7 Heaven flies the GEM flag Cliff College GEM

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Issue 3 July 2012
Will Summer ever grace us with it’s
presence? Well, while you wait or
enjoy the haphazard sun, please
enjoy the third GEM newsletter,
your favourite barbershop chorus.
Read on to find out more and
GEMs descending upon Cliff College, the
Saturday morning began with a lot of
talking and singing and Sally and Rachel
working hard together to get the best out of
us. There were a lot of laughs, a few tears,
remember, you are still a ten!
smart comments and realisations about how
amazing we all are as individuals and as a
7th Heaven flies the GEM flag
chorus.
by Lisa Dengate
Everyone worked incredibly hard and
Eight of us went to cheer 7th Heaven on 23
June 2012 at the quartet Prelims in Sutton
Coldfield and we were extremely proud of
them. Jane, Chris, Chris and Karen gave an
excellent performance and were poised and
professional throughout. Some ladies
behind us in the audience did a double take
when they heard us say that it was their first
real public performance! Getting 61.1% in
your first quartet competition is a fantastic
achievement not to mention being awarded
the second placing in the novice quartet
www.gemconnection.org
barbershop retreat kicked off. With all the
for!
updates and shiny stories about
WELL DONE LADIES.
On 21 and 22 July a long awaited
staff working had no idea what they were in
filled with hot gossip, flowery
category.
Cliff College GEM invasion
deserved a well-earned tea break with cakes
made by Jude – our lovable new bari.
Back to singing and blasting our way
through ‘Hot Time in the Old Town,’
working on the choreography and taking
responsibility for ourselves.
We ended the day with a comparison
between GEM at convention and the White
Rosettes, with a view to identify what we do
well and what they do well that we don’t do.
Then we come to the OSCARS; Every
moment perfectly planned by Lisa, a great
time was had by all and congrats to all the
OSCAR winners- hope you display them
proudly!
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Issue 3 July 2012
With the festivities of the day I hope
everyone slept well and was well prepared
for the Sunday!
We began again with a little chat about life,
the universe and everything and during the
day learnt about the importance of
Last Autumn I volunteered to update and redesign our website, starting before
Convention to play around with a few ideas.
I thought, from past experience when I
ownership, breathing – muscular and
skeletal, movement in ballads, performing to
each other and trusting in ourselves and one
another.
made one for work, that this would
hopefully take two or three months. Little
did I know how much I needed to teach
myself on this venture or how long it would
Now the only thing holding us back is
take!
ourselves and once we get past that, the
GEM members had expressed a need for a
sky’s the limit!
private members’ area where we could
I don’t think I’m the only one who
thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and learnt
a million things, not only about singing but
about myself and the chorus. Thank you so
much to everyone who made it such a
share minutes, practice details, photographs,
teach tracks etc. This was something I had
not done before, but eventually I got to grips
with what was needed. The site needed a
complete re-design to accommodate all of
fantastic weekend.
this, and after a few designs were discussed
For more inspirational hints and tips, look
up Struan Robertson on YouTube.
Website wonder by Karen Searson
with the website development team, we
came up with one we liked. I then created
the whole site from scratch as there were no
suitable templates available on the market to
buy in, and boy did it take a long time. Six
months later it is finally live and in use updating takes place at least once a week if
information for members is sent out, or if we
have new photographs or information to
share in the public or members’ area.
New items and areas are still being added
and developed, so keep coming back to see
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Issue 3 July 2012
what’s new. Each time anything is updated,
the date will also be updated on the home
Derby Arts Music Festival
page. I hope you enjoy using the site and
On Saturday 28 April at Derby Cathedral
that you visit it frequently to see what has
GEM Connection performed in the
been added.
Barbershop and Concert classes, coming
second in the Concert class to Dale Diva and
first in the Barbershop class with the highest
Who is the GEM who…


mark of 90 obtained for the barbershop
Has a ridge in their front teeth
classes. It was a great day overall and we
because she was dropped on her
congratulate Dale Diva for coming first in
head off a see-saw when she was
the Concert class.
two?
The music team are delighted with the
Did Modern Ballroom and Latin
standard we achieved in ‘Hot Time’ with it
American Dancing to Gold medal
being a VERY new song and only a few
standard?
weeks of learning it. Well done to everyone!
