May-June 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 2
Visit us on the web at www.calfiddlers.com
May­June 2014
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Hello all,
I am happy to announce we have had a steady
increase in membership in the last two months ­ we
hit the 180 mark last month. We also had great
financial success with our first attempt at the basket
raffle. Thank you San Lee for the idea and making
the first two (2) baskets. The Board has decided to
donate the proceeds from the raffles to our
scholarship fund. Also, we've been anxious to hear
about the event at Julian Fiddle Camp from our
scholarship recipients and in this issue are short
articles written by the attendees, Audrey Abbe and
Sue Cooper.
Health and Welfare
• Joe Hunsinger is back at the fiddlers after a 3 to 4
week stay at the hospital due to a bleeding ulcer.
• Leon Copass is back at the fiddlers after being
gone a few months convalescing from a bad fall.
Welcome back and thanks Luana and Sherry for
taking care of them.
Retraction
• The January – April edition of the Hoedown
Lowdown had mistakenly printed the Kunkle Room
would be reserved for Bluegrass jams.This is not
the case.
Looking forward to seeing you at the meetings.
The Board received a suggestion from Vi Escobedo
about having one of the bi­monthly meetings
dedicated to waltzes. We would like to get more
input from members. For example, dedicate 1 hour
to waltzes ­ have each group playing on the main
floor play 1 of their 3 songs a waltz. Should we
contact a dance club that would be interested in
attending the event?
Joe Johnson, President
Events
• We would like to enter a CSOTFA float in the Ojai
4th of July parade this year. We are looking at using
a pickup truck with a trailer and will need help with
decorations and people who would be interested in
playing music on the trailer. Please let us know in
the next few weeks so we can get organized.
• We have not set a date yet for the annual BBQ but
it will most likely be scheduled for late September
when the weather starts to cool down a bit.
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8
• A weathered barn located somewhere in Utah •
Wondering what this photo of greyhounds and
an old barn has to do with Old Time Fiddlers?
(full story inside)
page 1
CHAPLAIN'S CORNER
by Marlene Nord
This is the season in which many people become
involved in gardening projects. May the following
inspire you to sow healthy spiritual seeds, as well as
those you plant in the ground.
Have a great summer!
― Mar
A successful businessman was growing old and knew
it was time to choose a successor to take over the
business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or
his children, he decided to do something different. He
called all the young executives in his company
together. He said, "It is time for me to step down and
choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one
of you." The young executives were shocked, but the
boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a
SEED today ­ one very special SEED. I want you to
plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year
from today with what you have grown from the seed I
have given you. I will then judge the plants that you
bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like
the others, received a seed. He went home and
excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a
pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Every
day, he would water it and watch to see if it had
grown. After about three weeks, some of the other
executives began to talk about their seeds and the
plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking
his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four
weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now,
others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't
have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went
by ­­ still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had
killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall
plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to
his colleagues, however, he just kept watering and
fertilizing the soil ­ He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of
the company brought their plants to the CEO for
inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to
take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest
about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it
was going to be the most embarrassing moment of
his life, but he knew his wife was right.
He took his empty pot to the board room.
When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of
plants grown by the other executives. They were
beautiful ­ in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty
pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed,
a few felt sorry for him! When the CEO arrived, he
surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.
Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great
plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the
CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next
CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of
the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial
Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He
thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will
have me fired!" When Jim got to the front, the CEO
asked him what had happened to his seed, Jim told
him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down
except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to
the young executives, "Behold your next Chief
Executive Officer! His name is "Jim!" Jim couldn't
believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.
"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.
Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave
everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the
seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today.
But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead ­ it
was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except
Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.
When you found that the seed would not grow, you
substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim
was the only one with the courage and honesty to
bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the
one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"
* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success
* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine
what you will reap later.
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
page 2
TALES FROM THE JULIAN FAMILY FIDDLE CAMP
Back in April, our District 8 Board offered two full ride scholarships to our membership to attend the Julian
Family Fiddle Camp where students can enhance their skills at everything from fiddle to dance and lots in
between. The two members selected, Audrey Abbe and Sue Cooper, share their experience here with you
the membership. Without all your effort to help make us what we are, we wouldn't have been able to offer
the scholarships. We the Board thank you, and certainly Audrey and Sue thank you as well.
