I wish I didn't have to write this update, but phone calls, emails and three different weather services pointed to continued cold weather and freezing rain or drizzle on Sunday. Saturday's weather should improve in the NWA region but another smaller weather front is expected to follow Saturday evening or Sunday. The second front is not expected to be as severe as the past few days and weather conditions may improve on Saturday with highs in the mid-twenties followed by night time temperatures in the mid-teens. But Sunday high temperatures in Springdale are only expected to reach 29 degrees.
The Friday afternoon check of the Weather Channel's Interstate Forecast for Sunday also suggested "Poor" (orange) driving conditions for Joplin and "Poor" for I-40 at Fort Smith and "Caution" (red) for I-40 east of Russellville. While I-540 is not specifically shown on the Interstate Forecast map, common sense suggests possible "Poor" conditions in the mountains between I-40 and I-44 in Missouri, particularly if freezing drizzle is added to the equation. The roads may be salted and plowed but there are some long bridges and steep hills in the shade on 540 and the connector to Joplin. Some two lane roads may also be less than ideal.
So after emails and phone discussion, the consensus was to lean toward the side of being safe rather than sorry. Thus the Sunday December 8th singing has been canceled. Like many of you, I wish the weather was better and hate to miss a Sunday singing. At least we can look forward to wishing each other a Happy New Year in person at the January Sunday singing on January 12, 2014. Stay safe and warm this weekend.
December 8th Singing: Katy's been busy decorating two Christmas trees with all the Christmas ornaments she's collected over the years -- more than will fit on a single tree. Like many other singers, we've both been looking forward to the December 8th gathering of the Shiloh Singers to celebrate completion of another year of singing Sacred Harp music and munching on Christmas cookies and other delights at the 1:30 P.M. singing in the Shiloh Museum's General Store in Springdale. That's still on the schedule and this is the usual December reminder.
However... Like many of you, I've also been digesting local and regional weather reports instead of chocolate cookies for the past several days and have already consulted the group's leadership before I sent out the December newsletter and updated the website. In summary, the consensus is to send out the usual reminder BUT with a concern that if the NWA weather forecast and travel conditions continue to look poor for Sunday, 12/8, we'll send out another e-bulletin on Saturday and cancel the Sunday singing if necessary. As Bill Caldwell responded, "We don't want anyone to make a risky trip."
One of the things I've learned about weather over the years is that short range forecasts are usually a more accurate than long range forecasts, but in spite of radar and computer models, weather is still unpredictable. So again, the game plan is that several long distance singers have already been asked to look at their local Sunday forecasts on Saturday morning and phone or email their best guess of what Sunday travel will look like from their area. Other member input always welcome. If the weather observers think slick roads and limited visibility will prevail, I'll send out a 2nd notice to sing or cancel via email and then post a similar notice on the web. We can always celebrate a happier New Year if all of our singers can be present on January 12th.
In other news... Syd Caldwell received sad news that Rene Greene's mother, Mrs. Shelbie Sheppard, passed away this past week in Alabama. Many of the Shiloh Singers will remember that Rene conducted the Singing School on Friday evening before the October NWA Sacred Harp Singing Convention. Syd is sending flowers on behalf of our group.
The Shiloh Singers had so many new singers at the October Singing Convention and at the November singing that we've ordered another box of The Sacred Harp song books. Given the usual Christmas mail rush, we should have them in time for our January singing.
One more thing... Just in case that one or two of us lose electrical power or our new-fangled computer connection, warmly wishing everyone all the best for a
Merry Christmas
anda Happy New Year!
Keep an eye on the weather and be careful out there!
November Singing: The main purpose of each newsletter is
to remind everyone that the Shiloh Singers of NW Arkansas will
continue their regular series of 2nd Sunday singings on Sunday,
November 10, 2013 at 1:30 P.M. in the General Store on the
grounds of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale. If
you enjoy chicken on Sunday, some of us will informally gather
at AQ's Chicken House around noon, and likely find a little post
singing refreshment after the singing at 4:00 P.M. The before
and after fellowship is optional but you're invited if you'd
like to attend.
If you missed the singing school and NWA Fall Singing Convention
with Rene Greene, which was a special treat, beginners are
always welcome and we have special handouts and loaner songbooks
to help you learn more about Sacred Harp singing. You'll be
singing in no time.
Photo: Rene Greene, from Alabama, was the instructor at the
10/25/13 NWA singing school.
NW
Arkansas Fall Sacred Harp Singing Convention and Singing
School: Officially, the Friday night singing school
enjoyed a mix of 13 new and experienced singers - small enough
for individual attention and big enough to get a good variety of
questions answered. Rene Greene's father was a song writer and a
leader among Alabama's Sacred Harp groups and Rene attended her
first singing when she was only two weeks old. Rene, like her
father and so many others, is carrying on a tradition that's
important to our past and a legacy for our future. The Shiloh
Singers appreciated Rene's time and effort to help our group.
Photo: The group photo taken at the conclusion of the 2013
NWA Fall Sacred Harp Singing Convention at the Springdale First United Methodist Church
on 10/26/13.
Saturday's
regional singing convention enjoyed the participation of 26
singers, many from the previous evening, but with more singers
filling each section. It's a long list to thank everyone who
worked to pull the event together but a few of the highlights
include: Bill Caldwell, Fall Convention Chairman; Dan Brittain,
Director of Music, Syd Caldwell, Arrangements; Holly Childs,
Springdale First United Methodist Church and their staff for the
site arrangements; Alexis Walker, Table Decorations; Gail
Cowart, Special Signs for the event; Katy Black, Secretary; and
all who helped at the registration table and brought their best
pot luck recipes, desserts and drinks for lunch and the breaks.
Rene Greene and Jimmy Moore, also from Alabama, stayed for the
convention. Rene and Dan continued to provide short
instructional segments for the new singers and special visitors.
Special visitors? Oh yes. We even enjoyed a special Saturday
afternoon visit from 23 members of the Oklahoma Methodist Manor
in Tulsa who came to visit the singing and visit the Shiloh
Museum of Ozark History. Thanks to Irene Brown, Life Enrichment
Coordinator, who brought the group as part of a "double-header"
with the museum. Several of the Oklahoma group were singing
along and Irene even led one of the tunes. You can see a shot of
the Oklahoma group, as well as the table decorations in the
video below.
And finally. a big thanks to all the singers who traveled from
Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas and all the way from Alabama to
help us fill the hall with song and the fellowship that makes
each of our spring and fall conventions so special.
And one more thing! - The above YouTube video is from the October 26th Fall Singing
Convention. Once the YouTube screen appears click on the small box in the lower right hand corner of the control panel below the video for a larger version of the video. You can also click on either photo for a larger version.
I hope you enjoy the sample and can
sing with the Shiloh Singers on Sunday, November 10th at the
Shiloh Museum.
