LAND O' LAKES DISTRICT

CHAPTER OPERATIONS TRAINING SEMINAR 2001-2002

        NOVEMBER 10^th & 11^th       

2001-2002

EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN

LOL District Site

Gary Stamm (Dean), CAE, is Director of External Affairs for the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, and Executive Director of Harmony Foundation.

As Director Of External Affairs, Stamm oversees the marketing operation at the Society's headquarters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, including the public relations, publications, and development areas.

As Executive Director of Harmony Foundation, he is responsible for development and charitable activities of the Foundation. Stamm has worked as a writer and director of films and videotapes for several production companies, and for five years was director of the Educational Division of Hanna-Barbera Productions in the Los Angeles area.  He has earned bachelor's and master's degrees in communication from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Stritch University in Milwaukee.  Originally from the Midwest, Stamm joined the Champaign-Urbana, IL chapter of the barbershop harmony society in 1971. His career took him to the West Coast, where he was involved musically and administratively in the Downey, California, chapter. He is currently performance director of the Racine, Wisconsin, Chapter's Dairy Statesmen Chorus, and has sung in numerous quartets, including G. Whillikers.

Stamm is an accomplished performance coach and certified Presentation category judge for barbershop competitions. He is a regular faculty member at Harmony College and Directors College, SPEBSQSA-sponsored schools which provide concentrated study in barbershop craft, vocal techniques and chorus directing. He also serves as a dean of the Society's Chapter Operations Training Seminars (COTS).

Stamm has been master of ceremonies for numerous performances and is an experienced show writer, director and producer. He has also been active in community theater in California and Wisconsin as an actor, director and administrator. He currently lives in Kenosha with his wife, Ruth, and two daughters.

Gene Courts (President) - Cardinal District (Ohio). Baritone of JAD Champs New Harmony Four (1969) and 5 time Int'l. quartet competitor.  Won gold medal with Southern Gateway Chorus in 1992.  Past Chapter President, Past District President (twice), Past Int'l Board Member (twice),  Elected to JADs Hall of Fame and BOTY, chairman of Int'l convention in Cincinnati (1978).  Served on Society Events committee 1991-92, Society Investment Advisory committee 1995-97, Society Endowment committee 1994-97. Taught Program Vice-Presidents at COTS 1973-77.  Teaching presidents since 1994.  Currently serving as Society Board member, representing CARD and JAD, chair of the Society's Planning & Program Development Group and a member of the Board Management Council.  Economics major from University of Cincinnati, 30+ years as Stock & Bond Broker in Cincinnati.  Married to Joyce, 3 sons and 2 step-daughters.   

Russell Mauch (Secretary) - Southwestern District (Texas).  Russ joined the Society and The Vocal Majority in 1988.  He has served as the chapter’s Corresponding Secretary for seven years and helped direct the fundraising campaign that permitted the chorus to perform at the BABS convention in 1995. Russ joined the COTS faculty in 1994 and has taught specialty classes in grant writing, copyright protection, and effective meeting management.  He currently serves as Secretary Coordinator for the COTS program.

Charles Rose (Treasurer) - Dixie District (North Carolina). COTS Faculty 15+ years,  COTS Treasurer Coordinator (two terms).  Society Board member (1995-1999), Dixie District President (1991-1992), Society Finance Committee, Dixie District BOTY.  Commanding General -  Confederate Harmony Brigade,  Commanding General - North Carolina Harmony Brigade. ).  Quartet Lead and Tag Singer.   Charter Member of O. C. Cash Founder's Club.  Certified Public Accountant, Past President of NC Coastal Plain CPAs, and Past President of East Carolina Estate Planning Council.  Breeder of Black Angus Cattle and Horticulturist (everyone needs a hobby).  Born, educated and working in the world's largest peanut, sweet potato, turkey and tobacco markets in the world (North Carolina).  President-elect of the Rocky Mount Rotary Club.

Dan Fullerton (Music and Performance) - Far Western District (California).  Dan has been a member of the Society since 1985, and currently sings with the Santa Fe Springs Chapter Masters of Harmony.  He is a past chapter President and past Vice President of Operations.  He is a past Far Western District Divisional Vice President, Area Counselor and is currently a Certified Chapter Coach.  Dan is also the current VP of Music and Performance for the Masters, a position he's held since 1995.  

