Thank You! - Folklore Village

Endowment, Continued from front page
The Weis family-Folklore Village story is rich with past
experiences. It also has a present and a future, for Len and
Donna have established a permanent endowment ($10,000)
for Folklore Village at the Community Foundation for Fox
Valley.
Folklore Village’s financial stability is dependent upon the
generosity of families like the Weis’s and you. Please consider
making a donation to the Folklore Village Endowment Fund
at the Community Foundation for Fox Valley, the newly
established Folklore Village Endowment Fund at the Madison
Community Foundation or to the Friends of Folklore Village,
Inc. If you have any questions, please contact Doug Miller,
Executive Director at 608/924-4000 or doug@mhtc.net.
FOLKLORE VILLAGE STAFF
Doug Miller - Executive Director
Melissa Leef - Program Manager &
Marketing Coordinator
Bonnie Isaacson-Miller - Office Manager &
Foodways Coordinator
Janette Hartman - Caretaker
Important Addresses for
YFinancial
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Support of Folklore Village
Folklore Village Endowment Fund
Community Foundation for Fox Valley
P.O. Box 563
Appleton, WI 54912
Folklore Village Endowment Fund
Madison Community Foundation
P.O. Box 5010
Madison, WI 53705-0010
Friends of Folklore Village, Inc.
3210 County BB
Dodgeville, WI 53533
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Nancy Welch - President
Karen Carlson - Vice President
Cynthia Moore - Secretary
Michael Dearing - Treasurer
John Daugherty, Jan Murphy,
Carol Ormand, Jean Papalia,
Bonnie Schmidt, Ken Whiteash
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Jerry Apps, Brad Glass,
Mark Lepinske, Jim McCaulley,
Edith Oberley, Debra Terrill
IN MEMORIAM:
Jane Farwell, Founder & Guiding Spirit
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NEWS
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3210 County BB
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Permit No. 1
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NEWSLETTER / Volume 40, June 2007
Folklore Village is a nationally recognized folk arts and culture center dedicated to enriching lives through time-honored traditions.
Folklore Village has a New Logo!
We all know how hard it is to define Folklore Village. We usually start
by describing upcoming programs, then we move to the experiences
people have and the joy and feel of this place. Now try to get all of that
into a logo! Thanks to the graphic design expertise of longtime Folklore
Village friend Nancy Zucker, of Zucker Design, we have a new look
that we are quite excited about! Our heartfelt thanks to Nancy for her
incredible gift to us all.
Len and Donna Weis Create Endowment Fund
Bonnie Schmidt, Board of Directors
L
en and Donna first visited
Folklore Village in the
summer of 1968 with their two
small children, to help Jane Farwell
restore the Wakefield school house.
Donna had met Jane at Northland
Recreation Lab at Camp Iduhapi,
Minnesota, while Len had heard
about Jane from Ralph Page in
Boston in the 1940s. The school
house was the site of Folklore
Village activities until Farwell Hall
opened in 1988.
Len wrote “Soon we were
participating in the winter festival that ran for five days after
Christmas and over New Year’s Day, held then in the Dodgeville
High School. Jane’s philosophy was that the participants would
develop the program around the general direction which she set, so
we were all involved in every aspect of the program.”
For the Weis family, Folklore Village was more than just
a place to participate in a special program, it became an
opportunity for family time, to test their skills, to make long
lasting friendships and to interact firsthand with the myth of
winter festival smorgasbords.
“Donna, being of Scandinavian heritage, liked to have us
prepare a variety of Scandinavian cookies, so we four often
spent considerable time before the festival preparing hundreds of
cookies. One year, Donna was asked to plan the Winter Festival
smorgasbord, a huge dinner for all the program participants plus
100 or so additional community members. We misjudged how
much cabbage we needed for coleslaw, so we had coleslaw every
meal afterwards and sent lots home with people at the end. This
same festival, Jane had a strong male assistant who was supposed to
stay to help me move tables while she took all those not preparing
for the dinner on a sleigh ride. He went with her, leaving me with
no one to help move the tables; an impossibility. Luck was on our
side, for as I was getting desperate a young man walked in and told
me he had heard on the bus as he was crossing the country about
the smorgasbord. He asked if he could come. Of course I said yes, if
he would help me set up.”
