Letter from the President

Hello,
 
As the sounds of the 2025 fair fade into memory, and our lives continue to carry us forward, I’d like to take a moment to tell you what the Alumni Board is working on for next year. Before I do, I’d like to thank everyone who made it to Alumni Day 2025. It’s always nice to meet (or reacquaint with) alumni from all years and share stories. We covered over 60 years of history with our alumni this year, but had some years not represented that I’d like to see come back next year.
 
Alumni Day next year is August 1st. I would love to see singers from every year come back and share their experiences with the 2026 choir and each other. The more the fairgrounds change, the more the experience stays the same. On Alumni Day, you will get the chance to see the current choir sing 3-4 times, participate in the Alumni Concert at 6PM, support the Alumni Board’s fundraising efforts though the auction, and then sing with the current choir at the end of their concert that starts at 7PM. Please make plans to join us, and help us make music on the fairgrounds once again.
 
The Alumni Concert will feature musical selections from all 3 directors so that everyone can relive those memories we all cherish. The plan is to finalize next years’ selections in the near future and then work to get audio copies of the music online so that you can rehearse the music that is new to you online. There will also be a rehearsal the night before in person. Currently we are working on potential locations next year that would allow for time before and after rehearsal to catch up with old friends, and make new ones as well. Food will also be looked at, we had our first dinner before rehearsal this year and it seemed to go over well.
 
The Alumni Board is looking for individuals who are willing to make or donate items for our yearly auction. We have a silent auction during registration, and a live auction between the Alumni Concert and the Choir’s Evening Concert. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, with these funds we help the current choir by providing needed items. The board is currently looking at replacing risers and a golf cart, as well as working to increase the activities that we do for alumni during the fair.
 
Above all else, we want to see you. On the fairgrounds, in person, standing next to us. For many of us, the experience changed our lives and set us on a new course in life. I personally would love to meet each and every one of you if it were possible. Your stories and memories warm my heart, they are so similar yet so different from my own at the same time. Your first opportunity to join us is on Thursday, December 4th at the Ohio Statehouse tree lighting. More details are on the Facebook page, check that out and come help bring in the Christmas Season. If you are receiving this, and you are still in contact with others from your year, please forward this to them. We want to expand the number of alumni who receive these newsletters, so send this to them and have them update their information. Notices can be sent to [email protected].
 
Thanks to all of you that came this year, and thanks to those that are making plans to come next year. I can’t wait to sing with you next year.
 
Robb Burris
President

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