Dayton Metro Barbershop Chorus

News

  • Dinner Show Committee

    Sept 2, 2026

    Present: Steve, Kris, Doug, Greg, Matt, Mike, Angela

    Kris: has 60-80 lbs, of pasta (some wheat pasta); spoke with DLM for the cupcakes (300)–$1.75/cupcake. that is $525 with 10% off. Will have a small bit of gluten free pasta. Kris will check out Costco. DLM also makes home made meat balls (may need 19 lbs=$800). Probably go to GFS or Sam’s Club and decide whether to get big meat balls (2) or small (4). Food is non taxable so no need. Just one sauce. Bread sticks—Olive Garden (Middletown) will probably donate and Kris will ask if they can be flash cooked. Salad stuff: Costco and GFS with individual packets. Cheese/croutons already on the table. Adding to thin slices of cake and a small wedge of tomato. The salad stuff won’t be purchased until 48 hrs in advance. Purchasing the food is OK (with help from Patrik and spouse). Pre-cook pasta (day before and refrigerate) and pre-slice the veggies. Add food preparation (Friday evening at 6 p.m.) as a category on the sign up sheet for one person. Dressings: get only Ranch and Italian. Cupcakes: suggesting white frosting with red and blue sprinkles.

    Kristin would like to see a clear plastic plate, clear salad bowl and standard (plastic wear). Doug will purchase plain white table clothes. the old checker cloths will be used on the serving tables.

    Greg asked Carol if she can manage simple table decorations. 22 round 5 ft. tables; 1 3 -foot round table; and about 6 rectangular tables. The church owns some bud vases which they let us use last year. Carol said “yes” and added some observations and questions: Do they have enough vases to cover these tables? When we unload the cars during set up, someone (maybe me or Doug) need to direct people where to set down their boxes). Carol also said that we should ask visiting quartets to eat ahead of the guests, just like the chorus members do.

    Utensils: We need to surface the inventory or reconstruct the list of what we have in storage.

    Drinks: John should purchase coffee (will need to be brewed) cold sweet ice tea, lemonade and water. (Ask chick filet to donate iced tea and lemonade?) Need to secure hot drink cups and sufficient cool drink cups (of which we have some in the cellar)

    Matthew reported that he created a bid sheet for each of the baskets. Including the phone number will help us identify them. they must be present to win. Each bid must be higher than the last, in $5 increments. Purchase with check, cash or credit/venmo. The biggest problems is collecting the stuff and constructing to the basket. Angela has containers Set a date for constructing the baskets.

    There will be 8 baskets, 2 from each section, plus two baskets which will be donated? Inventory on Sept 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Doug’s and assemble baskets on Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m.

    Costumes: First half, blue chorus shirt, black pants; Second half: solid red, white, or blue (flag blue) color shirts or jacket: (no hoodies, no t-shirts) and whatever pants you think looks good with your shirt, keeping in mind the color scheme–but no jeans. Just before Kokomo, chorus puts on leis (and sunglasses). Greg will order leis for the chorus!

    Steve: The mailing is going out to our general list tomorrow.

    Committee recommend using Flag video (rather than actual flags) during the National Anthem. There is some sentiment for putting the National Anthem last!

    The basket winners will be announced at the end of intermission and the raffle winners will be announced just before the final set.

    Next meeting is Sept 17 at 7 p.m. at Doug’s house,

    Respectfully submitted,

    Greg Sammons

  • Thanks to the Xenia Hospitality Chorus!

    They are having a show on Sep 12th, 2026. Click for more information.

  • Thanks to Abiding Christ Church!

  • Thanks to the Dayton Dragons!

    Dayton Dragons logo

    The Dayton Dragons

  • Dinner and a Show Committee

    August 20, 2026

    7:05 p.m.

    Present: Doug Whitehead, Mike Hazlett, Greg Sammons and Steve Betts

    Clean up Committee: Doug will contact Sean to be head of clean Committee. Reminder that this is an all-hands on deck.

