March 24th, 2009 Jack Scneider was awarded his 4th Man Of Note pin for sponsoring Greg Rhodes who became an official GLC member. GLC and Fountain Street Four collegiate quartet member Dan Winer was awarded his 4th, 5th and 6th Man Of Note pins for sponsoring the other 3 FS4 members Andrew Magnussen, Owne Sharpe, and Philip Spencer all became official GLC members. Also becoming a member was Jerry Van Wieren. Guests were Aaron Bouwman, Ross Douse, past member Roger Harrour, and son of Peter Westers, 11 year old Silas Westers.


For high speed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended

by Gary ‘Twig’ Branch Shades Of Grey GreatLakesChorus.org/SOG Barbershop Breakfast Club GreatLakesChorus.org/BBC


Feb 19th 2009 Noon at the Marlyn and Bernie Poelman Community Building Punta Gorda, Charlotte, Florida we had a small turnout this year with several missing on account of illness, surgery, etc. Terry Huyge and friend Joy were there from Bradenton, Dottie Talsma from Ft. Meyers, Len and Lee Pachula from Wachula (Lee is a sister-in-law to Bob Jeltema, two of our friends (non barbershoppers) from Grand Rapids, Fred and Karen Barr from Englewood, Ron and Rose Thomet, Gary and Phyllis Branch, Bud Kraft and Bernie and Marlyn Poelman were there. Missing were Jean and Jack Schneider, illness, Ken and Nancy Harr, knee surgery, Dave Knapp, car trouble, Evelyn Copeland and friend Tony, prior commitment, Alverne Sidor, Red Hat Convention.


We discused about not having the picnic next year but decided it would be a great loss if we didn’t continue the tradition. Our Michigan’s Grand Rapids Chapter quartet Shades of Grey entertained the group and later included Terry and Bernie in some pick-up quartetting.


SOG lead Bud directed everyone in some sing-along-songs and we enjoyed a great pot luck picnic lunch. Bud has been snowbirding with Phyllis and I and has been a great addition with his cooking, washing dishes, and general assistance.


Shades of Grey Florida singouts included a sweetheart lunch, a couples retreat, a 60th. Anniversary, a Valentine’s Dance. We also participated in Singing Valentine’s with the Ponta Gorda Chapter, of which I am a dual member. We sang from 12:00 noon until 8:30 that night. We have since sang at the picnic, at a block party which we were the entertainment, at the Ponta Gorda Installation Dinner, at numerous restaurants, on the golf course and every place people would stop and listen.


For high speed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended

by Gary 'twig' Branch Shades Of Grey GreatLakesChorus.org/SOG


During the summer our Shades of Grey members Gary Branch, Fred Barr, Lynwood Kraft, and Ronald Thomet had talked about visiting our shut-ins, friends around Western Michigan that we have known and sung with for many years. Well, we finally did it! Last November we dropped in on several of these people and we all had a great time.


We met at SOG bass Fred’s house, had coffee and discussed the day. We contacted our shut-in friends and determined the order we would visit them.


We started off with Ray Grutter. Ray sang with our Grand Rapids Great Lakes Chorus for many years. He also sang with the Furniture City Chord Company for over 15 years. He has been laid up with back and leg problems for several years and is tied to an electric cart so not getting out much. We sang a couple of songs for him. He even sang bass with us and we talked over old times. We got there early because we knew that we wouldn’t be able to just sing and go. His wife Judy came in and we had to get a hug and see some family pictures before we left. We left only after promising that we would be back soon.


Next we went to see Bea Phillips. Her husband Don sang with the chorus and in the Golden Oldies quartet with me and in the Gaslighters quartet with Fred, Bud and I. He passed away a few years ago. Bea had problems with sugar and lost both legs above the knee. Being confined to a wheel chair, she is homebound most of the time. We sang to her and she showed off some of her family photos and we reminisced together.


From there we visited Clarice Strong. Her husband Don sang in the chorus for many years. She fell last winter and entered the first stages of Alzimers finding it difficult to walk. Don has since left the chorus and stays home to take care of her. He wasn’t there when we arrived so we serenaded Clarice alone instead. She was so sorry that Don missed us and asked we please come again.


Next on the list was Jack & Jean Schneider. Jack is an active member of our chorus. His wife Jean was diagnosed with brain cancer a couple of months ago. She had just completed the last of the radiation and Chemotherapy. She was lying on the couch when we came in and before long, sat up, asked for her cap to cover her head and smiled, truly enjoying the songs and visit. They will wait a while before having an MRI to see the results of the therapy. They’re planning on visiting their son in Florida this winter.


After a bit of lunch, we visited Alverne Sidor. Alverne had just gotten home from the hospital after a hip replacement. Her husband, Jack had been the bass in our quartet from the beginning and passed away a year ago. She was a Sweet Adeline and I sang with her and Jack in a mixed quartet in Florida, called Mainely Michigan. Since she was really laid up she enjoyed hearing some of our songs she hadn’t heard before. She is looking forward to going to Florida for the winter.


We drove on to Lowell, MI to a rehab center to visit a friend of our tenor Ron and his wife Rose. We found her in a small room alone and we began to sing for her. When we finished the song, a nurse popped in and asked us to hold on. She proceeded to fill the room with other patients and we went on singing for about 40 minutes to everyone’s delight.


The last stop of the day was at Clark Home where we visited Paul Robinson, another veteran of the chorus from several years ago. Paul also was in the early stages of Alzimers. We found him very receptive to us and we sang several songs for him and all of the others that found their way down to his room upon hearing the singing. We took pictures at each stop to record our visit.


This was a filled and very rewarding day in the life of the Shades of Grey and I’m sure that it won’t be the last. What a blessing to be able to bring such joy to our old friends!


For high speed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended

There was a pickup quartet with Mike O'Donnell, James Masalskis, Curt Struyk, and guest James Ely from the Pride Of Mobile Chorus PrideOfMobile.com singing during break. Guests; Gerald Van Wieren, Denny Grabill, Greg Rhodes, Dave Chase, Ross Douse, and Tag Man Bill Edmonds. Bill also taught the chorus a tag. There was also the Singing Valentine pickup quartet with Patrick Ryan, Mike Odle, Lyle Weeks, and Leon Reisters. visitors as observers John & Renee Welsh from Thornapple Community Church. Jack Schneider drew the for the raffle ticket and Chapter Development, Bill Robbins didn't win raffle but still got to direct the chorus closer. And another night James Masalskis was directing a chorus closer.


For high speed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended

February 12-14th 2009. Grand River Serenade quartet photos are on album pages 1 and 2, all other quartets like Wildcard, Barbershop Style, Odle Quartet, and Vocal Artisans are on pages 2 and 3.


To download your photos look for yours in the album, be sure to check all pages in the album, left click on yours for larger version, right click larger photo and to save select "Save As", select a folder to save to (ex. Desktop) or just to print select Print.


If scrolling through the photo album be sure to check all pages for more photos.


For high speed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended