Spotlight: Rhythm & Harmony Chapter

History

The Rhythm & Harmony Chapter was founded in Huntsville, AL in 2013 by Bill Boggs and 17 other charter members. The chapter was established to serve members in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Live, in-person events were held in Huntsville and Nashville every quarter. With participation waning and volunteer board members in Huntsville running dry, the chapter’s epicenter transitioned to Nashville, TN in 2018 when APMP Fellow and charter member, Robin Davis, agreed to take over as Chapter Chair.

Transformation & Growth

Robin recruited new board members and shifted focus from live local events that were only accessible to a portion of the Chapter’s membership, to virtual and regional events. The board agreed to re-brand the chapter to Rhythm & Harmony, a reflection of the common thread that binds the region—music. For the next two years, the board focused on getting the word out and recruiting new members. The team launched a new website, Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and Twitter and Instagram accounts. In-person networking and social events are held in the Chapter’s largest metropolitan areas, educational webinars are routinely scheduled, and monthly Coffee Talks will launch in March. Today, the chapter is 132 strong and continues to grow.

Host City for BPC 2020 – a Note from Chapter Chair, Robin Davis

With Bid & Proposal Con coming to Nashville in May, we are making big plans to ensure that our members, and APMP members from around the country and the world, have a great time in Music City U.S.A.! We will have a highly visible and active booth at the conference with surprise guests and giveaways. Our chapter ambassadors will make you feel welcomed and help you navigate Opryland Hotel and the surrounding areas.

We are hosting a party, open to all conference attendees (with special perks for Chapter members) at one of Nashville’s coolest neighborhood hangouts located only 10 minutes from the conference hotel. Make plans to join us on Tuesday, May 19 from 6-11 pm at Homegrown Taproom & Kitchen for food, drink, and live music. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it!

We also encourage you to spend some extra time in Nashville on the front-end or back-end of your trip to explore everything we have to offer. Here’s a list of some our favorite things to do in Nashville.

• MUSIC
  • Go honky tonkin’! Enjoy above-average live music as you cruise in and out of the dozens of honky tonks that line Broadway and Second Avenue in downtown Nashville. Also known as Honky Tonk Highway, some of our favorites are Robert’s Western World, Layla’s, and BB King’s Blues Club.
  • Visit the World-Famous Printer’s Alley with its unique and sometimes unsavory history. Today it is home to hot spots such as Skull’s Rainbow Room, Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar, and Kelli’s Karaoke Bar (it’s become a tradition to karaoke with your APMP friends at BPC).
  • Catch a show! We are home to some of the best music venues in the world. Here are just a few of our favorite places to see live music:
    • The Ryman Auditorium
    • The Station Inn
    • The Bluebird Cafe
    • 3^rd and Lindsley
    • The Grand Ole Opry (walking distance from hotel)
    • The 5 Spot
    • Exit/In
    • The Nashville Palace (across the street from hotel)
• MUSEUMS
  • If museums are more your thing, we have plenty to offer. Here are just a few of our favorites:
    • Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
    • Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
    • Frist Art Museum
    • Belle Meade Plantation
    • Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage

• THE GREAT OUTDOORS
  • Enjoy the great outdoors and the beauty of middle Tennessee in the city. Here are just a few of our favorites:
    • Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park
    • Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
    • The Parthenon at Centennial Park (a full-size replica of the original Parthenon in Athens)

• FOOD
  • Let’s Eat! Although Opryland has a lot of nice restaurants, Nashville as an extensive and thriving culinary scene that should be explored. Here’s a few of our favorites:
    • City House – Italian with a twist
    • Hattie B’s or Prince’s Hot Chicken (the original) – home to Nashville hot chicken
    • Margot Café – cozy and romantic in the heart of East Nashville
    • Lockeland Table – locally-sourced fine food with a community feel
    • Homegrown Taproom & Kitchen – relaxed neighborhood bar/restaurant with 24 taps of craft beer and great sandwiches and burgers (This is my place…y’all are welcome anytime!)

This list only scratches the surface of what Nashville has to offer. I highly recommend checking out Visit Music City and Your Guide To Nashville for more ideas. You can also follow us on Facebook @APMPRhythmandHarmony as we will post additional ideas in the coming weeks leading up to the conference.