New Member Orientation Session One The Barbershop Harmony Society

New Member Orientation History Founded in Tulsa, OK 1938 by O.C. Cash & Rupert Hall and has grown to over 30,000 members in more than 820 chapters in the United States and Canada. It is the world‘s largest all-male singing society. O.C. Cash

New Member Orientation What Is Barbershop Harmony? Four-part, unaccompanied, close- harmony singing Melody in the second voice, called the "lead." Tenor (counter-tenor voice) harmonizes above the lead singer Bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes Baritone provides in- between notes, to form consonant, pleasing chords

New Member Orientation What Is Barbershop Harmony? Barbershop is a "melting pot" product of African-American musical devices, European hymn-singing culture, and an American tradition of recreational music Melodies in the vocal and skill range of the average singer, with lyrical emphasis on simple, heartfelt emotions: love, friendship, mother, moon & June and the girl next door

New Member Orientation Membership in the Barbershop Harmony Society and the following core values are intertwined: Membership in the Barbershop Harmony Society and the following core values are intertwined: Singing Fellowship Fun Enrichment Creativity

New Member Orientation Singing - We love to sing. Through singing in four-part harmony, we provide opportunities for personal expression, spread joy in performance, and enrich our lives and the lives of others. We perpetuate and celebrate the barbershop harmony style.

New Member Orientation Fellowship - We foster rich relationships. We are committed to inclusive and respectful relationships based on integrity, trust and reputation. Our companionship cultivates lasting friendships and a sense of belonging. Collaboration on common interests bonds people of diverse interests and backgrounds.

New Member Orientation Fun - We have fun. We sing barbershop harmony for the sheer enjoyment of it. Singing is accompanied by laughter, playful camaraderie, and the happiness of sharing through a performance.

New Member Orientation Enrichment - We seek personal growth and enrichment through singing. Education permeates all that we do. At every level of the Society, in every Society chapter, and through Society outreach, we teach and learn about four-part harmony. We also promote skills in composition, performance, interpersonal relationships, leadership, evaluation, collaboration and administration. A culture of lifelong learning encourages members to continually seek personal growth and enrichment as well as contribute to the evolution of the Society.

New Member Orientation Creativity - We embrace and celebrate creativity. We create sound from silence. In that act of creativity, we may bring forth beauty, hope, joy and other artistic expressions. As performers we experience the exhilaration of creation in soul and voice. We deliver these results to our audiences who, in turn, undergo their own emotional uplifting. A powerful core of creation inspires us to honor the art of song in everything we do. We are a vastly creative Society.

New Member Orientation Society Mission - We enrich lives through singing. We perpetuate and celebrate the barbershop harmony style. We serve each new generation of singers through support of vocal music education.

New Member Orientation We serve audiences through an uplifting, wholesome variety of a cappella musical entertainment. We serve our members by sharing fellowship, performance skills, and leadership development.

New Member Orientation We help build better communities and a better world, bonding diverse people through the pure fun of a cappella harmony as we “Keep the Whole World Singing!”

New Member Orientation Society Vision The Society, in alliance with other a cappella organizations worldwide, is committed to enriching lives in every generation and community through the lifelong benefits of a cappella harmony singing.

New Member Orientation Society Code of Ethics The Society aspires to preserve for its members and for all future generations of prospective members the sacred right of men to seek haven from the burden of their daily cares through indulgence in old fashioned vocal quartet harmony, and to that end we do hereby pledge ourselves to abide by the precepts of this Code of Ethics :

New Member Orientation We shall do everything in our power to perpetuate the Society. We shall deport ourselves and conduct the Society's functions in such a manner as to reflect credit upon the Society and its membership. We shall conform in all respects to the bylaws of the Society and the rules from time to time promulgated by its’ board of directors

New Member Orientation We shall accept for membership only congenial men of good character who love harmony in music or have a desire to harmonize. We shall exhibit a spirit of good fellowship toward all members. We shall refrain from forcing our songs upon unsympathetic ears.

New Member Orientation We shall not use our membership in the Society for personal gain. We shall not permit the introduction of political, religious or other similar controversial issues into the affairs of the Society.

New Member Orientation We shall, by our stimulus to good music and vocal harmony, endeavor to spread the spirit of harmony throughout the world. We shall render all possible altruistic service through the medium of barbershop harmony.

New Member Orientation Society Activities Education of members and the general public in music appreciation, particularly barbershop singing. Advocacy at all levels of society to keep recreational and social singing an important part of our culture.