Greetings to y'all,
My name is Audrey Abbe. I am 12 years old and I'm
in the sixth grade. Most of you all might know me or
have seen me play my banjo a couple of times on
stage. If you have not seen me on stage before,
well, just look for a blond hair, blue­eyed girl. Other
than playing the banjo, I play bass in the beginning
string orchestra and beginning jazz band at
Anacapa Middle School in Ventura.
About two months ago, there were two scholarships
sent out at the Old Time Fiddlers. These
scholarships were to go to the Julian Family Fiddle
Camp up in the town of Julian (East San Diego
County). They were awarded $580.00 each. These
were awarded to Sue Cooper (beginning fiddle
player) and to me (beginning bass and beginning­
intermediate banjo player.
Up at the camp there was so much to do! The
classes at camp were fiddle, mandolin, guitar,
banjo, bass, flat foot and clogging dancing, and
learning the dulcimer. My banjo class instructor was
Chris Coole, a professional old­time banjo instructor
from Toronto, Canada. My bass instructor was
Gene Libbea, a very famous bass player from the
Nashville Bluegrass Band and who lives in
Southern California. The songs we learned are
called Liberty, Old Joe Clark, and Boil (Bile) Them
Cabbage Down. I've got to say my favorite class
was actually the bass class because I learned so
much about "walking up the bass", different notes,
and learning a little bit more about my instructor.
Did you know he met Johnny Cash and Earl
Scruggs?
I wish there more kids in my classes. I was the only
kid in my bass and banjo classes and the rest were
adults. But all of them were so kind and nice to me
and I admired that a lot.
It was an awesome, cool, fun, and an exciting
experience. The town of Julian was so pretty with
the farm land and the apple orchards. I would like to
thank everyone so, so, very much for letting me go
on this incredible journey up in the mountains.
It was totally worth going!!
Audrey Abbe
..............................................................................
And from Audrey's mom, Laurie:
Hi All,
Thought you’d want to see some recent pictures of
Jayne and Audrey doing what they love.
Jayne plays cello with the Ventura Community
College orchestra, and the photos of Audrey are of
her at the Julian Family Fiddle Camp 2014 (an
international bluegrass camp with master classes).
Gene Libbea (upright bass maestro from Nashville,
Denver, and Southern CA) and Chris Coole
(clawhammer banjo master from Toronto, Canada)
were her master instructors. She LOVED her
opportunity to learn from both pros, and she came
back, yesterday, from Camp filled with excitement
and specific techniques in both banjo and bass!!
These were five days that changed her life.
Thank you, Roger, for ALL of your encouragement
and support in loaning the girls their precious
instruments! Because of you, Audrey and Jayne
speak an additional language. We are so grateful
to you for your generosity.
Love, Laurie J (proud mom)
(see photos on next page...)
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
page 3
PHOTOS FROM THE JULIAN FAMILY FIDDLE CAMP
Photos by Laurie Curtis­Abbe: Top two left column
and whole right column are of Audrey at the Julian
Family Fiddle Camp. Bottom two left column are of
sister Jayne playing cello with the Ventura
Community College orchestra.
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
page 4
MORE FROM THE JULIAN FAMILY FIDDLE CAMP
And from Sue Cooper:
2014 Julian Family Fiddle Camp
I have read about music camps and festivals and
heard how much fun they can be. At the beginning
of March this year I received an email that Old Time
Fiddlers District 8 was going to award 2
scholarships to this year’s Julian Family Fiddle
Camp, which got me excited and I replied,
expressing my interest in going. Then March 9th I
learned that I had been granted one of the full
scholarships and was going to go to Camp—and I
was beside myself with excitement! Fast forward to
April 9th, driving up the winding mountain road,
watching for wild turkeys crossing and looking for
the signs to camp just up outside of the quaint
historic town of Julian in North San Diego County.
Nestled up among rolling hills at about 4500 feet
elevation is a rather steep wooded mountainside
that is Camp Cedar Glen, home to Julian Family
Fiddle Camp for the 5th year. In front of the building
where we checked in was an Old­Time music jam,
anybody welcome to jump in. We received our
folders of essential papers and our name tag
lanyards, and were ushered to our cabins by the
children of our gracious host, Avery Ellisman.
