Hello my friends,?I was thinking... and I wanted to just share my thoughts and encourage all of us! ?

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It certainly is time to be putting into action plans and marketing for your Holiday Chorus! ?This program for years continues to be one of the best possible Membership Drives and a great way to get your name out into your community! ? With so many singers all around that long for a place to make harmony and belong... especially during this dreadful time of isolation - ?I wanted to encourage all of us to dig in and give as much as we can in the way of time and energy as we FOCUS on growing our choruses ~ and in turn our Mighty Sequoia Pacifica Region 11!?

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I would luv to hear your plans for what makes your Holiday Chorus Program unique! ?I know we all have much to share with one another and when we link arms together to help one another, we can all reach our goals. ?This is why we are in Regions ~ to help one another.

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I'll share that AHH! is hosting our Holiday Chorus again this year! ?One new twist this year is including a local women's group and we have scheduled a performance at their holiday meeting!! ? I have seen Carpe Diem is hosting a Holiday Chorus as well - I am just SURE there are MANY of us that already have plans in the works!! ?and if you haven't jumped to make plans yet? ?There's still time! ?Simple or elaborate ~ just Don't miss out on this once-a-year golden Membership growth opportunity. ?

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We all need to focus on Growing our choruses - this is being acted on Worldwide! ?Most choruses have suffered major losses in singers over the past 3 long years ~ our beloved region has dropped to around 400 singers. :-( ?This just breaks my heart and also makes me wonder if we will not be combined with another region if we don't grow our numbers back (and BEYOND!). ? Our RMT has been working tirelessly to manage and protect our financial picture as we believe these 2 areas weigh heavily on the choice to Combine regions; ?Finances & Membership Numbers. ? I for one, do NOT want to see us loose our very special, very unique, Region. ?There are so many advantages, and some challenges... but it's our PEOPLE that make us so unique. ?

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So I urge you, don't pass up this Holiday Season as a prosperous time to do some recruiting!! ?Holiday Music arranged in 4-part BBShop is something that is SO beautiful and just goes deep into the bones... you know it! ?We must find a way to TELL EVERYONE!! ?Don't just be "the best kept secret"... ?share!! ?and even as we emerge, there are so many Singers seeking... help them find you! ??

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I'll start by throwing out this crazy idea we are trying out!? ?Remember: You must step outside your comfort zone!!! ?That's where all the GROWTH is!?

It's not always easy to start a conversation about your chorus with people you don't know... ?so how can we do more of that? ? Years ago, G Hayden, the Membership Guru told us to fold up some printed music and leave it hanging out of our purses for all to see... ?the MUSICAL will see it! ? (BAMM)

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I pledged to wear one of our Chorus Retreat Tees or a Singing Tee at least once a week - usually on Rehearsal Day! ?This often gets a look or three - but it doesn't always "start a conversation"... so we are testing some t-shirts and tote bags that will hopefully open up some convos!! ?It's CRAZY! ?and really OUT THERE!... BUT! ?if it starts a conversation with a handful of people - it will have been worth it! ?Then all I have to do is share my Passion!

How's this one for kinda OUT THERE??

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Where were they? ?They should/could have been singing!!! ?With us! ?They are missing out on all the FUN! ?:-) ? ? ? ? ? (FOMO = Fear Of Missing Out)

I'm guessing I may hear some sarcastic... ?"I dunno - uh, where were YOU?"? from around me -- but if they open that door just a crack, you can bet I'm ready to walk right thru it! ?With our Brochures/flyers in my purse ready to go! ?AND I'm excited and will make sure my vibrations are high and my passion for what we do shines like a beacon! ?

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Every One ~ Bring ONE!? ?If you're 20 - you could be 40! ?If you're 30 - you could be 60!? <---- ?that's all we need to get the ball rolling! Let's get some MOMENTUM! ?

Newton's first law of motion teaches us that “An object at rest stays at rest and?an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.”

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Of course, I wouldn't be much of a Director if I didn't remind us all (myself included!) that Musical Excellence is one of our first and most appealing Growth Tools! ?;-) ? because my friends, we can't sell garbage or snake oil... they'll see right thru that! ?Over the 44 years I've been making harmony, our HQ has run numerous studies and they always come to the same conclusion; We come for the Music, but we stay for the friendships. ?I say we work to cover both of those bases!, but we need the best possible MUSIC to get their attention!! - so Sing Well! and show your PASSION!! ?There's nothing quite that magical and Magnetic!!

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My friends... lets focus everything we've got on building our choruses and our amazing Sequoia Pacifica Region 11... time to circle the wagons and help one another to GROW and to be as HEALTHY and HAPPY as we can while we Harmonize our little corner of The World!! ? :-)?

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Please do share if you're planning a Holiday Outreach so we can all cheer you on!!! ?If you're having a *Live* Show... we want to know about it and let's support one another! ?

ChannelAire and Golden Sands are celebrating BIG Anniversaries... ?CONGRATS to them both! ? Let's make an effort to attend and support them and one another, and have the best year ever!

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In Harmony, Always,

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Monica

Proud Member, Sequoia Pacific Region 11