(Continued on Back Cover)
FV Director Receives National Award
O
ur own Doug Miller was recently honored at the San
Antonio College Folk Dance Festival with the National
Folk Dance Award. This honor recognizes and praises Doug’s
nearly thirty years of presenting and administering folk dance
and folk culture programs in the United States. Folklore Village founder Jane Farwell was the first individual to receive this
prestigious distinction in 1978. We are all so proud of Doug
for bringing this honor back to Folklore Village!
Three from Sweden Join Fall Swedish Weekend!
P
aul Dahlin, his family, members of the American Swedish
Institute Spelmanslag, along with Roo Lester and Larry
Harding, always create an enthralling weekend of fiddling,
dancing and culture sharing during our annual Swedish Dance
and Music Weekend held every October. Although we didn’t
think it could get any better, we have three bonuses this
year - Peter “Puma” Hedlund, Anders Säbb and Blôcko Mats
Johansson are flying all the way from Sweden to join us October
26-28, 2007!
Peter “Puma” Hedlund is considered Sweden’s leading
traditional nyckelharpa player, having won the World Champion
title twice.
Previous Fall Swedish participants are already familiar
with the music of Säbb Anders - the Dahlins have been
teaching his tunes for years! An electrician by trade, Anders
has a reputation as being “Vals kung” (waltz king) throughout
Dalarna, Sweden.
Blôcko Mats Johansson, a construction worker, lives just
a short walk from where Edwin Johnson (Paul Dahlin’s
grandfather and tradition bearer) grew up. Along with his
spectacular playing, everyone will enjoy Mats’ stories and
knowledge of Rättvik’s music and legendary fiddlers.
All our teachers are “äkta spelman,” which means they grew
up learning to play in the genuine Swedish way - learning from
those around them, as opposed to books. Paul Dahlin and
everyone at this festival work hard to ensure you have this same
genuine, heartfelt learning experience!
“What? We’re eating again! Yippee!” is a common phrase during dance
and music weekends at Folklore Village! Thanks to the amazing talents
of Bonnie Isaacson-Miller and her crew, scrumptious traditional meals
are an important part of all our music and dance weekends!
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Prairie Restoration Project
O
ur prairie restoration project is growing ~ in
more ways than one! Last spring an additional
20 acres of the prairie was included in the annual
burn, bringing the prairie restoration area to its full 40
acres. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with Shawn
Papon, wildlife biologist, have been the shepherding
force in this project, providing financial support,
expertise, native flower and grass seeds and volunteers
for the annual burns. We extend a sincere “thank you”
to the wonderful people in this organization for their
Kiosk designer Larry Haugen with
guidance and hard work.
Now that the grasses grow tall and the wildflowers Doug Miller.
light up our hearts, another phase of the project is underway – the prairie education Volunteer Jan Katelle assists with our
kiosk. This outdoor “classroom,” designed by Larry Haugen and built by Larry Haugen
and Roy Waldren, will display prairie education materials, as well as the lead mining spring prairie burn.
history of the area. (The prairie is dotted with over 130 small filled lead mining shafts and “sucker holes,” some dating
back to the early 1800s.) This beautiful kiosk has been placed at the head of the prairie trail. We are thrilled to add this
new enrichment opportunity to the Folklore Village landscape.
Farwell Hall recently got
a face lift with a fresh
coat of a richer, warmer
color of paint - it looks
lovely. Thanks to Chuck
Piper for his hard work
as caretaker - and for his
ingenuity in reaching new
heights to paint! The hall
has always been beautiful,
but it’s amazing what a
slight color change can
do!
Aslak Olsen Lie Norwegian House
T
he reconstruction has begun! The site for this historic 1848
Norwegian house restoration has been cleared and all of the
logs have been transported to their new home at Folklore Village.
Volunteers, under the direction of restoration expert Joel Nelson,
began cleaning the logs during our 2006 Midsummer Festival. It is
uplifting to watch folks literally get their hands into this project and
seeing the logs Aslak so painstakingly crafted into a home receiving
the tender loving care they deserve.
Although the project is officially underway, restoring the house
is going to be a long process and much fundraising still needs to
happen. We have many ways you can contribute. Please call Doug
Miller, (608) 924-4000, for information on volunteer and donor
opportunities.
Things That Went Whirr in the Night
W
hat goes “thunk, rattle, whirr, whoooosh” all
through the night? Did you answer the heater
in the womens bunkhouse? For all you women who
have fought the sleep vs. heater battle, that was an easy
question. Well, we have good news that will help you
sleep more soundly - the womens bunkhouse has a
new, quieter heater!