    Mailing out fliers: Cathy may coordinate mailing fliers out to our mailing group. Greg will confirm with her. Our mailing deadline is September 1st. The flier will be a trifold of the show information (from Jackie) and Jon needs a deadline for addresses. (Greg)

    Raffle tickets will be $5 each or 5 for $20. If people want to use credit cards for anything, we need to ask Jon and/or Jackie for cell phone credit card readers.

    Preparing Sign up sheets for working groups for show

    Set up: Zumba group at Abiding Christ–show up on Thursday night, Oct. 8

    Videographer (child, friend or spouse of member)

    Decoration/Setting Tables–Crew Head + several

    Tickets at the door: Cathy Quillin plus one volunteer

    Sell Raffle tickets: two volunteers

    Manage/Monitor the Bread: One volunteer

    Monitor Baskets (Matt and Angela)

    Food prep (under Kristin direction) plus four

    Arrange for chafing dishes, bud vases, utensils (Doug)

    Serving food and desserts: Steve Betts plus 5 volunteers

    Serving drinks: John Tatar plus one or two (Greg talk to John)

    Busing Tables: Crew chief and several

    Clean up (Crew Head) plus everyone

    Transporting risers to/ from the venue (Jon G.)

    Greg will prepare a sign up document, run it by Doug and then have Jon post it.

    Show script: Mike distributed a sample script for the committee. He and Greg will work to polish the script and put in cues so that Kelly is involved in announcing raffle ticket sales and the drawing.

    Tech rehearsal on the Monday prior starts at 7 p.m. Keith (at AC) says it’s OK if Rick Reibel comes and does the lights. Doug’s grandson will operate the follower light.

    We need Jon Graetz to outline what is needed in terms of microphones, lighting and slide show: podium lights, quartets, and chorus.

    Next meeting, Wed., Sept 2 at 7 p.m.


    Respectfully submitted

    Greg Sammons

  • Thanks to Main Street Financial!

  • Show Committee

    Attending: Steve Betts, Matt Bryant, Jim Alquist, Cathy Quillen, Doug Whitehead, Angela Okan

    Baskets:

    How many baskets? Total: 8, 2 for each voice section.

    Tenor: Date night, Movie night

    Lead: Game Night, Foodie/Gourmet

    Baritones: Self Care/Wellness

    Bass: Wine lovers, Sports/Tailgate

    Jim’s sister Debbie a complete spa basket. She has offered up to 16 bottles of wine and a blanket. Angela to put the list of baskets for each. Angela will source the baskets.

    Set the deadline for basket items to Aug 31, 2026. Matt is willing to collect the donations and store them.

    Announce before the intermission that last bids are at the end of the intermission. James Free gift certificate for $500 will be raffled.

    Food:

    Costco card so we can buy foodstuffs for the show. That makes Costco, Staples, GFS, and Amazon.

    Will we have gluten-free options? We can get gluten-free pasta and have a batch separate. So, we will try. The meatballs might have gluten in them. So we will keep that in mind.

    Tickets:

    Nothing has happened. No tickets have been sold. Cathy needs her sign-in for Deluxe.

    Sponsors:

    The sponsors:

    • just in time towing
    • Dayton Dragons
    • Thrivent Action Team
    • Main Street Financial
    • Minuteman Press, 957 Congress Park Drive, centerville, oh

    Steve to record them as sponsors on the website so we can include them in the email campaigns.

    Raffle the JAmes Free certificate, maybe 2 for $5, 5 for $10? Something.

    Need people to set up and tear down, including

    • table decorations
    • table placement
    • placemats
    • clean up
    • salads (what to do with parmesan cheese, croutons, etc)

    Mailing list and mailing out flyers. (jon g)

    Next show, 18 August 2026

  • Board Meeting Minutes

    August 3rd, Started 6:02 pm – ending 6:50 pm.

    Members present: JoeToppins, Doug Whitehall, Mike Hazlett, Suzanne Bertke, Matt Bryant, Steve Betts

    Secretary’s Report: Report was recorded on the website. Mike needs rights to edit the post.

