SOS Members-Only Newsletter, July 26, 2009

PRESIDENT’S CORNER, OR … FERIEL’S FABLES …

I’m writing this while looking out on the Alabama edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Brilliant sunlight, blue-green water, the constant breezes of a coast. A pod of dolphins, dozens of them! just swam past, fishing in the shallow waters after the light rain of early morning. I’m here with my sister and a couple who were lifelong friends of Angela and her late husband, Ken. Last night Angela and I listened as Sarah (not her real name) told us stories about being born in China of an Ecuadorian mother, who was concubine to a Chinese farmer. The father died, and she was raised by his “first” wife. Then, a Portuguese stepfather sent her to convent school, And, finally, her “white knight” in the person of the American soldier, Sam (also fictitious), brought her to this country. The thread of ‘never fitting in’ runs through her life. It was a beautiful sharing, and another testimony to the power of story in cementing relationships.

As a usual thing, summer is a slow and leisurely season.  But this summer, in our storytelling world, not so. The Benefit performance in June was a terrific evening of synergistic blending of genres and talent. A million thanks to Carmen Deedy for donating her time and incomparable talent, as usual, mesmerizing her audience. The musicians had boundless energy, exquisitely visceral sounds, and offered an array of styles. Our own Eric Litwin sang his new book for us, and donated more than two dozen books to the benefit, which sold out in record time.

Ernestine Brown and her committee gave us a delightful summer picnic and meeting the afternoon before the Benefit. Thanks to Ernie, Esther, and Deborah!

WIGS and Queen Mum, Janice Butt, receive rave reviews from ladies of Atlanta, after a super morning of “Flappers, Floozies, and All That Jazz” filled with humorous history. We met Margaret Mitchell (Cathy Kaemerlen), Mrs. Felton, the first Senator from Georgia (Jane Hinds), Moms Mabley (Esther Culver), and Josephine Baker (Deborah Strahorn).  Someone told Janice the event was like a history lesson without the test.  And we storytellers all know, that’s the BEST way to learn lessons, through stories.

We’re working with Warren Jacobs on creating a time and place for a performance of his one-man show, “Prostate Cancer, the Musical”. Watch for more news about that!

Auditions were amazing this year. We’ve got some new talent who you’ll see during our year, maybe for the first time.  Watch for that announcement in the very near future.

It has been good to see that most clusters have not taken the summer off. Audrey has kept us “in the know,” and Jonah is doing a superb job of getting the word out by internet. So there has been a community of sharing in full swing. Have a great rest-of-the-summer.

FEATURES

* Editor’s Note
* Calendar of Events
* President’s Message
* Members in the News
* Well-wishes and Reflections
* News & Views
* Personal Story Corner
* NSN News
* List of Board of Directors

EDITOR’S NOTE

I’m still not sure what to call this publication. I’ve had a few calls .. and some emailed suggestions, from “Town Crier” to “Tellers Telling.” I was thinking we could call it the Southern Bell … but that evokes too much of an antebellum feel. Keep those suggestions coming. Send yours to Audrey Galex at agalex@bellsouth.net.

We also need your suggestions for a title of the Thanksgiving program to be held at the Carter Museum,/Library on November 27 at 2pm.  Got a catchy title? Contact Janice Butt (teachtale@bellsouth.net or 404.377.2704

And don’t forget your submissions for “Member Spotlight.” Each issue we’d like to spotlight an SOS member with a news feature highlighting his or her accomplishments or activities related to supporting the art of storytelling.  Send your 300-word article to Audrey at agalex@bellsouth.net

Remember, you can have a presence on the SOS website. It’s $25 for members to post a bio and headshot on the Storytellers page and $10 to post a link to your website on the Links page.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Saturday, Nov., 21, 7:30 pm

Tellabration!

