Issue 5 February 2013 With another year over, why not May GEM Connection will be exactly take a minute to replenish your 15 years old and we are all excited energy and peruse the first 2013 GEM Connection newsletter, overflowing with seasonal stories about your favourite barbershop that we will be performing at the Post Mill Centre in South Normanton on Saturday 11th May from 7pm to showcase just how far we have come in our years together. The Gold Med- chorus. Read on to find out more al winning BABS’ champions of 2012 and reminisce about 2012! - the Grand Central Chorus will also be joining us on our show along with another couple of special guests – de- GEM Connection is 15! tails to follow shortly. As our last two shows sold out in record time make GEM Connection is looking forward sure you get the date in your diary to its 15th birthday year as LABBS’ and book as soon as possible. Tickets Bronze Medal winning chorus and cost £10 and can be bought by calling hope that you will join us sometime in either Burnie on 0115 9459031 or 2013 and celebrate with us. On 9th Jenny on 01773 604167. 1 www.gemconnection.org 2|Page Issue 5 February 2013 make the cost as affordable as possible to encourage the whole chorus to be able to participate. There will be all manner of fundraising activities organised which are sure to be great fun so please support us and get involved in 2013. TUSCANY TRIP FOR 2014 Exams Success For Flin As 2012 Bronze medallists GEM Connection was invited to compete at the European Championships in Holland in March 2013. This is a huge honour and achievement as only 3 of the top choruses are chosen. You may remember that GEM Connection was invited to compete at this convention 4 years’ ago when it was last held and we came a very creditable 8th place. It was a wonderful weekend but we decided that we would prefer to go somewhere different if were to have another foreign trip. Heads were scratched and quotes were found for By Lisa Dengate Since August 2010 our very own PRO, Flin, has been hard at work getting to grips with the delights of Chartered Accountancy by working for a large accountancy firm and studying intensively to learn the subject. Her last set of exams were taken in November and she heard that she passed in December (but kept it very quiet and didn’t tell anyone at GEM). It is my great pleasure to shout very loudly CONGRATULATIONS! various European destinations and at the AGM last December it was almost unanimously decided that our next foreign adventure should be to Tuscany, Italy. This will mean we can take our brand of a capella singing and performing to a completely new area and possibly even get a suntan while we’re at it! GEM Connection will therefore be fundraising like mad for the next 14 months to make sure that we www.gemconnection.org Flin celebrating with an ice cream http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/gemconnection/ 3|Page Issue 5 February 2013 event took place at Shardlow Village Hall GEM’s Charity Concert where there was a well contested handbag th On 30 November GEM’s Charity Concert auction, handmade gifts on sale and more! took place at the Long Eaton Silver Prize The total raised during the evening was over Band Club, at 7:30pm with guest £500! appearances from Diamond Cut and Yesteryear. Before the show event started Barbershopper of the Year! (BOTY) there had been drama as all the tickets sold Congratulations out two weeks before the performance! By go to our new re-arranging the seating plan for the hall BOTY; Ruth we managed to increase the number of Allen. She has tickets so that no-one was disappointed. The worked tirelessly charities sponsored were Treetops Hospice all year (and for and Harrington School (which has been our the two prior rehearsal venue since we started). The years as well!) as concert was a massive success and GEM were delighted to have raised £1,300 to split between the charities. One anonymous Ruth hard at work auctioning handbags head of fundraising for GEM Connection, raising over £4,000 during her time! concert-goer was in a spectacularly generous mood and quietly, without any fuss, increased the Treetops donation to a round £1,000. This person wanted no accolades but all the ladies of GEM would like to thank them for this kindness. Below is the complete list of the BOTYs during the years – congratulations to you all! 2005 Jean Hopkinson 2006 Maralyn Wilkinson 2007 Burnie Dawes Christmas Ladies Night by Ruth Allen On November 12th, 7:00pm, for the mere pittance of £2.50, ladies had the chance to be present at an amazing Christmas event, 2008 Heather Lane 2009 Iola Davies 2010 Lisa Dengate 2011 Rachael Murphy 2012 Ruth Allen hosted by GEM Connection. This prestigious www.gemconnection.org http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/gemconnection/ 4|Page Issue 5 February 2013 passionate eyes / devastated eyes / Diary of a Convention Virgin conversational eyes… aged 40 ¼ By Jude Baddiley Oh and most importantly the breathing - Monday 1st October 2012 Well, October is finally here - only 26 days until it happens. So I’m sitting in the bath having a rare quiet moment as only those with children can understand. After blowing dust off those dodgy bottles at the back of the bathroom cabinet I reach for the exfoliating body scrub. If my bingo wings are going to be on show, they need some serious attention. Shame it’s not vanishing cream. I’d been meaning to start toning exercises since before the summer hols but it never quite seemed important enough to miss “Holby” and