Your task for this quarter is to find out who
these are! Email me your guesses and I will
announce the winner(s) in the next
newsletter!
Race for Life 2012
Janet’s daughter Claire ran the 10k race for
life on 21 July in Clumber Park in a little
over an hour. If anyone would like to donate
to this worthy cause, please see Janet for
monetary donations or go online and donate
yourself! Please go to:
www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/rose12
Derby Arts Barbershop Class 2012
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Issue 3 July 2012
GEM says thanks
Well Dressed Teddy by Ruth Allen
Thanks to the Long Eaton Silver Prize Band
Club for offer of the use of their premises.
Thanks also go to Ruth Allen for organising
fund raising events and Karen Searson for
reinventing the website, now released!
Iola, Maggie, Burnie, Paula, Alan (Paula's
husband) and myself, all had a great time at
the Aston Well Dressings where we held a
TEDDY BEAR TOMBOLA to raise funds for
chorus.
Please see the address below.
Thanks also go to everyone involved in the
organisation of the successful retreat, Sally
for ‘being a ten’ and inspiring us to be tens
ourselves and Lisa for organising such a
fantastic OSCARs evening for us.
We set up our stall around 10:00am with
over 200 teddies and welcomed a constant
stream of people all wanting to pay their £1
and win a teddy. The stall was a huge
success and I am pleased to say we raised
£211 in profit.
Room for entertainment?
Many thanks to everyone who donated their
Do you have an event coming up where you
unwanted cuddly toys, and please keep them
need a bit of space to boogie on down, or
coming for future events.
perhaps to entertain the little ones for a
birthday?
Talking of which the FESTIVE CHRISTMAS
WELL, it just so happens that the Long Eaton
LADIES NIGHT (sorry to mention Christmas
Silver Prize Band Club has a venue ripe for
in July) is booked for 12th November at
the picking. You can become a member of
Shardlow Village Hall and anything
the club for £5 and get all kinds of benefits
Christmassy that you no longer need will be
including bingo, dominoes, darts AND free
gratefully received, more info and detail will
use of the function room!
be in the next newsletter.
For more information please go to:
Lots of love to all you sparkly GEMS
http://www.silverprizebandclub.org.uk/
Editor’s note: What a great success! Thanks
to all who helped on the day.
www.gemconnection.org
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Issue 3 July 2012
Burnie hits 21! Again…
Ode to the Pitchpipers by Jenny
Smedley
On the 12 July, Burnie came to chorus, as
spritely as ever, meeting up with Jan Jones
(made an honorary member) who came
We sing with Gem Connection and we’ve got a job to do,
We have to play the pitch pipe to start the songs for you.
As Rachael turns around to us, we give you all the pitch,
back for a visit and Audrey Murphy (our
And we really hope that everything goes without a hitch.
lovely chorus director’s mum).
We remember all the key notes and pray we get them right,
A lovely Ode from Jenny (who was also
But we want to say we’re sorry when we give you a fright.
celebrating her birthday that day) was well
received by the audience and everyone
enjoyed the cake and songs from earlier
th
st
days. Congratulations on Burnie’s 70 21
again…
Sometimes we may differ at the start of a song,
So once again we say we’re sorry if we get it wrong.
Is she going to stop us, can we put the pitch away?
We get our pocket ready just in case there’s no delay,
But as Rachael brings us all in, she decides to stop the show,
There’s no wonder that the pitch pipe battery’s always
running low.
There goes the bride…
As we get past the first line, we think we’re doing well,
On the 2 June one of our very own, Heather,
tied the knot with her equally wonderful
partner, Diane, and GEM were privileged
enough to be able to sing at their wedding at
Rachael looks quite happy, that look we all can tell.
The pitch is in our pocket, we’re half way through the song,
Was that basses or Bari’s who just got the last bit wrong?
“Come now” says Lisa, I want you all to see,
That is the bit where we‘re supposed to change the key”
Forever Green in Ransom Woods. It was a
So out comes the pitch pipe and we do it all once more,
wonderful evening full of fun and frolicks
The next time it happens we’re heading out the bloomin’
and a photo booth; Congrats to the happy
couple!
door.