Friday, Nov., 27, 2:00 pm

Thanksgiving at the Carter Library

Jan. 29-30, 2010

Winter StoryFest

July 4, 2010

4th of July at the Carter Center

October 27-30, 2010

Oral History Assoc. Annual Meeting

MEMBER NEWS & VIEWS & UPDATES

Cluster Groups:
Alton Russell, SOS Member in Columbus, GA, is in the process of organizing a new cluster group in his area. The first meeting attracted 10 guests and prompted calls from several more interested folks. The next meeting is scheduled on August 5th, 6:30 pm, at the Columbus Library on Macon Road. If you know anyone in the Columbus area who may be interested, please let them know about the meeting and tell them they’re welcome to call or email Alton for more information.   706-587-7549, or altonrussell@bellsouth.net

…

From Janice Butt ….
Imagine my surprise when I began to read an e-news letter from Buck Creacy, a Kentucky storyteller.  There on the left side was a picture of our own BJ Abraham, and a big “Thank You” for the editing job she had done for him.

I also opened the newest edition of Storytelling Magazine yesterday to find the story “Claude and Maude” by Betty Ann Wylie, accompanying a picture on the cover of the magazine. And, inside,  an article by Warren Jacobs about his struggle with prostrate cancer.  He turned the experience into a musical show called “Prostate Cancer, The Musical”.    SOS members do get around.

…

Congratulations to Janice Butt for producing a FABULOUS “Flappers, Floozies & All That Jazz,” the 7th Annual Day of Discovery for Women presented by WIGS (Women’s Imaginative Guild of Storytellers) and the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Wild applause and standing ovations followed every teller — Janice, Ernestine Brown, Jane Hinds, Deborah Strahorn, Cathy Kaemmerlen and Esther Culver. One participant said, “This was a history class without a test!”  Another, first timer, asked, “how have I missed this great program before?  I never will again!” Thanks also to ConunDRUMS for rip roaring drumming that got everyone up and out of their seats!

…
From Wynn Montgomery:
During a vacation trip to Arizona, Millie and I visited the Heard Museum in Phoenix. It focuses on Native American culture, and I found the attached description of “The Story Teller” especially insightful and moving.  The words are on a large poster; I added the picture.  I thought readers of the SOS Newsletter would enjoy it.

THE STORYTELLER
I want to
reach into the heart of the old stories
and feel the beat of the drum
around the former fires of my ancestors,
and when the storyteller steps
out to speak
I want to hear the words
as they were meant to be said:
the lessons, the humor, the
accompanying gesture, the rhythm,
the connections created with the community, the families.
I want to hear the words
come alive as the fire burns into the night.
I want the words to enter my body
and when I speak
the stories to come alive
with today’s ears, eyes and spirit.

–Frank Conibear, Gatherings VI

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Furniture4Sale:
“T” and John Rice have some lovely heirloom furniture they’d like to offer to their SOS friends.  Items include dressers, chests of drawers, bedroom furniture.
Call T at 770-864-9108 to arrange a visit to their home, located near N. DeKalb shopping center.

…

You won’t want to miss Bess Chappass’ new website at www.savannahstoryspinners.com.  The Savannah storyteller even includes a link to a clip for her contribution to Mutual of Omaha’s “Aha Moment” ad campaign, where she talks about the story behind her book, “Kiki and the Red Shoes.”

WELL-WISHES & REFLECTIONS

Earlier this month, SOS member Diane Rooks sent out the following email to  the Healing Stories List serv:

Some of you have read or heard about Camp Rooks, the camp I have every summer for my grandchildren.  This is the fourth year we have done it and last year I decided to have a theme—which was “I can make a difference…”  I told lots of stories and they taught us songs and we talked about ways we could make a difference.  It was really a fun camp.

This year I thought the theme would be “Follow your dreams…” and decided to tell “The Peddler of Ballagadareen,” and “The Legend of the Dream Catcher” (we’ll make dream catchers as one of our crafts) and “Shingebiss” as stories to tell that connect to the theme.  But I need a few more stories and would love to hear your suggestions.  They can be loosely connected to dreams—waking and sleeping—or about people who followed their dreams, or anything else that might be appropriate.  The ages of the 7 kids this year are 4 – 15, with the 15-year-old being a junior counselor.  That’s quite an age spread, but somehow it works.

We’ve asked her to report on “Camp Rooks” for our next newsletter!

