A couple of quick updates for March...

First, don't forget that our local March 9th singing in Springdale is recessed to allow as many as can to attend the Missouri State Sacred Harp Singing Convention near Washington, MO on Saturday and Sunday, March 8th and 9th. The Missouri Convention draws singers from Minnesota to Georgia and is a good way to get over any symptoms of "cabin fever" accumulated over the past few months. Links to convention details, maps, motel lists, etc. are available in the sidebar's Calendar section.

The next regular singing with the Shiloh Singers will be from 1:30 to 4:00 P.M. on April 13, 2014 in the General Store at the Shiloh Museum, 118 W. Johnson Avenue, Springdale, AR.

Second, regarding the Missouri weather, Syd received a note from Paul Figura, one of the Convention planners. Paul wrote:

... I am happy to give you an "all clear" for both here in the St. Louis area and some 60 miles West of us, at the Convention location  www.tinyurl.com/pinckney
 
Yes, we did have some sleet yesterday morning, topped by a thin layer of snow.  But the good news is that the highways and roads are clear now and the ground is already showing through, both here and at Pinckney.  What white stuff is on the ground should be long gone before this weekend.  The highs are forecast to be above freezing starting tomorrow, with clear skies.  The highs for Friday, Saturday and Sunday should be around 50º F.
 
So - come on down, up, or over.  We will be honored to have you with us.

I have no doubt that Paul knows much more about Missouri weather than anyone else I know, but I wrote another member of the Arkansas contingent that I still plan to arrive at the church early on Saturday and Sunday and seek the high ground in the parking lot. It's an old Infantry habit from a long time ago and half a world away.

Hope to see all the Arkansas singers who can attend the convention on Saturday and Sunday and looking forward to April's flowers decorating the grounds of the Shiloh Museum on April 13th when we can all get together and sing together again.
 

February Singing and Remembering Groundhod Day...

First of all, the regular Sunday, February 9, 2014, singing is still scheduled for 1:30 until 4:00 P.M. in the General Store on the grounds of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. Visitors are always welcome and we'll even loan them a book and they can sing along or just tap their foot and enjoy the music.

Photo: January 12th Singing in the Shiloh Museum General Store.

We had a great turnout of singers and visitors in January and Dan Brittain once again covered some of the basics of shape note singing for the visitors. Several of the visitors went home with new songbooks and I think it's safe to say that we all enjoyed a pleasant afternoon of singing the old hymns. I sincerely hope that everyone had a good time. So it's time to send out a reminder about the February event.

This is also a good time to remind everyone that the Shiloh Singers will be in recess in March to allow (encourage?) as many singers as possible to attend the Missouri State Sacred Harp Singing Convention at St. John's United Church of Christ near Washington, Missouri on March 8th and 9th. The two-day event, sponsored by the St. Louis Shape Note Singers, draws singers from Alabama to Wisconsin and is certainly a premier event. We'll talk more about sharing a ride on Sunday. The Saint Louis group recommends making room reservations as early as possible. Click on the links below for more detailed information in the St. Louis flyer, motel info and map.
Missouri State Singing Convention Flyer
Google map & Motel Information

Two boxes of the new 2013 & 2014 edition of Sacred Harp Singings have arrived. Each annual edition contains the previous year's minutes and the current year's directory of where to find local and regional singings  The books will be available at the February singing.

I'm also reminded of "Groundhog Day," the 1993 movie, where Bill Murray, the TV weatherman, finds himself living the same day over and over again? Writing a monthly newsletter is a little like the time warp depicted in the movie. And much like the weatherman, once again we're confronted with conflicting weather forecasts. This year, Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter.

Groundhog family (Credit: Bob Hines, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

I also read that somewhere in Arkansas, a groundhog emerged while still blinking his eyes and trying to go back to sleep. He or she didn't actually see their shadow. Thus the groundhog joined the ever optimistic local Chamber of Commerce members in hoping for an early spring.

I hope all the Arkansas groundhogs stay warm toward the end of this week. Accuweather is predicting partly sunny conditions on Friday, possible snow on Saturday, and sunshine on Sunday with the temperatures in the 30's. The local forecasters on KFSM believe it will snow on Friday, clearing with a 30% possibility of snow on Saturday, and turn partly sunny on Sunday with highs in the mid to low 30's. Our best advice is for everyone to watch their favorite news and weather program on Saturday. If the roads get so bad that it's difficult to pick up the key to the general store, we'll post a 2nd weather update so please check this website for the latest information.

One more thing:  The usual invitations for chicken and dumplings at AQ's Chicken House in Springdale around noon and hot chocolate at the Springdale Denny's after the singing are extended. Both sessions are intended to allow more time to visit and talk about singing and sometimes each others grandchildren.

So we'll pray for good weather and hope the to see you and everyone at the February 9th singing.


"A researcher with a thermometer knows what the temperature is; a researcher with two thermometers is confused." - Old Science Teacher
BR NOTE - The same applies to groundhogs and weather reports.

Missouri State Sacred Harp Convention, March 8th & 9th...

St. John's UCC

Syd Caldwell forwarded information about the 29th Annual Missouri State Sacred Harp Convention. The note contains links to the convention flyer and a Google map with motels and phone numbers. The former Sleep Inn in Washington, MO, is now a Best Western and please note that some of the motels have early cut-off dates for reduced rates.

Subject: [fasola-singings] Missouri State Convention, March 8th and 9th

It is time to make plans to come to the 29th Annual Missouri State Sacred Harp Convention, Saturday and Sunday, March 8th and 9th.  The Convention is held in a beautiful 1870 wooden country church in Pinckney, MO, about 90 miles West of St. Louis, close to the Missouri River, The KATY Trail, and Missouri Wine Country.  Our visiting singers tell us how much they love the acoustics in this church - and we agree.  We will sing from Sacred Harp, 1991, and Missouri Harmony, 2005, and will have copies of both books available for use there or for purchase.  There will be the traditional dinners on the grounds at noon and a Saturday evening social in nearby Washington, MO.

The map showing our Convention church and the locations of nearby motels is at www.tinyurl.com/pinckney and the flyer is at  http://stlfasola.org/2014ConventionFlyer.pdf   You are encouraged to make your room reservations early since some of the Inns have early cut-off dates for our reduced rates.

 

We love coming to your wonderful conventions.  Come and let us return the favor.

 

Paul Figura

One of the things we can do to help reduce expenses is to share rides and rooms. We'll talk more about that at the February 2nd Sunday singing on February 9th. Please let me know if you have an empty seat or two for the trip to Missouri or if you'd like to ride with someone. Call or email if you want to get on the share list or if you have any questions.

Hope to see you at the February singing in Springdale...