Jerry Knickerbocker (Chorus Director) - FSenaca Land District (Pennsylvania), Jerry has been a barbershopper since 1976 having held every chapter office at least once and served as chorus director of 18 years for two chapters.  He was chorus director of the District Chorus Champion in 1981 and lead a chorus to the International Contest stage in 1994 and 1995.  Jerry was chapter Barbershopper of the Year in 1981 and 1985 and was SLD Barbershopper of the Year in 1990.  He teaches at many different schools each year and has served as Harmony College faculty for 10 years, Director's College faculty for 8 years, and COTS faculty for 7 years.  He is a member of the society Chorus Directory Development Committee and currently is Vice-chair for Directory Training.

Tim Hanrahan (Member Services) - Sunshine District (Florida).  Tim has been a barbershopper since 1955 and is presently Chapter Development Vice President for the Greater Canaveral Chapter.  He has served in every chapter officer position, including four terms as Chapter President.  At the District level, his service included multiple terms as Secretary, Services VP and President of the Sunshine District. Tim is past Chairman of the Society's Membership Development and Nominating Committees, is currently a member of the Society Member Services Committee, and a member of the Charitable Mission Task Force.  He also served as International Vice President, International Vice President-Treasurer, and as the Society President in 1996 and 1997.  He is presently the Chairman of Sing! An A Cappella Celebration (a festival which will precede the Society's International Convention in Nashville in 2001).  Tim has been a COTS instructor for one year.

Brian Lynch (Marketing & PR) - Land O’ Lakes District (Wisconsin).  Public Relations Director for the Society.  Lynch teaches public relations, marketing and membership classes at Society schools, including Harmony College and COTS.  Lynch joined the international office staff in 1991, moving to Kenosha from Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he worked as a speechwriter in the state Senate. He has a varied background in radio as a disk jockey, newsman, copywriter and airborne traffic reporter.  Lynch joined the Society in 1989 as a member of the Minnetonka, Minnesota chapter, where he served as assistant chorus director, bulletin editor, script writer, program vice president and music vice president. He currently sings bass in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chapter's Festival City Chorus. His quartet credits include Starlight, The Goodfellas, and The Muckety-Mucks, a quartet comprised of four Harmony Hall staffers.  Lynch and his wife, Laura both, reside in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Alan Lamson (Chapter Support & Leadership Training) - Northeastern District (Connecticut).  Alan has been a Society member since 1980.  He has served the Manchester, CT chapter as President, VP-Music & Performance (9 years), VP-Chapter Development and Member at Large.  Alan has been the annual show production chairman for the past 11 years.  He was selected chapter BOTY twice and Barbershopper of the Decade in 1999.  He was elected to NEWCANEWENG (NED Honor Society).  He was named the 1999 Society COTS Coordinator of the Year (having organized the NED COTS program for two years and served on the committee that rewrote the COTS Coordinator’s Manual.   Alan was selected as the Northeastern District Barbershopper of the Year for 1999.  He has served as an area counselor, is a Certified Chapter Coach, and a COTS faculty member since 1998.  Alan has been the NED District Vice-president-CSLT and currently serves the NED as Executive Vice-president.  When not indulging in his hobby, Alan is a partner in an architectural/land-planning firm that he founded in 1984.

He is married to Janet, has two sons (both of whom are involved in the Manchester chorus), and two grandsons.

Michael Bannish (Young Men in Harmony) - Johnny Appleseed District (Ohio).  Michael is currently a Senior Planner with the City of Columbus, OH and the tenor of “Simply Put” quartet.  He sings with the Heart of Ohio Chorus in Columbus.  He has been a member of the Society for 16 of his 32 years and is an active member of his chapter and district.  He has held all of the chapter’s VP offices at least once and is currently Chapter President.  He has also been chorus director, show chairman, and strategic planner for the chapter.  He has been awarded Barbershopper of the Year by both the Heart of Ohio Chorus and the Mansfield, OH chapter.  He has served as JAD Youth Outreach/Young Men in Harmony Chairman for three years, and is currently JAD’s Five-Year Planning Committee Chairman and a Chapter Coach.  Michael has taught YO/YMIH class at the District’s mini-HEP school, Apples Corps, for three years.

Michael is married to Mary Lynn, and they have a recent addition, William Neil, born August 5, 2000.