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Worldwide Barbershop Quartet Association
The Monthly Pitch
JUNE 2026
Issue 26-06
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New Newsletter Name Selected:
Thank you to the 87 who voted for a new name for our monthly newsletter. And here are the results:
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April 'The Monthly Pitch' - 29
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February 'Pitch Pipe Press' - 24
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October 'This Month's Pitch' - 8
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December 'Tag Time News' - 8
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January 'News In Tune' - 8
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March 'Old Songs, New Notes' - 6
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November 'Notes For the Month' - 4
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MIKE NICHOLS ELECTED AS NEW MARKETING and COMMUNICATIONS VICE-PRESIDENT
Mike's been ringing chords since 1987 and still brings the same energy and joy in what he does. Professionally, he is a Project Manager at the University of Buffalo, overseeing major renovation and construction projects. At WBQA, you have seen Mike as part of the Convention operations at the Annual Quartet Contest. His past experiences enhance his strong marketing and event-planning skills and make him the ideal candidate for our Marketing and Communications Vice-President!
Mike has been an active member of our Society since 2018 and is a member of the WBQA Harmonic Edge Quartet.
The Board unanimously voted for his election as Vice-President at the May Board meeting. Welcome aboard, Mike!
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LODGE ACTIVITY
Lodge #16 - Midday Melody Men, Puyallup, WA
Held their first Annual Membership Meeting as they marked their one-year anniversary. They welcomed a new member to the lead section, bringing the active membership to 17. Each member received a new performance shirt that was used at their 'after rehearsal' 45-minute Music and Memory performance at a local Memory Care facility.
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LODGE #6 - MIAMIANS PERFORM AT MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONIES
Miami Lodge #6, the Miamians, under the direction of Assistant Director Steve Friendland, performed as part of the Tamarac Florida Holiday ceremony.
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Lodge #12 - North Alabama, 'The Fraternity'
President Ralph Cobb and WBQA President Ken Hatton at the Madison Alabama Veterans Memorial where 'The Fraternity' chorus sang eleven patriotic titles in remembrance of the fallen on a rainy Memorial Day, 2026. Ralph is also a member of American Legion Post 229, who dedicated the Memorial in 2017. We're grateful to all of our veterans!
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From your Membership VP
In late April I received a dire note from the IRS, proclaiming that it had rejected my electronically submitted tax return! There was no explanation, just a demand to refile. Obviously, it was their mistake. I spent hours verifying my form was correct and I confidently resubmitted it. A few days later, I got another rejection notice. This time I called my on-line tax service, explained the problem and, together, we verified that my data was correct!
Of course, the re-submitted form was rejected again! This time after three hours on phone and on-line with my Accounting Assistant and the IRS "Dungeonologist", we resubmitted the same form, with the same data. A few days later, I received a snail-mail notice from the Feds advising that my form had been accepted, with no tax due and no penalty. ("Whew!")
So, why am I bothering you with this tale of visceral terror? Because Barbershoppers often ask me: "Where can I find prospective singers?" I always answer: "Talk to strangers!" (Stay with me here...)
During my taxing torture, I casually asked my helper if her husband liked to sing. (She's a stranger, so I HAD to ask her!). "Yes", she replied, "he's a good singer but he hasn't sung in years...we just moved to this state, and ..."
I enthusiastically gave her a BRIEF synopsis of WBQA. (She wasn't allowed to give me her contact info, but I reminded her that she already had mine.) This morning I got a call from her husband: a future member.
Guys, it just doesn't matter where you are, EVERYBODY either sings or knows a man who does. All you have to do is keep on asking.
Steve Shannon
Membership VP, WBQA
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NEW MEMBERS - MAY
- James Buddy, Madison, AL - N.Alabama Lodge #12
- John Donohue, Jamestown, NY
- Gary Collins, Oil City, PA
- Raymond Byrd, Barboursville, WV - E.Kentucky Lodge #7
- Joseph Derrig, Puyallup, WA - Puyallup Lodge #16
Welcome to our new members!
Be sure to let your Barbershop friends know about us. You might want to forward this email to them so they can see what's happening. And tell them to go to our website at WBQAsings.org and on the bottom of the Home page, click the link to sign up to receive the Newsletter.
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In Memorium
- Charles "Pat" Patrick
June 12, 1937 - April 16, 2026
Founding Member F0013 since March 2018
A lifelong lover of music, Pat was a self-taught musician who played classical guitar and many bras instruments. For over 50 years, he was an active member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, singing and competing with the Commodore Chorus and in Four in the Morning and Acclaim! quartets. He also contributed his expertise as a barbershop stage presence judge for many years.
Pat was one of the founding members of The Society for Preservation and Propagation of Barbershop Quartet Singing in the United States., forerunner of WBQA.
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- Gary Rogness
1943 - May 20, 2026
Charter Member C0230 since August 2018
Gary Rogness, 83, of Rochester, MN, passed away at his home on May 20th. Gary was the bass of Downstate Express, BHS's 2004 International Seniors Quartet and 1982 Land O'Lakes District Champ. His resonate bass voice also added to other quartets such as Sunshine Boys and Legacy
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MAY BOARD MEETING NOTES
- Board members personal email and phone numbers have been removed from the WBQA website and replaced with a contact form. If you would like to contact any Board member, please use the form to write your inquiry and if there is a specific Board member you would like to contact. Otherwise, the Secretary will direct any inquires to the appropriate Board member.
- The Board elected Mike Nichols to fill the vacant position of Marketing and Communication manager.
- The Board has secured the DoubleTree Airport Hotel in San Antonion for the weekend of January 20th to 24th for our 2027 WBQA Convention.
- George Gipp, VP of Lodges, reported that we now have 18 official Lodges, 5 pending Lodges, and 5 more pre-pending Lodges for a total of 28.
- There was discussion into looking at a Podcast of our 2027 Quartet contest.
- Funds were authorized to help defray the cost of our WBQA Champion Quartets to attend and perform at the World Harmony Council show and the Meridith Bay Weekend.
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IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW:
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Member Database - Find other members, find Lodges or find quartets. Link to the database is in the restricted Members page. When signing in, your member number MUST include the preceding letter - Ex M1234. Try it. First time? You will need to click 'Reset Password' after entering your member number. You will be sent a link to the email address on file to reset or create your password. You will receive an email once approved.
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Missed a newsletter? Check the 'Documents' tab' for the latest Society Newsletter, the Quartet Corner Bulletin or the Lodges in Motion Bulletin.
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Please, please, please DO NOT click on the 'Unsubscribe' link below. If you do, you will no longer receive any communication from your Society. We can only send you a 'Resubscribe' link ONCE!
Roger Heer, Secretary WBQA and Newsletter Editor
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© 2026 Worldwide Barbershop Quartet Association (WBQA).
This is the official website of the Society for the Preservation and Propagation of Barbershop Quartet Singing in the United States (SPPBSQSUS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
WBQAsings.org is a registered domain of SPPBSQSUS, Inc.
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