January-April 2014 - California State Old Time Fiddlers Association

Old Time Fiddlers District 8 Newsletter
Perpetuating fiddling as an art form and cultural treasure
Vol. 3 Issue 1
Visit us on the web at www.calfiddlers.com
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Hello all and Happy New Year,
Looking back, the year flew by. The Fiddlers have
much to be grateful for. We had many members
support the organization by volunteering, financially
thru donations and by showing support in the
audience. Those of you who were not able to attend
the Christmas Dinner, our Treasurer Sid Brown
gave the annual financial report, which indicated a
good year of income thru “Gigs”, the BBQ and
personal donations. We had a nice increase in
membership since December of 2012. The
Christmas Dinner also included some special
guests ­ a String Ensemble of Our Lady of
Assumption Church in Ventura playing Classical
Christmas music. We installed the new District 8
officers for the 2014 term. Greg Marks stepped
down as an Advisor but Sam Martin will be filling
the vacated position. The new officers are as
follows:
President: Joe Johnson
Vice­President: Ray Magee
Secretary: Mary Brodey
Treasurer: Sidney Brown
Membership Secretary: Merrilyn Lemons
Editor: Dave Gehr
State Director: Joe Hunsinger
Advisors: Dick Lemons, Sus Corez, San Lee, and
Sam Martin
Events
The annual California State Old Time Fiddlers
Association Open Fiddle and Picking
Championships were held in Oroville California.
March 13 ­ 16. Lively hoe­down tunes and smooth
waltzes sailed on the breeze as musicians from all
over California gathered for the 48th annual Open
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8
Jan­Apr 2014
Fiddle Championship and Picking Contest at the
Municipal Auditorium in Oroville. Joe Johnson and
Joe & Luana Hunsinger were in attendance.
Julian Family Fiddle Camp (East San Diego
County) April 9 ­13. CSOTFA District 8 offered two
(2) scholarships to attend the camp. Scholarship
award is $580.00 each, which includes room and
board, lessons for fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo,
bass and flat foot dancing. Evenings include
jamming, performances and contra dancing.
Scholarships were awarded to Audrey Curtis­Abbe
(beginning banjo ) and Sue Cooper (beginning
fiddle). Congratulations to both and looking forward
to hearing about your experience.
Something new at the regular meetings:
Patio vs. Kunkle room for jamming areas – we will
be designating the Kunkle room for Old Time and
Bluegrass music only. If you wish participate or
listen, please join in.
Raffle – we will be trying a new raffle by providing
items win.
Reminder
Music tone being set – remember the type of music
we are trying to promote, Old Time, Bluegrass,
Traditional Country and personally written works.
Although most of us appreciate pop music, it has no
place at our meetings. Please use some discretion
when performing on stage in deciding what type of
music would be appropriate.
Thanks for your support and see you at the
meetings.
Joe Johnson, President
page 1
CHAPLAIN'S CORNER
CHRISTMAS DINNER PHOTOS
by Marlene Nord
Courtesy of Tim Nafziger
Happy New Year greetings to one and all!
Hasn't it been a super duper music and fun filled
year? My contrubution this month will be short, but
straight from my heart! My prayer is for each of you
to have an even cooler and memorable year,
packed full of rich blessings. As for us collective
Fiddler folks, I look forward to many more hours of
melodies, munching and many strong friendships.
May God fill your hearts with joy and peace in 2014!
Warmest regards,
Mar, the Chaplain
GOING LIKE JESUS DID
An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for
his doctor and his lawyer, both church members, to
come to his home. When they arrived, they were
ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the
room the preacher held out his hands and
motioned for them to sit, one on each side of his
bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed
contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling.
Junior member Audrey Abbe performing at the
Christmas Dinner. Good job Audrey!
For a time, no one said anything. Both the doctor
and lawyer were touched and flattered that the
preacher would ask them to be with him during his
final moments. They were also puzzled; the
preacher had never given them any indication that
he particularly liked either of them. They both
remembered his many long, uncomfortable
sermons about greed, covetousness and
avaricious behavior that made them squirm in their
seats.
