Strings and Things

The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance

Volume XXVI Number Five

May 2008

FROM OUR PRESIDENT:

Dear club members ,
It is spring and nature shows us life anew. Take heart in this as the Lord has seen fit to take home some of those dear to us. Music helps carry us through these times and helps us embrace the future with open arms and gladness.


On April 4th was the funeral of Marie Anderson's sister, Donna. Club members; Joy Pulver, Teresa Bachman and Mark Bachman played the music for the service. The music was heavenly. Several club members also attended the service which was a very nice one. Joe spoke at the funeral service and as always was the perfect spokesman. Our condolences to Marie and her family.


On April 5th several of us made the trip to the boy scout jamboree west of Enid OK again this year. This time the weather was warm and windy. We played outside which allowed us to be more a part of the scene. Wind and bright sun were a bother. The Indian dancer scouts were again the big attraction. They did more audience participation things this year. Jan and I both joined in. Our playing went well and was very relaxed. It was a jam atmosphere. Again, they fed us well. Thanks to J.B. Mingus and the scouts.


On April 19th the Anderson's and several other club members played on stage at the Tulip Time Festival in Belle Plaine. The sun was bright and quite warm. Playing went very well. There is a feeling of homemade fun about these small town festivals that is reminiscent of bygone days. It was nice to be a part of it. We received a donation of $50.00. Thanks to the Tulip Time officials and to Joe and Marie Anderson.


On the 24th of April, a group of club members met at Prairie Villa Retirement complex. Some of us participated in their monthly pot luck supper. We then all launched into the 3rd GPDA Hymn Sing. The playing went well and there were several ladies in the audience who had exceptional soprano voices. We sort of sounded like "The Little Church in the Wild Wood". It was very relaxed. Once again, Jim Warren's informational interludes were well done and allowed us a bit of voice rest. This audience was truly tuned into hymn singing and really appreciated the program. Thanks Toni and Jim.


The 25th of April was another sad day as we learned of the death of Rose Havely, club member and secretary. She passed away from illness on the eve of the 24th of April. We will miss her cheerful smile and beautiful autoharp playing. A large group of club members played at her viewing on Sunday afternoon the 27th of April. Rose's  loving and devoted family and friends expressed much appreciation for our playing.  The flower arrangement sent from the club was colorful and pretty on a pedestal near the head of the casket. Several paintings that Rose had done were there and were quite well done. We are thankful for Rose's son Jason who kept in contact with the club. Our condolences to Rose's family and friends. She will be greatly missed.


On the 28th of Apr. at 11:00 am several club members played at the Lakepoint Retirement Home in Rose Hill. Bruce Bonnes' mother now resides there. Playing went very well. It was a fun performance. After we played we all met for lunch at Louie's Restaurant for lunch. It was a very enjoyable time. Thanks, Lonnie. for setting up the play date.


Live each day to the fullest.
Pat

 

 

 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CORNER:

 

From your V. P. :

Hello there fellow pickers, strummers and hammer-ers! We are well into spring and enjoying all kinds of weather.

We've had several playing opportunities and it looks like our popularity is rapidly growing! That's a good thing, right? Thanks to everyone who makes time to come join in on the play dates, even though it might be a last minute decision. Sometimes that works the best. We've really had some fun times recently playing to different groups around the area and they all seem so receptive. It makes you feel so good about using your talent for this purpose.

 

 We also had a very sad gathering: playing for the family visitation for Rose Havely. She will be deeply missed because she added so much to our organization. She was tireless in her duties as our secretary and so wonderful about arranging dates with the Girl Scouts and Cow Town many times over the past years.

Joy Pulver has graciously agreed to lead a workshop for the hammer dulcimer players following the May 10th meeting in Wichita . Joy will be teaching chording. She plans to have music available, if possible.  The Intermediate mountain dulcimers will be learning “South Wind”, and there will be a mountain dulcimer Jam as well. For June 14th, Joyce Bloyer will be doing a workshop for the mountain dulcimers using finger picking. She too is planning to have music available if at all possible.  Thanks to both of these ladies for contributing to our workshops. Yeah!

 

P.S. Don't forget that we have T-shirts available for those of you who have joined us recently.

 

 Lonnie


GPDA Meeting Minutes for March

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

Playing Opportunities

 

20 May Cherry Creek Retirement Village 2:00 pm 8200 E. Pawnee in Wichita 684-0905  Regular play list

31 May Sterling House Derby 1709 E. Walnut in Derby 788-6100

4 June and 18 June 12:20 to 1:00 pm Prairie Pines- Camp Allegro  Regular play list

Hymn Sings at Care homes, call Toni Warren for dates & further information.


                       
  Upcoming Events & Festivals

 

May 2, 2008 Friday 7:00 pm   “Jammin' on the Slab”,  Mulvane , KS   downtown.

