Strings and Things

The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance

Volume XXV Number Nine

September 2007

FROM OUR PRESIDENT:

From your pea pickin' Pres:
Sept. is here and where did the summer go. For most it was spent in a blur of picnics, ball games, mowing, vacation and don't forget music. Speaking of which, our big day approaches. The warm up picnic! I can hardly wait to see what the day will bring. Thanks to Joe Anderson for arranging for the workshop leaders. Thanks to the artists who are willing to share their time and talent with us. There will again be lunch available at approximately cost. Supper, of course, is pot luck. I hope to have some printed music available as an ice breaker for jamming. Also, in Sept. on the 29th will be the fall festival at Faith Lutheran Church. This is a great event and we had a good time performing last year. We play from 9-11 am. In August we had some good play opportunities.
Thanks to all who turned out on Aug. 7th to play at the Lamplighter Mobile Home Park. We had a large number of players for this event and the playing went very well. The food was good. We did have some shade after all. Thanks to Larry Mcdoniel for the use of his sound system. He did some great guitar solos during the performance. Glenn Murphy and I enjoyed our duet of Angeline Baker. I was happy about the groups ability to stay together on tunes even though we were somewhat spread out in seating. It is such a joy to be part of this group as we improve and become more comfortable with sharing music. Thanks to Glenn and Phyllis Waters for the invite. The audience at Lamplighter generously donated to the club $32.10 for our efforts. We are grateful. Thanks to those who played at the Winfield Veterans Home on 10 Aug. The playing went well and there was a very large turn out of residents who seemed quite appreciative of the music we played. Cake and punch was served. Thanks to Maggie Nelson (Cindy Coles mom) for the invite.
Several members of the club got together in Winfield to attend the Blue Stem Concert at Baden Square. We all dined at "the Fish Place" and then went to the concert. The performance was great. We sat on the lawn facing west and the performers were in front of a low flat roofed bldg.. The sunset was a beautiful backdrop for the event. It was well worth the trip.

Thanks to Janet Kruske, Rose Havely and Richard Taylor who joined me to play at the Catholic Care Home in Bellaire on the 31st of Aug. The mix of instruments was great and the playing went well. It was their monthly birthday celebration so the mood was festive and the decorations were great. They even had a life sized Elvis wall poster that was positioned so it looked like he was part of the group. What a confidence booster. The Catholic Care Home is an exceptionally nice facility. It was very pleasant to play there. We received a donation of $30.00 for our playing. These play opportunities seem so beneficial. The care home residents are entertained, the individual musicians are appreciated and practice performing, and the care home can provide interesting activities for their residents. Thanks again to The Catholic Care Home for this opportunity. Our condolences go out to Troy and Joy Pulver and their family for the loss of Troy's mother on the 22nd of Aug.
Please keep Erin Rogers in your thoughts and prayers. See you at the warm up picnic.
Pat

 

 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CORNER:

 

 

Two Cents Worth from your V. P.
And the excitement mounts!! Its almost here! Yes, the big Warm Up Picnic that we work so hard on and hope (always) for a great turn out. Of course only those who attend reap the fantastic benefits of all the Workshops, the Fun, Food and Fellowship we have together. And just think - its all FREE!!!! There is a great line up of workshop experts to teach us everything we want to know about many different instruments. I certainly need all the instruction I can get, and did I mention, its FREE! There will be a quick and easy lunch so you won't even have to leave the park. Supper is on all of us - yep, that means POT LUCK! So PLEASE help us out by bringing something good to eat to share with the rest of us. Please be generous! Can't wait to see all of you there! I suppose most of you are already parked, packed or plan to be at Winfield for the Walnut Valley Festival. I'm so excited about it I can think of nothing else. I'm getting my tent out to air it out from last year and tuning up my instruments, deciding what foods to bring, how many rolls of film, clothes, bedding and all the other stuff. How much fun is that!!!! Don't know about you, but this will be the high light of my year! Its such an enjoyable time to hear all the different types of singers and musicians on the many stages; watching all the people; sitting late into the night; listening to Carp Camp and many other gathering spots. It fills me up and lasts for many, many months. What memories to share and friends to make and music to learn and play. Wow! I love it all. How about you!
See you there.

Your V.P.
Lonnie

GPDA Meeting Minutes for August

Pat opened our meeting.
On the subject of the Warm up Picnic---
Members are asked to arrive at 8:00 AM to help with set-up.
Work shops will begin at 10:00 AM.
Marie and Lois will handle Workshop sign-up sheets. Pat will donate "loose meat" for sandwiches. Glenn and Rose will bring ice. Larry is in charge of the sound system. Members are asked to bring homemade cookies for the lunch bags and side dishes for the evening meal. Members who can, are also asked to bring fans for fly control and to create a breeze if necessary. Larry McDoniel requested that the electrical usage be controlled better than in past years. With all of the crockpots, fans, etc., the little power that is left causes a strain on his sound equipment. The Pavilion power is just not designed for all that we require. Our plan is to turn off some of the appliances when the sound system is in use. Larry will supervise this and Rose will supply small signs to attach to the appliances that will caution folks not to turn on appliances that have been turned off.
Raffle tickets will be sold for $1.00 and members voted to include the club guitar in  the raffle.
Members voted to have Pat order Medium sized T- shirts and more club music books. Club sweat shirts will be ordered upon request. So far we have had eight requests.
Lois Liggett reminded us that this is the year of GPDA's 25th Anniversary. It was decided that we would combine our Annual Christmas Dinner with an Anniversary Celebration. At our October 13th meeting we will jump into plans for that event which is scheduled for December 8th. One of the goals is to have many of our former members and officers to attend this celebration.
Our welcomed guests included Glenn Watters, Paul and Louise Wilson and Jim and Donna Rowe.