The cabin was cozy with 4 bunks and a private
bathroom and shower, with a door to an adjoining
room with the same. Avery had graciously placed
me in a cabin right across from the main meeting
room per my request as I am recovering from a
knee injury and have difficulty navigating steep
inclines and stairs and walking long distances. We
were allowed to park outside the cabin. Campers
brought their own bedding, towels, and necessities
for a comfortable stay. I had met a fiddling friend
online several months ago and when we both
learned that each other were going to camp, we
requested to share a cabin, and that is where we
met for the first time in person. The main meeting
room is where we congregated for meals,
announcements, symposiums, concerts, open mic,
dances, and one of the classes. Meals are served
family­style to tables of 8 campers. You sit with
different folks at every meal and meet lots of
interesting people of all ages, 7 through 80­
something. Campers came from as far away as
Israel and England. There is plenty of food and no
reason to ever stay hungry. Coffee, tea, hot
chocolate, cereal dispensers, milk, fresh fruit and
snacks were available all day and evening. Gluten­
free and diabetic­friendly choices were available to
those who required them. Dessert was provided
each night by local Julian bakers and included their
famous and delicious apple pies, puff pastries, flan
and other delicacies.
The daily schedule was full: breakfast from 8­9am,
then morning class, on to Workshops, then lunch.
After lunch was afternoon class then Symposium
and/or a couple of hours of free time to pursue
additional private teaching, recreation, practice
time, naps or whatever until dinner at 5:30. There is
a climbing wall and several hiking trails for
recreation. Classes were offered for fiddle,
mandolin, guitar, banjo, upright bass, Appalachian
flatfoot dancing and, for those who believe they are
musically challenged or were there without
instruments while chaperoning the younger
students, there was a mountain dulcimer class.
The first morning, students congregated by
instrument, and playing levels and needs were
determined. Classes broke off by available
instructors and level of playing ability. Fiddle players
were the most diverse and numerous. I fit into the
beginners fiddle class with 5 young children and 4
adults 50­something and older. The instructors were
all gifted professional musicians and entertainers.
Students learned new tunes and techniques
depending on the class and playing level. We were
also free to roam in between classes to find our
appropriate level, or observe other classes. Our
host Avery was available to shuttle campers to and
from classes and activities up and down the steep
hill as needed in his cute little golf cart.
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
continued on page 6...
page 5
...Sue Cooper, continued from page 5
After dinner was open mic by sign­up. There were
some amazingly talented kids showcasing their
abilities to sing and play. Three nights featured
concerts with the instructors demonstrating their
talent. The local residents who support Camp
bought tickets to the concerts and two VIP dinners
and joined us. After dinner, campers provided the
music to contra dance. There were a couple of
organized jam sessions late in the evening but I
was too exhausted, and they were not easily
accessible, for me to attend. Sunday morning the
culmination of our experience was a recital from
each class demonstrating what they learned. After
camp, most of the campers congregated down in
Julian for the annual Flash Jam in front of City Hall
where they played 3 tunes learned before camp
and practiced in classes, then roamed around town
for other random jams in front of local businesses. I
unfortunately was unable to join the jam in town,
but last year’s videos looked like it was a lot of fun.
ANACAPA MIDDLE
SCHOOL TALENT
CONTEST
April 16, 2014
Dick and Lerrilyn Lemons attended a talent contest
hosted by the Anacapa Middle School in Ventura
where the one and only Audrey Abbe showed off
her skills on the banjo, accompanied by Bob
Bueling on guitar and Joe Johnson on mandolin.
Again, I am very grateful to have been awarded one
of the generous scholarships to attend Camp this
year and I thank Fiddlers for making it available. I
would recommend that folks consider attending a
Fiddle Camp at least once in their life if they are
able.
― Sue Cooper
Audrey Abbe and her mentor Dick Lemons
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
page 6
GIGS
UTAH BY GREYHOUND
No, not the familiar bus line, instead with the fastest
dogs on the planet. In early May we loaded up our
vehicle with hounds and cargo, and set out for
Kanab, Utah to attend the largest gathering of
retired racing greyhounds in the U.S. After 10 hours
on the road, we entered some of the most scenic
landscape in the country. Located in southern Utah,
Kanab is close to both Zion and Bryce Canyon
National Parks. And just 10 minutes from town is
Best Friends Animal Society, the nations largest no­
kill sanctuary for abandoned and abused animals.
