Strings and Things

The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance

Volume XXV Number Six

June 2007


FROM OUR PRESIDENT:

 


From your bum ditty Barnabus and President Pat :


June is nearly here and I can hardly wait for up coming playing opportunities. Watson park for Jackie Stewart's Minister on June 3rd at 1:30 to play. Come a little early to set up. Summer retreat (Midsummer Nights Jam) Valley Center Community Building in Valley Center June 10th 7 to 11 pm , to name a couple. May was an interesting month for performances.


Thanks to all who played at the Winfield Fairgrounds for the Sun Chasers camping group. We had a very nice turn out of players. A few of us went early and participated in the pot luck. The food was just great. They were gathered in the north room under the grandstands. They had a stage set up for us so playing conditions were very good. They had a short memorial service for recently deceased club members. It was nicely done and spoke well of their club that they attend to matters of loss and grief. Our playing went quite well especially with the addition of Brett on the fiddle. The Sun Chasers very generously donated  $75.00 to our club. Thanks Sun Chasers and thanks to Glenn for setting up this play date.


Thanks to all who stood by me for the attack of the leaf blowers. For those unaware, when we went to play in old town in front of the Warren Theater , they were cleaning up in preparation for Riverfest. We were promptly surrounded by men with leaf blowers and a small street cleaner not to mention the splashing of the fountain. Needless to say we may as well have been playing without strings. The noise became so overwhelming that it was comical. We made a hasty retreat and rejoined ranks in front of the Museum of World Treasures . It was very peaceful there. We sat under a shade tree and jammed for better than an hour. This was quite pleasant. Late in the afternoon, threatening weather arose to the south. We once again relinquished our position, this time for the safety of our homes. Just goes to show, we are, if nothing else, persistent.


Thanks to those who came to play at the evening performance at Brookridge Plaza on May 17th. We played at 7pm so Toni could join us after work. I think the residents really enjoyed her being there as did we. Lonnie brought her 2 year old grandson, Blake. It was neat to see him interact with the audience, especially his great grandmother, Alma Bonnes, who is a resident at Brookridge Plaza . Blake was so cute when he joined us with his little red and blue maracas. Josh came straight from his soccer game, still in uniform. Thanks Josh for that sacrifice. You are a welcome and treasured member of our group. The playing went well and it was a fun night. Thanks Toni for bringing cookies. They were very festive and good.


A few of us went for the memorial day camp out at Winfield Fairgrounds hosted by Carp Camp. We had some good dulcimer jamming with Melanie who sometimes joins us on Tue. nights with her banjo. It was a little damp on Sunday but they had large awnings set up which worked nicely to keep food and instruments dry. Playing by Carp Camp was, as usual, very exhilarating. It is nice to listen to and if you try hard you can get a note or two in edgewise. Thanks to Carp Camp for including us.
Oh, the possibilities. Come and play music together.
 
Pat

 

 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CORNER:

 

 

(2 cents worth - from the V P)

 

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend even if you did get wet. Any of you who were camping may have done just that. We stayed home with our family and ate inside just to play it safe. That's right - some of us are big chickens when it comes to creature comforts. I only camp out for the Bluegrass Festival!


Summer is just around the corner and the mosquitoes are already humming. The birds are singing. Soon those annoying June bugs will be bouncing off your windows and screen doors and the summer heat will bring the loud buzzing of the locusts. Everybody has to make music one way or another! Hope you are making music 3 - 7 times a week. Have fun with it!
The Hammer players are once again getting together to play at each other's home so if you want to join us, contact Pat, Marie or Lonnie by phone or email.
This month at the meeting on June 9th we will be playing "The Fiddler Played His Last Tune" from our GPDA play book. Bring it along and we'll learn and jam together following the meeting.


INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE : I have three hammer dulcimers and one guitar for sale. Look for more info in the following paragraphs. Please call or e mail me if you have any questions: 788-0283 or lbonne125@earthlink.net


NEEDED: Volunteers for the Warm Up Picnic! Step right up and help us out. There is a lot of fun and fellowship involved if we do this together. It's all about the music!

