Central IBMA Member Vol. 35 No. 01 Texas Bluegrass January 1, 2013 and heard more about our kind of The Parkbench music in the past three years than you have in earlier years. I know Welcome to 2013 and to a new year I have. Something is stirring and, of the Central Texas Bluegrass Asso- as they say, it’s about to get really ciation (CTBA) newsletter. To all our good. I am convinced we are on current members, thanks for your the leading edge of the bluegrass support throughout 2012. To our new surge and that we, here in Central members, welcome to the primary Texas, have the advantage because voice of the bluegrass community for we are surrounded and immersed the ever-expanding area currently in the most fertile bluegrass talent known as Central Texas. Together, we and supportive environment in the all look forward to an exciting 2013 country. You’d almost have to hire that promises more opportunities for someone to help you not notice it. experiencing and participating in the So, with this, the inaugural issue music and music-related events we of 2013, let’s make a deal: I’ll do love so much. my best to keep this newsletter As the new editor of the CTBA news- relevant, informative, and fun if letter, I have an opportunity before you’ll help me do it. CTBA is not me that is both exciting and fright- bluegrass. You are bluegrass. Our ening. Frightening because of the mission at the CTBA is to promote responsibility entrusted. Look back to bluegrass music in the Central the previous editions of the Newslet- Texas area. Simply put, that means ter, or the Bluegrass Bulletin as it was we’re here to promote, inform, and once titled. See the names associ- support you. You’ve been to the ated with its publication? I can hardly jams, to the festivals, to the shows imagine the talent, experience, histo- large and small, you’ve travelled ry, and relationships those names rep- the miles, been to the campsites, resent. That’s a lot to live up to. So, I’ll and eaten questionable food prod- ucts. Now, it’s time to tell your story simply add my flavor, my enthusiasm, Ya can’t throw a pick in on these pages. So, let’s get to it. and my contribution to the continu- these parts without hittin’ ing narrative that is the Central Texas a bunch a folks jammin’ The central focus of this month’s Bluegrass Association. And yet, it’s an somewhere. Here’s a edition is our annual board meet- exciting opportunity. sample from the Fiddler’s ing held in December. You’ll get to meet our new and used (okay, ex- Exciting because I firmly believe that Green “Pickin’ in the isting) board members, read some bluegrass, roots, and Americana music Park” jam back in of their thoughts, and read a little are approaching an explosion of November. popularity unlike it has seen in possi- about what took place there. Re- bly three decades. Maybe you’ve seen member, as always, keep in touch and keep on pickin’. © 2013 CENTRAL TEXAS BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION 4 Central Texas Bluegrass Association CTBA Annual Board Meeting The CTBA annual board meeting and concert was more fun that most of us expected. Held at Scholz Garten (http://www.scholzgarten.net/) this year, there was a big turnout for both the board meeting and the concert after. Parking was a puzzle since that free parking thing in the adjoining garage was suspended because of a nearby of collegiate event. Graduation, I suspect. Sam Dunn, current CTBA president, called the meeting to order and got down to the business at hand. Gloria Brayshaw, Secretary, presented the minutes from the past meeting into the current minutes and they were accepted unanimously. Duane Calvin, Treasurer, brought us up-to-date on the financial condition of the organization which, as expected, is not bad. Chuck Middleton gave us an update on the membership totals. About 215 fine folks have aligned themselves with this outfit. Eddie Collins, Vice-President, presented a substantial list of events that CTBA supported during 2012; activities that you don’t think about too much at the time but when you see it all gathered up, you see that CTBA did a great job of staying connected and giving back: • Health Alliance for Austin-area Musicians (HAAM) • Music Camp Scholarships for youth • The Texas Pickin’ Park, Fayetteville TX • RiceGrass, Fischer TX • Fiddler’s Green’s November Pickin’ In The Park • Old Settler’s Music Festival, Driftwood TX • Bluegrass Heritage Foundation, Arlington, TX • International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA, Nashville, TN) • KOOP Radio’s “Strictly Bluegrass” program, Austin, TX • Special one-time events, (Bill Monroe’s 100th Birthday Celebration -2011, “O Brother’s” 10th Anniversary-2010) • CTBA Special General Membership Free Concert, Scholz Garten, Austin, TX • AFTM’s Fall String Band Festival, Driftwood TX • CTBA’s Annual Band Scramble at Waterloo, Austin, TX • Llano’s Bluebell & Bluegrass Festival • Scholz weekly open jam session • Bi-weekly Beginner/Intermediate jam at Café Express We were reminded that there is a form on the CTBA website at http://www.centraltexasbluegrass. org/docs/gn_houston_austin.pdf that you can fill out and give to the Randall’s customer service folks that will designate 1% of your purchases to go to CTBA. Hey, you get to shop and support your favorite bluegrass association. It’s remarkable! Central Texas Bluegrass Association 3 Ya gotta admit, we’ve had our hands in a lot of really good stuff! And, I’m sure there’s more to come. Hey, we’ve got a whole ‘nother year coming up. Speaking of new stuff coming up: CTBA is proud to announce new board members for the coming year: Jenn Miori, Stacy Holt, Jacob Roberts, and Adam Roberts. Tracie Upham finished out a term for someone who resigned and she was elected to her own full two-year term this time This leaves the CTBA Board in good stead with the maximum number of 10 board members. Jenn plays guitar and sings vocals in The Carper Family. As for her involvement in the CTBA, Jenn says, “I am looking forward to being more involved in the Bluegrass community and learning more about planning bluegrass events and bringing in national acts. I hope that I can find ways to create more avenues for people in join the CTBA as members and as corporate sponsors.” Stacy plays guitar, bass, banjo, and mandolin. Stacy says, “I would like to see CTBA continue to grow, especially with younger folks, and provide the commu- nity with more Bluegrass outlets and events.” Tracie plays mandolin and provides vocal harmony. You may remember meet- ing Tracie in the November 2010 Artist Profile. Tracey says, “I would love to bring more bluegrass events to Central Texas. I’m still amazed by what is hap- pening in Farmers’ Branch. (Maybe we could) offer picking contests - I think we should work toward moving the Winfield sanctioned state contests to Central Texas where more pickers can compete. And, I would really like to increase the turnout at our local jams.” Adam plays Mandolin as well as doing vocals. He says, “First my goal is to be a member of a productive CTBA board for the next two years. I am most inter- ested in promoting bluegrass. I would like to see CTBA events that attract new members as well as keep existing members interested and involved.” Jacob plays guitar, bass, and does vocals as well. When asked about his in- volvement in CTBA, Jacob said, “For the short time I’ve been involved in CTBA, I’ve met a lot of great people that have ideas for growing and promoting Blue- grass music in the area. So, I plan on adding my support by helping out any way I can. I hope to continue to meet with other Bluegrass fans and learn how to better promote and preserve Bluegrass.” 4 Central Texas Bluegrass Association Continuing board members for 2013 include Eddie Collins, Duane Calvin, Joshua Upham, Coleman Stephens and Chuck Middleton. Those who joined the CTBA or renewed their membership before the event were entered in the drawings for various “collector quality” prizes including: Brett Morgan: South Austin Music Gift Certificate Stephen Mangold: Geoff Union “Cold As Steel” CD Lenny Nichols: CTBA Shirt The grand prize was a Sea Gull dreadnaught guitar w/hardshell case do- nated by long-time CTBA supporter and the grand prize winner was Wayne Ross. Way to go, Doc! Overall, the central theme that repeated throughout the meeting was that your Central Texas Bluegrass Association is rock solid and being managed by people who love the music, love the as- sociation, and are dedicated to ensuring its success. Yes, there was a time when the future of CTBA was in question. Not any more. The professionalism and commitment are at the highest level. It just makes your proud. And, it should. Because, at that level of service, and remember they’re all volunteers, there is safety, there is trust, and there is growth. Not just for the association, but for the entire bluegrass movement in central Texas. After a few additional business items, the motion to adjourn was made, a second was heard, and so we did. We adjourned to the courtyard for some outstanding performances. And Then There Was Music! Can you put that much good talent and music in one place and you head still not explode? Es- pecially when you include good food? The bands who played at Scholz’s Garten after the CTBA board meeting were fantastic.