[HANASHIR:9783] Choir Social Outing

[Fifth Avenue <jbielan...>]

I just want to express my gratitude to those who participated in a
string of comments awhile back regarding suggestions of events to
increase commeraderie among choir members.

I acted on one of those suggestions, and yesterday we had our first
annual Valley Outreach Synagogue Choir Family Picnic/Preparation For
High Holidays.

What a wonderful, utterly rewarding experience!  I got to know some
people whose names I could barely remember (middle age forgetfulness
strikes again). I also got to learn more about those with whom I've been
working for years.  Boy, was I surprised!  As I wrote privately to one
of our list's members today, I learned so much about people I thought I
already knew.

After lunch, someone brought in some video he had taken from a recent
service.  Everyone was absolutely enthralled to see how the choir
appears to the congregation.  Then in order
to facillitate more interaction, I decided to group everyone together
and go around the room, asking each person to introduce him/herself and
their family members who were there with them.  I requested that they
tell where they lived and a little something about themselves which
maybe the rest of us might not know.

One of the baritones in the back used to be the principal for an entire
public school district.
An alto whose name I rarely remember just got back from an assignment
for the aerospace industry in Russia. (By the way, her name is Sandy...
I won't forget again).  One soprano is a counselor for battered women
and children, and someone else is a corporate attorney.  And many are
teachers of all levels.. elementary, middle school, etc. Some are
therapists (after all, this is L.A...), some are office administrators.

The discussion grew from there, and I was blessed to hear many of these
fine volunteers express what singing in this choir has meant to them.
In several cases, I had to hold back tears.

Thank you very much to all who suggested such activities. I learned that
all of us who lead such ensembles may have another complete family of
which we know far less than we thought.  I can't say enough about
encouraging all of you to promote similar events.  The potential rewards
are unlimited.

Jack Bielan