Secretaries: Please keep those email addresses current!

Dues renewal notices via email save time & money.

One of the easiest ways to control costs is to reduce the amount of paper leaving and entering Harmony Hall in Nashville. Email notifications for membership renewals, in particular, make it possible for members to complete the renewal process entirely online, saving postage, paper, and staff time.

Emailed newsletters and promotions make it easier to keep members updated on fast-breaking news and limited-time opportunities.

That means we must have accurate email addresses. Email changes frequently, and at any given time, 15-20% of the addresses on file at HQ are either outdated or blocked by spam filters.

Chapter and District Secretaries are the front line of keeping records current. From time to time, please make a point of updating your rosters to ensure we have accurate contact information on ebiz.barbershop.org.

Individually, we hope all members update information online, or call us at (800) 876-7464, or email us at info@barbershop.org .

If your information is correct, please take that extra step to ensure that you add The Barbershop Harmony Society to your list of safe senders. Hint: search your email for @barbershop.org -- if any messages are in spam folders, there is usually a mechanism to mark it as "not spam" and deliver to your inbox in the future.

Make plans for Long Beach 2014

Premium shows, a massive gathering of youth singers, and a superb vacation destination

• Plenty of Harmony University classes!
• Thursday Night Opening Event on the historic Queen Mary included with your full registration....
• Youth Chorus Festival!
• International Seniors Quartet Contest
• Saturday Night Show of Champions

... all in a relaxed, friendly setting.

Early registration is now open -- www.barbershopconvention.com/longbeach .

An aggressive effort to assist music educators with "no strings attached" is a cornerstone of our growing partnership with the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), profiled in the Nov./Dec. 2012 issue of The Harmonizer.

Recent ads in the ACDA Choral Journal have highlighted several new activities designed to bring music and resources to educators. 

The Society recently ran a video-only contest on youtube.com/yousingcontest that generated thousands of hits on performances by high school quartets. 

This ad offers a "second chance" at a free music packet offered at the ACDA convention in March. If you know of a music educator interested in receiving free music to kick off the fall semester, pass along the link to www.barbershop.org/freepacket 

With the 23K project officially underway for only 2 months, one of our callers has completed 100 calls and is already working on adding to that total. Asked about his observations, he says that this is the most rewarding experience in his barbershop career.

"I started out to give something back for all the wonder and delight that barbershopping has brought to my life. I found that, instead of giving back, I was still receiving from hearing the stories of the many new friends I was making."