1. High Notes

• Aug 14:  Great meeting and practice!
  • Mike Muha set up laptop with a display of song title, first words and starting key.  Letters were very large and easy to read.  Carol used it during the rehearsal just swiping to change the song.
  • New chorus shirts were handed out. We will be wearing these for Lazy Daze, probably with the sleeves rolled up
  • Afterglow was attended by the truly committed, the true iron men of OCS. It was held at The Parkway Tavern, and sure enough, the atmosphere was quiet and amenable. 
• Aug 21 (Monday): Regular meeting at our regular time at our regular location: Searstone Retirement Community at 7pm. Here is the revised program for August 26, as well as our rehearsal list for Monday Aug 21::
  • The Bare Necessities (2:40)
  • You've Got a Friend in Me (1:51)
  • Yesterday (3:03)
  • Here Comes the Sun (2:35)
  • Hello, Mary Lou - Another Dimension (2:15)
  • Desperado (2:48)
  • Two Less Lonely People in the World (3:40)
  • Almost Like Being in Love (1:58)
  • The Lion Sleeps Tonight
  • Over the Rainbow (4:17)
  • Sweet Caroline (3:50)
• We need members willing to serve on our Christmas Show committee.  Mike Muha shouldn’t be tasked with all the work.  Can you design a poster?  Arrange for ticket takers?  Put together creative stuff?  Help promote or sell tickets?  There is much to be done, and many hands make light work.  This is our show.  Let’s support Mike.  Tell him you will help.
• We are beginning to look for 2024 board members.  If you have any interest contact any chapter board members, or the Nomination Committee (Bob Inskeep and Nic Cols).  Being a part of the Leadserhip Team is a duty that needs to be shared amongst all members. Again, many hands make light work. Marketing VP position is open.
• Aug 26, 11:00-11:30AM:  Cary Lazy Daze Town Festival. Oak City Sound will be performing on the main stage, as we've done for a few years running.
  • Agenda for Lazy Daze will be published and distributed this week. 
  • We will get 5 parking passes, one for Fuquay-Varina people and 4 to be distributed at Searstone on performance day.
  • Uniform: We will be wearing our new uniform shirt, along with chorus blue jeans and shoes.
  • Song list: See week's note above.
• Aug 28 - Next Oak City Sound guest night, at our regular Monday evening rehearsal time and place. Invite 2 guys right away. And let's focus on tenors!
• REMINDER: Music Team needs your Christmas Stories -- NOW.

2. Carol's Korner

• I know I've been putting you through a lot of detail work for the past several weeks. Now it's time to focus on storytelling and entertaining our audience in the most genuine way possible. Think in big ideas and so many of the tedious details will fall right into place.

3. Future Notes

• Watch for announcements concerning the concession stand at NC State Home Football games starting next month.
• Sept 18 (Monday)- Concert at Springmoor

4. Long Range

Note that all Mondays in our Christmas season are fully booked, plus Tuesday Dec 5! Thanks to the team for making so many bookings, and to everyone for singing well enough that these places have invited us back.

• Oct 22 - a Sunday afternoon. Oak City Sound in concert at Preston Pointe in Morrisville.
• Nov 27 (Monday) - Concert at Templeton
• Dec 4 (Monday)- Concert at Springmoor
• Dec 5 (Tuesday) - Concert at Cary Arts Center
• Dec 11 (Monday) - Concert at Whispering Pines
• Dec 18 (Monday) - Concert at Searstone

• Bob Inskeep reported that he had visited Kenny Bland at the hospital.  Kenny had fallen and hit his head very hard on a stone patio.  His head was banged up pretty badly with staples and stitches.  There seems to be no neurological damage but Kenny will remain in rehab for a few more days. Kenny is in great spirits.  Also Kevin Jones now works at Wake Med and is taking good care of Kenny. I think the same thing can be said of OKB as was said of Dizzy Dean when he got beaned by a baseball. Our headline should read, "X-Rays of Ken's head show nothing!" And we are truly grateful.
• Larry Hill reported he went to his home town barbershop chorus's rehearsal last week.  They ended their rehearsal with “It’s great to be a barber shopper.”   It turned out they got that from us through a member, Jim, who visited us 8 years ago.  Jim brought that back and they have been closing that way ever since. 
  • Larry also reported their director said to connect all the notes together and drop the “R”s.  Where have we heard that before?
• Yours truly [Ed.] was spending a week high in the Blue Ridge mountains, and thus missed our meeting. See you all again on Monday, Aug 21.