1. Excellent sectionals last night on the changes to ELVIS and ROCKIN' THE BOAT, resulting in some good work on these pieces. We also managed to get some solid work in on GET HAPPY under the tutelage of Dr. John Ward. Please review your learning CD on Get Happy, and go to BACMO for the complete changes on ELVIS.

More to come on these songs next week.

2. A note to all who were complaining long and loud about how the BAC needs a better work ethic in order to improve on our International placement....of our 93 active members, 55 were on the risers last night! Yeah, we know, vacations, etc. But, we just thought you'd like to know. There are 10 regular rehearsals remaining until District! So, shut up and deal!

3. Thanks to an anonymous source (who shall remain nameless) we were able to view the amazing fish last night, as well as re-view our own performance in Indy. The difference between the two was simply individual commitment to the plan. The guys in Greendale WERE fish (and turtles), and that resulted in a performance which SHOULD have earned a Presentation score that was close to perfect.

THAT'S the target, gents. So, start strutting around the house and making like The King every chance you get. Watch an old Elvis movie. Get surly. Shake them hips! Curl those lips! Uh huh!

4. Anyone who is holding any "extra" costume pieces following our performance in Indy, please bring the extra pieces in and give them to Jim Steiner. If you are missing any pieces, let Jim know. Hopefully, Jim can get you and your costume re-united in time for District.

5. This Monday is the final night to pay for the International photos that you ordered. Please see Gordon Harrison BEFORE rehearsal on Monday. As Joe said last night, we have already noticed a positive change in our rehearsals with the elimination of "business" during rehearsal time. Thank you all for that, and for the great focus and attention last night.

6. Once again we had several excellent guests in the house last night, including former BACMAN JOE DE FELICE, who many of us know as ShowGloJoe, and Steve Plumb's lovely daughter, Margie.

7. Although we had 75 on the risers in Indy, we all know that we were missing many of our regular singers....21 to be exact! Now that we're back, it is good to see some of those BACMEN at rehearsal each week. However, we are still missing quite a few regular singers, who we normally count on to be there for us.

If you have not yet returned to the fold, we encourage you to do so now. We will be learning new music over the next 2 months, as well as continuing the refinements on the Love Me - Elvis package which we'll be bringing to the stage in Wildwood. Ninety plus singers at District is well within our grasp, and should result in an amazing, rich, and exciting sound. Please, commit now to being a part of that sound.

8. A final reminder to book your rooms in Wildwood. At last report, only suites were available at the Attache' Motel. You should know that these suites, which can accommodate 3 or 4 BACMEN, are not expensive, and are quite comfortable. If the Attache' is already fully booked, ask them to recommend another area hotel.

9. In the words of sportscaster Al Michaels, "Do you believe in miracles???" This, after the USA Olympic Hockey Team beat the vaunted Russians in Lake Placid. And that was truly a major miracle. But, we've learned that life is really a series of small miracles, may of them unnoticed and unremarked upon. We all witnessed one of those miracles last night (and maybe not SUCH a small miracle!) with what appears to be the return of the "old" Roger Payne!

We are all aware of the battle that Rog was been waging over these past months, and the debilitating effect both the disease, and the treatment, have had on him. Last week, Rog and his family AND his friends (of which there are zillions) received the wonderfully encouraging news that the latest round of experimental chemo has resulted in what appears to be a complete remission of his tumor. While Rog himself would be the first to tell you that he still has a way to go before he is totally free of the effects of his latest ordeal, the difference in Roger in just one week has been nothing short of astounding. Last night, he looked and acted much more like the Roger we have come to know and love than he has in the past 6 months.

We know that the entire BAC family has kept Rog in their good thoughts and prayers throughout this time, and it seems those thoughts and prayers have had their desired effect. Please keep them coming, while Roger continues on the path of recovery.

Just another reason why it's so G R E A T to be a BACMAN!!

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