    Treasurer’s report: Most of the revenue and expenses are shown related. Under disbursements, we were charged $3.72 for $80 in 2 donations. Also lots of name tags for new people! yay! Updated guest books. Paid quarterly dues to St. Paul and for new shirts.

    Report accepted.

    Marketing: No update

    Membership: We have 9 new members in the last 3 months. Need to add the members to BHS and the roster. We will have a Guest Night on the 19th of October. Add an add to say “Come to guest night” during the show. Special thanks to Matt for all his hard work!

    Matt to report on how the new people heard about the chorus so we can take advantage.

    Dinner and Show: Next meeting is Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 7 pm at Doug’s house (4252 Wagner Hill Dr, Sugarcreek Township, OH 45440, USA). Tickets and donations are working with both the new and old websites. We will need to print more small flyers. Kris is starting to purchase the non-perishables. Getting more adverts. Still have space!

    We now have tax-exempt accounts at Staples, Amazon, GFS, and Costco.

    We need to investigate the price of cupcakes or whether we can get a donation of 200 cupcakes from Ele ($1.50 ea).

    2026 Goals: We have met the membership goal. We have at least 1 performance a month. The one we have not worked very much is getting sponsors. We need to appoint an organized and motivated point person.

    Xenia Corn Roast: Don was thankful that we showed up, but we didn’t do that much. Don also mentioned that it was a joint fundraiser. We agreed to decline any money, but we should exchange ads for the Xenia show. Suzanne to talk with the Xenia folks about getting some advertising. Don said that this may be the last year Xenia can host it. The total number of attendees was (about) 50 people.

    It looks like the Xenia chapter may fold shortly. We should consider whether we can take on the mantle of running the corn roast. We need to bring it up to the members.

    Nominating Committee: Jackie Dour is heading it up and John Lemming will help. They need to start gathering nominees and announcing them.

    Misc: We are going to pay Dave Boos’ dues at BHS again this year.

    Coaches:

    Yes, Dave has some plans for coaching.

    Next meeting on September 7th. If that’s Labor Day, we will push the meeting 1 week.

  • REHEARSAL AUGUST 3RD

    WARM UPS (DAVE)

    KOKOMO

    ROCK AND ROLL MEDLEY

    GOD BLESS AMERICA

    THAT OLD QUARTET OF MINE

    OVER THE RAINBOW

    BREAK

    FROM THE FIRST HELLO

    BRIGHT WAS THE NIGHT

    THAT’S LIFE

    STAR SPANGLED BANNER

    ALEXANDERS RAGTIME BAND

    KTWWS

  • Thanks to Christ Episcopal Church!

    Christ Episcopal Church
     20 W First Street
    Dayton, OH 45402
    (937) 223-2239
    Office Open 9am-1pm M-F

    https://daytonchristepiscopal.com/

  • Dinner Show Meeting

    July 22, 2026--7:00 p.m

    Present: Doug W., Cathy Q., Jim , Angela, , Greg and Doug

    Doug suggests that tonight:

    1) we go over the punch list;

    2) talk avbout shopping for the non-perishable.

    The committee looked over the list and made some suggested amendments. Angela said she would forward gift basic ideas to Greg for distribution. Doug and Angela will consider possible door prizes, including Quartet CDs. Cathy mentioned that Carol (Jim’s sister) will donate a wine basket and a sensory basket.

    Doug will check on whether chafing dishes/sternos are permitted.

    Greg will ask Carol Hazlett if she would provide flowers for the tables again.

    We currently have 23 lbs of pasta. Kristin wants thin spaghetti.

    Suggested crew heads:

    Table/chairs : Zumba class at Abiding

    Decoration (Carol Hazlett ) –Greg will ask

    Set up:

    Serving: John Tatar, crew head (Steve has volunteered to be food server chief)–Greg will ask

    Clean up: Sean (Doug will ask)

    We are under the assumption that Kristin will purchase food and supplies. We have tax exempt accounts at Amazon, Staples, and GFS. Doug will clarify with Kristin about how much of purchasing she is taking responsibility for.

