ANNOUNCEMENTS AND HAPPENINGS
The Blue Ridge Chorale of Culpeper is a community choir in the Central Virginia Region
Please, go to givelocalpiedmont.org and schedule your donation starting on April 19 or join us May 3 from midnight to 11:59 p.m. for this spectacular day of community resilience.
Donations may also be made by visiting our webpage at www.brcsings.com /donate/ or by sending your donation to our PO BOX 1187 Culpeper, VA 22701.
Musical Director - C. Alexander Smith
Assistant Director - Melanie Bolas
BRC Accompanist - Brittany Bache
BRC Assistant Accompanist - Kathy Pellegreen
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Melanie Bolas - April 9
Johncie Carlson - February 20
Diana Cmeyla - May 5
Morgan Thomas - January 3
Liz Wise February - 9
Sterling Smyth - March 21
Pat Ballard - March 18
Marie Krug - May 8
Cynthia Rafala - February 20
Liz Triplett - February 22
Felicia Willeman - January 27
Lisa Zinn - February 16
Stephen Found- May 14
Janet Hastings - January 4
Susan Pleasants - March 4
BRC Upcoming Business
There will be a General Membership Meeting on May 23, 2022. This is a very important meeting as we will be electing officers and approving new bylaws. The board is working on developing the new bylaws and a draft of that document will be available for review very soon.
As we prepare for the election of officers, please consider running for an office or volunteering to serve on a committee. Here is a list of Executive Board positions and Committee Chair positions and current responsibilities. These position descriptions are a general overview and may not include every responsibility and detail of the position.
President
Responsible for updating contracts annually, reviewing/updating bylaws and Chorale Member's Handbook as needed. Serves as liaison between Board and all members and shall have general and active management of the affairs of the BRC.
Vice President
Shall perform duties of the President in the President's absence. He/she shall assist the President and chair the fundraising committee.
Treasurer
Shall collect and record all dues, donations and funds belonging to the BRC, conduct its banking business, prepare an annual budget and pay all bills. She/he shall provide a complete financial report to the Executive Board at monthly meetings.
Secretary
Responsibilities include taking minutes of Board meetings and general membership meetings and distributing copies to Executive Board. He/she will maintain a list of performing members.
Librarian
Will see that all performing members, orchestra, accompanist and solo guest performers have required music for each concert. After each concert season, the music shall be cleaned, repaired and returned to storage.
Chairperson of Communications
This position is responsible for creation and distribution of newsletter and web page and social media appearance.
Chairperson of Social Affairs
This position is responsible for planning and carrying out any social events.
Chairperson of Publicity
This position shall be in charge of all publicity. She/he shall act as Historian for BRC.
Executive Board
2021/2022 Season
President – Janet Hastings
Vice President –
Treasurer – Wanda Osborn
Secretary – Diana Cmeyla (acting)
Communication and Social Media-TBD
Fund Raising – TBD
Librarian – Diana Cmeyla
Programs – Annette Richards
Publicity – Tracey Anderson
Social Affairs – Liz Triplett
Production –TBD
Music Director – C. Alexander Smith
Asst. Director – Melanie Bolas
Chorale Accompanist – Brittany Bache
Assistant Chorale Accompanist - Kathy Pellegreen
If you have questions, comments or concerns (compliments are welcome, as well) to share with the Board, you can Email the Board at President@brcsings.com
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A NOTE
A new season, a fresh start, renewal. Winter can be a challenging time, especially when we get into February and those teasing warm days of March. I am ready for spring and find myself wishing for warmth and sunshine. That’s when I have to remind myself to relax and enjoy the moment. That has been especially true this February as I found myself immobilized with a broken leg. I had to allow myself to let others do for me. My poor husband and daughter have been patient and long-suffering as they try to do things “my way”. I had to let that go.
Singing with a group can be like that. Needing to let "my way" go for the good of the group. I know it's not always easy but the beautiful music BRC makes is so worth it.
Happy Spring!
Annette Richards,
Chairperson of Communications
SUE BRIDGES
I was born in Illinois, raised in Pennsylvania and am a graduate of Wake Forest University in North Carolina. I moved to Virginia after graduation and have lived and worked in Culpeper for over 30 years. I was a teacher, assistant principal, and most recently the principal of AG RIchardson Elementary in Culpeper, where I served for 19 years. I retired from education in July 2020. Recently, I took on a new position as a Family Coach with People, Inc., in Culpeper, working with parents/caregivers and children.
I’m the proud mom of amazing adult twins: Ben, who is currently in Army Basic Training and Officers School in South Carolina and Georgia; and Kate, who is a doctoral candidate at Yale University. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering, exercising, sewing, and spending time with friends and family. I also play the piano and handbells! I’m excited to be a part of the BRC and am really enjoying getting to know other members!
Sue Bridges
SARA H. RATCLIFFE
Sara Ratcliffe has three decades’ experience in advocacy, outreach, and strategy, working closely with stakeholders in the community and within government to foster sound public policy which meets the needs of the disenfranchised. Sara holds a degree from George Washington University, in Washington, DC, and began her career on Capitol Hill; she then spent 25 years advocating for public health policy at the state and federal level. In 2022, she opened a boutique consulting firm, SBville Strategies, where she specializes on projects which improve public health priorities for those with the least power in society—members of marginalized communities and those with lower-incomes.
Beyond her advocacy career, Sara ran for the Virginia House of Delegates in District 58 in 2021. She has declared a second run in 2023 for Delegate of the new 62nd district, which includes all or most of Greene, Madison and Culpeper Counties as well as a good portion of Orange County.
Sara has been singing with school and community choirs since age 13. After a long break from singing due to family obligations and the pandemic, she is thrilled to join BRC as a soprano. Sara now lives in Barboursville with her husband, Joe, and Rufus, their Boston Terrier.
Credits:
Created with images by Dieter_G - "birds swifts singing" • Efraimstochter - "birthday cake burn candles" • Shirley810 - "spring flowers flowers collage" • stevepb - "piano keyboard music" • TheDigitalArtist - "facebook social media communication" • magann - "moody stage light background" • Jimoto_creator - "cherry blossoms bird flowers"