Online edition of The Official Newsletter of the Jew's Harp Guild
- The Pluck-n-Post -
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Contents:Focus on
JHG News & Issues 2003 NAJH Festival
Location? Bulletin Board International Jew's Harp Society Pictorial Archive CD Reviews Online Newsletter Archive |
Focus on JHG News and Issues Janet Gohring JHG Executive Director |
Hello Jews harp friends,
2003 looks like it will be a very good year for the Jews harp, lots of exciting things happening. Im so glad YOU are part of making it happen.
GUILD MEMBERSHIP
New Guild members are signing up in greater numbers than ever before. Im sure this is due, in part, to the Norway Congress last fall ... plus were getting quite a few new members from our website.. So, a great big welcome to all those who are just joining us. Please share with us your Jews harp experiences, techniques, photos or ideas. Were always looking for newsletter contributions and would welcome your input.
I also want to give a big thanks to all of you who have renewed your Guild membership for this year. Your continuing enthusiasm is wonderful!
If you havent renewed your membership yet, there will be a renewal form enclosed with this newsletter. You will not receive any further notices.
Through your interest and support, the Guild can continue to be effective at spreading the word about our favorite little instrument!
NAHJF 2003
We WILL be having a festival this summer. Tentative dates are August 16 & 17. Remember, the festival will be for Jews harp players (and their families & friends). The format will be a casual music camp- out with impromptu jamming and performances.
We need to decide on the location and wed like to have some input from those who plan to attend. [see 2003 NAJH FESTIVAL LOCATION article in this newsletter]. Once a final decision has been made, well mail out a flyer with all the details. This flyer will go to all Guild members, recent past festival Jews harp performers, and any new people who write for information.
NAJHF 1998-2000 Highlights CD
Have you listened to the new festival CD yet? Weve shipped out quite a few lately and are getting lots of good input. Guild member, Adam Schutzman from Maine, had this to say, "I just received [the CD] in the mail and Im blown away by the beauty of these recordings! Its so exciting to hear others rocking out on the harp! Thanks for all the amazing music/inspiration!" And thank you, Adam, for sharing your enthusiasm with us.
2003 ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The following officers were re-elected: Janet Gohring, Executive Director; Kathi Vinson, Secretary/Treasurer; Board Members: Bill Gohring, Gordon Frazier, Larry Hanks, Denise Harrington, Mike Stiles. (Curtis Chamberlain received one write-in vote.)
If you are interested in becoming a board member, or would like to nominate someone as board member, please let me know before November 15th so we can be sure the name is on the ballot for next year.
Thanks to everyone who sent in their ballots. It was nice to see the ballot included with most of the membership renewal forms I received.
Keep twangin ,
Janet Gohring, Executive Director - The Jews Harp Guild
In the last newsletter I asked for suggestions on a festival site for this year. I have received only one other suggestion in addition to my original thought of using one of the three State Parks here in eastern Oregon. I would like to ask for input from those who plan to attend ... where would YOU like to have it? Im enclosing a questionnaire with this newsletter and ask you to send it back to me as soon as possible. We will have a Guild meeting in mid-April to make a final decision and Id like to have your comments by that time.
The Thought
Eastern Oregon State Parks: The Jews Harp Guild would pay for all camping fees. All three of these have "primitive" camp sites with water nearby. None have public shower facilities so wed have to bring our "solar showers". If the festival is held at one of the State Parks, we will not have a main stage or sound system.
(1) Denise Harrington, JHG Board Member, has offered the Bay City Arts Center in Tillamook, Oregon (on the Oregon Coast). She says, "The Arts Center has offered this for free. Its a two story old Masonic Lodge with bathrooms and a large kitchen. There is a stage and we would probably have some sort of limited sound system (depending on volunteers). There is a city-run campground across the street and we could probably get it reserved for us to use that weekend. The building also has an adjacent lot we could use for camping. Some people could sleep or play all night indoors. The only limits are keeping the noise down after 10:00 pm. They also have a pancake breakfast the 3rd Sunday of every month, so that might work out well for us. |
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2) Catherine Creek State Park - 8 miles SE of Union, Oregon on highway 203. A pleasantly scenic area with the Wallowa Mountain peaks of the Eagle Cap Wilderness area forming a backdrop. Sparkling Catherine Creek offers a refreshing, peaceful setting. Parking at all sites (can accommodate self-contained RVs). Restrooms with flush toilets. Firewood for sale. Horseshoe pits. 1.5 mile hiking trail. |
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(3) Red Bridge State Wayside - 16 miles SW of LaGrande, Oregon on highway 244. Has a forested river setting and is nice and shady. The river runs through the park so theres good fishing. This is about 5 miles west of the junction of Hwy. 244 and I-84 (easy access from the freeway). This also has sites for self-contained RVs as well as a group RV camp. Firewood for sale. Restrooms with flush toilets. Horseshoe pits. |
Red Bridge State Wayside |
(4) Minam State Recreation Area - off Hwy 82, 15 miles NE of Elgin, Oregon. On the Wallowa River State Scenic Waterway between the Blue and Wallowa Mountains. Picnic area with fire pits. Vault toilet facilities. River rafting access. Trails for fishermen. |
Minam State Recreation Area |
I look forward to receiving your comments and thank you in advance for your input. - Janet Gohring
POST YOUR NOTES
(1) I am the author of a book scheduled for Fall 2004 publication, about radio and TV creator, film maker, book author, Jean Shepherd, who often played the jews harp on his radio program (1955-1977). Sometimes he would refer to it as his "hagantwanger." I am interested in finding out if he made up this word, or got it from somewhere. A West Coast performer named Hagan played a "HAGANTWANGER" but it looks nothing like a jews harp in the photos, is about the size of a football, and seems to be strummed by holding it at the waist. Id appreciate any information you might have.
Eugene Bergmann ebbergmann@aol.com(2) Im hoping to find someone who collects old jews harps. I have a small collection that Ive acquired over the past 16 years. There are 22 jews harps ranging in size from 2¼" long X 1½" wide to 4d" long X 3d" wide. 15 are stamped either ENGLAND or MADE IN ENGLAND, one is stamped RICH U.S.A., and 6 have no apparent markings. They come in a variety of shapes. I can send photocopies if someone is interested in purchasing the entire collection. Im asking $450 postpaid. I have been playing the jews harp for over 30 years as a historical interpreter with the National Park Service. As a participant in many archeological projects at NPS historic sites, we found remains of jews harps at frontier military forts, fur trading posts and mining towns. Bill Henry, 14872 Fine DriveGrass Valley, CA 95949
(3) Congratulations with this interesting web site! My name is Martin Smith and I am working as a research assistant at the University of Trondheim, Norway. These days I am trying to construct a comprehensive bibliography including literature/sources on Jews harps, as part of a preparatory research project on Jews harps initiated by Professor Ola Kai Ledang. I therefore wonder if the Jews harp Guild might have a literature list that you would be willing to share with me. If so, please send it by e-mail to: marsmi@online.no . Thank you.
(4) Hello all Friends of this little Thing! In Order to give you a new, comfortable "home" I just made a Forum for Jewsharps - www.jewsharpforum.de.vu - Please have a look at this and let me know what kind of Areas you want and what else you may miss. Please support me and subscribe to Jewsharpforum!
Thanks Frank Kolb www.khomus.de
Harps by Hollands Steven Stoop Oct. 02
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