Month: February 2023

Hello M-AD Members!

As we solidly head into the “Midwinter” timeframe, I’m looking forward to Spring and along with it our Spring conventions! I am excited to confirm full details on registration, housing, and venues are available on the M-AD website (links below). I’ve also called out a few specific updates as we continue to update our events to be more sustainable and even more enjoyable.

Central/Southern Division (York, PA)
Northern Division (Nazareth, PA)

Ticket Information:

• The registration cost for our Spring conventions have been increased based on the realities of our financial situation and to ensure we can continue to provide the convention experience. Ticket pricing is now as follows:
  • Early Bird – All Events: $47
  • Online Regular – All Events: $57
  • At the Door – All Events: $60
  • At the Door – Single Event: $35
  • Youth (under 18): Free (available at the door only)
• Convention tickets can only be purchased online through the M-AD website or at the door. Direct links are also here:
  • Central/Southern
  • Northern
• Everyone competing must have an all-events ticket (not a single-event ticket).
• The last day for Early Bird ticket sales will be 3/4 (Central/Southern) and 3/25 (Northern). The last day for Online ticket sales will be  3/18 (Central/Southern) and 4/8 (Northern).

• All tickets will be General Admission with no specific assigned seating within the theaters.
• Tickets will be picked up at Will Call in front of the theater. We will have the list of pre-purchased tickets by purchaser name – you can also show your receipt either on your phone or with a printout.

Housing Information:

• Available housing options are available on the M-AD website with the first option listed as the designated “Headquarters.” We are looking to hold some additional programs at the hotel, however, all official contest sessions will take place at the school venues.
• Deadlines are coming up quickly for the housing blocks so please book soon. The faster our rooms book up, the easier it will be to increase our block or secure additional housing options.
  • Please Note: Our room blocks for the Central/Southern hotel locations have booked faster than anticipated. Please book ASAP and we will work in parallel to increase the block size and add additional hotel options as needed.

Other Items: 

• We will be continuing our “Song of the Convention” – In the Glow: a song written and arranged especially for M-AD to sing all weekend with other attendees. Sheet music and learning materials are here. Learn it as we will be singing it as part of the weekend’s activities!
• We are seeking to foster tag singing opportunities, if you are interested in serving as a designated “Tag Master/Coordinator” at either or both Spring events, please reach out to me directly.
• Program Ads are available once again, please see further details here and reach out to confirm placement.

I hope to see you all soon at the Spring events! I’m always open to feedback – if you have any suggestions or would like to support the events team, please reach out to me at braden.lynk@gmail.com.

In harmony,

Braden Lynk

VP Events

Everything you need to know about Prelim and Division convention registration, ticket sales, and accommodations may be found at http://midatlanticdistrict.com/?Code=ConvInfo

As we look forward to our upcoming Spring conventions, MAD leadership and our advisors revisited our safety protocols, deciding to drop all vaccination mandates. The updated protocols are as follows:

Updated COVID Protocols:

• The MAD will not require attendees to be vaccinated.
• Masking is optional, and the MAD recommends that individuals follow their local county guidelines based on CDC recommendation (CDC COVID by County).
• All members should respect the wishes of others as to their own desire to mask or not to mask. This is consistent with (and required by) BHS Code of Ethics precept #5: “We shall exhibit a spirit of good fellowship toward all members and strive to resolve any conflicts with civility and respect.”
• Quartets participating in evaluations should be expected to be in close quarters with the judging community. If either entity (quartet or judge) requests that you mask, please respect that request.
• In deciding to attend the event, each attendee must understand the risks of contracting COVID-19, and should make that decision based on their understanding of their own risk factors and risk tolerance, in light of the protocols described above.
• If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, or were in close contact with someone who has tested positive in the week leading up to the event, please DO NOT attend the event, out of consideration for your fellow barbershoppers and our audience. For more information, here is a link to CDC guidelines for testing and avoidance: CDC COVID Prevention.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming Spring conventions.

Thanks,
Steve Kirsch
Mid-Atlantic District President

This past week, I was privileged to visit a chapter to install their Board of Directors. The night included a novice quartet contest, the announcement of their Barbershopper of the Year, some snacks, and quite a few tags. It was so much fun and very healing.

My wife came home from a performance where they had the opportunity to visit with and sing for a former charter member of their chapter who recently celebrated her 103rd birthday. After they sang she told them, “Just know that you did a good thing today.”

Having fun. Singing tags. Making an impact on people with our music. These are all my answers to “Why do I barbershop?”

We all know that the last several years have been difficult for so many of us – members and chapters alike – for a variety of reasons. We’ve lost friends, family, and singers on the risers. For some, we’ve lost the reason we barbershop … we’ve lost the Why.

Why did you join? Why do you sing? Why do you barbershop? Answers to these questions are at the core of what we as barbershoppers do, and we all need to know what inspires us, what motivates us, what is our Why.

In 2023, you have several opportunities to explore or remember your Why, whether it is at our upcoming Spring conventions, Harmony College East, attending a Chapter show, or actively participating in a Chapter rehearsal or performance. See you soon!

Steve Kirsch, M-AD President