Newsletter

October-November-December 2007

                                                  Board of Directors:  Chairman -Oscar Summers - 301-898-5572, President – Ronald O’Brien – 540-955-1187

                                                    Vice-President/Membership Secretary – Larry Sisk – 304-274-2262, Secretary-Treasurer – Shari Reed – 304-258-4419

Members-at-Large: Mel Connor – 410-552-1728, Isaac Luttrell, Glenn Marvin – 301-482-1021, Bud Hall, Guy Eaves

www.tri-statebluegrass.org

****NOTE:  Change of website address from .net to .org ****

comments@tri-statebluegrass.org (e-mail account #1)

webmaster@tri-statebluegrass.org (e-mail account #2)

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Our January Meeting will be Friday January 11, 2008 at the Log Cabin Campground

Our February Meeting will be Friday February 8, 2008 at the Log Cabin Campground

Members may arrive at 7:00 PM for a jam session and the meetings will commence at 8:30 PM .  As usual, bring your instruments, voices, ears and friends

Meeting Notes

The August, September, October and November meetings were only attended by Oscar Summers, Shari Reed, and Guy Eaves.  Very little could be discussed, however plans were made for the 2008 Picking Party on June 13 and 14, 2008.  It was decided that we would not have the pig roast next year.  There have been more and more people attending and to try to coordinate and feed that many people is becoming too cumbersome.  There will be more food vendors on site next year to offer a larger variety of choices.  The Bluegrass Brothers have been contracted and will be playing on Saturday.  Ernie Bradley and Grassy Ridge are confirmed as are Goldheart Bluegrass Band and Stoney Creek .  Other bands are being contacted.  Since the December meeting would normally be on December 14, it was decided to hold the meeting the day of the Christmas party – December 8.  At that time we will have election of officers and board members. 

 February Bluegrass Concert

 We will once again hold a concert on February 8, 2008 .  The show will be held at the Burkittsville Ruritan Club, 500 E. Main Street , in Burkittsville , MD. starting at 7:00 PM till 11:00 PM .  Refreshments will be available for sale by the Ruritan Club members.  Please plan to join us for a fun night of great bluegrass music.  Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band and Aspen Run will be playing.   Admission is $5.00 per person.  Non-members will be charged $7.00   Directions - From North take I-70 to exit 42 (Route 17), take Route 17 south about 11.5 miles to Burkittsville, turn left onto E. Main St., go to #500 on the right at the end of town.

          From South –  From Route 7 in Berryville, VA, take Route 340 North through Virginia, W. Virginia and into Maryland to intersection with Route 17 North (about 25 miles), take Route 17 north about 4 miles to Burkittsville, turn right onto E. Main Street, go to #500 on the right at the end of town.

 Annual Picking Party

             The Father’s Day Weekend Picking Party will be held June 13 – 14, 2008 .  Plans are underway and help is being sought in the following areas –

            Publicity – Get flyers and posters printed up.  Get ads to various papers and other media.  The form for the flyers can be used from last year and the date and other info will need to be changed. Other members will help with the distribution of the flyers.

            Ad Books - This was the first time we did this and it seemed to work well.  We netted about $400 so it helped offset some of the costs of the event. The format has already been done so anyone familiar with Microsoft Publishing can use this year’s format, adding and deleting as necessary.  We need to get more members involved in obtaining ads this year because we’d like to see ads from more of our representative areas.

            We have decided not to do the pig roast since there are so many people attending.  It is too difficult to handle everyone in the short amount of time we have allotted for the dinner hour.  We will have more food vendors on site with a wider variety of foods available.

 MEMBERSHIP

            No new members to report.  Be sure to check your mailing labels to see if your dues are due for 2008.

Keeping up with our Members

     Our sympathy is extended to the family of Lawrence Dodson who passed away on September 27.   Lawrence was a life member of Tri-State and always a familiar face at Log Cabin Campground enjoying the bluegrass music.

     Our Sympathy is extended to the family of Pearl Egolf who passed away in August.  Pearl had been very active in Tri-State in past years.  We appreciate her many years of dedication and she will be missed by all of us.

     Our sympathy to the family of Dane Ward, from Warfordsburg , PA , who passed away in April.  Dane had been a life member of Tri-State for many years.

     Congratulations to Guy and Su Eaves on the birth of their daughter Lily Ann in August

    Guy and Su are the owners of Log Cabin Campground and are both life members.

 FOLLOWING THE BLUEGRASS TRAIL

 Arcadia Bluegrass

Picking Party - Wednesday evenings – 7-10PM - $3.00 admission at the door

              Spring Festival  – April 17-19, 2008

For more info – contact Bill Hale (410-374-2895) or go to www.bluegrassville.com/arcadia

Berryville Bluegrass Series

At the Williams Community Auditorium, 110 Lincoln Avenue , Berryville , VA

Jan. 12, 2008 – Larry Stephenson Band and Lou Reid & Carolina

Feb. 9, 2008 – IIIrd Tyme Out and Lonesome Highway

Mar. 8, 2008 – Lonesome River Band and Michael Cleveland & The Flame Keepers featuring Audie Blaylock

For more info – contact Frank Jurney  (540-837-2187) or go to www.berryvillebluegrass.com

 Lucketts Bluegrass Concerts

         2008

January 12 – Seneca Rocks

January 19 – randy Waller and The Country Gentlemen

January 26 – The Virginia Ramblers/ The Charlie Sizemore Band

February 2 – Highland Grass/ The Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band

February 9 – Phoenix/Blue Moon Rising

February 16 – Five of a Kind/Ernie Bradley and Grassy Ridge

Feb. 23 – Dry Branch Fire Squad           

Message from the Secretary

             It’s been a busy summer and fall, but now that winter is upon us we don’t get to see as many of you.  Try to come out to our meetings and let’s get some picking going.  We meet inside the cabin in the back room where it’s nice and warm. 

            If you have any concerns or suggestions, please call me or any other board members.  This organization is starting to fall apart.  We have the same few members who attend our functions and events and we are not getting any participation with planning and follow-up.  A few of us cannot do all the work.  If you want to see Tri-State continue you all need to come out and support it.  I realize that many of our members may not be able to get out and about like they used to, and that is understandable.  However, I know there a lot of younger members able to help.  This is your organization and you need to support it if we are to continue. 

            Many of you had voiced concern about the meetings being too far away, so we tried holding a meeting at the Burkittsville Ruritan Club this past year.  Not one member showed up! Our membership comes from a wide area and it will be a distance for someone to travel no matter where the meetings are held.  With the price of gas lately we can understand that that puts a crimp in things. 

            We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

                                                                                        Shari Reed

                                                                                        Secretary-Treasurer

                                                                                        4176 Timber Ridge Road

                                                                                        Berkeley Springs WV   25411

                                                                                         304-258-4419  

                                                                                        e-mail:    sreed4143@aol.com