Page 13 - Fall 2021 Tags and Swipes

Tags and Swipes, Fall 2021

Farmington Valley Chorus (continued)

We seem to have figured out a way to get people to stay
in the chorus. At our last indoor rehearsal longevity
pins were distributed. Cheryl’s Angels (Sue, Chrissie,
Taylor, Laura and Nancy, pictured right) are in the 15
year and under group this year. Cheryl, Laura, Melissa
and Deb are in the 20 and over club this year. One
person missing from that photo bears
mentioning; Kristen Ebner-Martin joined Farmington
Valley with her mother and aunt already on the risers
when she was 15 years old. This year Kris will have
been in Farmington Valley for 40 years. Wow!
Congrats Kris. Looks like she’s in for life.

We got a chance to sing out for Friends and Family one night.
The Simsbury Meadows Music Festival people let us in to use
their outdoor bandshell one evening for a rehearsal. Friends and
family got to sit out in their lawn chairs and experience a
rehearsal, which of course turned into more of a performance
without the costumes and make up. It was a blast! At that
“performance” our ever reliable, ever stalwart, “never give up
even when technology throws you a curveball” Zoom maven,
Laura Towles (pictured, left), was awarded the FVC Awesome
Chorister Award for joyfully being in our computers every
Wednesday for 14 months without fail, even when she wasn’t
in her own living room.

We welcomed in a new Management Team this summer. Laura Riley was supposed to be out of the team
Leader position in early 2019 but said she would stay around to help whoever the newly elected Team leader
was to muddle through the myriads of paperwork that comes with going to International. She had been there-
done that and got the t-shirt. Then COVID hit and Laura graciously stayed in to help steer the boat and keep
Farmington Valley afloat. Her leadership was truly invaluable.

Laura has been replaced by the dynamic duo of Kim Read and Erika Leslie as co-leaders. Pat Bate is our
treasurer, Barb Bengston is our communications guru, membership has been taken over by the energetic and
inimitably friendly Chrissie Mancini and Ieva Higgins and Kim Read is still masterfully handling our
marketing. Have any of you seen our stuff on Facebook? That’s Kim. She is incredibly clever.

Congratulations to FVC’s most honorable in and out member, Laurel Strielkauskas , on her retirement
from nursing. Party on girl!

I’ve run out of things to say. We really look forward to being all together again in the future. It’s just not the
same without you (s).
Nancy Propfe
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North Atlantic Region 1 Sweet Adelines