Dear Region 11 Summer Sizzler Attendees, With Sizzler 2 weeks away, I have a learning tool I’d like to share with you for our 2 new songs -- the Do Track! I have made Do Tracks for “Let’s Sing Again” and “Wink and a Smile.” You can download the Do Tracks by visiting the Members Only section of the Region 11 website (sairegion11.org). You will find them in the STAR SONGS section under "A Wink and a Smile" and "Let's Sing Again." What is a “Do Track”? It is the words sung on the tonic ( AKA “the key of the song” or “1st scale step” or “Do” as in do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, Do). The “Do” track is sung in the timing ( both tempo and interpretation) including dynamics (not included on these tracks) of the musical plan. Why should you take the time to use this resource? Step One: While you sing along with me (maybe an Octave higher, but still on do) you are learning: · the lyrics · the timing of the lyrics · the tonal center · dynamics · and any artistic plans intended! Do this daily between now and Sizzler. Whew! What’s left? …. the notes! Step Two, once you are confident with the plan on do: · Practicing singing against do on your part. · Use the do track for maintaining pitch. This is a great way to make sure you are in tune. · Check your intervals against the dough track to make sure all intervals are clean and accurate. Please note, this technique is for technical proficiency only; story and character must be developed into this plan as early as possible! A special note about the interpretative plan for “Let’s Sing Again”: The learning tracks for this song are great for notes and words but they do not match the interp that we will be using at Summer Sizzler. There are numerous rhythmic changes that you will want to familiarize yourself with starting now. The good news is the Do Track for this song incorporates these rhythmic changes. In addition, there is now a version of the sheet music available on the website that is marked up to show these changes. I hope you find this tool helpful as we bring our Regional musical product to the next level! Don’t delay! Go the website at SAIregion11.org, Members Only, STAR SONGS and download the Do tracks for both songs and the annotated sheet music for Let’s Sing Again. Laura Pallas Singer Director, Santa Monica Chorus 2023 Regional Champions

Hello Region 11!! If you were in a competing quartet in the 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s, I’m urgently looking for a photo of your quartet for a special project. If you can scan the photo, a digital copy would be much appreciated since my timeline is quite tight. Send me the details, too - quartet name, photo year and personnel. Let me know if you’re able to email me a photo!! Thanks, Debbie Curtis Sent from Debbie's iPhone

Hello Members of Region 11 and Region 21, We are about to embark on a new era of regional competition. In 2025, Regions 11 and 21 are coming together for the first ever joint regional contest. Why we are doing it and how it will work Everyone probably knows that choruses have been struggling to return to our pre-COVID vigor. Throughout the organization, regions have seen membership drop and thus a substantial amount of revenue that supports our regional competitions also has been severely diminished. So first and foremost, this concept was proposed as a way for two regions to come together and share the expenses of a regional contest, thus reducing the burden on us all. We will share a venue, a judging panel, and a weekend together singing with our neighbors. Although we will all be competing on the same stage on the same day, each chorus will compete only against the other choruses in their respective regions. This also applies to the quartet contest. This is not a merger of Region 11 and Region 21; it is a cooperative endeavor to provide a financial break for all. Competitors from each region will be interspersed throughout the event. Besides the financial advantages, there are other benefits including the opportunity to get to know our fellow Sweet Adelines across the regions and to watch some amazing performances we would otherwise miss! When and Where – Mark your calendars! This event will take place at the Torrance Marriott, Redondo Beach on April 3-6, 2025. Consider this the cutting edge of Sweet Adelines competitions. It is an opportunity to show off our amazing regions to the entire Sweet Adelines organization. All eyes will be on us! Stay tuned for further details! Best regards, Lora Goodpasture, Communications Coordinator Lee Ann Reichow, Communications Coordinator Region 11 Region 21 SAIregion11communications@... communications@...

Hello Citizens of Region 11!... A Summer Sizzler Saturday night Afterglow and Ruby Slipper Update! By now, I am sure your Slippers are well under way; construction teams have been assembled, designs final checked... Once you are registered at our upcoming Summer Sizzler, make your way with Slippers in hand to the Grand Ballroom. Therein a Yellow Brick Road table will be awaiting their display for the weekend! Please deposit slippers next to your sponsoring Chorus Name, and provide the descriptive "TITLE" for your Slipper on the placard provided at the table. At the end of Saturday night’s Winners Circle Show, There's No Place Like Kansas City, the doors will be opened for free admittance to all Region 11 Citizens so they can attend the Afterglow. The Afterglow will begin with the Ruby Slipper Contest, and will be followed by Sing with the Champs! Featuring our Regional 11 Champions, Troubadour, and members of Swingtime, our past Regional Champs! Have those Color Chorus songs, Wink and A Smile, and Let’s Sing Again, ready so you can tag in! All Choruses, please designate a representative that will be called to the stage to present your slipper for the audience's applause. Prizes will be officiated by our Region 11 Champions, Troubadour!! Remember, prizes for the Slipper displaying the most BRAINS, the Slipper displaying the most HEART, and for the Slipper showing the most COURAGE will be awarded! Use your imagination... Thank you, and we look forward to skipping down the Yellow Brick Road together soon!! Winners Circle Show Squad, 2024 Summer Sizzler