go to Aqua Fit instead. I suppose I should be drinking mineral water to aid the detox… but a cuppa and bag of BBQ hula hoops will do. not just simply the in-and-out thing that we do every day. Oh no… that’s got to be different too… Tighten your abs. Push out that air. Accelerate. Make sure you’ve got all of it out. Release. Don’t get giddy and start all over again… but not at the end of phrases - when you need to and at the agreed breath points... Think I need a lie down… Thursday 4th October 2012 How is it that I can manage to fluff one move each time I sing Hot Time? Of course it’s never the same one twice tonight. I have been listening to the music during lunch at work, but if I start strutting around the office, I may be taken off to the medical room for a lie down or even worse taken to Wednesday 3rd October 2012 Escaped the ironing tonight and spent 2 hours in Ilkeston Hospital. No drama - just front row rehearsal. Worked on the moves, definitely need to work on my face. Maybe I can get a quick nip and tuck around the eyes while I’m here then I won’t be able to see the Headteacher (yes I work in a school but they don’t let me loose with the kids strictly office only!) Good job there’s beer and chips afterwards. I need to soothe my weary soul in preparation for my first competition at Biddulph on Saturday. frown when I concentrate! I think my head is going to burst with all this stuff I have to remember; the moves, the vowels, smiley eyes / sad eyes / excited eyes / www.gemconnection.org http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/gemconnection/ 5|Page Issue 5 February 2013 Saturday 6th October 2012 move and smile. And we even win – here’s a I think I may have OCD tendencies. photo with the cup to prove it!  Dress – check  Shoes – check  Make up – check  Sparkly bling - check. (Must be the third time at least) I haven’t fed the kids breakfast, emptied the dishwasher, put a load of washing on or tidied anything up from last night, slovenly mare! For once I’m not in Mum mode - just getting myself ready. Who is this new person? Dad is in charge today so they will be getting bacon butties at the deli after they’ve dropped me off at West Park. The guilt is vanishing along with their vitamin intake for the day… Well after the bus driver took the scenic route, but we’re finally at Biddulph and ready for action. We look stunning in purple, I have been given so much encouragement (and make up!) today, I think I can do this. Yes I am nervous - mouth dry- but I am … and if you want to find out what hap- coping ok. Then we get on stage… and my pened next – read the second instalment of lip, yes my lip starts twitching. I’m sure the ‘Diary of a Convention Virgin aged 40 ¼’ WHOLE room can see my Elvis impression. To make matters worse during the break between Hot Time and the ballad, the other side joins in. I feel like I’ve grown a trout pout. But I manage to remember to breathe, sing, www.gemconnection.org http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/gemconnection/ 6|Page Issue 5 February 2013 GEM’s daft pets New GEMs in the making Flin’s cat, Caecilius, the royal emperor, Congratulations go to Charlotte (tenor) for surveying his empire. continuing on her GEM journey. Welcome to all our new and prospective members. Also, we would like to wish a warm welcome to the new members of the Executive Committee; Janet Micklewright and Maggie Hobday. Fond farewells Unfortunately Jane (tenor) has left the chorus. In 7th Heaven will miss her enormously. We wish her all the best in the future and remember to keep on shining like the GEM you are! Captions (and new entrants) welcomed. Honorary Members Update Rita’s dog ‘Benjamin Balthazar Wombembi of Borrowash.’ Congratulations to the newest honorary members this year– Jan Jones and Gwen Williams. They have joined Trish Hanson and Audrey Murphy as GEM Connection’s lifetime members for their outstanding commitment and work while they were in the chorus. Thank you, ladies, and come and see us often. “Trainee sniffer dog, sniffing for coke” Chris W www.gemconnection.org http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/gemconnection/ 7|Page Issue 5 February 2013 2013 Dates for the diary Budding journalists unite! 15-17 Long Eaton All Media Arts If you would like to write about anything for February Club, NG10 4GL 23 April Markfield – details soon! 11 May ‘13 GEM’s 15th Birthday, Post the next newsletter, suggest something for the content, or comment on any articles included, please email Flin (details below) Mill Centre, South Normanton Easy fundraising Come and meet us Members of GEM go to the Navigation pub, Breaston on the first Thursday of every month to have a bit of a sing and entertain some of the pub’s patrons. Come along to have a free barbershop taster! Of course you could always come and watch us rehearse at Harrington School, Long Eaton from 7.30pm every Thursday. Who knows? Maybe you are a GEM and would like to join? Would you like to help GEM raise funds but can’t get to the events? It's simple - visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/g emconnection/ to register and shop with over 2000 well known shops like Amazon, Argos, M&S, eBay and many more. Whenever you buy something, the retailer makes a donation to GEM Connection Ladies Barbershop Harmony Chorus. It won't cost you a penny extra to shop through easyfundraising and you can even save money with special offers and voucher codes. www.gemconnection.org http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/gemconnection/