BHS CEO installs HOA Board for 2026
| Type of post: | Chorus news item |
| Sub-type: | No sub-type |
| Posted By: | John Braden |
| Status: | Current |
| Date Posted: | Mon, Jan 12 2026 |
The Barbershop Harmony Society's new Chief Executive Officer Robert Rund, in town coincidentally for a CSD Leadership Academy, took the opportunity Jan. 10 to inaugurate the new Kansas City Chapter Board of the Heart of America Barbershop Chorus.
Rund and a number of Central States District officials who attended the chapter officer training session in Shawnee were invited to the HOA Installation and Awards Banquet at Joe's KC Barbecue's 180 Room in Olathe. A barbershopper since the age of 7 with the St. Louis No. 1 Chapter, Rund has had more than 30 years' experience in arts and cultural institutions.
Rund said as a youngster he envied HOA, which in those days was a leader in the district, competing and hosting at International conventions. "You've got a really strong brand," he said.
He said even in later years, HOA members of that era "still carried themselves in a different way." He also talked about quartets who "give back" to barbershop, citing 1986 International quartet champion Rural Route 4 and its baritone and HOA Director Emeritus, Jim Bagby.
CEO Rund presented Bagby his 66-year membership card at the banquet.
More than 60 Kansas City Chapter members and family attended the ceremony, annual awards presentation and Joe's barbecue feed. Rund swore in 10 new board members.
Board members inaugurated were:
President Danny Anderson
Past President Mike Schumacher
Secretary Tom Riedel
Treasurer Harvey Shapiro
Public Relations VP Carl Turlin
Chapter Development VP Don Fuson
Music & Performance VP John Braden
Operations VP Steve Keisker
Members at Large Chris Walker, Tony O'Brien
Program VP-elect Marlin Weidler was unable to attend and was to be inaugurated at first opportunity.
President Danny Anderson, who begins his second term, said he served as chapter president for 13 of his 15 years with the Danbury, Conn., chapter. He said he plans for this year to be his last one as president and stressed the importance of chapter members to volunteer to join the next generation of HOA leaders.
Anderson said his goals for the year include: to grow membership, with each member responsible for recruiting; to find ways to expand HOA's presence in the community, pointing to the upcoming Singing Valentines effort; and to improve the chorus' singing and performance.
Like Rund, HOA Director Carter Combs remarked that HOA has a history of being "in everything nationally" within the society, from its beginnings in 1938. He said the 60- to 80-man HOA he joined in 2001 has been succeeded by a smaller "wonderful family chorus" that allows him to get to know every man as a friend. Combs pointed to a "bright year ahead," particularly noting the Music Team's plan to promote regularly scheduled coaching to bring improvement.
John Braden acknowledged the passing of the five HOA members or former members who joined the "Chapter Eternal" in 2025: John Rolland Vaughn, Marvin Blakeman, Dick Sutton, Steve Carruthers and Dick Krueger.
Charles Ramirez was named the 2025 Barbershopper of the Year. Charles joined HOA in 1982. He served as chapter treasurer from 2001-2005, HOA Board member in 2016, chapter secretary in 2018, president in 2022, and a member of New Harmony Handful. He's "Joe Barbershopper" if anybody is. He's always there, forever. Quiet, always positive, always a smile. But he knows his music and takes it seriously. An Army veteran, he always proudly brings his military bearing to the risers. And, it should be mentioned, his wife, Carol, for years has been a staunch member of HOA's spousal auxiliary, the Heartbeats.
Michael Heath was named winner of the John Cross Award as the member with best attendance (of those who have never won before) and who is always on hand
to take on the job no one else wants. Ironically, he was absent on banquet night due to a late family conflict. As a result, he received his award at chapter meeting Jan. 13. Also on Jan. 13, Board Members at Large Michael Heath and Jeff Stone were inaugurated.