Friends, I’m so excited about our coming Summer Sizzler. I had a hopeful goal of getting 200 folks registered for this event. We have exceeded this! We are currently at 209 and we have had a couple more sending emails asking to get in. Laura La Borde has re-opened the registration until tomorrow night at 8pm. That’s Sunday, July 7 at 8pm. Hooray! There’s still time. Thank you all for ur support. This Region is amazing. Here is the link to register: https://www.sairegion11.org/SummerSizzler2024 I look forward to seeing so many of you in a few weeks. Tammy Tammy Ragsdale Education Coordinator, Sequoia Pacifica Region 11 Master Director, Verdugo Hills Chorus Tenor, Eclectic Mix Quartet (805)218-7268

Hello Region 11, If you missed the informative and lively discussion this past Saturday on the topic of raising money and growing membership, you can catch up now! The recording is available in LEARNING RESOURCES on your Members Only database at sairegion11.org. Take note that Summer Sizzler is just a month away! This is going to be a weekend of singing so if you haven't started learning the Color Chorus songs, go now to STAR SONGS in the Members Only database to download the learning tracks and sheet music for "A Wind and a Smile" and "Let's Sing Again." Will this be your first visit to the Members Only section at sairegion11.org? You will need a username and password to log in. Most everyone in the Region (you will know if you are an exception) was assigned credentials as follows: username -- your email address password -- the first three letters of your last name in all caps, followed by your SAI membership number and an exclamation point, like this: DAL12345! If this username and password combo doesn't work for you, please contact me at webmaster@.... Be sure and let me know what email address you want to use and what chorus you are in. Best regards, Lora Goodpasture Communications Coordinator

Many of you will remember Marie McArtor, long-time Sweet Adeline and past regional leader. She quietly passed away at home on June 30th at 9 AM. Her son posted information about the viewing and service to her Facebook page. Kim Alley Team Coordinator, Region 11

Friends, I am writing to share some sad news. Many of you may remember Susan Brink Minsker, Bass of Queen of Harmony Quartet “Four for the Show”. Susan passed away on May 27th while on a Bucketlist trip in Ireland. After nearly a month of paperwork and work with customs the family has finally been able to bring her home. If you would like to send cards or make contact otherwise with her husband John, her son Paul or her Sister Marjorie, their information is listed below. John Minsker 4801 Cheryl Ave. La Crescenta, CA 91214 (818)314-5053 JMinsker@... Paul Brink 25830 North De Quincy Place Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381 Marjorie Gantz 730 E. Fairmount Rd Burbank, CA 91501 (818)307-4435 Tammy Ragsdale Education Coordinator, Sequoia Pacifica Region 11 Master Director, Verdugo Hills Chorus Tenor, Eclectic Mix Quartet (805)218-7268

Hello Regional Heaven! I’m Tammy. I am your Education Coordinator. I had a vision when I took this job during the pandemic. Actually, I didn’t take it during the pandemic. I took it before but we got locked down before my first event. I wanted us to come together as a Region, but more importantly as human beings who love what we do. Covid changed everything! Well, it didn’t change everything. It just changed how we do everything. I still want us to come together as a Region, and as human beings who love what we do. If you’ve been a Sweet Adeline for more than five minutes, you have heard the same information repeatedly. My vision for our Summer Sizzler this year was that we could take all of the information that we have heard repeatedly and put it to use. It is vitally important that we attend this seminar with the understanding that our directors are the keepers of this knowledge. Nearly all of YOUR directors are participating in this weekend. Each of them wish to share with you their pearls of wisdom and the things that they have learned over the years from our “Famous Faculty”. My hopeful goal was to have no less than 200 people at our Summer Sizzler this year. We currently have just over 130. That’s about 65 members per Seminar Chorus. I would love us to experience what it feels like to be part of a large Chorus. If you’re on the fence about coming this weekend, please find a way to make it happen. Regional Heaven really is the best place to be. Together we can show everyone how it’s done. Registration remains open until July 1st. There’s still time to sign up. And as of today you still have six weeks to get a good handle on the two really fun songs we’ll be using for the weekend. I hope to see you there! Tammy Tammy Ragsdale Master Director, Verdugo Hills Chorus Education Coordinator, Sequoia Pacifica Region 11 Tenor, Eclectic Mix Quartet (805)218-7268

Dear Citizens of the Region 11 Lands of OZ, As part of our fabulous upcoming Winners' Circle Show Afterglow, we'd like to invite every chorus to submit an entry into our Ruby Super Slipper Contest! The instructions are simple. Each participating chorus will submit a “ruby shoe” in the spirit of OZ, that reflects your chorus image, personality, attitude, etc. Shoes will be displayed, not intended for wear! All Slippers to be judged will be displayed on the Yellow Brick Road in the Grand Ballroom during the evening festivities. For those of you who were at last year’s show, you may remember the fun and creative majesty our choruses displayed in the Louisville Team Spirit Hat Contest! 🎩👒 Well, this year it’s all about the SHOE! The Ruby Super Slipper Contest will be judged at the Winners' Circle Afterglow. Prizes for the Slipper design displaying the most “Heart”, the most “Brains”, or the most “Courage” will be awarded! Check these out to get in the spirit…below, below, below, below… See you in Oxnard, My Pretties! The Winner Circle Show Squad 2024

Hi Region 11! Here are the links to the songs we're using at Summer Sizzler for the Color Choruses, in case you missed it on the information page: COLOR CHORUS SONGS - JUST SO YOU DON'T MISS THEM Let's Sing Again A Wink and a Smile Barbershop Style Additional song coming soon! Laura La Borde Finance Coordinator Sequoia Pacifica Region 11