Strings and Things

The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains O'Dulcimer Alliance

Volume XXII Number Three

March 2004

 

 

FROM OUR PRESIDENT:

 

The birds are singing and the most beautiful rosy breasted robin bopped around in my front yard earlier this week. Yes, spring is right around the corner. I am so excited to be thinking of all the fun times ahead for all of us at the GPDA this year. I was very pleased to see the turn out that we had at the Lake Afton Winter Retreat. The weather was absolutely wonderful for our day, sometimes too warm for a fire, but we had one anyway. :) What's a winter jam without a fire? I loved the music and having familiar and new faces made the day very special. Thanks to Teresa and Marc for heading the committee and pulling it all together, to Barb for sending out all the announcements at a second's notice, and Glenn for posting our signs. Thank you to all that came and supported the event.

Now for the big event of March. Larry is working very hard to coordinate with folks and bring us a fantastic evening of talent and wonderful entertainment. I personally am looking forward to Saturday, March 13. I have my calendar marked and I hope you do too.

Remember to join us the morning of March 13 th for the meeting at Immanual Baptist. Sounds like Joe has us lined up for some great workshops, so don't miss them!!

See you then,

 

 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CORNER:

 

For those of you that missed the winter jam, we had a great time. The building at Lake Afton is not only the right size, but you get a nice view of the lake (frozen). I personally love the fireplace. Onward and upward. Iron Horse benefit concert coming up 3/13/04. Mark your calendars. Looks like we will have plenty of variety on stage, and I'm looking forward to an entertaining evening. That day (3/13/04) is also the club meeting day. After a brief bus. meeting we will get right to workshops. Marie Anderson is going to teach MD. She will continue on with last month's theme of playing chords, that Ken Stidham started at last month's workshop. Marie attended several workshops at the Sawdust Festival in OK, and will be using some of that material in her workshop. Dean Lippincott agreed to lead the HD workshop, don't know what he has in mind, but I'm sure it will be great. Was glad to see Dean & Henry join up this year. They are both great musicians and will be quite an asset to the club. It will give them a chance to share their talent with other musicians, which is something they love to do. However WE have to be THERE for them to share with us. Call your MD & HD playing friends and get them to the March 13th meeting.

 

Coming up on 4/24/04 is the spring fling at Boeing Lake. Will have more info at the club meeting. Lots of things happening, and spring is right around the corner. Yea!!!.

 

VP Joe Anderson

 

 

SECRETARY'S NOTES FROM FEBUARY MEETING:

Called to order by Joe Anderson.

· Iron Horse sign up sheets.

· Spring Fling @BOE April 24

· Tee shirt design talked about.

· Lake Afton Retreat announced.

· By-Law changes voted on.

· One By-Law restated, vote in March

· Club CD's $15/club keeps $13.

· Visitors: The Camp family

· Workshop leaders asked to volunteer.

· Financial Report-Balance $2,216.74

· Meeting Adjourned.Voting Results:

· Constitution change: Sec 3b. Votes by Absentee Ballot Passed

· Article 1 Members section: One vote/one membership did Not Pass

. · Article 2 Iron Horse Benefit to be called GPDA Benefit Passed

· Article 5 President/V President shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. Passed

Iron Horse Benefit Concert Update:

The 2004 GPDA Iron Horse Benefit Concert is getting close!! Only one week away (March 13th). It is looking like the concert is going to be a great one!!

As a reminder, the Admission Fee for this year's concert will be $10 per person, and covers the concert plus a finger-food snack buffet. Drinks will not be provided by the club, but soda and bottled water will be available for purchase from Don Koke at the counter.

We have several club members who have volunteered to bring finger-food snacks (cookies, brownies, cheese, crackers, chips, pretzels, etc.), but we could use a few more. Please note that we will not be doing a dinner arrangement this year, in order to reduce the amount of work and difficulty in handling all the crock pots, covered dishes, electric cords, etc. We plan on keeping it simple so that people can enjoy the show and not have to juggle dinner plates on their laps in a limited-space atmosphere.

So far, we have almost a full evening of performers signed up. If you are considering signing up, please do so at the club meeting on the 13th. I am drafting the performance order at the moment, and it will help to know how many others want to perform. It would be very nice to have some of our Beginners sign up. This is a great opportunity to see what it's like to play in front of an audience.

Again, you can sign up for snack-foods, performing, setup and cleanup at the next club meetings, or you can e-mail me directly at larrymcdoniel@cox.net.

Let's make this the best GPDA Iron Horse Benefit Concert yet!!

Larry McDoniel

 

 

Sunday: 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at

Java Villa, 7812 E. Harry. Gospel, bluegrass, Irish & old timey tunes. All musical ability levels welcomed. Java Villa also serves some great food.

Monday: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Daily Grind, 315 N. Baltimore (or K-15) in Derby. Irish/Celtic/whatever Jam. Intermediate to Advanced level players. Coffees, drinks and yummy snacks available.

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.

 

 

Financial Report 2/28/04:

Checkbook Petty Cash Total

Starting Balance: $2,150.00 42.74 $2,192.74

Receipts:

Dues Rec'd 60.00 60.00

Music Packets 24.00 24.00

Misc. 120.00 120.00

Winter Retreat 160.00 160.00

Disbursements:

Newsletter -9.91 - 9.91

Winter Retreat -35.00 -35.00

$2,469.09 $24.74 $2,511.83

 

 

And now another column from Lois Seiwert:

“MUSIC BITES”

Newman University Fine Arts Series - "TANGO NEW YORK" -combining traditional tango with a classy, contemporary sound influenced by jazz and classical music -- Sat., Mar. 27 - 8:00 pm, adults -- $20.00, students – $18.00. Web site is www.newmanu.edu. Call 942-4291, Ext. 2281 for more information about the performance and other planned activities.

"THE MUSIC MAN" at the Wichita Center for the Arts, 9112 E. Central, March13th, 4:30 pm, presented by The Wichita Children's Theatre & Dance Center, 262-2282 or www.wctdc.org for more information.

Guitar Society monthly meetings - a real treat with music from spiritual to classical, original, folk and jazz. The first Sat. of the month, currently at the Evergreen Branch Library, 2601 N. Arkansas, doors open at 2:00 for those who want to jam and share info, planned program at 3:00, out by 5:00. March 20 is the date for the Wichita Guitar Society Classical Guitar. Saturday Matinee Concert Series presenting Dimitri Illarionov at the Wichita Art Museum, time is 2:00 , cost is $10.00. Dimitri is a young man from the Soviet Union who has won numerous top prizes around the world and is currently touring North America. Purchase of a concert ticket will allow holder to watch a planned master class to be held the same weekend. Contact John Francis at 263-7561 or johnf@sologuitarist.net for more info. Also presented by the Guitar Society - Sunday Jazz Matinee at the Museum, 2:00 pm, Mar. 7 - Monte Muza & Richard Johnson Duo, Apr. 4 - Craig Owens Bodo Ensemble. Contact John Francis for more information.

 

INSTRUMENT FOR SALE:

1950's Gibson Irish Tenor Banjo (4 strings) - has the same tuning as a mandolin, but an octave lower. $275.00 w/ case. For more information, call Troy Pulver.