Warm-up Picnic Schedule
9am to10am sign & registration
10am to 11am
Hammered Dulcimer, Linda Thomas
Guitar, Dan Delancy
Autoharp, Lucille Reilly
Clawhammer Banjo, Teresa Bachman
11:15am to 12:15 pm
Mountain Dulcimer, Mark Gilston
Mandolin, Brock Benjamin
Harmonica, Troy Pulver
12:30 to 1:30 Lunch
1:30 to 2pm
Jam Etiquette workshop, Martha Haehl
2pm to 3pm
Hammered Dulcimer, Linda Thomas
Guitar, Dan Delancy
Autoharp, Lucille Reilly
Clawhammer Banjo, Teresa Bachman
Fiddle, Sarah Baxter
3:15pm to 4:15pm
Mountain Dulcimer, Mark Gilston
Mandolin, Troy Pulver
Fiddle, Sarah Baxter
4:30pm to 5:30pm - Open mic/ jam
5:30pm to 7:00pm - Dinner
7:00pm to 10:00 pm - Concert

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Upcoming Playing Opportunities

Cowtown Volunteer Opportunities
Sunday, September 16th 12:00-1:00 pm Group Tour contact Cassie Fahey at 660-1883
Friday, October 5th Education Day Contact Cris Conner 660-1884 or by email at cconner@sedgwick.gov
Sunday, September 23rd 11:30 am  Group Tour from Tennessee  contact Cassie Fahey 6601883
Other volunteer opportunities contact Amy Loch at 660-1878
Cowtown Volunteer Corps Meeting - Monday, September 17, 6:30 pm

Playing Opportunities
Friday, September 7, 2007  2:30 pm - Play for Kansas Veterans Home, 1220 World War II Memorial Dr. Donlon Hall, Winfield, KS  2:00 PM
September 29th- The last Saturday. Fall Festival.- Faith Lutheran Church , 214 S Derby Ave. Derby KS. In the gymnasium. 9:00 am to 11:00 am.                            

Other Upcoming Events & Festivals

September 6 - 8 2007  Queen City MO - Sally Mountain Park Bluegrass Festival  festival@marktwain.net www.sallymountain.com September 7-8, 2007  Claremore, OK 28th Annual Bluegrass and Chili Festival - Free.  www.claremore.org GPDA 17th Annual Winfield warm-up picnic Saturday September 8, 2007 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM at Island Park in Winfield, KS Free Workshops, evening Concert by instructors. The picnic is open to all friends of acoustic music. September 12, 2007  Walnut Valley Festival Pre-Festival Workshop in Winfield KS  Flatpick Guitar - Kenny Smith, Finger Style Guitar - Dave Mackenzie & Pete Huttlinger, Autoharp - Julie Davis, Bass - Zak McLamb, Mandolin - Bruce Graybill, Closet Pickers' Guitar 101 - Andy May,  Beginning Mt. Dulcimer - Adie Grey, Mt. Dulcimer for Singer/songwriters - Adie Grey.  For information or registration, call 620-221-3250

September 13 -16, 2007  36th Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield KS 620-221-3250  or email hq@wvfest.com www.wvfest.com

September 19, 20, & 27th  Damm Music Center Guitar Idol Competition 2007  773-9060   www.DammMusic.com
October 12-13, 2007 Autumn Acoustics Music Festival  Jefferson College Hillsboro, MO  www.autacoustics.com   email: happytrailsfarm@aol.com
October 20, 2007  Kaw Valley Dulcimer Fun Fest  Our Savior's Lutheran Church Topeka, KS  www.kvdc.org   email: festival@kvdc.org November 17th -Saturday- Emporia Fairgrounds Fall Festival-Anderson Building. Kansas Bluegrass Association Campout List
September - No Picnic See you at the WVF
October 19 - 21 Winfield, KS
Contact Ed Hill 316-214-2694 for additional info.

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

FOR SALE: Lonnie has three instruments for sale. 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 Lonnie know at.  lbonne@earthlink.net

REMINDERS GPDA  meeting Saturday August 11, 2007- Happy half-hour at 9:00 AM prior to meeting at 9:30 for visiting & coffee GPDA t-shirts still available (size med. on order)  Sweat shirt orders will be taken starting at August 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. 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.

 

 

Special Announcement

 

For sale:

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.

 

Henry

263-3901