Swing Shift provided what might be called entertainment, singing medical parodies inspired by Chordiac Arrest, an International quartet medalist from the 1980s. Carter Combs, John Braden and Eric Weber acknowledged recently retired neurosurgeon Paul Camarata as their recently acquired baritone. Paul wrote his own parody "When You Operate on Brains."
Thanks go to Program-VP-turned-Secretary Tom Riedel for organizing the event.
Rund and a number of Central States District officials who attended the chapter officer training session in Shawnee were invited to the HOA Installation and Awards Banquet at Joe's KC Barbecue's 180 Room in Olathe. A barbershopper since the age of 7 with the St. Louis No. 1 Chapter, Rund has had more than 30 years' experience in arts and cultural institutions.Rund said as a youngster he envied HOA, which in those days was a leader in the district, competing and hosting at International conventions. "You've got a really strong brand," he said.He said even in later years, HOA members of that era "still carried themselves in a different way." He also talked about quartets who "give back" to barbershop, citing 1986 International quartet champion Rural Route 4 and its baritone and HOA Director Emeritus, Jim Bagby.
CEO Rund presented Bagby his 66-year membership card at the banquet.
More than 60 Kansas City Chapter members and family attended the ceremony, annual awards presentation and Joe's barbecue feed. Rund swore in 10 new board members.
Board members inaugurated were:
President Danny Anderson
Past President Mike Schumacher
Secretary Tom Riedel
Treasurer Harvey Shapiro
Public Relations VP Carl Turlin
Chapter Development VP Don Fuson
Music & Performance VP John Braden
Operations VP Steve Keisker
Members at Large Chris Walker, Tony O'Brien
Program VP-elect Marlin Weidler was unable to attend and was to be inaugurated at first opportunity.President Danny Anderson, who begins his second term, said he served as chapter president for 13 of his 15 years with the Danbury, Conn., chapter. He said he plans for this year to be his last one as president and stressed the importance of chapter members to volunteer to join the next generation of HOA leaders.
Anderson said his goals for the year include: to grow membership, with each member responsible for recruiting; to find ways to expand HOA's presence in the community, pointing to the upcoming Singing Valentines effort; and to improve the chorus' singing and performance.
Like Rund, HOA Director Carter Combs remarked that HOA has a history of being "in everything nationally" within the society, from its beginnings in 1938. He said the 60- to 80-man HOA he joined in 2001 has been succeeded by a smaller "wonderful family chorus" that allows him to get to know every man as a friend. Combs pointed to a "bright year ahead," particularly noting the Music Team's plan to promote regularly scheduled coaching to bring improvement.John Braden acknowledged the passing of the five HOA members or former members who joined the "Chapter Eternal" in 2025: John Rolland Vaughn, Marvin Blakeman, Dick Sutton, Steve Carruthers and Dick Krueger.
Charles Ramirez was named the 2025 Barbershopper of the Year. Charles joined HOA in 1982. He served as chapter treasurer from 2001-2005, HOA Board member in 2016, chapter secretary in 2018, president in 2022, and a member of New Harmony Handful. He's "Joe Barbershopper" if anybody is. He's always there, forever. Quiet, always positive, always a smile. But he knows his music and takes it seriously. An Army veteran, he always proudly brings his military bearing to the risers. And, it should be mentioned, his wife, Carol, for years has been a staunch member of HOA's spousal auxiliary, the Heartbeats.Michael Heath was named winner of the John Cross Award as the member with best attendance (of those who have never won before) and who is always on hand
to take on the job no one else wants. Ironically, he was absent on banquet night due to a late family conflict. As a result, he received his award at chapter meeting Jan. 13. Also on Jan. 13, Board Members at Large Michael Heath and Jeff Stone were inaugurated.Swing Shift provided what might be called entertainment, singing medical parodies inspired by Chordiac Arrest, an International quartet medalist from the 1980s. Carter Combs, John Braden and Eric Weber acknowledged recently retired neurosurgeon Paul Camarata as their recently acquired baritone. Paul wrote his own parody "When You Operate on Brains."
Thanks go to Program-VP-turned-Secretary Tom Riedel for organizing the event.