Can You Turn up the Air Conditioning?
Y
Volunteer and donor Phil Mayer and Doug
Miller supervise moving the logs to the new
building site.
Page 2
Don Macaulay cleans one of
the Lie house logs.
es! Or at least we will be able to soon. A generous
donation from Francis Walters has enabled Folklore
Village to boost our cooling capacity with an auxiliary
air conditioning system for Farwell Hall. The cooler
building and main dance floor will be a welcome
relief to all and will have you dancing for joy more
comfortably! Fran told us that “it’s just a continuation of
indebtedness to Jane who introduced me and hundreds
of others to folk dancing and many related activities.”
Thank you Fran!
Partner, continued
Nels and Karen Diller
Barbara DuFresne
Richard and Valerie Dunagan
Geri Eikaas
Dave English
Forrest and Donna Erickson
Bill and Mary Fiore
Folk Dancers of the Fox Valley
Diane Fox
Larry and Nancy Frank~
Blue Mountain Deutsche Tanzer
Ron and Holly Fuchs
Tamara Funk and Craig Dunigan
Robin Gaston
Patty Gehring
Chuck and Jeanie Geurink
F. La Verne Gillespie
Richard Gillette and Susan Hinkins
Brad and Barbara Glass
Brian and Christine Grondin
Gene and Celeste Gryniewicz
John Hall
Mary Hays
Anne Helsley-Marchbanks
Robert Hiller
Charity and Morris Hirsch
Karen Holden
John and Sandy Hugelen
Deb Ivey
Leslie Jahnke
Susan Jensen
Ellen Johnson
Ken and Ginger Jones
Wib and June Justi
Kristi and Scott Kading
Rudy and Betty Keil
Dot Kent and Chirps Smith
Peter Kent
Margi and Dave Kindig
Mona Kochendorfer
Gerald Koerner
Anne Marie Kraus
Greg and Deborah Krauss Smith
Nancy Kringle
Phil and Pat Leavenworth
Lora Lee~Scandicrafts
Steve Leger and Zann Liljegren
Elizabeth Lev
Chris Levey and Barbara DeFelice
Marla and Scott Lind
David and Karin Loberg Code
Helen Loschnigg
Dwight and Vivian Lund
Madison Sacred Harp Singers
Marian Maciej-Hiner
Lee Maddox
Maija Maki-Laurila
Jim Marines
Hope Martin
Karen Matteoni
John and Ruth McAndrews
Laurie McNeil
Theresa Mish
William Mize
Gail and Ben Moede Rogall
Joe and Stephanie Mohlmann
Bill and Emily Moore
Sabine Morabet
Elizabeth Muzzy
Greg and Elaine Myers
Hal and Marsha Natvig
Stan and Nancy Nelson
Mady Newfield and Rob Plunkett
Sandra Nickel
Astrid Nothwehr
Jennifer Nugent
Bill Obermeyer
Tom O’Brien
Gordon and Midge Olsen
Ruth Olson and Mark Wagler
Kurt and Barbara Olson
Cordelia Ontiveros
Adrianne K. Paffrath and Pat Badger
Jim Page
Joe and Jeanne Pakovits
John and Tana Palmer
Dave and Gretchen Pearson
Laurie Petersen
Lori and Steve Pierick
Anne Pittman
Gloria Popke
Lois Powell
Stephanie and Durrell Ramer
Dennis and Mary Ray
Victor Raynoha
Barbara Rice
Ross Richardson and Susan Padberg
Stephanie Robert
John Romano
Judy Rose and Bill Warner
Mary Rosenthal
Sandy Rubin
Vicki Rudh-Jones and Michael Jones
Louise Ryssmann
Craig Sandgren and Maria Terres-Sandgren
Patricia Sanford and John Stott
Pearl Schermeister
Elda Schiesser
Donald and Joan Schuette
Dan Schwarz
Eric and Penny Seaberg
Larry and Rhonda Sharpe
Tony and Yvonne Shu
Polly and Nat Silberman
Kathryn Simmons and Jurgen Daartz
Nancy Simonsen
Jofrid Sodal
Sharon Stauffer and Ben Russell
MaryAnn Steckling
Charles and Dorothy Stevens
Louise and John Stolzenberg
Bev and Don Syvrud
Jan Taylor
Lynne and Charlie Terr
Helen Terr
Madeline Uraneck
Donna M. Vincent
Rosa and Wil Walkoe
Dan Wallace
Peg and Ron Wallace
Marlys S. Waller
Becky Weis Nord
Nancy Welch
Kevin Welsh
Kristin Westad
Troy and Nadine Whiteman
Richard Winz and Maggie Amberg-Winz
Ed Wohl and Ann Wolfe
Rolf and Susan Wulfsberg
Nancy Zucker and Michael Burns
k
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o
Y
“If you have much, give
your wealth. If you have
little, give your heart.”