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

May 3, 2008 Spring Fling - Hinz Farm east of Newton   10 local bands, including Split Lip Rayfield.  Benefit for Rundstrom cancer foundation, American Cancer Society and trust fund for Kirk Rundstrom's daughters.  tickets/information 316-799-2772

May 3, 2008 Marianne Koke Memorial Concert & Barbecue Iron Horse Concert Hall, Eldorado, KS  4:00 jam - 5:00 barbecue, 6:00 business & banter, 6:30 open mike. Barbecue $5.00 & Open Mike $5.00.  Proceeds to go to the Marianne Koke Folk Arts Collection, BCC Library

 

TREE HOUSE
2008 Concert Series
Bartlett Arboretum
Belle Plaine, KS
http://www.bartlettarboretum.com
$10 Lawn tickets
Bring a Picnic
Sun, May 11
ADRIENNE YOUNG & LITTLE SADIE
Gates open at 3:00 - Show starts at 4:00
Sun, July 13
JIMMY LAFAVE - Austin TX Troubadour
Gates open at 3:00 - Show starts at 4:00

 

Winfield Public Library, Host site for a Smithsonian Traveling exhibit, “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music”  March 14 thru May 4, 2008 , also companion exhibit on the Walnut Valley Festival.  See www.wpl.org   for information on this and “Stu Mossman and his Guitars” exhibit.  There are many music events at the library and at other facilities in Winfield during this time.
 
May events at The Mountain Music Shoppe (Jim Curley) 12710 Shawnee Mission Parkway , Shawnee , KS :
May 3 Harp workshop, May 6 Tulsa Read's American harmonica seminar, May 15, Dorian Michael, May 22 Town Mountain, May 23 Roland White & Diana Bouska  www.mountainmusicshoppe.com

 

May 16 - 18, 2008   KBA Pickin' Picnic Old Mill Park,  Lindsborg , KS   for information call Kerry Harrison  316-524-6795 or Amydell Burns, 316-777-1091

 

June 5 - 7, 2008   Grove, OK  American Heritage Music Festival  email grandlakefestivals@hotmail.com   www.grandlakefestivals.com

 

June 7, 2008 , Saturday - Lane County Country Bluegrass Festival
Lane County Fairgrounds, Dighton, Ks  10:00 am - 10:00 pm lccbluegrass@hotmail.com  

 

Ozark Folk Center .  Mountain View , Arkansas   www.ozarkfolkcenter.com/events-calendar/   Events at the center: June 9-12: Autoharp,   July 21-24:  Mt. Dulcimer workshops, Aug 4-7: Hammered Dulcimer workshops.

 

June 20- 22, 2008   June KBA Pickin' Picnic Spring Lake, near Halstead, KS contact Kerry or Retta Harrison for information 316-524-6795 or kstoto@cox.net for reservations

 

June 19 - 22, 2008   Teluride, CO  Telluride Bluegrass Festival  email planet@bluegrass.com   www.bluegrass.com

 

June 20 & 21, 2008  Brown County Breakdown Bluegrass Festival   Fairview City Park , Fairview , KS www.johnjokeim.com/Bluegrass%20Page.htm

 

June 21, 2008 Marion KS - First Annual Bluegrass at the Lake , Marion County Lake   contact Steve Hudson  620-382-3240

 

July 25 - 26, 2008   9th Annual Bluegrass & Old Tyme Music Festival   Milford State Park , Junction City , KS bwahle@embarqmail.com

 

Cowtown news

 

Sheri Gaskins is the new Volunteer Coordinator
Old Cowtown Museum
1871 Sim Park Drive
Wichita, KS 67203
Ph: 316-350-3317  SGaskins@wichita.gov
Volunteer Meeting: May 12th, 6:30PM (Coordinators at 6:00) in Café
A-F: Salads/ G-J: Rolls/ K-N: Desserts/ O-S: Main Dish/ T-Z: Veggies
Volunteer Orientation: May 19th, 7:PM In Cafe (Please remember, if you have not been through Volunteer Orientation, before, you are required to go attend a session) Cowtown recommends that past Volunteers also attend an orientation for a refresher.

 

Info on Local Jam Sessions:

 

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

 

Monday night Irish Jam at Old Chicago,  Wichita , KS 7:00-9:00 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 10:00 am- 1:00pm   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 May meeting at Immanuel Baptist Church 1415 S. Topeka Wichita, KS  Saturday,  May 10, 2008 9:30 - 12:30, Happy ½ hour coffee at 9:00 to 9:30.

 

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.

 

 

FOR SALE

 

Lonnie has a Kent guitar - 6 strings (needs new ones) and picks, hard case and beginner books. Very good condition. Auditorium style. Reduced price - $85.00