Dear All,

Today, there's not a great deal to relate, but please keep all your communication channels open as there should be some uplifting news shortly!

In the meantime, please be reassured that the Committee is doing its utmost to work out a safe and secure way for us to return to singing, taking into account the recommendations by appropriate bodies for a choral group of our size.

Our 'Covid Canary', Maggie, has researched at length and put together many documents from the relevant authorities and with this wealth of information, we will create a Vocally Wild Safety Plan for 2021.

BAYSIDE COUNCIL GRANT
Russel submitted an application to Bayside Council for a Re-activation Grant and we are happy to advise that $2,000 has been awarded to us for assistance with re-activation costs.  This will be of great help and we thank Bayside City Council for their generosity and continued interest in Vocally Wild Choir.

Russel was interviewed recently by a reporter from the ‘Bayside News’, so this will be something to watch out for!

SEARCH FOR MUSIC DIRECTOR
An advertisement is currently appearing on the ANCA (Australian National Choral Association) website and a copy has been placed on the Radio 3MBS noticeboard, as we continue our search for a new Music Director.

"A PLACE IN THE CHOIR"
We have now acquired the sheet music for Celtic Thunder's 'A Place in the Choir', which is certain to become our 'signature anthem' for the future.  Once again, thank you to John Smith for his recommendation and enthusiam.  The sheet music will be forwarded as a separate email.  You will be able to access the video on U-tube www..youtube.com - so enjoy familiarising yourself with this delightful song and we can hit the ground running when we resume singing again.

Talking of songs, if any of you have any particular favourites from Vocally Wild's past, please make your list and send it in - we really want to hit the right note and start off singing what we love.

REPORT ON CAROL SINGING AT BLACK ROCK SPORTS CLUB  (Lidia)
Last year, the Black Rock sports club asked me if I could organise a group of singers to sing some Christmas carols at their annual end of year get together.  I was given a week to organise it, so I was very grateful to the dozen or so people who agreed to sing that night.

It was all very impromptu, but I believe very successful. Jenny Ellison came as well and got the party swinging!  She was such an asset and we were all happy she could join us. The audience was so enthusiastic that we sang more than we had planned.

Thank you Black Rock Sports club.  I’m sure we would be happy to perform again for them.

Thanks you Lidia.  It was a fabulous night - just what we needed and the crowd was huge!  

ROTARY IN HARMONY
I'm not sure how many of you tuned in to the 'Rotary in Harmony' Zoom last November, but it was excellent, well produced with plenty of talented performers, including some thoughtful, melodic and beautiful songs from Damien Leith.  For your interest, there was a 'spinning wheel' competition and our Jan Gooding won a prize!  

FOR A BIT OF FUN
Some thoughts about Covid from Shar Hughes (written by her friend’s brother):

Medical experts in Melbourne were asked if it was time to ease the COVID lockdown.

Allergists were in favour of scratching it, but Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but Neurologists thought the government had a lot of nerve.
Obstetricians felt certain everyone was labouring under a misconception, while -
Ophthalmologists considered the idea short-sighted.
Many Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while -
Paediatricians said, "Oh, grow up!"
Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while -
Radiologists could see right through it.
Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and -
Pharmacists claimed it would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Plastic Surgeons opined that this proposal would "put a whole new face on the matter."
Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but -
Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.
Anaesthetists thought the whole idea was gas, and those lofty -
Cardiologists didn’t have the heart to say no.
Oncologists said this was spreading too fast and had to be better managed.
Orthopaedic Surgeons said to cut out all this silliness and just accept what they say as Gospel.
Psychologists want to say 'there is 'no point in hiding behind a mask' or  -
As Podiatrists would say 'cut to the quick and get on with it'.
In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the arseholes in politics.

Cheerio for now, but watch out for more news soon!
Best regards,
Pat 
25th January, 2021.