I was judging at an LOL divisional contest a couple of weeks ago and was fortunate to both score as well as evaluate a chorus that had not competed in about ten years. These guys were excited to be there for a number of reasons:
1. It gave them a chance to get together with other barbershoppers from the nearby area which supports the formula of: more barbershoppers in the same place=more fun. There was tag singing, gang singing, polecats, and while we were all waiting for a riser change one of the choruses in the audience started to singing and eventually the whole crowd was into it.
2. It gave them a chance to see other choruses perform (a wide range of abilities I might add) and see where they "fit in." They enjoyed this in case you were wondering. :-)
3. They worked with three experienced judges and received a full hour of coaching on ways to improve their overall performance abilities as well as some specifics to the individual songs they sang.
4. They won a plateau award!!!
I am not sure what the reason for not competing for 10 years was. Maybe logistics? But this event was certainly close enough for them to participate and have a ton of fun. It seemed to rejuvenate the guys and they will hopefully carry that energy back to their weekly meetings.
I hope that in your chapter's plans for the next few years you plan on participating in a convention/contest. There is far more to it than "just" singing two songs.