Strings and Things

The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance

Volume XXV Number Eight

August 2008

FROM OUR PRESIDENT:

 

From your hot pickin' pal and pres. (Alack and Alas, I refer to ambient temperature):
 
Here we are just a few weeks from the warm up picnic. Hard to believe it's nearly a year since the last. Plans are coming well, thanks to lots of good help and suggestions for which I am very grateful. The WUP program will be pretty much the same as last year. There will be work shops in the morning and early afternoon. Lunch will be available at cost with jamming afterwards. Open mic comes next, then potluck supper. The evening concert by the workshop leaders will go until about 10pm .  People are already volunteering to help with things. What a blessing.
 
The gospel sing-alongs at senior facilities have been going quite well. Toni and Jim have put a mountain of energy into it. I think the residents realize and appreciate it as do we. The instrumental keeps sounding better and better. The vocal has a very characteristic sound which I truly think is a joyful noise unto the Lord. In the seasoned voices of the residents is a world of experience. Their longevity and choice of music make up a testament.
 
Richard Taylor is doing a great job as secretary. I think he has most of us signed into the Yahoo group now. He has given a lot of technical support for this and it is much appreciated. The calendar function with its associated reminders has made scheduling play dates a lot easier. Hope you all have enjoyed the pictures. Thanks Dwight. Thanks again Richard for all you do.
 
Coming up on Sunday, August 10 , we have the opportunity to play on stage at the Cowtown visitors center. I think this is a great chance to show the public who we are and what we do. Hope to see many of you there.
 
A group of us played for the last Girl Scouts at Cowtown program for this year on the 25th of July. There was a nice turn out of players and as usual it went well. It is a joy to participate in this program. Thanks Girl Scouts.
 
A group of us did a gospel sing along at Peach Tree in Haysville on July 26th. Cathy Coit joined us.   It's so nice to have a soprano. It all went well. Jim Warren brought some gifts and presented them for correct answers to a few hymn related questions. This was very well received by the residents who really responded to the game show atmosphere of this part of the program. Toni again brought her now famous butter cookies to share after the sing along. Thanks Toni and Jim.

Condolences to Virginia Young and her family on the loss of her father.

Stay cool. Hope to see you on the 9th.

Pat

 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CORNER:

 

 

Two cents worth from your V.P.

By the time August rolls in with it's intense heat, many of you have been on vacation, are preparing for vacation or are traveling somewhere right now. It's a fun time for doing something different or something you've done many times and love to do it again. Just don't forget to take along your favorite instrument and play, play, play. I really enjoy taking mine along to Iowa for family reunions and time together with friends and other jammers.

We have had quite a few play dates recently and we have enjoyed them a lot. Thanks to all who have the time to participate when you have been available to do so. Sometimes it takes a little effort to get to where we are supposed to be but it's always enjoyed by the listeners and by those of us performing. Watch for up coming play dates on the calendar. Thanks to Richard for the Yahoo calendar and reminder notes.

We have our BIG GIG coming up next month with the Warm Up Picnic on Sept. 13th in the Winfield Park. If you have never been before, don't miss out on this fun activity. We have many great workshops offered and jam time and food and fun. Come for the whole day and evening concert or just a couple of hours.  Reminder: We will be needing many helpers at the Warm Up Picnic and please be generous with your food contributions for the evening pot luck. The meat will be provided by the club (thanks to Steve Madorin). We need many side dishes especially. Continue to watch for update notes on your email. Pat and I will take care of the noon meal but could use some extra hands. Please call or email me for questions or if you would like to help.

Your V.P. Lonnie
 

 

 

 

Playing Opportunities

Play Date at Cowtown: Sunday August 10, 2008 , 11:30 am - 1:00 pm .  We have been asked to play at the Cowtown Visitors Center during brunch on August 10th . We will play the regular play list.
 
We have scheduled to play our Traditional music set on Friday, August 15, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. at Cherry Creek Retirement Village . The address is 8200 E. Pawnee in Wichita . This is the 2 story building to the east, there is a green awning with the facility's name. Please plan to arrive by 1:45 to set up. Please let Pat or Richard know you are coming if you haven't already responded. Thanks!
 
