Strings and Things

The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance

Volume XXV Number Four

April 2007

FROM OUR PRESIDENT:

 

  From a member of our band of musical marauders and your president,

 

Well, the year is marching on and now April is here. I see tulips and jonquils and hyacinths in bloom. Life is new and good. March was a big month for the club. Again, thanks to all who participated in the Spring Fun-Raiser. Lots of work goes into this event and somehow, though we seem to always approach it with trepidation, it all seems worth it in the end. It is our one real opportunity for elegance in the year.
 
St. Patrick's Day at Brookridge Plaza was an enjoyable play date. I wish Toni could have been able to join us but we all know, things happen and priorities must be met. A great thing about this group is that all members seem very dedicated to family. That spirit seems to carry over to the club. I am very grateful for this.
 
Riverside Village Assisted Living play date went very well. Ken Stidham did a beautiful rendition of O' Danny Boy. The audience seemed very appreciative of our performance. The recreation director, said with, I'll admit, some surprise in her voice, "you guys are really good." They donated twenty-five dollars to the club for our efforts. Thanks Riverside Village . They have also asked for a smaller group, 2-3 players, to play for the Nursing Home. I hope to set up this play date in May.

 

A group also played Apr. 6th for the Veterans Home in Winfield. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend. Dwight said it went very well. I can easily believe this as I have participated once in the past, so I know how well organized Lois Liggett is and what a nice job she does as MC. Thanks Lois.
 
April otherwise looks a little scant for play dates right now. Joe and Marie Anderson and Dwight and I plan to play at the Boy Scout Jamboree 30 miles west of Enid Ok on the 14th of Apr. The 14th of April is the date of the regular meeting of GPDA so this creates a bit of a conflict. Of course, we welcome others if they would like to join us at the jamboree. I know the meeting will be first on the list for most. Lonnie Bonnes, your Vice-President extraordinaire, will be officiating. I'll be missing you when it comes time for play around. Have a great time.

 

I am looking forward to the May Play on the 6th of May ,WEATHER PERMITTING, in old town in front of the Warren . Hope lots of you can join us.
Keep looking up. Happy Easter.

 

Pat

 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CORNER:

 

 

A FEW WORDS FROM OUR VP:

Well, April is well upon us and Easter is shining through at the end of a dark week. Alleluia! He is risen indeed! Hope that all your music will reflect the love of Christ. Perhaps many of you will be playing at churches or elsewhere to bring added blessings to different services. That's great!

 

We have our first meeting of Spring coming up on the 14th and I look forward to seeing you there. Don't forget we always have a fun jam session at the end of the morning. Come and join us. I am also looking for volunteers to lead workshops for the Sat. morning meetings. Let me know if you would be able to help out. PLEASE and THANK YOU!

 

It's so nice to see that we have so many play dates available. What an opportunity to share our talents and enjoy doing what we love. Isn't it fun to be a part of these. Of course not everyone can make every play date and that's fine. Fortunately there are enough of us to go around. We love having anyone join us for any of these play dates. If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask any of the officers. See you soon.

 

Lonnie
--- Luana Bonnes
--- lbonne125@earthlink.net

GPDA Meeting Minutes for March 10, 2007

 

Pat H. opened our March business meeting.
Plans for the 3/10 GPDA Fund Raiser were discussed and completed. Those present voted to donate $75 to Faith Lutheran Church for the use of their facility.
 
Larry McDoniel introduced the need for compensation, for the maintenance and repair of the sound equipment which he often loans to GPDA. Larry has generously seen to it that the equipment is delivered to where it is needed. He supervises the set-up and often acts as sound man during performances. The members present voted to compensate Larry the equivalent amount of two workshops.
The members present voted to donate $200 (annual) to Immanuel Baptist Church for allowing GPDA to meet monthly and have our Christmas Dinner in the church.
There was a discussion about GPDA donations to other facilities where GPDA is allowed to meet and jam such as Woodlawn United Methodist Church . It was decided this issue should be resolved by the Board Members.
 
Treasurer, Jim C. announced the treasury balance stands at $2,149.

 

 

Upcoming events Info:
Date - Day - Place - Address - Time

March 17 - Saturday - Brookridge Plaza Apartments - 1259 N. Buckner, Derby , 67037 - 2:00 PM .

March 21 - Wednesday - Riverside Village - 777 N. Mclean Blvd , Wichita , 67203 - 2:00 PM (45 Min.)

April 14th - Saturday - Boy Scout Jamboree - 30 Miles West of Enid , Oklahoma - Play once daytime and once evening.

May 6 - Sunday - Old Town Plaza in front of Warren Theater - 300 N. Mead - Wichita , 67201 - 2:00 PM .

May 7th or 8th - Monday or Tuesday - Senior Sunchaser Camping Club - Winfield Fairgrounds - 7:30 PM. (45 Min.)
 
May 18 and 19 - Friday and Saturday - Jubilee of Acoustic Music - Metro Community College Longview, Lee's Summit, MO - 7:30 AM -All Day and evening. - www.jubileeofacousticmusic.org .

June 10 - Sunday - Valley Center Community Bldg - 316 East Clay St. - Valley Center 67147 - 7:00 PM

Sept 8, - Saturday - Warm Up Picnic - Island Park, Winfield, KS (North end of Main Street) - All Day and Evening.

Sept. 29th - Saturday - Faith Lutheran Church Fall Festival (in Gymnasium) - 214 South Derby Ave., Derby , KS - Time to be announced later.

Other Upcoming Events & Festivals

Monday April 16, 2007    Atwater - Donnelly Duo
Mountain Music Shop 12710 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Shawnee , KS   7-9 PM  $10.00  www.mountainmusicshoppe.com

April 26 - 28 2007 Dulcimer Jamboree  in Mountain View , AR   at the Ozark Folk Center .  www.ozarkfolkcenter.com

April 26 - 28, 2007   14th annual Park City Bluegrasss Festival
www.ParkCityBluegrass.com

Other Information from the Dulcimer world

Emma Chase Café  Cottonwood Falls , KS
Jam - 7:30 PM every Friday - Various types of music

Kansas Bluegrass Association
Monthly meeting/jam  1st Saturday of each month
Immanuel Baptist Church
www.kansasbluegrass.org

Steve Seifert has a live webcast on the Internet, Monday's at 8:00 PM
Music, interviews of other musicians, previous shows available on the website.  www.stephenseifert.com

 

 

REMINDERS

 

GPDA  meeting Saturday April the 14th - Happy half-hour at 9:00 AM prior to meeting at 9:30 for visiting & coffee.

Please send Email address changes to  News Letter editors - Dwayne & Jan Jennings HDJ1933@aol.com , also any items you wish to add to News Letter such as instruments for sale.

 

 

Special Announcement

 

For sale:

I am going to sell my 12 string mandola. It has 4 courses with 3 strings per course. It is tuned CGDA like a viola or tenor banjo. I bought it new from the luthier in Rockport, Maine in 1999. I have not played it much and it needs to be played. It also comes with a new gig bag. It has a beautiful sound. There are only three in existance that I know of. One went to a person in Italy, I have one, and Nick kept the third one. If you are interested or want to see/play it, please let me know. I will have it at Winfield in camp as well.

 

Henry

263-3901