    Cathy Q came volunteered to coordinate the fliers. Someone else—Jon?–will do the emails.

    Doug demonstrated how the public can buy tickets on-line

    Next meeting: Wednesday Aug. 5 at Doug’s house

    Respectfully submitted,

    Greg Sammons, Board Secretary, Dinner-show co-chair

  • Thanks to James Free!

  • Dinner/Show meeting

    July 9, 2026–7 p.m.

    Present: Doug W., Greg S., and Angela and Steve

    1. We spent a long time refining the punch list for the show and began to assign people to take responsibility. The punch list is available on the website Punch List for 2026 Dinner Show. Steve edited the show punch list. Our purpose is to revisit this list frequently, make adjustments and keep ourselves on track.
    2. Doug announced that, once again, Thrivent Action Team made a $250 donation for show expenses.
    3. Angela is scouting for baskets on-line and at Goodwill and a heat gun.
    4. Next meeting: Wed., July 22 at 7 p.m. at Doug’s house

    Respectfully submitted,

    Gregory Sammons

  • Harmonic Convergence

    Harmonic Convergence Quartet is made up of Brett, Zac, Andrew, and Jason. The four of them first met while singing with the Southern Gateway Chorus and quickly became close friends there. They first sang together at a Chorus Novice Quartet night, and liked their sound so much they decided to make it official and sing together as Harmonic Convergence. They have sung together for a little over a year now, and have most recently placed 9th at the Johnny Appleseed District Spring 2026 Convention. Now please sit back and enjoy!

  • Punch List for 2026 Dinner Show

    Items to be completed

    1. Fill Placemat with ads (Steve B.)
    2. Arrange ads for placemat and print placemats (Steve B.)
    3. Ticket layout approved.
    4. Print tickets (done).
    5. Posters/fliers printed (done)
    6. Upload digital ads to website as they become available;
    7. Organize slide show. (Steve and Mike H.)
    8. Acquire bios and photos for guest quartets (Dave B.) Chorus, Directors and chapter quartets (Mike H.)
    9. Upload all the above to the website (Steve B.)
    10. Sponsor list for sign board (Doug—to Jackie for printing)
    11. Sponsor list for website (Doug to Steve for posting)
    12. Sponsor list for slide show (Doug to Mike H.)
    13. Collect photos of recent chorus activities for website and slide show. (Patrik L. to Mike H.)
    14. Obtain commitment from individuals from Abiding Christ to provide Sound, lights, spotlight, slide show, and other video displays on screens , and video recording of show. (Doug)
    15. Purchase USB drives for storing the show recording and the slide show, etc. (Steve–will lend two 1 TB)
    16. Coordinate soda + pop mini concession with church youth group. (Doug)
    17. Coordinate with Boy Scouts to use alternate meeting space for our tech rehearsal on Oct. 5.  (Doug)
    18. Distribute posters and fliers (chorus members)
    19. Ticket manager (Cathy Q)
    20. Sell physical tickets (chorus members)
    21. Stuff envelopes with will-call tickets (Cathy Q)
    22. Manage the will-call desk at the show
    23. Set up online ticket sales (Steve and Jon G.)
    24. Acquire a door prize to encourage people to fill out ticket stubs.
    25. List of basket themes (done)
    26. List of items/ideas for the baskets (Section leaders)
    27. Solicit basket donations ( all chorus sections)
    28. Assemble the baskets (Angela and Matt)
    29. Managing baskets and bids: (Angela and Matt)
    30. Form work committees for dinner: 
      1. Set up: Zumba group at Abiding Christ
      2. Decoration: Carol H?
      3. food prep
      4. Arrange for chafing dishes, bud vases, utensils (Doug)
      5. serving (food, drinks, desserts)–(John Tatar/Steve volunteering for food)
      6. clean up (appoint crew head)
      7. Transporting risers to/ from the venue (Jon G.)
    31. Request certificate of insurance (COI) (Doug)
    32. Mail out fliers to our mailing list (Cathy Q will coordinate)
    33. Mail fliers to our email list. (Jon G)
    34. Complete show script:  (Mike H. with Greg editing. Theme:  American tapestry)
    35. Purchase and/or acquire all food (Kristin)
    36. Acquire or purchase supplies (Kristin)
    37. Define what signage we need for outdoors/indoors (Steve)
    38. Print signs (Steve)
    39. Arrange for credit card payment at show
    40. Guest Quartet Host (Dave Boos)

    ,

  • DMBC Board Meeting, 7/6/26

    7 p.m.