Hymn Sings at Care homes, call Toni Warren for dates & further information.

                        
Upcoming Events & Festivals

August events at The Mountain Music Shoppe (Jim Curley) 12710 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee, KS :
www.mountainmusicshoppe.com <http://www.mountainmusicshoppe.com>

August 3-9, 2008:   Swannanoa Gathering Dulcimer Week   Asheville, NC   www.swangathering.com <http://www.swangathering.com/>    gathering@warren-wilson.edu <mailto:gathering@warren-wilson.edu>  (a long way from KS, but another big dulcimer event)

Ozark Folk Center .   Mountain View , Arkansas   www.ozarkfolkcenter.com/events-calendar/ <http://www.ozarkfolkcenter.com/events-calendar/>  Events at the center: August 4-7,2008 : Hammered Dulcimer workshops. For information: 870-269-3851

 
August 15-16, 2008 : Little Rock Dulcimer Getaway   Little Rock, AR www.arkansasdulcimersociety.com <http://www.arkansasdulcimersociety.com>

August 15-17,2008 :  KBA Pickin' Picnic Spring Lake RV Resort, Halstead, KS   316-835-3443

August 23 - 24, 2008 :   Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships.   Lawrence , KS .   Contests, Concerts and workshops - clogging, mandolin, fiddle, contra dance calling, hammered dulcimer (Linda Thomas is the instructor for HD)  
www.KansasFiddlingAndPicking.org <http://www.KansasFiddlingAndPicking.org>

September 13, 2008 :  GPDA Winfield Warm-up Picnic 9:00 am  - 10:00 pm .   All day workshops beginning at 9:00 am , pot luck dinner, evening concert.

September 17 thru 21, 2008: Walnut Valley Festival , Winfield , KS www.wvfest.com <http://www.wvfest.com>

Web Sites of Interest:

www.dulcimercentral.com <http://www.dulcimercentral.com>  (Gary Gallier)  
www.Folkjam.org <http://www.Folkjam.org>  (local jam sessions nationwide)
www.everythingdulcimer.com <http://www.everythingdulcimer.com> ( lots of good stuff)
www.dpnews.com <http://www.dpnews.com>  (Dulcimer Players News)

EDITOR'S NOTE:
We've already received a donation for the drawing at the Warm-up Picnic - a CD from Aubrey Atwater,  “The Halfway Ground”, by Aubrey and her husband Elwood Donnelley's old- time gospel group “Jerimoth Hill”, with 5 part harmony.  Atwater-Donnelley are wonderful musicians, also performing as a duo & do everything - Celtic, folk, bluegrass, traditional, gospel & Aubrey is an accomplished clogger/jig dancer.  Their web site is:
 www.atwater-donnelly.com <http://www.atwater-donnelly.com>   We hope to see them performing at Winfield one of these days - please add them to your performer requests on the questionnaire at the Walnut Valley Festival.  They are great entertainers and have been very supportive of  the GPDA.

Attention beginning fiddle players:  Ken Stidham is planning to bring his fiddle to the August 9th GPDA meeting & will give you some tips on playing.  Be sure & bring your fiddles if you are interested.

Cowtown News

The word from Cowtown is that we may once again use the west parking lot, but be sure to latch the drive thru gate behind your car.  Sign in at the McGinn volunteer center.  Unless we hear otherwise, the visitor's parking lot is still OK to park in if closer to where you are going.

Sheri Gaskins is the new Volunteer Coordinator
Old Cowtown Museum
1871 Sim Park Drive
Wichita , KS 67203
Ph: 316-350-3317  SGaskins@wichita.gov <mailto:SGaskins@wichita.gov>

 

REMINDERS

GPDA August meeting at Immanuel Baptist Church 1415 S. Topeka Wichita, KS  Saturday,  August 9, 2008  9:30 - 12:30, Happy ½ hour coffee at 9:00 to 9:30.

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

 

 

Special Announcement

 

FOR SALE

Phyllis Watters has an Oscar Schmidt Auto Harp with case, also a full set of strings for sale. The price is $200.00.  Contact her at  captainswharf@cox.net <mailto:captainswharf@cox.net>