Download VALENGRAMS

GOLDEN VOICE
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
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President: Roe Darnell
Volume XVII
Edition CXCI
February 2017
Editor: Miles Sutter
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VALENGRAMS
To quote Tom Hanks from the movie “Forrest Gump”, “Life is like a
box of chocolates---you never know what you’re gonna get”.
Delivering ‘Valengrams’ is a perfect example of that.You might get tears of joy,
tears of sorrow; laughter or just smiles.
As of Monday night, February 13th, we had thirty Valengram requests.
Our most successful years were ’07, ’06, and ’02 with 161, 138, and 137
respectively. I’m sure the constant change in our economy has everything to do
with that.
There aren’t enough words to express our thanks to the members who give of
their time to perform each and every year!
We had great coverage in the Modesto Bee, thanks to GRADY.
Thanks to the following people for sharing some of their experiences. For those of
us who don’t participate on this day it’s always a pleasure to read about some of
the encounters and reactions during your visits. To be able to share our hobby with
so many people is truly a blessing. Valengrams is really the highlight of our year!
Our quartet had the opportunity to sing at Grace Davis High School in
Modesto. We were there to sing to the student body at lunch time. This was to
encourage the start of a male Barbershop program on campus. While there we
sang for the office staff. About 18 people came to hear us in the
office. The performance is posted on Facebook. We impressed the office staff.
Marc Jantzen
Just thought I would share what happened yesterday to help me know how much the Lord
watches over and extends such beautiful tender mercies to me. It was a tender day for me
but I am so grateful for my family and for music in my life.
This
incident happened in Woodbridge Virginia.
Sonya Clark
Hi, Family!
I talked to Mom (and Tricia) this morning, but I wanted to share with everyone else as well. As I
parked at our local grocery store this morning, I was thinking about Valentine's Day and how
much Dad enjoyed singing Valengrams with the quartet. So... I sat in the car a bit longer, pulled
up his YouTube video on my phone, and began watching it. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice
four men get out of their cars--each wearing red vests, red bowties, and jackets. I knew exactly
what they were planning! Quickly I got out of my car, introduced myself, and asked if they were
going to sing to someone--which they were! I then explained to them how MY Dad did the same
thing... and that I had just been "watching" him! One gentleman, looking to the others, said "Let's
sing to her!" Right there in the parking lot, they sang, "Let Me Call You Sweetheart"--the exact
song that I was just listening to Dad sing! Even though I was a little weepy as I went into the
grocery store, they made my day!! I wanted to film them, but accidently pushed the wrong
button.
Anyway… below is the link to Dad singing "Let Me Call You Sweetheart." I’m glad I can fall asleep
to him singing even now.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fhCrD_MLT-M
Love you all,
Debbie (or Mom)
A wonderful story. Someone (and we all know who), was watching over her that
day. That incident had to be more than a coincidence.
WHY YOU SAY IT!
THE ORIGIN OF THE PHRASES WE USE
Taking A Rain Check: A term used when declining an invitation on one occasion,
but keeping it open for another day. The phrase began during the 19th century
when American baseball clubs noticed dwindling crowd levels during the winter
months. It became obvious that fair-weather fans were not interested in games
played on cold or wet days, especially if there was any chance of bad weather
stopping play. That was until one bright marketing spark came up with the idea of
promising a ‘rain check’ (or rain ticket) to any fan who wanted to leave, up to a
certain point during the match, because of bad weather. The ‘rain check’ became
a safety net for fans as it would entitle them to attend a game on another day if
the one they paid for was washed out, ensuring their entry fee had not been
wasted. The best part for the club was that they not only kept the money, but also
guaranteed the fan would return again another day and they retained his goodwill
for the future. The practice spread and it later became common for American
baseball fans to ‘take a rain check’ halfway through dull and boring games,
whatever the weather.
Win Hands Down: To win hands down suggests a very comfortable victory. This is
a widely used expression in the world of sport and its root can be found in the sport
of kings, horse racing. Even today, when a jockey is winning comfortably he can
gallop down the finishing straight without using his whip to encourage the nag
along. Instead he can place both hands back on the reins, canter to the line and
‘win with his hands down’.