Arabian Proverb
Local children got their hands in the dirt and
smiles on their faces while planting an evergreen tree
during last year’s Spring Family Day. This beautiful
tree was generously donated by Terrill Landscaping
of Mineral Point.
Page 7
2005-2006 DONORS
Folklore Village relies on the
financial generosity of our
Friends and community. You
have helped ensure the future
of the organization. We cannot
thank you enough for your
support and care.
Melissa Leef
Dan Lippitt and Glenn Mitroff
Cynthia Moore
Carol Ormand and John Bohlman
Jean Papalia and Michael Beatty
Bonnie Schmidt and Jim Winkle
MaryAnn Steckling
Robert and Elizabeth Tarrell
Leonard and Donna Weis
Nancy Welch
Patron $500
Beth Atkinson
Paul Biere and Ginger Brand
David Bone
Sue Castagnoli
Rex and Nancy Couture
William Dahl and Janice Springer
Steward Davis
Johanna B. Fabke
Wendy Fearnside and Bruce Meier
Karolina Johnson
Jan Ketelle
Don and Alayne Macaulay
Pat McCorkle and Dick Ainsworth
John C. Metcalf
Becky Musch
Jean Papalia and Michael Beatty
Anne Pryor and Steve Ackerman
Becky Rehl and Carl Fredericks
Ron Teare
Francis Walters
Bob and Nan Woodburn
k
n
a
h
T u!
o
Y
Major Donors & Sponsors
($10,000 or more)
Hirshmann Charitable Trust
Lands’ End
Phillip Mayer
National Endowment for the Arts
Leonard and Donna Weis
Wisconsin Arts Board
Other Corporate and
Organizational Support
Claremont S. Jackman Foundation
Community Trust for Southwestern
Wisconsin
Dane County United Way
Dodgeville Lions Club
Dodgeville Veterans of Foreign Wars
Farmer’s Savings Bank
Fidelity Charitable Fund
Hewlett-Packard
Hooper Foundation
Inkwell Printers
Ivey Construction Inc.
Kiwanis Club of Dodgeville
M & I Bank of Dodgeville
Madison Community Fund
Madison Community Foundation
Madison Sacred Harp Singers
Mellon Financial Corporation
Morrow Business Services
Natural Resources Foundation
Pheasants Forever
Sprint Foundation
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Town of Ridgeway
United Fund of Iowa County
Wisconsin Humanities Council
Gifts to Endowment
Argonne Folk Dancers
Karen Carlson
Michael Dearing and Debora Morton
Peter Gorman and Catherine Baer
Doug and Bonnie Isaacson-Miller
Vince Kavaloski and Jane Hammitt
Page 6
Acre Makers $3,500
Anonymous
Jerry and Ruth Apps
Beth Atkinson
Paul Biere and Ginger Brand
Cajun Dance & Music Weekend
Karen Carlson
Farmers Savings Bank
Dan Lippit and Glenn Mitroff
Eric and Marion Klieber Family
Amy and Tom McFarland
Don and Marc O’Brien
Gail and Willi Van Haren
Grace Wolff
Benefactor $1,000
Anonymous
Anonymous
Jerry and Ruth Apps
Argonne Folk Dance Group
Nancy Buckmaster
Karen Carlson
Farmers Savings Bank
Larry Harding and Roo Lester
Fred and Beth Isaak
Jane and Vince Kavaloski
Fred Kedney
Dodgeville Kiwanis Club
Eric and Marian Klieber
Don Knutson
Sara Krebsbach and Glenn Reinl
Dan Lippitt and Glenn Mitroff
Phillip Mayer
Amy and Tom McFarland
Beth Miller
Ruth Nielsen
Don and Marc O’Brien
Mac Robertson and Marilee Sushoreba
Cindy Schlosser and Paul Wagner
Andy Schnabel
Don and Joanna Thompson
Gail and Willi Van Haren
Katie and Roy Waldren
Len and Donna Weis
Will Zarwell and Robin Chapman
Partner $100
Anonymous
Anonymous
Melinda J. Adkins
Doug Anderson and Ed Wittrock
Jo Don Anderson
Laurel Anderson
Ingrid, Hannu and Kai Andersson
Bob Anholt and Ann Waltner
Dick Atlee
Ed Austin
Anne Bachner
Dick and Phyllis Baer
Geoffrey Baer and Amelia Kohm
Mary Lea and Warren Bailey
Ernesto and Judith Baizan
Harlan Barney, Jr.
