May 27 HillBenders at Provena Sacred Heart Home, Avilla, IN

Undeniably the hottest young band on the acoustic scene, The HillBenders have been winning over audiences from coast to coast with their unique style, original compositions and relentless drive. These buzz-worthy bluegrass whiz-kids are quickly rising above many of their peers and gaining international recognition for their aggressive combination of contemporary influences with traditional inspiration and instrumentation, as well as their infectiously energetic stage performances.


They will perform for the residents of the Provena Sacred Heart Home in Avilla, IN at 2 p.m. on May 27. 


This show is sponsored by Northern Indiana Bluegrass as a part of their community outreach program.

NIBGA Board meeting, April 17, 2011

April 17, 2011 Meeting of Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association at Southwest Conservation Club, 5703 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46809

The meeting was called to order by President Jim Winger at 1:15 P.M.
Officers present were:                         Board Directors:
 President - Jim Winger                        T.J. Collins
 Vice President - Joe Steiner                Pam Keiper
 Secretary - Barbara Collins                  Paul Saurborn
 Treasurer - Linda Winger
Others present were: Chris Cooperrider - Taxi Chair/Special Activities Chair Jeanette Young - Vendor Chair, Tonia Bacon, Carol Bacon, Jade Bacon, Sue Saurborn, Sandra Carnes, Charles Carnes

Minutes of the March meeting were e-mailed to each officer by Sect. Barbara Collins on March 22. Paul Saurborn motioned to accept. Joe Steiner second. All approve. Motion Carried

March Financial reports were e-mailed to each officer in April by Treasurer - Linda Winger  The report was reviewed at the 4/17/11 meeting. T.J. Collins motioned to accept. Paul Saurborn second. All approve. Motion Carried.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

• NIBGA taxes due in May. Will be filed by Pres. Jim Winger
• Sunday, May 15, 2011 on WFWA/PBS (Ft. Wayne station) there will be a show. Taping will be May 12. 
• Backstage newsletter - Linda will contact Jim Egoff to see if we can have some to distribute. 

OLD BUSINESS

• 501c3 investigation - Chris C. update - Reports she is waiting on information and 'Do It Yourself'  forms to get on line. Consideration - Have a special event to attract a quorum, drawing? Band? Etc.? to change by-laws. Consideration: Have a drawing for both cash and other prizes to encourage attendance at jams. Can just come to listen or play and have a chance to win a prize. Point out it is a free event. Find out rules and possibilities for Proxy voting. 1/3 have to be present to vote any changes. Note to Dwight Worden, IBMA Assoc. rep, regarding options, awaiting response. 
• Band update - need to know about buses - How many? What electrical needs will they have? Band Chair - Joe Steiner reports there will be no buses needing electric as far as he knows. 
• Workshop status: Chris C. There will be 13 different workshops. Tickets for workshop directors will be at the gate. Must sign in. They will be week end tickets.  Bull Harmon workshop - will be in the Log Cabin. Others will be in the Mini Barn, Open barn - Swine Barn, one other in the Log Cabin also. *Chris C. and *Linda W. will make workshop posters. *Chris C. will let officers know how many chairs she will need and where they are needed for workshops. 
• Advertising: Pres. Jim Winger is taking care of advertising for the Memorial Day festival. There will be a NIBGA add on placemats at 2 Ft. Wayne restaurants. (Liberty Dinner & Keliah's) Advertising in Kendallville News Sun. Paid $735. Radio - We will commit per last months board meeting. Multiple spots available, Joe & Chris,: Wayne Taylor: HillBenders.   (Not sure what this was about) 
• IBMA 2011 - Should we attend? If so - who? Rooms & meals around $2,300, tickets around $1,600 Options: No one go; Just Joe Steiner go; Joe Steiner & Chris Cooperrider go; or Joe, Chris, Jim & Linda Winger go. There are benefits in a NIBGA presents at the International Bluegrass Music Association Convention. TABLE: for May 22 meeting. Must be decided soon. 
• Consideration: Collect e-mail address from attendees - pending until after festival. 

NEW BUSINESS

• NIBGA received a recommendation for a young man named Jonathan Demers for a music Scholarship. Jonathan has played mandolin and guitar and provided harmony vocals with Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters for nearly 3 years. Jonathan has applied personally for a Scholarship from NIBGA.
  
  Jonathan has auditioned and been accepted to Berklee Collage of Music in Boston, MA. He also has a background in music because of his father, Paternal Grandfather  and Paternal Grandmother who are/were all involved in music and bands. Jonathan's desire to further develop his music training and skills is sincere.  His need for financial help is significant. His desire to train at Burklee is strong. After the board looked at his need and qualifications Joe Steiner motioned to award Jonathan Demers a Scholarship for $500.00. Linda Winger second. All approve. Motion Carried.
  
  Secretary Barbara Collins will write a letter of acceptance to Jonathan.
  
• Suzuki class will perform at the Spring festival. Linda Winger reviewed the procedures for their tickets for entering the gate. There will be a list of qualified members to sign in for their tickets. 
• Linda Winger showed her final draft for the Spring/Fall 2011 T-Shirt design. The design was approved.
• Chris Cooperrider reported that all bands that wanted hosted have been assigned and notified. All is set to go. 
• 2011 SUMMER NEWSLETTER MAILING:   

          May - Jeanette Young
          June - Pam Keiper
          July - Barbara Collins
          August - Chris Cooperrider & Joe Steiner
          September - Paul & Sue Saurborn

• OKI wants to meet with area bluegrass associations. Pres. Jim Winger requested that V. Pres. Joe Steiner meet with them.
• Jeanette Young - Vendor Chair says we still need a Bake Sale vendor.  Several other vendors have committed. Others pending.
• Paul Saurborn motioned to adjourn. T.J. Collins second. All approve. Meeting adjourned at 2:30P.M..

