remember that we are representing a long-standing tradition and we want to show our pride. How awesome will it be to see all of the different shirts as well as tell who is an alumnus?

CONCERTS: Though it's not a requirement, we are asking all Alumni to wear their shirts during the Concerts. You will not be turned away if you are not in uniform.
 

9:00AM to 2:00PM	Registration at the Rhodes Center Auditorium
10:00AM	Alumni Rehearsal at Rhodes Center Auditorium with Mr. Snyder
12:00PM	Lunch. Eat on your own or join the Choir in the cafeteria!
1:00PM	Annual Meeting and Glenville Thomas Memorial Concert, Rhodes Center Auditorium
3:00PM	ODNR Concert (2005 choir)
4:05PM	Daily Parade. (Alumni march in uniform behind choir)
5:00PM	Auction, Voinovich Lawn (formerly Heritage Park)
6:00PM	Concert at Voinovich Lawn (formerly Heritage Park)

4th Annual CLEANING DAY
Mark your calendars: DORM CLEANING DAY is scheduled for Saturday, JULY 16, 2005, from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM (we will probably finish earlier) at the Rhodes Choir Wing. Bring $5 with you so we can order lunch. Thanks!
If you are interested in helping, please contact Keri Helgerman at thimset@hotmail.com or John Sullivan at jps564@yahoo.com (enter AOSFYC or Cleaning Day in the subject line).
 

Alumni Day Workers Needed!
We are always looking for alums to help out on Alumni Day.  we need helpers for registration so that the burden does not fall on just the officers of this organization.  If you could spare 1/2 or 1 hour of your time on Alumni Day, we would greatly appreciate the help.
Please contact Keri Helgerman at thimset@hotmail.com .
 

2005 Auction
Items for the annual auction are beginning to arrive.  Check the website for updated lists. Also this year, Mr Snyder has agreed to be placed on the auction block for these 'treats':

• Have lunch with Mr. Snyder
• Commencement speech by Mr. Snyder
• Clinic with your choir by Mr. Snyder

Alumni Accomplishments

Katie Fisher (‘04) has just been cast as a chorus member and Eponine understudy for the summer season of Les Miserables in London, England. She will be performing throughout the summer!

Leo Welsh (‘96) sang the National Anthem prior to the start of the Destroyers Football game at Nationwide Arena on April 30, 2005.
 

Alumni Board Nominees
 

Cathy Banfield I was a member of the ‘77 choir, toured Europe in ‘78 and ‘87, went to the Rose Bowl in 1988. I was a member of the choir staff from 1988-91, and have been a board member from 1992-present.

Nebbie Brown My name is Nebbie Brown and I was a member of the 1983 Youth Choir and the 1984 Europe Choir. Currently, I'm a Process Team Lead for the Huntington Mortgage Group and I'm pursuing a Bachelor's degree in English at Ohio State University. I have to admit that until recently, I have had little contact or involvement with the All Ohio Youth Choir and I regret being absent so long. The last time I attended Alumni Day, a lot of the old feelings that I had for the Choir came back to the surface after being buried for so long and I now remember what an honor and life-enhancing experience it was to be part of such an organization. I want to put more effort into helping keep the All Ohio Youth Choir going and giving the youth of today and tomorrow the opportunity I had to make so many wonderful friends and precious memories that will stay with me for as long as I'm alive. If I'm lucky enough to be elected onto the board, one of the most important things I want to do is find a way to bridge the gap between the alumni of Mr. Thomas and the alumni of Mr. Snyder. If I can help keep the All Ohio Youth Choir a vital and beneficial event to those of us who share a love of music, then I've accomplished the job I wanted to do.

Keri Helgerman I am interested in running for a position on the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir Alumni Association Board Trustees this summer. I was in the All-Ohio Youth Choir in 1992 and 1993. The years following (’94-’02) I enjoyed being a part of the Youth Choir staff. While working on the staff was exhilarating I wanted to do something to help the choir year round. I ran for a position on the Board of Trustees in 1997. My time spent on the board was amazing. I didn’t have any idea how much the Alumni helped the choir. Unfortunately in 2003 I had to end my term because of a military move to Texas. Now that I am back in Ohio I would love to be a part of this organization again. Besides being involved with the All-Ohio Youth Choir, I have worked as an Elementary Music Specialist for the past eight years both in Ohio and Texas. I earned my degrees from Mount Union College (BME) and Capital University (MME). I am currently taking courses through Ohio State on technology in the classroom.

