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Date: 28 March 2000, Issue 04
Chorister NewsletterChanges Hands
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Ron Felsch Retires
Long-time Chorister editor, Ron Felsch retired this past December from a job that he has peformed for twenty-two years! He left as quietly and modestly as he has conducted himself over the years, with a small two inch column at the foot of the December issue of the Chorister - his final issue as editor. In case you didn't read it, here it is once again:
"A FAREWELL (Hmmmmm)
After 22 years of cranking out The Chorister, I'm passsing the keyboard on to the very capable hands of Dan Plunkett of the Ontario District. I've enjoyed those years and my association with so many fine singers, choruses and people dedicated to the advancement of male chorus singing. And, almost without exception, the people in the executive of the AMCA have and are doing their utmost to promote our favorite pastime.
I ask that everyone connected with the AMCA lend their unfailing support to Dan and his new newsletter crew, so that The Chorister, may continue to be an effective tool in broadcasting the news of the AMCA."
For most of his years as editor, Ron turned out nine issues a year, beginning with Vol 1 No 1 which came out in Jan-Feb 1977. Just think of the dedication, hard work and creativity that it took to publish that much material, that often! AMCA paid Ron the handsome sum of $360 per annum for his work most of that time. I expect that that is how he is now able to retire and enjoy his favorite pastimes of golf, singing and travel. (Well, that is stretching our collective imagination too far, isn't it?) Money for Ron as with all of us who perform volunteer functions is of little importance. For him it was the service he felt the newsletter brought to the Association and indeed, on this he was right on the mark.
We tend not to think of our newsletter editor as a historian, but the Chorister stands as the most comprehensive account of our history over the past seventy-five years that we as an Association have as a reference and we need to give thanks to Ron for his contribution to that as well.
In recent years Ron had some difficulty due to outside pressures in getting the newsletter published on time - and certainly one reason was a lack of cooperation in getting news regularly from the districts and choruses. We trust that our newly appointed editor will not be faced with that problem.
Ron wrote me shortly after he decided to retire with the following comment:
"... please don't make it sound as if it's the end of the line ...! I intend to keep my oar in the water as regards communication between not only our 3M Chorus, and the Upper Midwest District, but with the AMCA and with you".
We'll miss the characteristic breezy and humorous writing style that became Ron's trademark. Your efforts on behalf of AMCA were greatly appreciated even if we didn't tell you often enough just how much! Thanks, Ron for a great run!
Introducing our New Editor ......... Dan Plunkett!
At the fall 1999 AMCA business meeting held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dan Plunkett, President of the Ontario District was appointed editor of our newsletter, "The Chorister".
Dan is an avid chorister and active in the arts at many levels both in his community and beyond. After joining the Niagara Men's Chorus in 1991, he became involved at the district level and was elected 1st Vice President of the Associated Male Choruses of Ontario, a position he held for one year before being elected the president of that organization in 1999. He has also served as editor of the Ontario District's newsletter, "Notes".
He is a devoted family man, an active member both in his church and local community. He and his wife, Barbara of twenty-four years have been blessed with two children - Mac, 14 and Sarah, 11. He has two degrees from Queen's University earned in 1979 - a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Religion and History. This interest is evident in both his activities at Grantham United Church and a ten year service of leadership with Scouts Canada.
Dan's day job is as a Retail Food Officer with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and he is also an active member of his union - the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
We wish Dan every success as he takes over as editor of this most vital publication - one that assumes great importance as our Association reaches forward in the year 2000 to explore new and better ways in which to serve and communicate with its membership.
Bill
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