The sing-along book Sing Together is now in print and will be delivered to senior centres in Nelson and 11 surrounding communities within the next few months.
Organizers would like to thank Friends of Nelson Elders and New Horizons Seniors Program for believing in the idea of a next-generation sing-along book.
The steering committee who worked together through many challenges to create this book included Donna Leukov, Anne Macdonald, Donalda Messer and Cindy Moser. Family and friends who encouraged organizers through the ups and downs were also key.
Tim Bullen provided the musical arrangement of The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Terri Ward designed the cover and Barb Maytom put together the colour application.
The Sing Together event at the Capitol Theatre in October launched the book. Margaret Stacey, Mary Defeo and Janet Cook were key in this event. Hairy Productions handled the installation of the overhead projector for the power point setup and Joan Reichardt made a presentation on behalf of the Friends of Nelson Elders. Others who played important roles in that night were Jay Mitchel, Greta Smith, Ruth Langevin, Karen Livingston, Gilles Parenteau, Second Wind, Heritage Harmonies Barbershop Chorus, Glacier Harmony, South Nelson school K-3, Marty Horswill, volunteers, and the staff of the Capitol Theatre. A special thanks go to Henny Cherenko, for sharing her love story and providing the music score for Always as sung by Alison Girvan, Kathleen Neudorf and Noemi Kiss.
Most of all organizers want to thank the Nelson community who encouraged them towards the completion of Sing Together.
Mary Audia’s Nelson Christmas Story
On December 16, I arrive at the post office with a box full of Sing Together books that need to be sent to 17 publishers and consultants in the US and Eastern Canada.
Being Christmas there was a long line up. As I moved through the line I pushed the box slowly using my feet as it was too heavy to carry. I chatted with the people who were interested in what I was mailing.
When I got to the postmaster she informed me what I needed to do. I was trying to figure out how I could do all of this when two of the people in the line up behind me said “we will help you.” With hardly a word between us we set up an assembly line. One person put the book in envelopes, one person addressed the envelope and I filled out the information for the 13 books that went to the US.
When they had to leave to get on with the busyness of Christmas, another young man from the line up offered to bring the completed box of books to the postmaster. Even though it was now after 5:30 p.m., there was still a line-up and the post office doors were locked, the postmaster continued to help me get everything completed and in the mail. I was touched by the generosity of the Nelson people. This is a Christmas story I will long cherish.