The Association of
Public Relations Officers
and Bulletin Editors
of the
Society for the Preservation and
Encouragement of Barber shop Quartet
Singing in America, Inc.

ADVISORY BOARD

Herb Bayles W.Grant Carson Dick Girvin Mike Jones Brian Lynch Waldo Redekop

Escondido, Calif. Dallas, Texas Laguna Woods, Calif. Louisville, Ky. Kenosha, Wis. Hillsburgh, Ont.

Happy New Year, gang. Welcome to 2002 and a chance to make PROBE even better. If you're like me, this year starts with some mixed emotions and newly rearranged and reestablished priorities. The 9/11 attacks made me rededicate myself to many things that I believe in. Maybe I'm weird, but barbershop is one of those things. I get so much from this hobby, have so many friends, yes, it's a family to me, too.

Those of you who know me know that I'm a "hugger." If you and I are friends I greet you with a hug. It's a guy thing, but I find myself hugging my friends a little tighter after 9/11. I'm sure there are some of you who don't have "barbershopping" high on your list of priorities and that's okay, but for me, this hobby is more than a hobby. As some-one said, "Barbershopping Is A Way Of Life." I subscribe to that theory and still get more than I give. I cherish all my friends I've gained through PROBE. You are very special to me. So, don't be surprised if I give you a little tighter hug when I see you in Portland.

You probably already know we ran short of money last year and had to cut some issues. My sincere apologies to those of you who had expected these issues and missed them (as I did). It was a decision that wasn't taken lightly and we hope we NEVER have to go without this outstanding publication again. We plan a full year (four issues) this year and have taken some steps to insure we can keep publishing. My thanks to Editor John Petterson for his patience and understanding. No one wanted to see the PROBEmoter return more than he.

Our funds are driven directly by members' dues. So increasing our membership is essential to our survival. To that end, we have begun a campaign Society-wide to gain more to our ranks. We are currently at about 600 members and plan to grow to at least 1,000 members by July. We need to sign up EVERY chapter editor and EVERY chapter PR man. More on that elsewhere in this issue.

PROBE is on the right track otherwise and has a LOT of fine people working in many areas. One of the most recent areas that we've been working on is the Bylaws and Standard Operating Procedures. I'm pleased to announce that we've received approval by the Society Board of Directors to "officially" be designated as a subsidiary and manage our own affairs. After many hours of work our Bylaws and S.O.P. have been updated and also approved by the Board and appropriate Society com-mittees. My thanks to Dick Girvin for his valuable help with this effort.

As you read through this publication you'll see several committees working and trying to reach their goals. I urge you to become involved and help us attain those goals.

We're already planning a special meeting in Portland. I hope you make the trip and can join us.

Also, I want to thank John Sugg for setting up a hospitality room at Mid-Winter at Riverside, January 20-27. He signed up several new members there and we look forward to that being the start of an annual PROBE presence at that event.

PROBE is in VERY good shape and is starting the New Year healthy, not so wealthy, but wise. As we grow we will better serve the Society with our unique programs and services. That is our charge. We are here to serve the members. 2002 is going to be a great year for PROBE. Thanks for being a part of it. "Let's roll."