 

Your V. P.
Lonnie



GPDA Meeting Minutes for April 14, 2007

 


GPDA Meeting Minutes for May 12, 2007
Pat opened the meeting.
Treasury Bank Account and Petty cash balance is $2921.55.
We received donations from the Riverside Village Nursing home and the Sunchasers Camping club.
We received word that our club logo can be embroidered on clothing for $14.00 each.
Sharon Sparks asked for a meeting at her house on May 31st to talk about GPDA playing at her dance club's fundraiser.
Our club members books will be ready at June 9th meeting.
Pat announced that Becky Locks mother passed away and she sent a sympathy card from the club.
Also Mr. Kilmer is scheduled to have brain surgery on May 23rd.

Contact: Pat Schwarz, 316-945-3456 or pfschwarz@cox.net

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Upcoming Play Opportunities

June 3rd - Sunday - A going away party for Jacquie Stewart's church pastor - Watson Park - 3055 South Lawrence Road - 1:15 to 2:30 P.M., Meal Included. - RSVP to Jacquie Stewart at 316-788-9262 or jacquiestewart1@juno.com
June 10 - Sunday - Valley Center Community Bldg - 316 East Clay St. - Valley Center 67147 - 7:00 PM.
June 14 & 21, July19 - Thursdays - Girl Scout Camp @ Cowtown Museum - 2:00 P.M.
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.
Meeting adjourned and members commenced to play.

 

                             Other Upcoming Events & Festivals

June 7 - 9 2007 American Heritage Music Festival Grove , OK   
www.granlakefestivals.com   Email: grandlakefestivals@hotmail.com

June 9, 2007
KBA mini-fest
Bluegrass Patriots at Chitwood's Barn
910 N. Sumner Rd.   Conway Springs, KS
620-456-2373

June 10 - Sunday - A Mid-Summer Nights Jam - Valley Center Community Bldg - 316 East Clay St. - Valley Center 67147 - 7:00 PM . A late Spring Retreat.

June 11,2007   Cowtown Volunteer Corps Meeting  6:30 PM   Turnverein Hall

June 14th -Thursday- Girl Scouts Cowtown 2:00 PM

June 15 & 16, 2007
Brown County Breakdown Bluegrass Festival
Fairview City Park , Fairview , KS
www.johnjokeim.com
 
June 21st -Thursday- Girl Scouts Cowtown 2:00 PM
 
July 1st -Sunday - Chisholm Trail Festival- Athletic Park at 1st & Grandview in Newton KS- Time to be announced.

July 19th - Thursday- Girl Scouts Cowtown 2:00 PM

September 29th- The last Saturday. Fall Festival.- Faith Lutheran Church , 214 S Derby Ave. Derby KS . In the gymnasium. Time to be announced.

November 17th - Saturday- Emporia Fairgrounds Fall Festival-Anderson Building .

Kansas Bluegrass Association Campout List
June 15 - 17 Spring Lake
July 20 - 22 Marion Lake
August 17 - 19 Spring Lake
September - No Picnic See you at the WVF
October 19 - 21 Winfield , KS
Contact Ed Hill 316-214-2694 for additional info.
              
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

 

REMINDERS GPDA  meeting Saturday June 9, 2007- 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.


 

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.

 

Special Announcement

 


For sale:

I have three instruments for sale to an interested party. These belong to friend/family members who don't play them.
# 1 is a Masterworks (Russell Cook) Hammer Dulcimer---16-15, 2 strings per note, 14 lbs, with stand, 3 or 4 years old. Like new. Paid $900.
#2 is a Dusty Strings hammer dulcimer, 12 - 11 - not sure about stand or case etc. but will find out if you are interested. There are some books with these.
#3 is a Kent guitar - 6 strings (needs new ones) and picks, case and beginner books. Very good condition. Auditorium style.
If your are interested in any of these or would like more info let me know at my e mail address.
Thanks,
Lonnie

 

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. Home 263-3901 Cell 640-8295.

Henry

263-3901