NEWS AND TIDBITS

January - 2005

RAMBLIN’ with Helen

Well, folks, by the time you read this, 2004 will be gone, and 2005 will have come alive! May it prove to be a happy and prosperous one for each of you; and to all our members who have had or are going thru health problems, pray they soon become a thing of the past.

Yours truly is gradually regaining strength after “entertaining” a nasty virus which kept me “confined” from 12/19 to 12/28, and to add “insult to injury” have become a year older! Oh well, such as life.

FIRST – THERE WILL BE A MINI-JAM in FEB. It will be at the VFW Post in Baldwinsville, (where our All-Star Jamboree was held), and our president, tells me that ONE SONG will be the featured band. Final plans will be made at our SUN., JAN. 9 th meeting, and we will need “fill-in” groups to play at the Mini-Jam. (Contact Ed at: 315-637-4180 to save a spot.)

THANK YOU, two small words with huge meanings, to LOIS ARTLIP, who once again paid for the mailing of our January newsletters. Lois, this most generous contribution is greatly appreciated by all. She also sent me a clipping regarding the untimely passing of Don Springer’s (one of the former Bristol Brothers Band), wife, Mary on Dec. 21 st. They would have celebrated their 33rd anniversary on Christmas eve. Calling hours were on Dec. 26, funeral at 10 a.m. on Dec. 27th at St. Francis Church in Phelps. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to Don at – 2440 Welch Rd., Geneva, NY. 14456-9303.

MARY ANN BURNS was doing her Christmas shopping for Jack at the Walmart store in Auburn, and related the following – as she was leaving the checkout counter, the young cashier noticed her CNYBA jacket, and proceeded to tell her that she was Thayle’s granddaughter, and how much we all met to her grandmother. It indeed is a small world!

Along with their renewals, the following people requested that I extend “Holiday Greetings” to you all – Homer Reynolds, “Soc” Nellis, Mike Hadden, and Jacobs Press, who prints our newsletters. Also, several spoke about the wonderful time they enjoyed at our Annual Christmas Party. THANKS to EACH ONE who, in anyway contributed to making it such a success. Thanks to Peter Carr, I was able to attend, and folks, that “new car” of his is really snazzy..and one can’t miss that shade of blue! I had a nice visit with Mary before Christmas, and she was so pleased that it turned out not to be Peter’s favorite color – yellow…I’m sure you are Mary!

Several members continue to send a few extra dollars for postage with their renewals, and I assure you every one helps. THANKS and keep them coming in 2005! Also, your kind words of thanks and encouragement to continue the newsletter, etc. mean so much. I just have to share one I received from Peg Miller, which she found in her Upper Room Daily Devotions for Oct. 30th – LITTLE THINGS: Little things, done one at a time are just that, little. But done faithfully, day after day, may accomplish something great. I am not blessed with the ability to speak or to sing in public, or to do anything else on a grand scale. Instead, God has led me to pen and paper and I enjoy writing. Hardly a day passes that I do not send notes or cards to friends and shut-ins to show I care. Some need a word of encouragement or a note of congratulations. Others need sympathy because of a loss. I often write only a few words; but as I try to bring joy to the people who receive them, I find my own spirit lifted as well. (Peg said it sounded as tho it could have been written by me, and folks it most certainly does express why and how I feel when I can touch someone thru a note, call, email, etc. , thanks Peg.)

I found out too late for our Dec. newsletter, that Emma Teachout fell and broke her hip on Nov. 16th, and is now back at the Crossings, Minoa, NY 13116, and know mail would be enjoyed. Along with renewal, Lori Thompson told me she has been real busy finishing up her CD of original songs. I told her to be sure and keep us informed as to when it was available.

A very PROUD DAD, George Reese, told me that during the Bluegrass Ramble Radio Program, the 1st Sunday each month, from 10:30 pm to 10:45pm, Bill is now playing a 15 minute tape by George's daughter Sherri and Joe LaMay. (James Kimbrow, who used to be featured at this time is no longer “up” to doing his tapes, so Joe and Sherri have taken over this spot). Be sure and tune in the 1st Sunday each month – WCNY-FM (91.3); WUNY (89.5) Utica; WJNY (90.9) Watertown. Congratulations Joe and Sherri, keep up the good work!

I received a note from our member Linden Buell, asking that he be removed from our mailing list, due to the passing of his wife Shirley on May 13th, and he is now moving out of the area. Expressions of sympathy were sent and our best wishes for the future to him.

It is always good to receive a phone call from Donna Walter, and they are often! I knew she was scheduled for cataract surgery on Dec. 21 st, and have to share part of an email that I received on the 24 th – “All went well with the surgery. It was like you said and I’m glad you told me what happens. THE BEST NEWS IS I CAN SEE EVERYTHING. DIDN’T KNOW HOW MUCH I WAS MISSING. THE COLORS ARE BRIGHTER AND LETTERS ARE MUCH CLEARER. ALSO, THE VISION IN THAT EYE IS NOW 20/30!!" What a Christmas present!! She called me on Christmas and said they were in Louisiana visiting a good Cajun friend who lost her husband this last year, and was FREEZING…Donna, prayers are answered, and I know from your email and conversations you are so thankful yours was answered and we are too!!

CONTRATULATIONS to Maryan and John VanDusen, who welcomed a new great-grandson on Dec. 8th – and he will learn just how lucky he is to have great-grandparents like you two!!

THANK YOU Pete Carr for the KAC Coffehouse schedule – sounds as tho you will be there for all of them….and hope others will go too. I need material like that, so if any of you have something, please get it to me by the 15th of the month. We didn’t have enough members present to have a board or membership meeting in Dec., so PLEASE plan to come on SUN., JAN. 9 th – breakfast served from 8 to 1, jamming starts around 10; board meeting at 1; short business meeting at 2 and back to jammin’ until 5. Start the new year right – COME and BRING A FRIEND!

SEE YOU THERE !

...Helen