Noteworthy News, May 21, 2021
Important upcoming dates:
Monday, May 24, 7 pm Rodgers & Hammerstein Virtual Sing-Along (Zoom)
Monday, June 21, 7 pm Summer Sings! (Zoom)
Monday, June 28, 7 pm Vocalize & Socialize (location TBA)
Monday, July 19, 7 pm Summer Sings! (Zoom)
Monday, July 26, 7 pm Vocalize & Socialize (location TBA)
Monday, August 16, 7 pm Summer Sings! (Zoom)
Everyone is encouraged to invite friends and family members to our upcoming Rodgers & Hammerstein sing-along night. Several "sharable" announcements are available via Facebook and emails. We will be joined by special guest Sean Kana, resident music director of Broadway By the Bay in Redwood City, California. Selections will include some of the greatest songs from the Golden Age of Musical Theatre (Oklahoma, South Pacific, Carousel, Sound of Music). This promises to be quite the fun evening.
Tid-bit from the internet: "Why choral music? Because it allows also this communion of people that dignifies their relationship to one another as well as to what mankind might be." --Robert Shaw
Watch your inbox! Mid next week, an email will be sent to all Choir members with a special link to our annual end-of-year survey. It's a short one this year so please take a moment to complete it (ok, 2 moments).
If you know someone who might be interested, here is the "official job posting" for our Operations Manager position.
Already vaccinated? Click here for a recent list of freebies and (breaking news) details on how vaccinated folks in Oregon may be lottery winners (link).
Here is the third in the series of articles from medical professionals within our Choir to help us with factual information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on us. (The first article can be viewed here and last week's Infographic here).
LET’S DO THIS! We all want the same thing and that’s getting back to singing in person without masks this fall. I was so jealous of my husband during the pandemic -- his passion is golf. GOLF! Well, golf was something that was unaffected by the lockdowns. You play by yourself, outdoors, at great distances from others; the ideal COVID sport. Who knew that we had all taken up a hobby, singing, that was so “dangerous?"
Based on the science and the evidence, we know that our best shot (pun intended) at getting back to in-person singing without masks, is to GET VACCINATED! And I’m sure most of us already are. We are so lucky to live in a place where vaccines are available and plentiful and accessible to all. Here are some easy ways to find a vaccine:
1. Head to https://www.vaccines.gov/ to find a shot near you. I entered my zip code in Portland and was given 50 locations that had vaccines available ranging from 0.25 to 5 miles from my house.
2. You can also text your zip code to 438829 to find a location nearest you.
3. If you need a ride, Uber and Lyft are offering FREE transportation to and from COVID vaccine centers from May 24th - July 4th! What could be easier? And I’m sure many of us PSC members would also be able to offer a ride to those in need.
4. An amazing resource I’ve used throughout the pandemic is the Facebook group, Find A COVID Shot Oregon. We were featured on KATU news and in The Oregonian. It’s a great repository of information and shoutouts about where to find shots of every variety. Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oregonvaccinehunters/
In last week’s Noteworthy News, I created an Infographic (link) outlining the details of the vaccine, how safe and effective it is, and how the side effects are truly minimal (within a range of course, but typically arm soreness, fatigue, aches, mild fever that lasts 1-2 days maximum). Everyone I know has been so relieved to get the vaccine -- like a HUGE weight is lifted -- it’s truly going to be the Golden Ticket to freedom in terms of travel, attending events, going to concerts again, and of course, singing together!
While folks may not be concerned about getting COVID themselves, maybe they have “strong immune systems” or they are on the younger side, I would remind us all that this is something we do to protect ourselves, but also to safeguard our COMMUNITY; and we all want to keep everyone in the PSC community safe and health and singing for many, many years to come (I’m looking at you, Tom!). Sadly, I am also close friends with folks in the Long Hauler COVID community -- people who didn’t get very sick, who were young and healthy, but developed long-term symptoms after the virus that won’t go away. My daughter’s preschool teacher has had a fever every single day since March 2020 after contracting a mild case of COVID from a preschooler, along with a whole host of other neurological, cardiac and pulmonary symptoms. She got vaccinated, too, as she never, ever wants to get this disease again.
If folks have any medical questions, concerns about underlying conditions, hesitations, anxieties or anything at all you want to discuss, I am more than happy to help.
I can’t wait to see all of you at the Roger’s & Hammerstein Sing-Along and also at one of our IN-PERSON outdoor Vocalize & Socialize events this summer! --Your Resident Singing Doctor, Zarya (email)
From Ralph Nelson: I recently had a phone conversation with Deb Coates (wife of Don Coates - B1). Don was apparently in a serious automobile accident on Saturday, May 15. He has been in the trauma unit at Peace Health in Vancouver this week and is scheduled to come home this weekend. Don suffered a traumatic brain injury and also a fracture to the T-4 vertebrae. Amazingly, according to Deb, he is doing quite well, with a great sense of humor. She reports that Don said, "I think I look great right now for Halloween." The recovery will take quite a while -- but he hopes to sing again as soon as he can. Deb would love any cards or support (calls, offers to visit) right now. Their address is: Don and Deb Coates; 15506 NE 181st St; Brush Prairie, Washington 98606. Deb's cell phone is (360) 907-0493. Apparently, Don likes to get texts and/or calls on his cell phone (360) 904-0492.