Chapters:

• Akron
• Cleveland East
• Cleveland West
• Elyria
• Independence
• Lorain
• North Coast
• North Olmsted
  

Here's the latest news about the Melrose Division from Mike Vislosky,
as of 3/6/06:
 
Met with the Elyria Board and discussed their immediate problems. Since membership is their biggest problem they are going to try the yard sign program followed by a big membership guest night when a chapter visitation is scheduled.

Talked with North Olmsted and they are doing well.

Cleveland East seems to be doing well with their new directors, Gene Mclaughman and Brian Noda. They are doing a combined chorus show with the North Coast chapter.

Things are progressing at Cleveland West with new board members starting to make an impact. More emphasis is being put on having fun at meetings. Plans are progressing to get some good membership recruitment campaigns scheduled with some discussions on how to effectively use the "Yard Sign" program. Cleveland West has formally formed a ladies support group with focus on raising funds for the youth outreach program. The ladies call themselves the "Tower City Belles".

Division Activities

Melrose had their high school quartet competition on February 18th with three male quartets participating. Two others could not make it due to conflicts. The students who participated had a great time and the winners were "Viva La Four" from Lakewood High School, a very good sound.

"March Madness Quartet Competitions" were held March 25th and April 1st at South Park Mall in Strongsville. Nine quartets competed head-to-head in brackets and the winners of each bracket were Moment of Madness, Eclipse, Taglines, and Four Chordsmen. These four quartets then competed on April 1st and the 2006 champions were the Four Chordsmen" from Elyria. Everyone had a great time and we were able to promote barbershop singing at a
crowded mall two weeks in a row.

The first annual high school "Youth Harmony Festival" is scheduled for Saturday, June 17th at the Rocky River Memorial Hall followed by a performance by the students, the Tower City Chorus, and numerous guest quartets. There seems to be some good support from the high school choral directors and we are looking forward to getting some exciting things happening in the Cleveland area.

Over the past month I've had lot of discussion with the Melrose chapter presidents and chorus directors about the idea of forming a large chorus that would get all of the Melrose chapters involved for the sole purpose of having fun. All of the chapter leaders seem to support the idea so we will see if the members jump on board. Those who wish to participate will have to become dual members of a chapter that does not enter competitions, such as North Olmsted. We would learn two songs and have a few combined rehearsals and then compete at the division contest and hopefully district competitions. The first meeting for the newly formed Melrose United Chorus is scheduled for Monday, June 5th at 7:00pm. Tom's Country Place. Tom's is located at 3442 Stoney Ridge Rd., Avon, Ohio. For directions go to tomscountryplace.com. Mark Blake has agreed to be our director and we are looking forward to having a great time.

This summer we will be promoting more chapter visitations and encouraging them to work on membership promotion activities. Maybe they can get some ideas to share on having more fun at chapter meetings.