Karen Hildreth Hi, my name is Karen (Coleman) Hildreth. I was a member of the choir in 1978 and I have been active with the alumni association for almost 10 years now. I took over the job of newsletter editor in 1996 and have been on the alumni board since 1997. I am presently the treasurer and also the newsletter editor. I am also on staff with the present choir and have been a part of this since 2000. I am married and have three children and work at my children’s school. I am also a Cub Scout den leader, driver for my daughter’s Girl Scout troop and also active in The Coshocton Community Choir. Even with all my other responsibilities, the All-Ohio Youth Choir has always been an important part of my life. Music plays a special roll for me and my entire family and I look forward to keeping this dream alive for my children and many other children all over OHIO.

Erik Kruger I am 27 years old, a 4-year member of the AOSFYC from '93-'96, C.I.T. in 1997. I was on staff from 1997- 2004, and Alumni Association Board member since 1998. I Graduated from BGSU in 2002 with a B.S. degree in Applied Science and currently reside in Westerville.

Russ Mayer My name is Russ Mayer. I was a bass in the choir in 1981 and went on the European Choir Tour in 1982. I served on the riser crew at the fair and on the European Tour. My family and I have recently moved back to Ohio after dealing with the effects of Hurricane Ivan. It is so great to be back home. My wife is an RN, and we have 2 children, Brandon 14, and Elizabeth-Anne, 7. I have held positions in newspaper, retail, and healthcare. In Florida, I served as the Region 1 Chairperson for the Florida Respite Coalition. I am so thankful for all those who have served in the past to support our organization. I am looking forward to our 50th anniversary as well. The Ohio State Fair has always been a big part of my life; as my parents met at the fair, I showed at the fair as a 4-H'er, and of course, 21+ days spent in the Rhodes Center. I am running for a position on the board as I want to give back to the choir and do my part in "keeping the dream alive". Won't you join me in this effort as well?

Michael Poper My name is Michael Poper. I am 29 years old. I was in the 1991 and 1993 choirs. I am currently living in Newark. I work as a financial advisor in Westerville. I have been too all but two alumni days and have made the last six years in a row. I would like to join the board to once again be a part in this great organization to which i owe so much and still have so many fond memories of!!!

John Sullivan My name is John Sullivan and I was a member of the 1980 youth choir. I was shocked when I received a phone call from Mr. Glenville Thomas on Memorial Day in 1988 asking me to be on staff. That was the best phone call I have ever had and it was a life changing call for me. That was after I got to go to Europe on the 25th Anniversary Tour in 1986. It was then that I started on what has now been 18 years with the All-Ohio Youth Choir. I have been a member of the Alumni Board for over ten years now and have held the offices of treasurer, vice president and am currently the president. I just recently graduated from Otterbein College with my Early Childhood Education Degree and hope to be teaching in the fall. In 2004 I was inducted into the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame for my work with the Youth Choir. I hope to continue working on staff as long as I can.

Vicki Sussman I had the pleasure to sing as a member of the 1969 Choir. I have worked at Denison University for 14 years; the last nine have been as Conference and Events Coordinator. I have been singing most all my life and currently sing semi-professionally as a soloist, mostly in churches and at religious events. My music resume includes serving for many years as Choir Director, pianist and organist for the Summit Baptist Church and Sanctuary Choir and Music Director for New Hope Baptist Church in Baltimore, OH. Currently I serve as the Children’s Choir Director for Tri Village Christian Church in Pataskala and sing in their choirs and musical specials. I have been a member of the Vintage Voices since 1998. Previous musical experience also includes singing in a gospel quartet and numerous musical productions. Our home is in Pataskala, Ohio; I have been married to Mike Sussman for 17 years, have 3 adult children and 3 grandsons. I am very excited to reconnect with the Choir and look forward to working with the alumni in supporting an amazing opportunity for future choir members.

 

In Memoriam: Candace Bean (OYC ‘74, Europe ‘87, Rose Bowl ‘88)
BEAN, Candace C. 49, of Cincinnati, died unexpectedly May 10, 2005 in her residence. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday in the High Street United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held from 2-3:30 p.m. in the church. The Littleton & Rue Funeral Home is serving the family.
Published in the Springfield News-Sun on 5/13/2005.