On September 25,
1946, the Port Angeles Chapter declared their sponsorship of a proposed
chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of
Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA) in Tacoma. Port Angeles president, Roy Jensen, and secretary
H.B. Melchoir signed the documents, which were completed by N. Stanford
(Sam) Saari, the temporary president of the Tacoma organization.
The charter fee of
ten dollars was forwarded to the International Secretary in Detroit, Michigan
where it was approved by F. (Frank) H. Thorne, International President
and by Carroll P. Adams, International Secretary. This is the
performing chorus of the Tacoma
chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of
Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA).
The Totem-Aires
were officially chartered on September 27, 1946, in the shadow of the
landmark totem pole by the old fire station—now Fireman’s
Park—at 9th and A Streets in downtown Tacoma.
The Society was
formed in 1938 and has a membership of over 35,000 men. The Tacoma
Chapter is one of 800 other chapters in the world. There are affiliated
Barbershop groups in England,
Scotland, Ireland, Sweden,
Holland, Germany,
Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
The chapter choruses and quartets perform at their annual shows and in
contests between chapters in their own area. The best chorus quartets
from each of the 16 geographic areas (districts) are chosen once each
year to represent the area in the International Contest held annually
in some large city in the U.S.
or Canada.
In regional
competition, the Totem-Aires have made placement in the Puget Sound area. Many times they have placed in
the top ten in the Evergreen District which consists of Washington, Oregon,
Idaho, Western Montana, Alaska, British Columbia,
and Alberta.
The Totem-Aires
chorus and quartets have an active performance schedule. Their past
performances have included the reopening of Union Station, opening of
the Sheraton
Convention Center
and the opening of the King Dome. They regularly perform at the
Puyallup Fair, Bicentennial
Convention Center,
and sing the National Anthem for the Tacoma Rainiers and the Seattle
Mariners. The Totem-Aires sing for community events such as First
Night, Cancer Runs in Tacoma and Gig Harbor, Hospice, hospital and
retirement homes and for special parties.
The Totem-Aires
are well known, both in in the Evergreen District and Internationally,
for their special giving spirit and their generous support of the
Society charities and other charities close in their hearts and in
their local community. Their contributions over the years exceed
$100,000.
The Tacoma
Totem-Aires have a rich quartet loving history, with the great honor of
being the home chapter of The Most Happy Fellows, International quartet
winners in 1977. Several other chapter quartets have won the District
competition. This chorus is always well represented in quartet
competition.
In addition, this
active chorus has produced many district officers for the Evergreen
District.
At the close of
each rehearsal the going-home cry is “it’s great to be a
Barbershopper - it’s great to be a Totemaire,” and
that’s the truth.
