To The Vocal Majority Family and Friends:

The Vocal Majority has lost a true friend and mentor with the passing of Chuck Mitchell this past week. Today we celebrated his life with his family and friends at the Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas, TX. Chuck has been the Director of Choreography of the VM for many years and has been very instrumental in helping The Vocal Majority win 11 International Gold Medals.

As Phil McShan said at the service today, Chuck had a passion for excellence that was the driving force behind his desire to see the VM become the best it could be. He had a unique style and ability to make us believe that we could be better than we thought, and he was right. His ability to communicate that 'good enough was just not good enough' was special. He wanted us to strive for perfection, and he would convince "ever guy" that we could achieve it through hard work and dedication.

He always saw the best in every person with whom he came in contact. He touched many lives and we are truly thankful to God for the legacy that Chuck has left behind. He was a loving and faithful husband, father, and grandfather. His passion for people was far reaching, as evidenced by the many friends that were in attendance this afternoon.

We would like to invite any of you who have a special memory about Chuck to share that with us. We will be happy to pass those remembrances on to his family so they can be reminded of how Chuck's life touched us all. We also ask you to pray for Cheryl and the family that God would give them a special measure of strength in the coming days as they deal with life's challenges.

Todd E. Roberts
President
The Vocal Majority Chorus



Sunday, March 14, 2010

Please feel free to share the following sentiment with all the members of the VM:

Chuck Mitchell was a guy that very few outside the VM ever really knew or even knew about. Like so many other members of the Society, he joined, he sang and he contributed in his own way. The VM was able to prosper many times due to his foresught, his vision, his passion and his insistence, for his way was one that provided leadership and pride.

As a guy who coached Northbrook a few times in opposition to the VM, I got to know Chuck and admired his ability to find a way, to inspire and to win. No one will need to tell any of you what his contributions meant or the legacy that he left to the VM. That is too painfully obvious made more painful at his loss.

But, perhaps there is one thing that none of you have come to grips with just yet: Chuck increased the level of performance of the entire Society. His legacy is one of perfection that the rest of us had to chase for more than 30 years. If it weren't for Chuck, would any of the other coaches ever have had a goal? Who were we really trying to beat all those years? there have been many names in the spotlight over the years, but how many worked from within and produced as much as Chuck did?

How ironic then is it that the man who for so many years raised the level of the Society is not as well known as he should be. But, we knew him. We listened to him. And we were better for it. Better in so many ways.

Godspeed, Chuck, and please take with you the everlasting gratefulness from a competitor who is a better man because you made me work harder. I am so glad we got to be friends. I will always try to emulate the level of performance that you envisioned and always strove to obtain.

Thanks, bud. The Society is a better place because you were part of it.

Ev Nau
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