PERSONAL STORY CORNER

An Insider’s View of the Art & Craft of Storytelling

KUUMBA STORYTELLERS OF GEORGIA : 2ND ANNUAL MAMA TALES
submitted by Margaret Edinburgh

On May 16, 2009 the 2nd Annual Mama Tales Concert was presented with this year’s theme, “What My Mama Taught Me.” … “My Mama taught me humor.  When that lawn mower cuts your foot off, don’t come running to me,” said Gloria Elder, Program Chair and Mistress of Ceremonies.    This is just one of the old adages–filled with sound advice–that was shouted out between each teller’s performances, throughout the evening at the historic APEX Museum, on the infamous “Sweet Auburn” Avenue.

The program celebrated the power and diversity of mothers, featuring drumming, dance, old stories, new stories, monologues and songs. The featured tellers Ernestine Brown, Salim Cox, Esther Culver, Paul Freeman, Sylvia Hayes, Nancy Sims and Verna Muthoni  captivated the audience with their stories about their Mamas.  This was the first public storytelling experience for Margaret Edinburgh, who shared an original monologue from her upcoming book, “One Thing for Certain, Two Things for Sure.”

Kuumba storyteller, Gwendolyn J. Napier reflected on our first Mama Tales experience. “I had an opportunity to be a featured teller for the first Mama Tales Concert, and it was great!  I attended the 2nd Annual Mama Tales Concert this year but as a Support Team Teller in the audience.   When I heard the stories that were shared about “What My Mama Taught Me,” chills went up and down my body. I know that one day my daughter will be sharing stories about me.  The program was absolutely, an evening to remember.”

The word Kuumba means “creativity”, and the members of Kuumba not only express themselves through story, but one member, Amy Johnson, has a passion for catering.  Under Amy’s guidance, members set up tables and  Amy worked her magic, filling our stomachs while the tellers filled our minds.

We welcome your reflections and “insider’s” look at the art & craft of storytelling.

NATIONAL STORYTELLING NETWORK NEWS

Update on Brother Blue, a fixture on the scene at the National Storytelling Festival:

After delighting crowds on opening day of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, DC, Brother Blue became ill on Thursday June 25, 2009 when he suffered a mild heart attack. He did not suffer a stroke as some rumors are suggesting. He received immediate care and was treated at a local hospital. He is now recovering at a rehab center near home. Both Brother Blue and Ruth are doing well. Brother Blue is getting PT six days a week and OT five days a week, the food is good and the staff is nice. Ruth has a fridge full of groceries and is well supported by her friends, co-workers and the storytelling community. Ruth and Blue have decided that they would prefer to have no visitors for the time being. This gives Blue some time to regain some strength; visitors exhaust him since he wants to entertain them.
Storytellers who wish to honor Blue and Ruth by dedicating storytelling shows to them, thus creating a virtual prayer wheel, can do so by going here: storiesforblue.blogspot.com/

If you’d like to send a card please mail it to Blue and Ruth Hill, P.O. Box 381315, Cambridge, MA 02238-1315. Your prayers and good wishes are appreciated.

…

Tellabration!    Saturday November 21, 2009

TELLABRATION! a night of storytelling celebrated world-wide on or about the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Guilds and storytelling enthusiasts all around the globe will share their storytelling talents in concerts held in cities and towns to celebrate the art of storytelling. The idea of storyteller J.G. “Paw Paw” Pinkerton, Tellabration! grew from storytelling events across Connecticut to storytelling events around the world. Tellabration! may mean dfferent things to different communities depending upon where it is held but one thing it does mean to those who participate is a rip-roaring good time of sharing and listening to stories . Many libraries combine canned food drives to support the local Food Bank during Tellabration!. Details available at www.tellabration.org.

SOS Board Members

B.J. Abraham   bjstory@hotmail.com
John Beavin     jbeavin@bellsouth.net
Ernestine Brown  ernibrown@excite.com
Janice Butt        teachtale@bellsouth.net
Jan Cribbs        storyconnections@gmail.com
Feriel Feldman  ferielfeldman@bellsouth.net
Audrey Galex   agalex@bellsouth.net
Jane Hinds     jane.hinds@comcast.net
Jonah McDonald   jonah@friendlypilgrim.com
Ron Myers      Ronmyers1@charter.net
Dave Schutten  presode@aol.com
Deborah Strayhorn    kayhorn@juno.com

Please send your news by the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month to Audrey Galex at agalex@bellsouth.net