Community hopes to set ABC song record with 302 people

Friday, March 30, 2012
A total of 302 people stand in a circle and sing the "Alphabet Song" during the world record attempt held at the Nevada Head Start on Thursday. Community members, city officials, emergency personnel, students, business leaders and many parents and their children all gathered to perform the song in an effort to set an official new record and raise money for the Head Start program. The federal government will give the school $15 for each person who participated in the event, even if it is not successful.

A total of 302 people converged on the Nevada Head Start at 1025 E. Wooter in Nevada on Thursday to make an attempt at a new world record of the most people singing the "Alphabet Song."

People began to arrive at 5 p.m., and the school staff began the process of documenting everyone who entered -- participants' time qualifies as an "in-kind donation" that benefits the school. Each participant received a stick-on number and a letter or word of the song to sing. Each person had to be photographed entering and was not allowed to leave or they would be disqualified. Each also had to be photographed on the way out. The rules to be followed in seeking the world record were very stringent, according to Head Start Executive Director Tara McFarland.

McFarland couldn't say enough about the community involvement in the event. "The support has been overwhelming," McFarland said.

She said her staff of 20 at the center has "been hustling" -- getting ready for the event meant a great deal of work had to be done.

Community members donated time and several prizes for a drawing. Erwin Construction donated a crane with a work platform to be used to photograph the event from above. Other items were donated as well.

"We pulled this off without any money," she said, "We have-n't spent a dime."

By 6 p.m., when the singing was supposed to begin, the line still spanned the building. In the playground, groups of people talked and laughed as kids played on the equipment. It was a true community event -- young, old, rich, poor, single mothers with children, entire families and a grandpa with his granddaughter on his shoulders all waited for the singing to begin.

Eventually, it was realized that the effort was about 50 people short. Cameraman Tom Schmidt suggested calling friends to join the effort. People who were playing or taking part in an Easter egg hunt in nearby Davis Park made their way across Centennial Boulevard in twos, threes and fives. A policeman wearing a safety vest escorted them. People in the parking lot were urged to come inside and participate.

Julie Lewis, community enhancement director for the city of Nevada, became a recruiter. She asked one neighbor, who was sitting on his porch watching the event to join in, then walked him across the street so he could join in the fun. Someone called Nevada High School Choir Director Wes Morton; and he immediately brought the show choir to the school. A cheer went up from the crowd when they walked into the parking lot.

The doors were locked a little before 7 p.m. and the world record attempt began. Tom Schmidt was center stage with a video camera. One young man played the tune on a guitar and a young teacher from the school ran around the giant circle of singers with a microphone so everyone could be heard on the film.

Chris Hacker of KNEM/KNMO filmed the event for a live feed. City manager JD Kehrman was the honorary starter because of the role he played in drumming up support for the event.

The group made a dry run that revealed a few difficulties -- people seemed shy or just wanted to speak into the microphone rather than singing. Organizer Blair Hirschman told the group, "I'm a lousy singer, we don't care if you sing well." A second rehearsal was much better and the first real attempt was made.

It seemed successful, but no one knew for sure if everyone had sung at the end. That problem was solved during the second attempt by having everyone who had sung hold up their letter or word. When everyone in the front row held up a card they knew everyone had sung. Another cheer went through the crowd, who then had to file out single file so their number could be recorded.

Hirschman said she was was very happy with the turnout and the community support. Still, she did say -- with a big smile and a hearty laugh -- she would have better sense than to try something like this again.

Leyva Richmond of Nevada said, "it was cool the way that the choir showed up"; and Elizabeth Quitno said, "We can write attempting a world record off our bucket list."

Official results will be determined later.

Every person who walked through the door of the Head Start was counted as an in kind donation. For each one of them the federal government will give $15 dollars to the center toward their operating expenses. Even if the record is not broken the community raised More than $4,500 for the Head Start in an evening of fun.

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