GIRARDOT ROSE CHORUS MARKS 12TH ANNIVERSARY

The 22 area women who sing barbershop harmony in the Girardot Rose Chorus of Sweet Adelines, International, are marking their 12th anniversary in the 50-year-old organization this month.

Fifty years ago, the first Sweet Adelines chapter held its initial meeting at Tulsa, Okla. Today, there are more than 600 chapters around the world, including the Girardot Rose chapter, which was chartered in 1983.

A May 2 rehearsal night was designated as celebration time as members and guests met for the annual dinner, which also provided an opportunity to install new officers and board members.

Members Joy Englehart and Jo Ann Bock were the installing officers, embracing the theme "Fifty and Forward: Women Singing Four-part Harmony, Then Now and Always."

Newly installed officers are Charlotte Palmer, president; Sharon Schwarz, vice president; Irene Stevens, treasurer; Jo Ann Wolford, corresponding secretary; Joyce Macke, recording secretary, and board-members-at-large Jean Hermsdorfer, Karen McClendon and Carolyn Walther.

Retiring president Wolford was recognized for her service to the group along with outgoing board members Joy Englehart, Kathy Heise, Dixie Lee Moore and Judy Wadley.

On Tuesday evenings courses for women interested in learning to sing barbershop harmony will be held. The remaining weekly sessions will be held from 7 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cape Rock Drive and Perryville Road.

A $5 fee covers the cost of tapes and other instructional materials. To register, call Irene Stevens during the evenings at 334-6550.