Gaelyn and Daniel Beal
Denise Benoit and Rob Steinhofer
Fred Bialy
Bonnie Blackwell
Bruce and Char Bostrom
Bill and Martha Boyer
Michael and Janet Brandt
Joan and Dave Bushnell
Tracy Byers
Fred Campeau and Mitch Thomas
Robert Capon
Wendy Coles and David Redmond
Bob Cook
Morgan and Daphne Cooper
Marilyn Coy
Amy Crofts
Charles and Hermine Davidson
Michael Dearing and Debora Morton
FROM DOUG’S DESK
Learning a New Word
Doug Miller, Executive Director
imagine we have all had the following experience: We
special people that passed them on to you.
learn the meaning of a new word or phrase and then
The “silver thread” represents the passing of the
keep encountering it again and again - as if everyone
tradition and the connection that will always exist
else had discovered and started using it at the same time.
between you and that person. The connection you feel
Somehow we opened a window that gave us this new
whenever you remember, practice and pass-on their gift
perspective. Our world became larger and we grew as a
to you. These silver threads connect past, present and
result.
future. They bridge distances of time
It is in this light that I see Folklore silver (sil’v r) n. 1. A highly valued,
and space, and even death itself. These
Village’s purpose and programs. Every lustrous metallic element.
threads of tradition come together to
event, culture, tradition, artist and thread (thrĕd) n. 1. Anything suggestive create the very fabric of societies, from
idea we present is like a new word, of continuity and sequence.
friends and families to communities,
a new way to see and experience the
towns, states and nations.
world around us.
The mindful and joyful remembering, passing-on and
One phrase I have been using in our Folklife Programs
honoring of these traditions gives us, as individuals and
for Schools is “silver threads.” I use it to describe
members of societies, tools for deepening our awareness
the invisible but precious connection that occurs when
and respect for diversity and our connections to all
someone shares their traditions. Your father teaches you
humanity.
a song that was sung to him as a child. Your mother
This view of traditions is the “new word.” It is an
takes you berry picking. A schoolmate shows you a new
open window, a new perspective; and our world becomes
game. Your grandfather tells stories of his youth. I’m sure
larger. This is Folklore Village.
you each could start your own list of traditions and the
I
e
YOU CAN HELP!
S
Board of Directors Nomination Request
ome positions on the Folklore Village Board of Directors
need to be filled next year. The Nominating Committee
would like your help finding Folklore Village members
with the skills and teamwork style that make a strong and
active Board. Board members must be members of Folklore
Village and familiar with our goals. We also seek people
with professional experience in small nonprofit organization
management, budgeting, volunteerism, human resources,
fundraising and publicity. Of course, we want to know
about active creative people of all types. If you have someone
to suggest (and this includes self-nominations) send a short
paragraph or two with the following information: their
connection to folklore/music/dance, other work/activities
that might be relevant, why you think they are a good board
candidate and how to contact them by email, phone and
mail. Please send names for consideration before August
31, 2007 to the Folklore Village Nominating Committee,
Carol Ormand, Chair, P.O. Box 266, McFarland, WI 53558;
carol.ormand@alumni.carleton.edu.
Y
CONTACT US!
(608) 924-4000
staff@folklorevillage.org
F
Our Gardens Need Nurturing
olklore Village is known not only for our outstanding
programming and community, but also for the beauty of
the grounds. Unfortunately the latter is starting to look a bit
shabby and our small staff simply does not have the time to
keep things looking as lovely as they deserve. This is our call
for your help - Help! If you have a green thumb (or just have
the urge to work outside in a beautiful setting) we could use
your assistance soon! Please call us at (608) 924-4000!
