Strings and Things

The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance

Volume XXVI Number Two

Febuary 2008

FROM OUR PRESIDENT:


From your hammerin' on pickin' pal and pres :

 

Well here we are in the new year. What a blessing to have music be a part of it. I did a little review of '07 and found that we had performed at least 43 times. The most frequent participants were; Richard Taylor, Dwight Harrington, Dwayne and Jan Jennings, Joe and Marie Anderson, Lonnie Bonnes and Jim Collucci. Many other members also performed. The member traveling the furthest to play some music with us was Matt Naas from Calif. I really appreciate the effort expended on play dates and also meeting days. It is indeed a pleasure to serve you.


Thanks to those who played at the Veterans Home in Winfield on 3 Jan. for their New Year celebration. Playing went well but we missed Lois. Hope she can come next time. We were invited to join in their New Year party including cake and hot spiced apple juice. Thanks to the Veterans and staff. ( Thanks Maggie )


On Jan. 19th we had the winter retreat at Afton Lake . What a pleasant time of fellowship and music. The food was great and plentiful. As someone remarked, if we got snowed in we wouldn't get hungry for a month. But this year, the sun shone on the lake. It was quite cold so the fire felt good, but no snow this year. The event was quite well attended. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Thanks to those who helped teach in small groups. Thanks to those who helped tote and clean.


On the 28th of Jan. a group of us played at Wheatland Elementary School in Valley Center for their Kansas Day Celebration. This year we played in the library so it was a bit more spacious than before. They had ordered pizza for us and brought salad and desserts. Several of the faculty members ate with us. It was a very nice luncheon. We played for two classes of fourth graders. They were well behaved and participated well. They all seemed to know "Home On The Range". Jim Colluci did a solo of "Lay Down Little Doggies" and the children seemed to like singing along on the chorus. Joyce Bloyer came all the way from Winfield and brought Anne with her Mt. Dulcimer . She also brought Anne's little sisters Katrina and Stephanie who played rhythm on maracas. We had a bit of a mix up on costume created by yours truly. Half were in GPDA yellow and black and half of us in Cowtown black and white. I can't say I was disappointed as Joyce's children were adorable in the black and white. We are thankful for their participation. No better way to communicate to our child audience that children enjoy playing music. Thanks to Katrina, Stephanie and Anne for being our ambassadors to the world of children.


We also had a treat with the addition of stand up base by Michelle Yoder.
Overall the program went quite well. Thanks to all who came and played. Thanks to Jim Colluci for organizing the play date and thanks to Wheatland Elementary for including us.


The Spring Concert is coming right up. It will be at Faith Lutheran Church in Derby again this year from 6:30 to 10:00 pm . I am going to ask only $5.00 per person to attend this year. Again it will be a pot luck supper. Please be a little generous in the amount on your dishes as we will not ask nonmembers to bring food. I am planning to offer Bingo this year to spice things up and kill some dead air. As I said at the meeting, we are coming to realize that the attendees are almost all club members. I hope this will foster a family atmosphere that will let people feel quite at ease to perform. The Newbie Hammered Dulcimers will be performing, so get yourself up a group, practice a couple of tunes and take this opportunity to practice performing. It is really a nice evening out in a smoke free, alcohol free atmosphere. Come join us.


Feb. play opportunities are listed in that section of the news letter.
Stay warm, see you soon.

 

Pat

 

 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CORNER:

 

Happy Valentines Day to all of you!

Be sure to bring your sweetheart to the meeting on the 9th of Feb.


For the few of you who did not attend the Winter Retreat - Boy, did you miss a good one! We had a great turn out, great food, awesome music and some superior friends and fellowship! It was so much fun. Put it on your schedule for next year.


Guess what is coming up next month? Our annual Spring Fun-Raiser Concert! I'm really getting excited about it! We already have a few acts lined up and we are waiting for many more. Come on, don't be shy. This is your time to shine. Once again, this year it will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in the Fellowship Hall located at 214 So. Derby St. in Derby . You will find the church about four blocks East of Sig's Meat Market at K-15 and Kay St . More directions later. The date is March 8th and will begin at 6:30 p.m. We will have Food, Fun and Fine Music! Be sure to invite lots of friends and family members. This year the suggested donation is only $5.00 per head! That's a half price deal. Be sure to bring lots of food to share for the pot luck and snacking.


This month's meeting will be focused on chording for the mountain dulcimer. See you then.

 

Lonnie, the VP

 




GPDA Meeting Minutes for January

January 12
GPDA Spring Concert will be on March 8th. Location to come.
Dues for 2008 are due. $12.00


Rosetta's sister's Birthday party is February 9th. Please come to play from 5:15 pm. until 6:30 pm . After that enjoy the food. Flyer is attached.
Music packets have gone up to $14 which is cost. Anniversary cups are $5.00 which is cost.


Your information for the club membership book is due March 8th. If you do not get it in, you will not be in the book. I don't know who you are suppose to turn the info in to.