Just before we end our note we’d like to say to you,
Please give a thought to all of us no matter what we do.
With all the songs we know now, the pitch notes, there’s
loads of them,
But we are proud to be your Pitch Pipers who start your
songs in GEM.
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Issue 3 July 2012
Three Little Pigs went out to dinner.
Jokers Corner
The waiter comes and takes their drinks.
"I would like a Sprite," said the first piggy.
I halve a spelling checker,
"I would like a Coke," said the second piggy.
It came with my pea see.
"I want water, lots and lots of water," said the
It plainly marks four my revue
third little piggy.
Mistakes I dew knot sea.
The drinks are brought out and the waiter
Eye strike a key and type a word
takes their orders for dinner.
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
"I want a nice big steak," said the first piggy.
It shows me strait aweigh.
"I would like salad," said the second piggy.
"I want water, lots and lots of water," said the
As soon as a mist ache is maid
third little piggy.
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the era rite
The meals were brought out and a while lat-
Its rarely ever wrong.
er the waiter approached the table & asked if
the piggies would like any dessert.
I've scent this massage threw it,
And I'm shore your pleased too no
"I want a banana split," said the first piggy.
Its letter prefect in every weigh;
"I want a tiramisu," said the second piggy.
My checker tolled me sew.
"I want water, lots and lots of water," ex-
Little Johnny had finished his summer vacation and gone back to school. Two days later
his teacher phoned his mother to tell her
that he was misbehaving. "Wait a minute,"
she said. "I had Johnny with me for three
months and I never called you once when he
misbehaved."
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claimed the third little piggy.
"Pardon me for asking," said the waiter to the
third little piggy, "but why have you only
ordered water all evening?"
The third piggy says,
"Well, somebody has to go 'Wee, wee, wee,
all the way home!"
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Issue 3 July 2012
Derby Beer Festival
Fond farewells
On the 11 July GEM were asked to sing at
the Derby Beer Festival, providing some
entertainment for the ale-friendly crowds.
The first half began at nine, opening with
Unfortunately Ingrid (Bass) and Janet Burt
(Bass) left during the year. We wish them
well in the future and may they keep on
shining like the GEMs they are!
Bad Romance and ending with raucous
applause and an encore of Lazy Day. For the
second half, we began to hoots and cheers
and ended with an encore of Bad Romance.
Congratulations go to Emma and Jude for
their first sing out – long may it continue!
Match the Quotes
GEM 2012 Dates for the diary
6 Oct
Biddulph Music Festival
16 Oct
Open Rehearsal,
Harrington School
26 - 28 Oct
LABBS Convention
12 Nov
Festive Christmas Ladies
Night, Shardlow Village
‘There’s lots of other things to do in the
Hall
bath!’
‘Pimp my pitch’
Obstreperous
Email me with your guesses and the winners
will get a mention in the next newsletter!
GEM Show, LESPB Club
13 April ‘13
Ripley and District
Twinning Association
27 April ‘13
Derby Arts Festival
11 May ‘13
GEM’s 15th Birthday
show Post Mill Centre,
New GEMs in the making
South Normanton
Congratulations go to Emma (lead) for
passing her auditions and starting on her
GEM journey. Welcome to all our new and
prospective members.
30 Nov
Come and meet us
Members of GEM go to the Navigation pub,
Breaston on the first Thursday of every
month to have a bit of a sing and entertain
some of the pub’s patrons. Come along to
have a free barbershop taster!
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Issue 3 July 2012
GEM shines
Easy fundraising
7th Heaven has been together for a few
It's very simple - just visit
months and has done amazingly well in the
http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/g
LABBS quartet prelims, coming second in the
emconnection/ to register and shop with
novice quartets and qualifying for
over 2000 well known shops like Amazon,
Convention as well!. We wish them all the
Argos, M&S, eBay and many more. Whenev-
luck for Convention in October.
er you buy something, the retailer makes a
donation to GEM Connection Ladies Barbershop Harmony Chorus. It won't cost you a
penny extra to shop through easyfundraising and you can even save money with special offers and voucher codes.
Budding journalists unite!
If you would like to write about anything for
the next newsletter, suggest something for
the content, or comment on any articles included, please email Flin (details below).
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