Sus Corez with Gordon, Leon and Dave
Finally, the doctor said, "Preacher, why did you ask
us to come?" The old preacher mustered up his
strength, then said weakly, "Jesus died between
two thieves; and that's how I want to go."
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
page 2
Bob Bueling and Charletta Erb entertaining
Darryl gettin' a bit wild with Claudia
String Ensemble ­ Our Lady of Assumption Church
featuring member Elaine Kenton
Jane and Ruth doing a little boot scootin'
FIDDLE LESSONS
Leon Copass, Gordon Roberts and Ray Magee
Bill Severance with Ray Magee
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
Charletta Erb
tel: 805­613­7668 | 312­505­7460
email: charlettaerb@gmail.com
web: charfiddle.com
page 3
IT'S A BOY!
HUFFMAN AWARD
Joyce Chapman is now a great­grandma!
Wyatt Ben Airton (named after his great­grandpa,
Ben Chapman) was born January 28 in South
Africa. He weighed in at 6 lbs 4 oz. Mommy, Daddy,
and little Wyatt Ben are all doing well.
Dianna Brown, recipient of the 2013 Huffman
Award for outstanding dedication and service
to District 8. Dianna, you're very much
appreciated. Thank you for all your hard work!
GET WELL LEON
Leon Copass is recovering from a broken hip
suffered as a result of a fall. While he recuperates,
Leon is staying at the Glenwood Care Center in
Oxnard. Please take a moment to send get well
wishes to Leon and Sherry as they get through this
difficult time. Leon, we miss you and hope to see
you back on stage real soon. The Panhandlers just
ain't the same without you!
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
page 4
GIGS
December 18, 2013 at Sterling Hills
Sam and Don Martin, Marlene Nord, and Sus Corez
performed for the Dog Fancier's Club at the Sterling
Hills Golf Course Clubhouse in Camarillo.
FROM THE EDITOR
When everything seems to be happening at once in
your life, there's one expression that you're likely to
hear from friends and family: When it rains, it pours.
It's that expression that allows us to say something
when there's really nothing else to say. It helps us
make sense of a string of bad luck. And we all say
it. Our mothers say it, our grandmothers say it,
even song lyrics say it. But where did that
expression come from?
In 1911, the company had started adding
magnesium carbonate, an anti­caking agent, to salt;
this allowed it to pour freely. (Morton Salt now uses
calcium silicate.) Before that addition, salt would
clump if the weather wasn't agreeable. The
company wanted to emphasize the idea that this
salt would pour freely, even in damp weather.
The famous umbrella girl was the first idea decided
upon, and from there the team worked on coming
up with the copy. The original pitch was "Even in
rainy weather, it flows freely," but they found that
too long and clunky. They tried the old proverb, "It
never rains, but it pours," but found it too negative.
And, just like Goldilocks and the three bears, they
eventually found one that was just right: "When it
rains, it pours."
Since 1914, the slogan and the girl (both company
trademarks) have been pasted on their salt product
and sold all across America.
So what do this have to do with the Hoedown­
Lowdown? Well, you may have noticed by now that
the January­February 2014 edition didn't appear in
your e­mail, postal mail, or on newstands
anywhere. Despite the lack of appreciable rain in
California, my small slice of the the state saw fit to
make me the recipient of numerous downpours.
Without going into details, I believe the storm has
moved on, leaving sunny weather in the forecast for
the foreseeable future. No more "when it rains, it
pours" in my forecast, which means that
newsletters should henceforth be completed in a
timely manner.
Its origin comes from a fairly unlikely place: the
Morton Salt Company. Yep, that's right. That
expression which you use at least a handful of
times a month was developed by ad execs in the
early 1900s to sell salt. It's still, to this day, one of
the most successful and lasting ideas to originate in
those early days of advertising.
The Morton Salt Company was looking for a way to
promote its new product, a free­flowing table salt.
The product it was selling then looks nearly the
same today, a blue cylindrical tube of free­running
table salt with a handy pouring spout (a patent of
the company's) seen in almost all kitchens across
the country.