Wish List (donations are tax-deductible)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Full Size Sheets, Blankets and Quilts
Donor for new drapes in the main hall
Donor for padded folding chairs
New Macintosh Computers
Digital Camera (at least 5 mega pixel)
Color Printer for a laptop (PC)
Page 3
PROGRAM NOTES
2007 Marks 60th Anniversary of the Festival of
Christmas & Midwinter Traditions
Amy McFarland
his year, the 2007-08 Festival of Christmas & Midwinter
T
Traditions will be the 60 time Folklore Village has
marked the New Year with dance, song, music, food, and the
th
numerous diversions that make this festival the epitome of
cultural celebration and preservation. Jane Farwell held the
first festival in 1947. There were 60 registered participants
and 175 people for the party on December 31. Things haven’t
changed much; through the years, the festival has resided
in (some may say besieged) many locations, but the format
has been consistent and the spirit has remained constant.
This year, we gather again for five days in Farwell Hall from
December 28 through January 1, to enjoy the richness of the
human community and to celebrate the perseverance of Jane’s
and our collective vision.
For some people, this festival is the perfect example of
Folklore Village. Not only does it include all the elements
of events held here, it also has always striven to offer a full
bouquet of cultural and expressive activities. Anyone who has
been to Folklore Village for an event, whether it’s a Saturday
Night Potluck, a Work Bee in the garden, or a Weekend
Festival, will understand how any time at Folklore Village is
unforgettable. Knowing you’ve greeted the New Year singing
at the Plum Grove Church and huddling at a huge bonfire
in the snow, dancing the Francaise and eating scrumptious
tortes, gives a special meaning to connecting with other
people and with the passage of time.
Looking through syllabi from years gone by, we’re amazed
at what’s changed and what has stayed the same. We’ve
danced and eaten food from all over the world, learned
folk traditions spanning history and countless cultures and
engaged in innumerable shenanigans and creative epiphanies.
There have been side-splitting skits, awe-inspiring sights and
tearfully touching moments. Stories featuring the children
show that a few years later those ‘kids’ are now teaching
workshops and, after that, bringing their own children to add
to the fun. We can even look at Jim McNeill, our auctioneer,
to see that a person who was just a youngster at the first
Festival fell in love with the fun, hasn’t missed a single one
since and has ultimately grown to be a green-clothed punster
whose heart is still touched by the experience every year.
From the first Festival at Mount Horeb High School to
this December in Farwell Hall, and for many years to come,
Folklore Village has, does and will ring in the New Year with
music, dance, fun, food and most importantly - the people
whose spirit makes this Festival, and the whole world, a better
place.
Laughter is a common
sound during the
evening Festival skits!
Sonia Dion, Linda
Breitag and Cristian
Florescu enjoy a
moment at last year’s
Midwinter Festival.
Page 4
Outstanding artists and teachers Loretta Kelley, Olav Sem, Anna Hytta
and Ranveig Bakke led an invigorating Telemark Dance & Music
Weekend, March 30-April 1, 2007.
Folkfare 2007
O
ur dedicated Board of Directors is proud to announce
the 4th Annual Folkfare plate art fundraiser. This unique
event is centered around the raffling of twelve gorgeous art
pieces by local artists. Each is a variation of a dinner plate,
highlighting the nourishment Folklore Village provides the
body, mind and soul.
Raffle tickets go on sale in July and the energy builds
through the Dancing, Desserts and Drawing event at Folklore
Village on November 10. Music for the evening contra
dance will be provided by Last Gaspé, who, coincidentally,
are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their founding. This
promises even more excitement for all!
Funds raised during this important event will help Folklore
Village continue the strong programming efforts that reach
our children, families and community. Please support Folklore
Village, the artists who donated their time and talents, and
all the volunteers selling tickets by purchasing as many raffle
tickets as you can - as well as attending the Dancing, Desserts
and Drawing evening on November 10.
Raffle tickets will be available during Folklore Village
events or by calling (608) 924-4000. Photos of the plates can
be viewed at www.folklorevillage.org beginning in July.
Y Mark your Calendar!
You’ll be receiving the Folklore Village Calendar of Events
in a few months, but here are some exciting programs
you’ll want to mark on your calendars now!
June 29-July 2
July 14
July 19-22
Sept. 14-16
Oct. 6
Oct. 20
Oct. 26-28
Dec. 8
Dec. 14
Dec. 15
Dec. 28-Jan. 1
Scandinavian Midsummer Festival
Homemade Ice Cream Social
Hardanger Fiddle Assoc. Workshop
Squirrel Moon Contra Dance Weekend
Harvest Family Day
Southern WI Old Time Fiddlers Assoc. Dance
Swedish Dance & Music Weekend
St. Lucia Program
Monroe Swiss Singers Concert & Tree Lighting
German Tree Lighting
60th Festival of Christmas & Midwinter
Traditions featuring Yves Moreau &
France Moreau-Bourque!
