In the grand tradition of Illinois politics, the Coles County Barbershop Chorus welcomed its new slate of chapter officers Saturday, January 28th with an “Installation by Jury”. The event, held at Yoder’s Kitchen in Arthur, Illinois, was attended by about 2/3 of the chorus and a number of spouses and significant others.
The 2012 officers of the Coles County Chorus. Front row: Ron Hawkins (VP Membership), Tom Woodall (Co-Director and Youth Outreach Director), Dave Clausing (Secretary), James Tidwell (President), Jeff Bowyer (Chorus Manager). Back row: Tim Woodall (Co-Director), Eric Butler (Board Member at Large), Bob Jones (Program Vice-President), Roger Smith (Treasurer), Jim Roll (Immediate Past President), Derek Gilbert (Publicity/Webmaster). Board Member at Large Steve Blucker is not pictured.
Derek Gilbert served as “counsel for the defense” and read the list of charges facing the new officers: James Tidwell, boss (President) of the Coles County Gang; Bob Jones, the enforcer (Program Vice-President); the consigliere (Chorus Manager) Jeff Bowyer; Ron Hawkins, recruiter (Membership VP); Tom Woodall, the pusher (Youth Outreach Director and Co-Director); the underboss, Dave Clausing (Secretary); Tim Woodall, the capo (Co-Director); henchmen Eric Butler and Steve Blucker (Board Members at Large); the gang’s bagman, Roger Smith (Treasurer); Jim Roll, the godfather (Immediate Past President); and Derek Gilbert, the gang’s mouthpiece (Publicity/Webmaster).
The men were charged with planning to take over the Coles County Barbershop Family in 2012 and make it an even greater chapter than it already is, singing with such proficiency that it will be in high demand by its fellow citizens–and feared by other harmony gangs across the state.
The jury present returned a unanimous verdict of guilty, and the chapter officers were sentenced to one year at hard labor of love.
Chapter quartets Coles County Connection, Keyless, and RingTime performed, and Roger Smith was named the 2011 Coles County Chorus Barbershopper of the Year.
After the dinner, the chorus retired to the home of Jeff and Marsha Bowyer for additional refreshments and a chance to sing in their in-home Tag Chamber, which comes equipped with a Lunch Break Quartet Memorial Squirrel.
See the pictures from the event by clicking here.
