LAND O' LAKES DISTRICT

CHAPTER OPERATIONS TRAINING SEMINAR 2003

        JANUARY 11-12, 2003       

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STOUT (NEW SITE)

MENOMONIE, WI

LOL District Site

Jerry Easter (Dean) - Central States District (Iowa).   Founder of Proud Image Chorus.  A member of the Society for 37 years, Jerry has been a member of the COTS faculty since 1976.  In those years, he has taught membership Vice Presidents, Secretaries and District officers, becoming a Dean in 1983.  Jerry has been on faculties serving in all 16 districts.  He sings all four parts (one at a time), and while doing that, served in virtually all chapter offices in two chapters.  International Bulletin Editor of the year (1975).  He is a past Central States District President and International Board Member, and currently is a certified COTS Dean and Society Chapter counselor.  jdeaster@mchsi.com

Don Challman (Presidents) – Land O’Lakes District (Minnesota).  40 year Barbershopper; 27 years with Night Howls comedy quartet; chapter president, district president, Society Board member, Chapter BOTY, District BOTY, District Hall of Fame; Rejoined COTS faculty in 1998; Certified Presentation Judge; 15 consecutive Internatinal Chorus competitions (6 medals) with Hilltop, MN Chapter; 3 International Quartet competitions with Night Howls; USO Far East Hospital Tour with Night Howls; BABS, LAABS; SNOBS judge/guest instructor.  bdchallman@aol.com.

Ted Leinbach (Secretaries) – Dixie District (North Carolina).  Ted sings with the Gold Standard Chorus in Charlotte, NC. He has also been an active quartet member for more than 20 years. Ted joined the COTS faculty in 1989 and served as Secretary for the Dixie District for many years. He has been a Chorus Director for the past 5 years and has held every Chapter office except Treasurer (although Ted is a CPA/Accountant by profession). Ted currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Charlotte Chorus, Bass Section Leader and Vice President of Chapter Development.  tedleinbach@aol.com.

Jim Sams (Treasurers) – Dixie District (Tennessee).  A member of the Society since 1980, Jim sings with the Dixie Cotton Boll Chorus (Memphis).  He has served as Chapter Membership VP, Program VP, Treasurer, Services Chairman and President.  He was District Treasurer for 12 years, Executive VP, Chair-Audit Committee, and is currently the District President.  Jim was selected as chapter BOTY three times and District BOTY in 1994.  Jim has sung in three Division novice champion quartets and currently sings in two quartets.  He is a member of ASHOW.  He is a candidate for Contest Administrator in the C&J program.  Jcsams7@aol.com

Quentin “Q” Gates (Chapter Development) – Evergreen District (Washington).  Quentin has been a COTS Instructor since 1999 and a Society member since 1986.  He sings with the Bellingham, Washington Chapter’s Mt. Baker Toppers Chorus.  He presently serves as a Chapter Counselor, the NW Washington Member Services Coordinator and as his chapter’s VP for Chapter Development.  He served the Central States District as a Chapter counselor, District VP for Member Services, and three terms as President of the Overland Park, Kansas Chapter. He has competed at the District level in two quartets and with his choruses.    qgates@juno.com

Clark Abrahamson (Marketing & PR) – Far Western District (California).  Clark is a 20-year member of the Society with dual memberships in Sacramento, Placerville and Folsom, CA.  He has been chapter president, program VP, marketing VP, show chairman/director, spokesperson/MC, script writer and stage presence coach.  Clark is District Marketing & PR VP and a Chapter counselor.  He currently sings with Carte Blanche quartet and has sung with Evening Edition, Premiere Engagement and Delta Music Society.  Clark has been involved as an executive in professional sales and marketing for more than 25 years.  He has a degree from South Dakota State University in Speech/Communications.  clarka@calweb.com

Clark Abrahamson (Marketing & PR) – Far Western District (California).  Clark is a 20-year member of the Society with dual memberships in Sacramento, Placerville and Folsom, CA.  He has been chapter president, program VP, marketing VP, show chairman/director, spokesperson/MC, script writer and stage presence coach.  Clark is District Marketing & PR VP and a Chapter counselor.  He currently sings with Carte Blanche quartet and has sung with Evening Edition, Premiere Engagement and Delta Music Society.  Clark has been involved as an executive in professional sales and marketing for more than 25 years.  He has a degree from South Dakota State University in Speech/Communications.  clarka@calweb.com

Doran McTaggart (Music and Performance) - Pioneer District (Ontario). Sings with the Windsor, Ontario Chapter.  On COTS faculty since 1973.  Served as Pioneer DP and IBM.  Member of the Pioneer District's Hall of Fame.  Has MC'ed many Chapter Shows, District and International Contests.  Currently Pioneer DVP-CSLT as well as a Chapter counselor.  DoranMcT@aol.com

