Kate Buscher, who took over as director last spring, agreed.
People get scared away by barbershop, said Buscher, who moved to the area and was quickly chosen to lead the group. For some reason, they think we have hair on our chests or something.
About 15 women are currently singing in the group, which rehearses weekly at Trinity Lutheran Church, Davenport. Theyre inviting all women in the area for an open house Monday night.
Dont be afraid if you cant read music, Buscher said. We just want women who enjoy singing and learning something new. Were very much an educational organization.
The members are ready for a bigger, better organization, Buscher said. With more members, they have a better chance to do well at regional competitions, which can lead to international contests.
Its a very enthusiastic group, Buscher said. There are several gals who really want to see the chapter grow, to see us doing more public singing.
The Sweet Adelines have a yearly concert of their own and are regulars at events such as the Quad-City Arts Festival of Trees and festivals at Scott County Park.
Yet they say they often find people who dont know the group exists.
It surprises us that weve been around singing for this long, and a lot of people dont know about it, Woods said.
We havent done a whole lot of public relations, said Buscher, a registered nurse with Visiting Nurse Association. We havent let people know we exist.
The group can look at its neighbors and see that enrollment for the singing is not suffering everywhere. An Iowa City chapter is 70 members strong, Woods said. The Quad-City chapters first goal is to double its membership to 30, she said.
For an area this size, with this many people, we should have more people than we do, Woods said.
Although a 14-year-old was a member of Sweet Adelines at one time, the group now includes women from their 40s to 80s.
Woods, a retiree, said she can understand that young women have many different obligations competing for their time. But she says an Adelines rehearsal can also serve as a break from those obligations.
Its a camaraderie, she said. Its a fun thing for women to do and get away from family, from problems, whatever for once a week.
Singers emphasize the fun they have in rehearsals and performances. The groups repertoire includes unexpected songs such as Billy Ray Cyrus Achy Breaky Heart and Over the Rainbow.
Whenever we go out and sing, people say it looks like were having fun, Woods said. And to tell you the truth, we always do.
Reprinted with permission from the Quad City Times: http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2005/09/30/news/hometowns/doc433cca7ce8719380019319.txt
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