May 13 ­ Soule Park, Ojai
Playing for the Retired Professional Men's
Association at their bi­annual meeting and banquet.
Left to right: Steve Welbourn, Lin Mullins, Sus
Corez, Ray Magee
Besides participating in all the greyhound festivities
over 3 fun­filled days, including a costume parade
and games for the hounds, we walked nearly every
square mile of the small country town exploring all
the attractions. Many of the old western films were
shot in Kanab starring famous actors such as
Clayton Moore, Dale Evans, Clint Eastwood,
Sidney Poitier, Fess Parker and many more.
Our wanderings led us to the renowned Parry
Lodge where most of the movie casts and crews
stayed during filming. It was here that we
discovered something that put the sweetest frosting
on the whole vacation, Old Time Fiddlers! Every
Tuesday night from 7­9PM, a group of locals get
together at an old weathered barn on the Parry
Lodge grounds to play music. We heard a lot of
familiar tunes and even found some floor space to
dance. We spent a delightful two hours making new
friends and scootin' our boots around the floor.
If you're ever in Kanab, you won't be far from great
music. They're doing a fine job of helping to keep
our country's musical heritage alive and kicking.
April 26 ­ Newbury Park
The band performing at Ride On Stables benefiting
Thousand Oaks and their Make a Wish event.
continued on page 8...
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
page 7
MORE UTAH BY GREYHOUND PHOTOS
The musicians making old­time music
The Tumbleweedz at Angels Landing, Best Friends
Entrance into the old weathered barn
Lots of greyhounds in town, 250 to be exact
An example of the history inside the barn
Amazing, beautiful, red rock mountains everywhere
Mural on the wall of the town information center
Bryce Canyon is truly awe inspiring!
California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 ­ www.calfiddlers.com
page 8
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.
June Dues
July Dues
Kathy Buchanan
Dennis Figueroa
David & Polly Gehr
Dan & Anne Goldstein
Sol Goldstein
Joe Johnson
Bob Landau
Sandra "San" Lee
Bob & Tomi Levin
Dorothy Roberts
Mark Whelan
Lornie White
Laurie, Mark, Jayne & Audrey Abbe
Mary & Mike Brodey
Susan Ferguson
Roy & Catharine Hogue
Don & Donna Hollingsworth
Dorothy & Wayne Hunt
John & Laura Reiland
Norma Jean Stice
Varon Thomas
Glenn Turner
Dennis Weston
August Dues
Penny Davis
Gene Day
Gerald "Skip" Dunham
Vi Escobedo
Jim Friery
Melanie, Brady & Gabi
Gallego
David Lutz
Ray & Linda Magee
Sam & Denise Martin
Frank McCormick
Skip Miser
Marlene Nord
Forrest & Leslie Ann
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
John Adams
Bob Morock
John Curtis
Teri Dempsey
John Foster
Steven Garwood
Jeff Linsky
Grady Nalley
Way Noelle
John Nordblom
Lyndell Pool
Tim Schulfer
Carla Thompson
Shute
Bud Skirvin
Robert Slusarenko
Ben & Coleen Suddock
James Sullivan
Marilyn Summers
Babette Vazquez
The Hoedown Lowdown is published bi­monthly for the District 8 Old Time Fiddlers Association by David Gehr, Editor, e­mail: [email protected],
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 9
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 May-June 201 4
HOEDOWN­LOWDOWN
Sunday, May 25 ­ 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, June 8 ­ Regular jam session
For more information, please contact:
Sunday, June 22 ­ Regular jam session
President: Joe Johnson
Sunday, July 13 ­ Regular jam session
(805)765­0241
[email protected]
• Fiddlers Calendar •
— 2014 —
Sunday, June 27 ­ Regular jam session
Vice­President: Ray Magee
(805)646­9892
[email protected]
Advisor: Dick Lemons
(818)992­5801
[email protected]
Editor: David Gehr
(805)649­5203
[email protected]