Larry McDoniel will be sending out info about a New Jam.
Rodeo Coliseum might not be happening this year.
Sue from Winfield Library has asked us to play this Spring.
Rose

 

  Sharon Mallory's 70th Birthday is coming up soon!

We, her daughter Lecia and her sister Rosetta, cordially invite you to celebrate with us at a…  Chili and Soup Supper

 

Date:     Saturday, February 9, 2008

 

Time:     5:30 P.M. until 7:30 P.M.

 

Dress:    Jeans/Slacks Casual
 
Place:    Hyde Park Pavilion,  201 South Greenwood ,  Wichita , KS , 67201

 

The Pavilion is enclosed, heated and has one bathroom. There is an adjacent playground which can be viewed from the South windows.   Hyde Park is East of downtown Wichita , 1 block South of Douglas and 1 block West of Hydraulic.

R.S.V.P  to Rosetta Havely  at email:  rosenelly@peoplepc.com
Phone:      316-684-4508
Address:   415 North Clifton , Wichita , KS   67208
No Gifts Please!
We really hope you can join us and we would appreciate knowing how many can come. Your response will help us to plan for food and seating.
We all look forward to seeing you.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

Cowtown Volunteer Opportunities/Playing Opportunities

 

Volunteer opportunities contact Amy Loch at 660-1878  Most Cowtown activities resume in the Spring.
                       

Other Upcoming Events & Festivals

 

Feb 1,2008 ( Friday pm) some club members plan to attend the jam at Cottonwood falls at the Emma Chase Café, weather permitting.  Meet at 6:00 pm for supper, jamming at 7:00 pm .

 

February 9, 2008 5:30 to 7:30   play for Rose Havely's sister's birthday party, see information flyer above.
 
February 8 & 9, 2008  Winter Festival of Acoustic Music, Irving, TX  Lone Star Dulcimer Society  email LLT6@earthlink.net

 

February 15 & 16, 2008 Bluegrass at the Marriott  advance weekend tickets- $40.00 until Feb. 6, 2008 - at the door $45.00.  

 

February 17, 2008   Winfield Library play date.  Library will be open at 1:00 for set up.

 

February 22, 2008   Possible play date in Newton - see Glen for further information.
 
March 6 - 9, 2008   7th Lagniappe Dulcimer Society Fete  Port Allen, LA  email pdpayne@att.net    www.lagniappedulcimer.com

 

March 8, 2008 GPDA Spring Concert at Faith Lutheran Church in Derby . 6:30 to 10:00 PM   club members bring a pot luck dish. Music,  Bingo, & fun.

 

March 27 - 29, 2008   Palestine Old Time Music and Dulcimer Festival Palestine, TX  email pickinwright@yahoo.com   www.geocities.com/palestinefestival/    editors note: even if you don't plan a trip to Texas , go to this website & read Jerry Wright's page on the festival!  This is a FUN festival with tons of jamming & great, friendly Texas people.

 

April 24-26, 2008 Ozark Folk Center Dulcimer Jamboree & Workshops.  Mountain View , Arkansas   www.ozarkfolkcenter.com/events-calendar/   (other upcoming events at the center: June 9-12, Autoharp, July 21-24, Mt. Dulcimer workshops, Aug 4-7, Hammered Dulcimer workshops.)

 

May 2-4, 2008   Branson Spring Dulcimer social  Branson , MO   mustoncompany@aol.com   www.musicmountaindulcimers.com

 


Ongoing Jams & events


Tuesday Night Jam Woodlawn United Methodist Church , Derby , KS  431 S. Woodlawn, Derby ,  Choir room 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

 

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

 

Garden City jam third Thursday 7-9:00 PM Kadee's Coffee Break  210 East Spruce,  Garden City    Folk and Bluegrass .

 

Arkansas City Bluegrass & Country Jam  Monday 7 - 9 PM   Cherokee Strip Museum  620-442-2107

 


REMINDERS

 

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

 

Please turn in information (new addresses, email, etc) that you want in the 2008 membership directory to Marie Anderson -email jmanderson95@embarqmail.com by March 8, 2008 .

 

GPDA 25th Anniversary mugs are on sale now!!

 

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.
  
P.S. Check out the cover of the Winter 2008 Dulcimer Players News - your Newsletter editors are on the cover (where we don't know - it's a mosaic, with hundreds of photos!) If you find us, please let us know!

 

Here are a couple of neat photo's, taken by Marie Anderson at the Winter Retreat. 


 


 

Info on Local Jam Sessions:

 

Mondays: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Old Chicago East at Kellogg & Rock Road. Irish/Celtic/whatever Jam. All level players welcome. Come and see the Corry Academy of Irish Dancers perform. This is a great place to play!

Tuesday: 7:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. at Derby Woodlawn United Methodist Church, 431 S. Woodlawn. Mountain Dulcimer Jam with accompaniment welcomed (guitars, etc.) All levels.

Thursday: 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m at Java Villa, 7812 E. Harry. Irish Jam. Intermediate to Advanced level. See above for food commercial.