Lawrence Bean (Chorus Directors) - Northeastern District (Maine).  Larry is currently a Technology Coordinator (since October 1997) and the lead of "The Management" quartet (1994 NED Quartet Champion) and sings with the Portland Downeasters.  He taught public school choral music to grades 7-12 in Kennebunk, Maine for 10 years before swapping his hobby [computers] and occupation [music], and continues to stay involved in music education through guest conducting, workshops, and occasionally filling in for the music teachers in his current school system.  Larry, with all of the members of The Management, received the 1995 MENC/SPEBSQSA Award and NED's 1995 Barbershopper of the Year for their work in youth involvement in singing. LBean@schoolunion47.org

Bob Coant (Young Men in Harmony) – Seneca Land District (New York).  Bob is a 25-year Society member and has been a COTS faculty member for 12 years.  He is a dual member of the Oswego Valley & Rochester, NY chapters, is a two-time chapter B.O.T.Y., Seneca Land District B.O.T.Y., and a member of the Seneca Land District Hall of Fame.  He has held all chapter and district offices including District President 1997-98 and is a member of the Cornerstone Quartet (95 Buckeye Champs/97 SLD Champs/done 300 chapter shows in 29 states and 5 countries).  Bob is also a Candidate Presentation Judge and is the current Society Board Member (M-AD/SLD).  rcoant@twcny.rr.com

Judd Orff (Chapter Support & Leadership Training) - Land O' Lakes District (Minnesota).  A 33-year member of the Society with dual memberships in Hilltop and St. Croix Valley chapters. Sings lead in LOL District Seniors Quartet champion, "Seasoned Sound". 1976 Land O' Lakes District Quartet champion, "Talk of the Town". Has held most chapter offices, Land O'Lakes District President 1989-1991, Society Board Member 1991-1994, B.O.T.Y. St. Croix Valley (twice) Hilltop (2000), Land O' Lakes District (1987), Land O' Lakes Hall of Fame (1997), Certified Presentation Judge, Chapter counselor, and evaluator for the Standing Ovation Program. Owns property management firm, married to wife Angie for 41 years, 3 children and 3 grandchildren. j.orff@greystonemanagement.com

Duane Hutton (Program Vice Presidents) - Land O Lakes District (Winona) - 42 year member; Dual member with Winona and Hilltop Great Northern Union, current Chapter President, past Chapter Program VP, Membership VP, Show Chairman, Bulletin Editor.Past LOL Int'l Board member, LOL District President, Executive VP, District Secretary & Southwest Division VP.  Instructor at Clear Lake Mini-HEP, LaCrosse Mini-HEP, LOL COTS Officer training. Duane currently is the LOL Nominating Committee Chairman.  Quartets: Dad & His Lads 25 yrs, Northland Gold Siver Medalist and Legacy.  Five time International competitor with Great Northern Union, 1 time medalist.

Bruce Odell (Joe Barbershop Class) - 38 year member, past Chapter President, Program VP, Show Chairman, Section Leader and Chorus Director.  Has sung in 4 Quartets: Mistersippis (1964-76), Roadrunners (1976-82), Downstate Express (1982-02) and currently singing with Legacy Quartet.  Won District Novice Quartet Champion in 1965, Won Division Championship in 1982 and District Quartet Champion in 1982. Has sung at International with the Roadrunners and Downstate Express.  Chapter BOTY in 1979, received District Friendship Award in 2001, Faculty at District COTS and Music schools.  Has coached Quartets and choruses in Land O' Lakes, Canada and Europe.

Charles Koerner (Joe Barbershop Class) - 14 year member of Grand Forks Chapter. Music Director for 14 years, Program VP, Music VP Show Chairman, Chapter BOTY in 1990, Chairman of Division Contest and 1997 Flood Relief Chairman.  Past LOL District VP Red Carpet Division, Music & Performance VP, Area Counselor, Chapter Coach & District Nominating Committee.  Faculty member at Fair Hills Mini-HEP, Clear Lake Mini-HEP, NW COTS at Brandon, MB and Land O' Lakes COTS.  Bachelor of Harmony award and LOL District Chapter Counselor of the year 1994. Attended Harmony College 92,98 & 99.

Scott Kvigne (Asst Directors & Section Leaders) - Joined Society at 18 yrs old, past member of LaCrosse Chapter, Music VP, Section Leader, SP/Presentation Coach and Chorus Director. Currently with Great Northern Union, Music VP, Section Leader, Ass't Director, Choreographer/Presentation team, Interim Chorus Director of GNU. Novice Quartet Champion and Division Quartet Champion in 2002.  Attended Harmony College in 1988, 89, 95, taught at numerous Music Team Schools and currently a Judge candidate in the Presentation category.