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Meet New IBOD Member Jennifer Harris
As a newly-elected member of the Sweet Adelines International Board of Directors (IBOD), Jennifer Harris hopes to use her international leadership experience to strengthen the connections between Sweet Adelines all over the world. Harris begins a three-year IBOD term on May 1, 2019. Harris’ relationship with barbershop singing started with a derailed business meeting. She saw a picture of Harbor City Music Company Show Chorus (HCMC) in her co-worker’s office.
“I had heard of Sweet Adelines before and been intrigued, but I didn’t think I had time,” said Harris. “I just started chatting with her about that, and we ended up not even holding the business meeting. That night, she invited me to go to rehearsal, and I did. The next week, I auditioned. I got in the chorus, and that was that. That was in October 2003, and I haven’t looked back.”
Harris sings bass for 2018 Sweet Adelines International Quartet Champions Lustre and is still a member of HCMC. In January 2018, she became director of Arundelair Chorus. She has served as regional communications coordinator for the SA Region 19 Management Team and president of the Silver Sorority, the Region 19 Association of Quartet Champions. She is also a sought-after coach.
Right out of college, Harris took a job with the National Security Agency (NSA). She began as a mathematician, but she soon got involved in leadership. Eventually, she became chief of staff for an organization that had operations in cities around the world. Through that experience, she learned to deal with the challenges of leading a worldwide organization. In her new role, she aims to foster a stronger sense of connection across our farflung membership.
“We want to make sure our sisters around the world feel valued, included and integral to the organization, because they are.”
She would also like to see more connection for small choruses.
“Our organization is made up of a majority of small choruses, and I’m interested in making sure small choruses are more connected to their regions and the happenings at the international level,” she said. “It’s important for them to stay connected to the larger organization.”
Harris values bridging gaps and building a sense of belonging.
“I remember the first education event I ever went to at the regional level,” she said. “I stuck like glue to the girl I knew from my home chorus. I was such an introvert that I didn't feel good reaching out and making small chat and meeting other people. I still am an introvert at heart, but now I look forward to connecting with other people because I know I am connected to them by these threads of commonality. It just makes me feel so comfortable belonging everywhere.”
Harris belongs to a supportive family as well—her husband of 32 years, Dave, two adult children, and a new grandson. She said she retired to have more time for what her husband calls “her new job,” Sweet Adelines.
“He is what makes this possible,” she said.
She is immensely grateful for the opportunity to give back to an organization that she says has given her so much.
