Strings and Things

The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance

Volume XXIV Number Twelve

December 2006

Christmas Time is here Again Ho Ho Ho...!
Here is a Xmas Tune .pdf

FROM OUR PRESIDENT:

 

Hello to all,

   The silly season has arrived.  Seems to be a lot going on this
month.  I'm sure a lot of info will get repeated, but here we go.
Christmas at Cowtown is our yearly favorite, those dates are Dec 1 & 2,
and Dec 8 & 9.  This year we will play from 7:30 to 9pm .  We had a
sign-up sheet at the Nov. meeting, in hopes that not everyone would
show on the same night, so contact Rose to sign up.

  Woodlawn Methodist and the Derby Recreation Center are looking for
folks to play on Dec. 2nd, in the afternoon.  Lonnie is setting up
times for this.  Also the Metropolitan Baptist Church is looking for
players on Dec. 8th in the evening. Contact Pat/ Dwight to get on the
list.

  If that isn't enough, GPDA Christmas meeting is on Dec.9th - 10am to
4pm .  We will have potluck, transfer power, steal gifts, and play music.

   We ended up with some good takes on the club's demo CD, I think
everyone will be happy with it.  Thanks again to Larry for all of his
efforts.Wow, there's a lot going on!!

  We have a great bunch of officers coming on board.  I'm really
excited about next year.  I have enjoyed the last 2 years, but it's
time for some new blood.  Thanks to everyone for the support, special
thanks to Joy Pulver for doing the newsletter for the last several ??
years.

    Last, but not least, it is a very busy time of year, but let's not
forget what we are celebrating.  I hope all of you had a wonderful
Thanksgiving

  We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Enjoy the music while you can, before they figure out how to tax that too.
 
Prez Joe & First Lady Marie

 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CORNER:

 

A FEW WORDS FROM OUR VP:

A warm holiday greeting to all,

I hope that everyone had a Peaceful and safe Thanksgiving. It is hard
to believe nearly three month have passed since we were camping on the
fairgrounds of Winfield.  It is even more difficult to believe that two
years have passed since the current board took office.  I want to thank
each of our members for the patience and support you gave to us.
Please know it has been a tremendous help and greatly appreciated.  I
am sure your support will continue on with the new slate of officers.
We are fortunate to have a good group stepping forward, and I wish them
well.

A special note to my fellow board members:  I thank you for your
tireless efforts and always looking out for the good of the Club.  It
has been a pleasure to serve with you.

This month's meeting will be our annual GPDA Christmas party!  Please
note the different earlier starting time - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in
the  lower level of the church building.  (Just follow the GPDA
directional signs to the party location.)  Bring your favorite dish to
share, and a song on your finger tips!  We will celebrate the beginning
of this beautiful season together.

Thank you again for your support and being members of GPDA.

Till we play again, may Peace be with you.

Chuck

SECRETARY'S NOTES FROM November MEETING:

GPDA Minutes for November 11, 2006 Meeting

-Acting Secretary, Rose read the minutes.
-Larry gave the Treasurer' Report.   The balance stands  at $2,221.09.
-Joe reminded us that there are still some CD's available, which Dwight
recorded while our group played at the Metropolitan Church .   $5 each .
 
We welcomed a new guest to our meeting.  Pamela Bennett from Kansas City .
 
Election of the nominated officers for 2007 was unanimous.  Pres - Pat
H., Vice Pres - Lonnie B., Treas - Jim C., Sec - Rose H.
 
We are invited to play for Christmas at Cowtown in the church again
this year.  The dates are December 1, 2, 8, and 9.   NOTE that our
playing times have changed this year because we will be preceded by a
church choir.   This year we will play from 7:30 PM until 9:00 PM . 
Our costumes must be as close to period dress as possible.   Men should
wear white shirts and black trousers.  Women wear white tops and black
skirts.  Members signed a sign-up sheet, and it will be sent out later.
 If you did not get signed up and want to play, e-mail me which dates
and I will sign you up.
 
Pat Harrington called for volunteers to play for the Metropolitan
Baptist Church Christmas dinner on Dec 8th, at 525 West Douglas. 
Please arrive at 6:45 p.m. to play from 7:00 to 7:45 p.m. in the Church
Parlor.   Enter the parking lot from the west side, enter north door
and turn left at office.  The church will try to have three mics
available.  Refreshments are not being served.  Jan, Dwayne, Joe,
Marie, Pat and Dwight have signed up.
 
Our own Club Potluck Christmas dinner is scheduled for December 9th.
Members are asked to bring food and a $5 gift if you wish to
participate in the Round-Robin-Swipe-a-Gift game.  Be sure to bring
instruments for the after-dinner jam.
 
The Winterfest Jam is scheduled for Saturday, January 20th.  Jan will
reserve the pavilion at Lake Afton .
 
Joe announced that Coleen & Neil Walters will give a concert and
possibly some workshops at Immanuel Baptist Church on Thursday,
February 22nd.   Admission is $10.00 for the concert or a combination
of a workshop and the concert will be $18.00.

 

I did talk to Coleen Walters and they are willing to do a workshop or two but I will need

you to email me that you will be taking a workshop and your preferred workshop.

I am concerned about the use of the church.    The Hillside church is closed and winterized

and can not be used.   I will send the location and times in the near future.

MEMBER NEWS:

Sharon Scheffler reports that her husband, Bill had very successful
bypass surgery.  His recovery is going well, and he may get to come
home this coming weekend.  She sends thanks for all the prayers. 

GOOD NEWS: 
The GPDA website is up and going strong.  Henry Lippincott reports that
he took a look at the stats  for gpda.org, and the website is getting
right at 1,000 visits per month.  That's about 30-35 visits per day.
They are looking at the newsletter, local events, photos and listening
in to the tunes. He said we will have to post the club demo CD when
it's ready to generate a few extra bucks.  Henry also suggested that we  might want to consider
pooling some photos to update the Photos Section.

 

• Campground Music Radio and Carpcamp Music Radio both coming in January 07 ( I hope)

 

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