MELISSA’S MESSAGE
Letting Go (in order to hold on)
Melissa Leef, Program Manager
am a perfectionist. (Just ask anyone who has seen me set up
chairs in the main hall for concert.) Now this may seem like a
good trait in a program manager, considering how much planning
has to go into each event we do. But sometimes it’s tough, as
Folklore Village is definitely a place where a lot can happen to
shake up an event! I have learned that there are times I simply
have to let go of what I think “should” happen. This is hard when
I want to run out and say “That’s not what is supposed to happen
right now!” But you know what? When I’m able to look beyond
the “scheduled program,” I can get my mind to a different vantage
point and I see miracles everywhere.
Folklore Village is a remarkable place to let go - of your
apprehension, of your stress, of what society has flooded your
vision with. By letting go you learn to look with fresh eyes in
order to see the splendor that not only surrounds you, but IS you.
Think about the amazing times you’ve had here – or anywhere. I’d
be willing to bet your best memories are times you let yourself be
YOU, or when you had the opportunity to watch someone else
share who they truly are. These moments are what lift our hearts
and create the nourishing feelings we hold on to.
When I think about the last four years, the times I remember
are not the programs I’ve planned. They are the spontaneous
things that happen during the activities - the laughter and
conversations, the stolen glances across the dance floor, the
fiddlers who played for me in the church, the dance I had with
a gentleman who didn’t think
he could dance anymore. An
amazing thing happens when
we let go; other things grab
hold, like creativity, a refreshed
spirit, silliness, a new friend, an
old tune, our roots. I’ve learned
that by letting go we are able
to hold on – to traditions, to
our hearts, to each other and to
ourselves. So please, let go –
we’ll catch you.
I
Magical, Momentous, Memorable Moments
W
hen you think of Folklore Village, what special moment
comes to mind? An amazing waltz? A glorious sunset? An
inspirational conversation? Many of us have had “the moment” that
made us realize what an amazing, enriching, joyful place this is. We
also know it is difficult to explain this feeling to others. To make this
process a little easier, we’ve decided to start a Folklore Village “Joy
Journal.” This special collection will hold memorable moments for
people to read and find inspiration from. To make this happen, we
need your stories! Please send or email your favorite moments (with
drawings or photos - feel free to be creative)! If you would rather
remain anonymous just let us know. Please mail your memories to
Folklore Village, Attn: Melissa, 3210 County BB, Dodgeville, WI
53533 or email staff@folklorevillage.org. (Folklore Village reserves
the right to edit submitted material.)
During our spectacular 2005 Midwest Folklife
Festival we had the pleasure of learning from many
amazing, talented people from different cultures. Rosa
Zamora, who creates beautiful Mexican Day of the
Dead Altars, also is a fabulous cook. She shared this
delicious family recipe.
Rosa Zamora’s Grandmother’s Flan
2 TBSP. plus 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 can (12 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 can (14 oz) evaporated milk
4 – 8 oz packages of cream cheese, softened
4 eggs, room temperature
Kahlua to taste
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Fill a pan with one inch of water and place on
the middle rack of the oven.
• Have ready an un-greased flan mold or 1 1/2
to 2 quart pot (without a handle).
• Melt granulated sugar over medium heat in
the mold. Stir constantly with a long-handled
wooden spoon until melted and turns first
golden and then very dark brown, about 5
minutes. (Use extreme caution! Cooked sugar
is very hot and can burn skin if it spatters.)
Swirl the pan until melted sugar coats the
bottom and sides of the mold. The caramel
will harden at this point and melt again later
as the flan bakes.
• Using a blender, combine sweetened
condensed milk and evaporated milk. Mix
until blended.
• Add room temperature cream cheese and
continue to blend until smooth.
• Add eggs one at a time and blend just until
mixed thoroughly (do not over mix).
• Add Kahlua to taste. The secret is to add a
delicate touch of flavor without overpowering
the flan.
• Pour mixture into flan mold.
• Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Set the flan mold into the pan with water.
• Bake for one hour.
• Cool for two hours at room temperature,
then refrigerate.
• To serve, run a knife along the outside edge
and invert it onto a serving plate. Let it set
a few minutes so the caramel can drip down,
then remove the pan.
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