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
page 5
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
page 6
PROSPECTIVE GIG MUSICIANS
Are you interested in playing with fellow fiddlers? The outside gigs we play are the main
source of funding for our organization. Not only do you get to have fun playing music and
making people happy, but you'll be helping the Old TIme Fiddlers by generating income.
Fill out the form below and return it to President Joe Johnson... you'll be glad you did.
MUSICIAN INFORMATION
Name:
Phone:
City of residence:
Availability for Performances: (check all that apply)
□ Week days □ Weekends □ Evenings
□ Any time
□ Before dark
Preferred travel distance: (please check all that apply)
□ Within ten miles □ Within 25 miles □ Anywhere
Please list the instrument(s) you play:
Do you have a sound system?
□ Yes
□ No
Do you feel comfortable leading a band? □ Yes
□ No
What type of music do you fill most comfortable playing?
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
page 7
California State Old Time Fiddlers Association District 8
Membership Application
New Member Application __________
Date _________
** Renewal Application ____________
Due Date ____________
Change of Address ____________
You may pay your dues at any regular meeting or by completing this form and mailing it to:
CSOTFA Merrilyn Lemons, 6108 Woodland View Dr., Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Make checks payable to: C.S.O.T.F.A. District 8
Adults: $14.00
Married Couples: $16.00
Junior Members: $2.00 (under 18)**
**(Junior membership must be accompanied by an Adult membership)
I pledge that as a member of C.S.O.T.F.A., I agree to abide by and uphold the bylaws
and rules of the Association and ever to remember its purpose:
"To Preserve and Perpetuate Authentic Old Time Music"
Name____________________________ Signature ____________________________ Birthdate __________
Spouse ___________________________ Signature ____________________________ Birthdate __________
Address ________________________________ City & State _________________________ Zip __________
Phone _________________________________ Jr. Member ____________________ Birthdate ____________
E­mail Address ___________________________________________________________________
** Renewal dues must be paid within 30 days of the month due or membership will be dropped.
March Dues
May Dues
Lou & BJ Adams
Stanley Chin
Barbara Flynn & Michal
Martin Flynn
Lee Johnsen
David Roine
Ron & Linda Sexton
Fred Davis
Lawrence & Beverly Fiery
Ray Lucy
Vince & Jill Pierse
April Dues
Bob & Karen Bueling
Caroline Good
Lani Keener
Jeri Lee
Gayel Pitchford
Tim Smith
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Robbie Sheppard
Steven Welborn
Jim & Ann Kosinski
Nina LoCelso
Allen Pollock
Mark Danch
Jim & Dana Sjoblom
Karen Banfield
Tom & Patricia Kuhn
Bill & Judith Ann Braconi
Sue Cooper
Caroline Sanders
The Hoedown Lowdown is published bi­monthly for the District 8 Old Time Fiddlers Association by David Gehr, Editor, e­mail: davegehr@gmail.com,
and is provided to our dues paying members. The California State Old Time Fiddlers Association is a volunteer based, non­profit organization.
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
page 8
California State Old Time Fiddlers Association
P.O. Box 1522
Oak View, Ca 93022­1522
Hoedown­Lowdown is published bi­monthly by the California State Old Time Fiddlers Association District 8
Old Time Fiddlers District 8 Newsletter January-April 201 4
HOEDOWN­LOWDOWN
Sunday, March 23 ­ Regular jam session
Fiddler meetings are 2nd and 4th
Sunday of every month (except Dec.)
1:30 to 4:30 pm ­ Oak View
Community Center, 18 Valley Rd.,
Oak View, CA
Sunday, April 13 ­ Regular jam session
For more information, please contact:
Sunday, April 27 ­ Regular jam session
President: Joe Johnson
Sunday, May 11 ­ Regular jam session
(805)765­0241
jskcmrjohnson@gmail.com
• Fiddlers Calendar •
— 2014 —
Sunday, May 25 ­ Regular jam session
Vice­President: Ray Magee
(805)646­9892
raymondpmagee@aol.com
Advisor: Dick Lemons
(818)992­5801
rlemons@socal.rr.com
Editor: David Gehr
(805)649­5203
davegehr@gmail.com