*Next board meeting, Sunday May 22 at the fairgrounds in Kendallville.
     (Bring a carry in dish and personal table services. Jim & Linda will buy the meat.)

Sincerely, NIBGA Secretary - Barbara Collins

Hazel Dickens - 75

Hazel Dickens, a troubadour of hard times whose raw, heartfelt songs about coal miners and the life of the downtrodden made her a revered figure in country and bluegrass music, died April 22 at the Washington Home hospice in the District. She was 75 and had complications from pneumonia.


You Tube video of her.


Full story at the Washington Post.

Excitment for Labor Day in Kendallville

I noticed in your recent newsletter a list of things to do and see in northeast Indiana. I wanted to let you know, that to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Cord 810 automobile, planning is underway for an event similar to last year's Duesenberg Exhibition of Speed at the Kendallville Airport over Labor Day weekend.

Bill Hummel, E.L. Cord's grandson, asked the city's aviation board for permission to use the airport runway for Cord races, display of antique and classic automobiles. The board approved and FAA permission is expected to temporarily close the runway on Friday, Sept. 2. A parade of Cords and classic autos like last year is planned from Auburn to Kendallville. 

Aviation will be the focus on Saturday, Sept. 3, with exhibits, a fly- in and the board is working with the same group that brought the World War II B-24 to the airport last year to arrange for a B-17 appearance and rides.

This is for Labor Day weekend, but I thought you'd like a heads-up to let your members know well in advance. 

Dennis Nartker

Kendallville, News-Sun

Francis Geels, 86, Over Jordan

Francis Geels passed away after an extended illness, April 11, 2011 at home. Francis was a fixture at all NIBGA festivals. We first met him at Ottawa, OH at the reunions. We had the biggest camp fire on the grounds. Francis would come by around midnight after other jams had quit. It wouldn't be long until our jam was fired up again with him leading the way on the fiddle.

He and his family band, The Geels Family, played many Kendallville and before festivals. He was a renowned fiddle player and played with numerous other groups including Joe Taylor & The Redbirds and Fiddler & Sis. He taught the fiddle with Master Artist Apprenticeship Program. He also made and repaired string instruments.

This picture was taken at our winter jams at the Southwest Conservation club.

Full obituary information is available at Haggard,Sefton & Hirschy Funeral Home in Decatur, IN

SWCC PANCAKE BREAKFAST:

Pancake Breakfast
Southwest Conservation club, Fort Wayne, IN
NIBGA's jam & meeting location

April 17 is NIBGA's last jam & meeting until October 16, 2011. The SWCC will be having a special breakfast starting at 7a until gone. Menu includes pancakes, sausage, eggs, biscuits & gravy, & hash browns. The food is inexpensive and very good.
Come and support the SWCC and join in the NIBGA jam or just sit, relax and enjoy the music which generally starts around 1p. If you get there earlier, you can have breakfast and help get the newsletter ready for mailing.

See you there Sunday, April 17.
Linda Winger - Treasurer

Dave Hart, 73, over Jordan

We've received word that Dave Hart from Antwerp, Ohio passed away this afternoon, April 8 at home. He had been ill recently but was determined to come to Tri-State Memorial weekend.

Dave was on the board of NIBGA and has been an active member for many years. He will be missed by his many friends and family.

His obituary is located on Dooley Funeral home web site. The Fort Wayne newspaper published this:

DAVID HART, 73 of Antwerp, died Friday, April 8, 2011. Service is 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church, 5482 CR 424, Antwerp, Ohio, with viewing one hour prior. Viewing is also from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the church. www.dooleyfuneralhome.com

Published in Fort Wayne Newspapers on April 10, 2011

Alison Krauss & Union Station summer tour

"Paper Airplane" is the first  Alison Krauss and Union Station CD in six years. It features dobro virtuoso Jerry Douglas along with the other Union Station members. Target will have a special release of the CD with 6 additional tracks.

Alison has more Grammy Awards than any other female artist. Not only has she one in the bluegrass category but also win for country, for collaborations and for song & album of the year with Robert Plant. 

She has planned a 50 city tour this summer.  It has been several years since Alison and Union Station band members Dan Tyminski (guitar, mandolin and lead vocals), Barry Bales (bass and harmony vocals), Ron Block (banjo, guitar and harmony vocals), and Jerry Douglas (Dobro and harmony vocals) toured together. 

Area cities on the tour are:

JUNE

4        Louisville, KY               The Palace

5        Louisville, KY               The Palace

9        Indianapolis, IN            The Lawn

10      Kettering, OH               Fraze Pavilion

Toy Hearts sound equipment stolen

They Toy Hearts have suffered the ultimate indignity to befall the touring musician. On April 6 they found all their sound gear stolen in Birmingham, UK. Someone broke into their van and took it all. 
The Toy Hearts were at our Kendallville festival over Labor Day 2009. They also played the Sacred Hearts nursing home in Avilla.

NE Ind. Food Bank benefit June 11, 2011

North East Indian Banjo Society Benefit June 11, 2011