“Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved.” – A. A. Milne – 1882-1956 – Author

 

“Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. Every great success requires some type of struggle.” – Nicky Gumbel – Author

 

“Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.” – Ziad K. Abdelnour – Financier

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

 

This month’s Bucket Money is for Polio Plus

 

Robb asked for volunteers to help unload and sort the fruit on December 11 or 12.   He also reminded members that he is collecting donations for the “Adopt a Kid” program at CASA.

 

Paul will be sending details on a college bowl contest to raise money for the Foundation.

 

 

DATES TO REMEMBER

 

December 12 – Gift Wrapping to benefit Crisis Nursery

 

December 14 – Salvation Army Bell Ringing

 

December 19 – 6:30 AM CU Sunrise Holiday Breakfast with the Baroque Artists of Champaign and Santa (We will not have a gift exchange).

 

December 26 – No meeting

 

January 2 – No meeting

 

February 27 – No AM meeting, Karaoke Night

 

 

PROGRAM

 

Bob introduced John-Paul Buzard, President and Artistic Director of Buzard Pipe Organ Builders, LLC of Champaign.   John-Paul has a Master’s of Music degree in Organ and Church Music from Northwestern University and a Master Organ Builder Certificate from the American Institute of Organ Builders.  He is a member of several national and international organ and organ builder societies.

 

John-Paul’s wife Linda is the organist and choirmaster at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Divine in Champaign.   Along with the Baroque Artists of Champaign, she will perform at our upcoming holiday party.   Their son Stephen is the organist and choirmaster at St. James Episcopal Cathedral in Chicago and their daughter Katie recently completed a Master’s degree in  voice from the Royal College of Music in London.

 

Bob recently rented one of six apartments above the Buzard Organ Company, located at 112 W. Hill in Champaign.   It is housed in a converted turn-of-the century building that was once the Woman’s Town Club.  

 

The Buzard Organ Company has a staff of 20.  They are known locally for having renovated the organ at the Virginia Theater and for having built the one in his home parish of St. John the Devine.

 

John-Paul explained that no two organs look alike or sound alike.  Each builder has his own style.  There are French, German and English organ building styles.  His style is after the one used at King’s College Cambridge.

 

After the Oklahoma City bombing, his company built a new organ for the nearby St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral. 

 

In 2003, they built an organ with 87 ranks of pipes for All Saints Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia.   In 2005, they built an organ for St. Bede’s Catholic Church at the entrance to the colonial district in Williamsburg, VA.  St. Bede’s and the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church have a covenant to worship and do community service together, so in 2006, the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church asked the Buzard Company to build them an organ, too.

 

In 2008, they built an organ in the form of a stylized Celtic Cross for the Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington.  When building an organ for St. Bridget Catholic Church in Richmond, VA in 2013, they uncovered a stained glass window that had been hidden for forty years!

 

The company built an organ for Central Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2018.  The former music director from Holy Cross Church in Champaign is now music director there.

 

Buzard built an organ for the St. Vincent Archabbey in LaTrobe, PA.  That basilica seats 1,500 people.  Closer to home, they built an organ for Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Carmel, Indiana.

 

 

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  Dec 12th Dec 19th Dec 26th Jan 2nd
Introductions Paul Conforti Diana Dummitt No No
Reflection Mary Hodson Eddie Bridges regular regular
Greeters Paul Conforti Diana Dummitt morning morning
Robb Patton Allan Penwell meeting meeting
Song Leader Scott Paceley Robb Patton    
Notetaker Penwell Hodson    

 

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)

December 12th – Molly Delaney, Vice President of Development, Eastern Central Illinois Foodbank (ECIFB) (Mary)

December 19th – CUSR Holiday Party

December 26th – No meeting

January 2nd – TBD (David)

January 9th – Club Assembly

January 16th – Rush Record, Executive Director, CASA (Mary)

January 23rd – TBD (Bob)

January 30th – TBD

February 6th – TBD (Cary)

February 13th – TBD

February 20th – TBD (Charlie)

February 27th – TBD (David)

March 5th – TBD (Mary)

March 12th – TBD

March 19th – TBD (Ondine)

March 26th – TBD (Tom)