A Square Meal: Used to describe a good, solid dinner. It is a nautical phrase dating
back centuries. Old battleships had notoriously poor living conditions and the
sailor’s diet was equally bad. Breakfast and lunch would rarely be better than bread
and water but the last meal of each day would at least include meat and and have
some substance. Any significant meal eaten on board a ship would be served on
large square wooden trays which sailors carried back to their posts. The trays were
square in design to enable them to be stored away both easily and securely, hence
the phrase ‘a square meal’.
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT WELL-KNOWN
STUFF
NAMES FOR ANIMAL COLLECTIVES
BUZZARDS: Wake
CAMELS: Caravan, Flock, Train
CATS: Clowder, Cluster, Glaring, Pounce
CATTLE; Drove
CHEETAHS: Coalition
• Beef Jerky got its name from charki , the Inca word forv “dried Llama meat.”
• The avocado is indigenous to Central America and, because of its shape,
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
derives its name from the Aztec word ahuacati --- meaning “testicle”.
The grapefruit was not named for how it tastes, but for the way it grows --in bunches.
Unlike most fresh fruits, grapes will not float in Jell-O.
Cochineal and carminic acid, popular colorants used to impart a deep red
shade to fruit juices, gelatins, ice creams and candies, are made from ground
beetles.
In 1905, eleven-year-old Frank Epperson mixed up some popular fruitflavored soda powder and inadvertently left the glass outside overnight.
When he awoke the next morning, he found the stirring stick frozen upright
in his drink, and proudly showed his friends this unique “soda on a stick.”
Eighteen years later, Epperson patented the Popsicle.
There are 216 noodles in a can of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup.
By the time a kid graduates from high school, he will have eaten 1,500 peanut
butter sandwiches.
The color of the plastic tab used to close a loaf of bread indicates the day it
was delivered fresh to the store. While the colors can vary regionally,
traditionally they run alphabetically, which means blue was delivered on
Monday, green on Tuesday, orange on Wednesday, red on Thursday, white
on Friday and yellow on Saturday.
LAUGHTER! Nature’s Remedy
According to St. Titleist
9. If you are going to throw a club, it is important to throw it ahead
of you, down the fairway, so you don't have to waste energy going
back to pick it up.
--Tommy Bolt
10. Man blames fate for all other accidents, but feels personally
responsible when he makes a hole-in-one.
--Bishop Sheen
11. I don't say my golf game is bad, but if I grew tomatoes they'd
come up sliced.
--Arnold Palmer
12. My handicap? Woods and irons.
--Chris Codiroli
13. The ardent golfer would play Mount Everest if somebody would
put a flag stick on top.
--Pete Dye
14. I'm hitting the woods just great; but having a terrible time
getting out of them!
--Buddy Hackett
15. The only time my prayers are never answered is playing golf.
--Billy Graham
THE NAMES FOR LITTLE THINGS YOU NEVER NOTICE
FEBRUARY CHAPTER CELEBRATIONS !
HAPPY BIRTHDAY !
2/07
2/09
2/19
2/23
Ronald “Buz” Smith
Gerald Miller
Dave Wallace
Bill Cale
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY !
2/11 Dale and Linda Williams
2/26 Pete and Ann Snook
I find that, from moment to moment, the greatest remedy for anger is delay.
Isn’t it ironic how we sometimes use cosmetics to create that “natural look”?
The annual Hound Dog show at the coliseum was a howling success.
I try to remember. No matter how old I get, I am younger than I will be.
HARD WORK CAN WEAR US OUT, BUT NOTHING FOSTERS
FATIGUE MORE THAN BOREDOM.
CALENDAR OF COMING
COMING EVENTS
THE LOOK OF ANTICIPATION!
Mark Your Calendars!!
Mar. 9-12 - FWD Northeast/Northwest Convention
April 13th - National Anthem Opening Night for Modesto Nuts
May 6th - Ice Cream Social (Saturday)
July 2-8 - BHS International Convention
Sept. 8-10 - FWD Youth Harmony Camp
Sept. 16 - GVC Youth Picnic
Sept. 23 - GVC Youth A Cappella Workshop
Oct. 19-22 - FWD Fall Convention
Nov. 9 - GVC Annual Show