New Member Orientation Charitable projects on a local and national basis, including many funded through the Harmony Foundation, the Society's official charity. Music publishing and distribution of recordings for entertainment and education Contests in quartet and chorus singing at district and international levels

First meeting New Member Orientation International champions are crowned in Chorus, Quartet and College Quartet at international convention each July International Senior Quartet Champion is crowned at mid-winter convention each January

New Member Orientation International champions are crowned in Chorus, Quartet and College Quartet at international convention each July International Senior Quartet Champion is crowned at mid-winter convention each January

New Member Orientation Public performances enhance community cultural life, preserve the art form, and bring cheer to all. Quartets and choruses contribute more than 100,000 man-hours per year singing for more than half a million people at churches, schools, hospitals, senior centers, etc.

New Member Orientation Society Educational Offerings Harmony University- St Joseph, MO COTS – Leadership Training in EACH District International Convention

New Member Orientation Society Awards & Recognition Man of Note Award – for recruiting a new member 100% Club- FREE dues for recruiting 5 members in a year Golden Oldie – for 35-year members Free Society Dues – to 50-year members Hall of Fame – new members normally inducted annually for outstanding contributions Honorary Life Membership – awarded to non- members who have made outstanding contributions

New Member Orientation Society Communication Tools The Harmonizer Magazine LiveWire

New Member Orientation Subsidiary Organizations Public Relations Officers and Bulletin Editors (PROBE) Ancient and Harmonious Society of Woodshedders (AHSOW) Association of International Champions (AIC) Association of International Seniors Quartet Champions (AISQC) Collegiate Barbershop Quartet Champions (CBQC)

New Member Orientation International Affiliates AAMBS (Australian Association of Men’s Barbershop Singers) BABS (British Association of Barbershop Singers) Bing! (Barbershop in Germany) DABS (Dutch Association of Barbershop Singers) IABS (Irish Association of Barbershop Singers)

New Member Orientation New Zealand Association of Barbershop Singers) SNOBS (Society of Nordic Barbershop Singers) SPATS (Southern Part of Africa Tonsorial Singers)

New Member Orientation Allied Organizations Sweet Adelines International ~ Harmony Incorporated ~ Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers (LABBS) ~ Holland Harmony ~ Mixed Barbershop Harmony Quartet Association ~ Contemporary A Cappella Society ~Tokyo Barbers~ Scottish Barbershop Choruses ~Music Educators National Conference ~ American Choral Directors Association

New Member Orientation Society Board of Directors The Society is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors responsible for setting the strategic of the organization. Society Board of Directors Contact information is printed in every issue of The Harmonizer, as well as listed on the website

New Member Orientation Society Headquarters Staff The Barbershop Harmony Society is administered by a professional staff in Nashville, TN.

New Member Orientation Society Headquarters Staff To contact the Society: call SING (7464) or visit their website at

New Member Orientation The BHS is organized into 16 districts- each district is governed by its own set of elected officers

New Member Orientation Benefits of Membership Publications Online Resources, including the Members-Only Website Conventions Harmony Marketplace

New Member Orientation Professional Development and Educational Offerings Assistance from Headquarters Staff Member Pricing Use of the Name and Log Competition

New Member Orientation Harmony Foundation The Harmony Foundation, a not-for- profit organization, was incorporated in 1959 as a charitable subsidiary of the Barbershop Harmony Society

New Member Orientation Harmony Foundation 2006 Highlights Over 1,000 students attended Harmony Explosion Camps 100 chorus directors attended Director's College

New Member Orientation Collegiate quartet competition scholarships are awarded to promising college quartets to attend Harmony University for intensive coaching Collegiate tours sponsored by the foundation brought barbershop harmony to many new students

New Member Orientation The President's Council, a leadership annual giving program, saw robust growth. Average gift size from members increased by twelve times over the last three years. Forty-nine percent are new contributors to annual giving. The Ambassadors of Song giving program was launched, providing every chapter member the opportunity to make a monthly contribution of as little as five dollars. A new Donor Choice feature provides annual giving donors a means of designating up to thirty percent of a gift to their chapter and/or district.

New Member Orientation Harmony Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

New Member Orientation 2007 International Chorus Champion The Westminster Chorus Westminster, CA

New Member Orientation 2007 International Quartet Champion Max Q

New Member Orientation 2007 MBNA America Collegiate Quartet Champion Road Trip

New Member Orientation 2007 Seniors Quartet Champion Friendly Advice

New Member Orientation Show “Singing Is Life” Video