    Present: Mike Hazlett (President); Doug Whitehead (Treasurer; Greg Sammons (Secretary); Steve Betts, Joe , Suzanne Bertke

    Secretary’s Report: June minutes accepted as amended. Published on new website and clipped a

    Treasurer’s Report: There was some ad income to report this month and a dividend of .36. On the disbursement: a partial payment to a member for dues enrollment, paid the D and O insurance. The report as accepted as filed!

    Mike requested reports from Membership (Matt); marketing (Patrik) and music (Jackie) and did not receive and responses. Ir was suggested that we contact these people through text or in person.

    Dinner/Show Report: Jackie has had printed the fliers, posters and tickets. Greg will make fliers/posters available tonight and Doug will ask Cathy if she can manage ticket sales. Steve will set up on-line ticket sales for the show unless Jon already has this set up. Steve will consult with John.

    Discussion on ads sold to date: Steve said we still have 9 blanks for the placemat. We need to push sale of advertising.

    Goals: We have exceeded our goal for adding new members; we need to find a person who will track and organize all our sponsorship donations so that we know who has given.

    Float: Steve mentioned that he thought the float sides were new this year, yet it says Dayton Metro Barbershop Chorus, with singdayton.org. When we’re ready, we can redo the sign with the new website.

    Do we need to have a midyear appointment for an at-large member to replace . We also need a nominating committee for the year to come, which should be appointed in September.

    Some members are asking us to add some barbershop tags to Monday rehearsal and to choose some more recent barbershop style music. The directors asked for musical preferences and we aren’t sure if these preferences were received. A general discussion ensued about song choices some of which seem misogenistic , inappropriate and/or were written when the culture was different.

    Any other new business? New

    Next meeting, Aug. 3 Steve will take notes because Greg will be absent. \

    Respectfully submitted,

    Greg Sammons

    Board Secretary, DMBC

  • Emeritus

    Emeritus is a gathering of friends that has taken decades to come together.  Mike Bell, our bass singer, and our Lead, Scott Brannon, have been friends for over 40 years and are having fun back in a quartet.  Mike is a retired computer guy and is enjoying the traveling life with his wife, Barb.  

    Tenor Gary Ellerhorst sang with Mike in Rumors and had a Top Ten finish in the BHS International contest. Gary is the CEO of Crown Plastics and is a global traveler supporting the company.  He and his wife, Robin, enjoy their very large family.  Last told there are 25 grandkids and a couple great grandkids!  

    Baritone Kent VanderKolk has been a frequent performer in the Dayton area, either as a singer or as the Emcee.  Kent lives in Fairborn with his wife, Gail, and is enjoying the relaxing life of retirement.  Kent and Mike teamed up to win the BHS Seniors Gold Medal in 2020, singing with Hearsay.  

    Many “experienced” readers may remember Scott singing Lead with the Top Five quartet “Cincinnati Kids” and with “Our Town” from the northeast.  Scott is a schoolteacher in New York and is constantly on the road, driving to quartet rehearsals and performances.

    Emeritus won the 2025 Johnny Appleseed District Senior Quartet contest and has finished in the top ten at both the Barbershop Harmony Society and the World Barbershop Quartet Association International competitions.

    Emeritus is based out of Cincinnati, Ohio, with Scott based just north of New York City.

  • Thanks to Howell Chiropractic!

  • Thanks to Rob Fortman of Edward Jones!

  • Thanks to Schurman’s Barber Service!