Strings and Things

The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance

Volume XXVI Number One

Janiary 2008

Happy New Year !

FROM OUR PRESIDENT:

From your fellow caroler and  pickin' present president:

 

Hope everyone had a great Christmas . What a wonderful time of year, so colorful and cheery. How fortunate we are to be able to celebrate the spirit so liberally. Now it all starts anew. I can hardly wait for 2008. Again I thank all of you for the opportunity to serve you as president. Oh, the possibilities. I'm really looking forward to a new year of sharing music and enjoying each others company.

 

December brought lots of play opportunities. There were two on Dec. 1st that I mentioned in the last Strings and Things.

Dec. 8th was a very full day with the annual Christmas party, the club 25th anniversary celebration and an evening performance at Cowtown . I really want to thank all who brought cakes for the contest. What a great display of the talent, creativity, and motivation of our club members. I had a very difficult time picking a winner with the jackpot going to Joy Pulver for the hammered dulcimer cake. Other entries included a stained glass nativity cake by the Bloyers, an autoharp cake by Dwight, and two splendid mountain dulcimer cakes one from Toni Warren and one from David Colluci. I commend all who participated. I know a lot of effort went into this. Lots of folks participated in the gift exchange and there were some pretty imaginative gifts.

For the 25th Anniversary Celebration, Joe and Marie Anderson set out a beautiful table done in silver and white. There was a cake and punch. The table was accented with silver wrapped Hershey's kisses. Joe gave a bit of the history of the club and then presented founding members and past presidents with commemorative mugs. These are nicely done in dark blue and silver gray. We have extras as there was a minimum purchase requirement. I believe we have still in excess of 50 cups to unload (oh, I mean offer). So don't be shy, step right up and purchase yours today. See the Anderson 's about price and availability. Thanks to Joe and Marie for spear heading this part of the festivities. I recognized three outstanding people in the club with certificates. Joe Anderson for being such a great and willing emcee, Lois Liggett for being such a good and gracious hostess and Richard Taylor for his loyal and consistant attendance at play dates. Thanks again to these individuals and to all who have done the many things that have made the club successful and such a special place to be this year.

 

A little more than half a dozen of us braved the bitter cold and played at Cowtown on the night of the eighth. I was amazed that there were some visitors who came in and we even had a few groups of jinglers. Much of the time, however, we talked or played as we wished. There was an odd sort of intimacy about being gathered there. It was as if we were by true necessity together in that little church on the prairie just holding the elements at bay. Perhaps that prompted our meeting at the Village Inn restaurant after we played. It was a very pleasant time.

On the 12th of Dec. , though much of Kansas was in a state of emergency due to the ice storm and associated power outages, we got little enough of it in Wichita and the surrounding area that we were able to play at Brookridge Plaza in the afternoon. We played and sang Christmas carols. Many of the residents also sang. Some of the residents had made snacks for us. It was a very good time for all. Thanks to Lonnie for setting up this play date.

On the 23rd of Dec. a group of us played for the breakfast at Woodlawn Methodist Church , the site of the free Tue. night jam. This was very relaxed as we were background music for the breakfast. Playing went well. We were invited to eat breakfast for our efforts. It was quite scrumptious and they are very organized in serving. The Jennings and I stayed for the service which was very good. There were two skits by teenage children. One dealt with self concept and the other was a dance performed by girls emphasizing empowerment and respect. There is hope.

We have been invited to play at the Winfield Veterans Home at 2pm on Thursday, 3 Jan. Hope to see many of you there. Don't forget the GPDA Retreat on January 19th!

I'm looking forward to another enjoyable year.

 

Pat

 

 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CORNER:

 

Happy New Year One and All from your V. P.

 

Tis the time for resolutions and making changes and turning corners to new and better places in our lives. Hopefully you all have some plans of development of character/figure/relationships/faith/talents/habits etc.
Whatever your spot in life, I wish you the very best year yet. God's blessings in all you desire for 2008!

 

Just a reminder of the PURPOSE of our organization (in a nut shell):
To stimulate and perpetuate an interest in acoustic instruments. To promote and advance the art and enjoyment of acoustic instruments, Folk and Traditional Music. To educate and provide services related to acoustic instruments. To foster the preservation and enjoyment of Folk and Traditional music. Keep these in mind as we go through the new year as musicians representing the Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance. :-)
 
Now is the time to get a great discount on the Walnut Valley Festival tickets. Buy now and save $10.00 per ticket. No, I'm not working for them. I'm just a penny pincher and I WILL be there Sept. 17 - 21!
Don't forget our monthly meeting on Jan. 12th at 9:30 . Start the year off right with perfect attendance. Ha! We hope to see you there to help us make plans for 2008. We need all of you to muliply the fun we have. :-)
Our weekly jam begins on Jan. 8th, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Woodlawn United Methodist Church in Derby . Come join the regulars for lots of fun and fellowship every Tues. night or whenever you can make it. We share and learn new songs and play old favorites.

 

This month we have an annual favorite on our calendar. The January Retreat at the Lake Afton shelter. This usually begins around 10:00 a.m. and lasts as long as we do. :-) Bring pot luck to share and all your instruments and music. Friends and family are welcome (as long as they love music). Last year was my first year and quite a challenge to drive there and back in a nasty Jan. snow storm. But it was so worth it. What a great day with friends around the huge fireplace; playing, singing, smiling, eating, just enjoying each others company and being in a lovely shelter from the snow storm. It was so wonderful. I hope that more of you can make it this year. We had enough food last year to feed us for about a month if we got snowed in, so if you only have a loaf of bread in your cupboard, bring it along and come join us. What a great day for all who attended this fun and fabulous outing.

 

On a sad note, we extend our sympathy to the family of Richard Taylor on the loss of his mother.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

From the desk of your V. P., Lonnie

 

GPDA Meeting Minutes for December

 

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

 

January 4 - January 6, 2008 14th Annual Dulcimer Retreat, Sam Houston State University , Huntsville , TX   www.dulcimerhouse.com SSDulcHse@aol.com

 

January 17 - 20, 2008   Jam at Perrin , TX    Harps, Hammers and Friends email hdj1933@aol.com if you are interested & I will give you further information.

 

January 19, 2008   Lake Afton GPDA Music Retreat 10:00 am - ?? at the large shelter on the west side of the lake.  Bring soup for lunch & pot luck for dinner. Jamming all day long.

 

February 1, 2008 5th Annual Colorado Dulcimer Festival  Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church  Fort Collins, CO   www.owlmountainmusic.com   steve@owlmountainmusic.com

 

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

 

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

 

Hammered Dulcimer Players:  The Beginning Hammered Dulcimer books we ordered from Linda Lowe Thompson are here.  You can pick them up from Jan Jennings 1743 Tiara Pines in Derby (call 788-9504 to make sure we're home) or we will bring them to the Tuesday night Jam, GPDA meeting, and Retreat at Lake Afton. We only have books for those who ordered them - you know who you are. You can check the book out on Linda's web site:  lindalowethompson.com    Phyllis and Glen Watters also have some books by Linda, as well as others. 

 

GPDA T-shirts still available (size med. are here) Sweat shirt orders will be taken at the club meeting. Sizes run large. Prices: small thru x-lg without hood are $16.00, with hood, $22.50. Size xxl without hood is $18.00. We have ONE large hoodie available right now. See Lonnie.

 

GPDA 25th Anniversary Mugs 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.