Open Letter to the Alumni Association Members

From: Dean A. Newsom
Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2004 1:47 AM
To: Alumni Association
Subject: Open letter to alumni association

Karen and all members of the association,

The 2004 alumni day for me was an extraordinary day! It has been almost 30 years since I had the privilege of attending a day at the fair to listen to and enjoy the music of the youth choir.

Forty(40) years ago,"1964" I was given the chance to participate in the experience of being a member of the AOSFYC. and toured with the 1965 European tour choir (the first). Until now I thought that was an experience that comes along only once in a lifetime. BOY WAS I WRONG. I have always thought that "our choir" was great and that the late Glenville Thomas was the Greatest, (and he was).

Much to my surprise the spirit and enthusiasm of those years gone by came right back as soon as I arrived at the James A. Rhoads youth center and heard those wonderful voices filling the air with music.

In my opinion, we were pretty good back in our day, but these youngsters today that I heard are absolutely phenomenal. Also, what Mr. Charles Snyder, the staff and the alumni association are doing with these youngsters is nothing less than amazing. My hat is off to you all.

This reunion reminded me of how hard it was for me to get to go on the tour to Europe with the choir and the sacrifices my parents made to help me get there. I feel that I would be remise if I did not attempt to remind all the other past choir members for the last 41 years of the wonderful experience we had at the fair. We, as alumni ought to make sure that NO young person with the talent to sing is ever denied that opportunity because of the lack of funds to attend.

The Glenville Thomas scholarship fund was set up for that purpose. If just half of the several thousand former members of this choir, could feel what I felt on alumni day 2004, I am sure that together we could make all kids dreams come true and KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE for generations to come. I pledge to do my part, how about you?

Thanks for the memories,
Dean A. Newsom 64/65.