Here's what's new in the life and times of the Bloomington Good Times Chorus.

Recent Newsletters Jan 2011 | Dec 2009 | Jun 2009 | May 2009 | Apr 2009 | Mar 2009 | Jan 2009 | Nov 24 2008

Comedy Quartet Night!	May 08 2012
The Good Times Chorus is hosting its annual Comedy Quartet contest on May 8th, at the Bloomington Eagles Club, starting at 7:30 PM. Come for an entertaining evening of music and laughter!

Singing Valentines	Jan 24 2012
It's almost Valentine's Day again, which means that barbershoppers around the area (and elsewhere) are getting ready to deliver Singing Valentines! For a small price, we'll deliver two love songs (sung in four-part harmony), a candy rose, and a personalized card to your sweetheart! More information Order online or call 651-342-7464. Tell your friends!

Annual Show is a huge success	Nov 09 2011
The 2011 Annual Show was, in a word, amazing! Featured acts included The Benson Family Singers, The Minhua Chorus, Random Sample, The Wizards Of Ahhs, and (of course) The Good Times Chorus. Check back soon for pictures. Updated Dec 16 2011

GTC on front page of the Bloomington Sun Current	Apr 29 2011
The Good Times Chorus was featured on the front page of the April 20 edition of the Bloomington Sun Current. Read the article at MNSUN's web site.

Singing Valentines	Jan 25 2011
It's almost Valentine's Day again, which means that barbershoppers around the area (and elsewhere) are getting ready to deliver Singing Valentines! For a small price, we'll deliver two love songs (sung in four-part harmony), a candy rose, and a personalized card to your sweetheart! More information Order online or call 651-342-7464. Tell your friends!

2010 BOTY winner(s) - Random Sample

Dec 17 2010

Congratulations to 2010 BOTY winners, Random Sample! These are not just men of the year, they have played major roles in the success of the Bloomington chapter since 1969 and before. In 1969 they were called the Halfnotes and Len Ingersoll sang tenor along with Chuck Oberg on baritone before Jack Beaver took over the baritone. Of course there was also the Milltown Express with Harlan, John Berg as lead and Alan Gray as baritone. When Jerry Larson rejoined the group they had Warren Wildes as baritone and then the inimitable Doug Lofdahl as baritone, while Dan Dahl sang tenor. Currently Darrell Egertson sings the baritone. That makes two leads, three tenors and five plus baritones. Jim Hedding, bass seems to be the only constant. You can add Doug Larsen and Duane Breid as fillin baritones also. They are truly a resilient group and a credit to our chapter. They've never missed a chapter show during my 41 years. Listing all of the chapter offices and events they have organized would fill a book. Jerry has collected enough man of note awards to start his own chapter. Jim has organized enough events to keep everyone happy, and Harlan almost became our permanent treasurer. Ask any of them to help with a chapter function and it will happen. Yes, we owe Random Sample a major THANK YOU!

Singing Valentines and COTS

Dec 17 2010

Five weeks prior to Valentines Day, GNU has announced they are proceeding with their own "initiative." No indications of the contents of their Valentine program were forthcoming. Participation in the TCSV effort has been requested repeatedly via the GNU president, Tom Semple. He has also been on our committee mailing list and was a previous chairman of the TCSV program. Our TCSV program is already financially and collectively committed for 2011 by the Bloomington, St Paul, Minneapolis and Lake Country chapters. What should our response be to a terse statement from GNU Dev VP, Marty Monson? I'm at a loss for an adequate expression. GNU has been unwilling to fully support and participate in the area's TCSV effort for the last several years, yet feels justified to initiate a competing effort and alienate four other area barbershop chapters. Your individual support for the TCSV program in 2011 is therefore vital. Get the Singing Valentine message to your friends and associates. Together we can make it work. It was heartening to see nine representatives from the Good Times Chorus at the LOL Leadership Academy (COTS) in River Falls, WI this weekend. Be prepared for some new approaches to improving your chorus experience in the coming weeks. You shouldn't have to ask what you can to do to help; I'm sure you may be asked to try some fresh ideas and develop more good singing habits. Let's make every rehearsal better than the last. Wayne Rasmussen

The Prez's Perspective

Dec 17 2010

Gentlemen: I am honored to be your (or should I say ewer) duly elected Chapter President. I’ve been sentenced to a term of one to five years with parole available only over the combined dead bodies of the entire chapter. I am not: A trained musician A person with remarkable musical talent An experienced barbershop singer An experienced BHS member Sometimes I speak as though I have some of these qualities. When you hear that remember you are walking through a farmyard. Watch your step. What I bring to my new position is a passion for music in general and in particular the barbershop style. Singing brightens my life and when done well can brighten the lives of others. My goal is to sing better and be a part of an ever improving chorus. I am looking forward to a great year in which I am going to experience a flawless performance of Show Me Where The Good Times Are by the Good Times Chorus. I believe in us! The Prez

The most profane four-letter word a performer could ever use

Dec 17 2010

When I was a child, using profanity was a punishable offense in our household, but there was one four-letter word that my father told us was the worst of them all and that was the word, "CAN'T!" I guess that's why I chose to have an "I can" attitude about things I've done in my life. When I was a toddler, my family made a visit to the community swimming pool. As I watched all the kids having a great time in the water, something gave me the idea that I could swim too, so I jumped right in. As I was sinking down under the water, my father reached in and scooped me out… of course my parents enrolled me soon afterwards in the Red Cross swimming lesson program and I learned to swim like a fish. That innate drive to achieve must be what draws me to this quote by an anonymous author, "Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it. Plan more than you can do, then do it!" I have learned over the years that there are so many opportunities I would have missed, if I had stopped too long to think about whether or not I would be able to succeed. For some reason, call it spontaneity or call it recklessness, I "jump right in" and begin before fear sets in! Wayne Gretzky once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." In other words, if you say, "I can't," it's 100% certain, you won't! "What, Pat," you might ask, "are you trying to say?" My answer to you is that I would like everyone in the Good Times Chorus to take all the shots that are put before you in 2011, if at all possible. I'm talking about shots in respect to musical training, membership growth, and chorus leadership and involvement. I believe that you will be surprised at how many "bull's-eyes" you will hit and even if you don't hit the bull's-eye directly, I guarantee you will amaze yourself at how much fun you will have and how much confidence you will build as you take those shots!! In my estimation, the best way to grow chorus membership is excellence in performance (at rehearsals and in public performance) and showing that we have loads of fun at all times!! This is contagious, no matter what songs we're singing or where we're singing them! I'm looking forward to a great year full of harmony, fellowship and Good Times!!! Pat Rygg Good Times Chorus Director