in 2020 we are
#SVSMoreThanJustAShow
December 11, 2020
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Celebrating Aging Through the Performing Arts |
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Greetings!
As we come through this time of Thanksgiving and prepare for our holidays ahead, it gives us a great chance to reflect, be thankful, and celebrate the goals and impact of the Senior Variety Show and all the people who have made this dream and success a reality! The goals: develop creative outlet for seniors; showcase senior talents through entertainment and fun; and raise funds for senior projects. And SVS has thoroughly and successfully done it all but it’s still the people that make it happen!!
25 annual Senior Variety Shows with 550+ individual performers. Excellent directors and managers, masters of ceremonies, stagehands, ushers, and many behind the scenes to make it happen! Let’s not forget all our excellent sponsors and contributors, and surely all our followers and attendees who have supported and embraced our mission.
The introductory picture celebrates 2 key SVS leaders: Chuck Jones, a pillar from the start and MC and performer for 21 SVS. What an outstanding and inspirational man. His sidekick is Julie Minot, whose excellence in organization, music, and directing has professionally melded shows together with style, grit, and a lot of fun!
When SVS hit a detour this year with Covid, SVS continued to put the pedal to the metal by developing and posting weekly Saturday Senior Serenade Showcases (archived or new acts) and a Friday SVS newsletter highlighting many SVS and senior areas and groups, but also a teaser to the Saturday Spotlight. While many of us have pitched in and contributed, Julie Minot has really directed and spearheaded it all with special newsletter software and email distribution, postings to Facebook and our webpage, and our recent initiation of an SVS You Tube channel. Thanks Julie and to all for great times and fun.
So at this time of the season step back, reflect, and give thanks for past and present SVS, and fire up to continue to celebrate a great future. Season’s Greetings, Good Tidings, and Blessings to All!
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Twice a month you can find a brand new performance or a favorite flashback from one of our 25 shows on Facebook |
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Hint for our next featured performer. |
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On a beautiful early spring – autumn morn, one can hear these many individuals blend to make beautiful music together! And maybe even when the Snow is White! |
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What are you doing since Covid 19 showed up? |
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Marilyn Johnson: Because of COVID I thought I'd get out early, before the germs are up! Thus, I have been catching as many sunrises as I can....I hit 178 in a row!
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Kitty Fischer: I’m Zooming once a week with Vox Feminae, a group of singing friends who live in southern California. I have traveled to Europe on 5 singing pilgrimages with these women, once to France, twice to Italy, once to Spain and once to Hungary. I haven't seen them in person for five years, so now enjoys Zooming with them and singing while muted!
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You can send your quarantine projects and ideas to us at storycountysvs@gmail.com and we will share. Building community one project at a time. |
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Introducing - Heartland Songbirds
In mid-March 1982 Wilson Senior Chorus was born with 8 women and 1 man at what was then Wilson Senior Center (old Wilson school and currently Heartland Senior Services). Over the next 30 + years the Heartland Songbirds grew into a mixed chorus of over 35 voices, presenting 2 – 4 programs per month throughout Story County & Central Iowa.
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Each songbird used to have a beautiful name badge as shown in the picture of Alice Thompson’s badge. Alice states “the Gold Finch was chosen by the group because it is not only a song bird, but the State Bird of Iowa. The badges worked very nicely with the group before we grew so much. They were only 50 cents each and were made here in Ames. But the thing that really put an end to it was when that person quit making them and there were too many joining to keep up with the demand, so we just quit wearing them.” BTW, Alice was the Songbirds director for the inaugural Senior Variety Show and she as well as Songbirds have enlightened every SVS. |
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Practice normally takes place on Tuesday mornings from 9:45 – 11 am at Heartland Senior Services, but because of Coronavirus in person rehearsals and concerts have been suspended, although we still meet weekly via Zoom to keep in touch, reminisce and tell stories and even do some singing together. While we’ve zoomed weekly for 8 months, we’ve only sang for the past 4 weeks, with Marcia Gustafson accompanying the past 2 weeks (recent 11/24/2020 zoom singing “We Gather Together” ) |
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If you are at least 60 and have an idea of something you would like to share as a featured performer on our Facebook page just email storycountysvs@gmail.com |
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Social Media and Social Distancing
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We had not heard of Zoom calls a year ago, and now SVS is zooming down the road with an Instagram account, updated website, as well our presence on Facebook. |
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Email Envy
Do you know someone who would like these infomails? (I just made that word up.) We don't necessarily have emails for members of the larger groups that have been in a show, our fabulous audience fan base, or the kids, grandkids, friends, neighbors, dog groomers, chimney sweeps, and former accountants of our performers. Forward this to them and they can request being added to our list and getting the scoop on what SVS is up to.
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Stay Safe,
Stay Engaged,
Stay Inspired
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