February 1, 2015 Dear WNAA member, Please find attached the 2015 registration packet, including; the registration form, a tentative schedule at a glance, the menu and tour form. Paper registration forms will not be mailed out but are available by request. Thursday, Friday and Saturday festival activities will take place at the Headquarters hotel, the Hyatt Regency. It is recommended that you make your hotel reservations as early as possible to avoid disappointment. As noted in the latest edition of Hwyl, the 84th National Gymanfa Ganu be held at the historic Southern Theatre, one mile from the Hyatt Hotel. The Afternoon Session times: 2:00pm – 4:30pm, Evening Session times: 7:00- 9:30pm, Director Owain Arwel, accompanist David Enlow. Here is some useful information regarding Sunday activities: Admission into the Gymanfa Ganu (both sessions) is included in a 3-Day Festival Pass and 2- Day Sat/Sun pass available for purchase from WNAA (registration form or online) Those wishing to attend Sunday Only must buy tickets: (a) online through: www.capa.com (or by link at www.nafow.org) or (b) at the door, subject to availability (c) call CAPA ticket office: 614-469-0939 Address for the Southern Theatre: 21 E. Main St. Columbus, OH, 43215 Youth under 18 are free, but must have tickets. A parking garage is located directly across the street from the theatre: Columbus Commons Main Garage, 191 South Third Street, Columbus, OH 43215. Rates $1 per hour A shuttle will also be provided to / from Hyatt for $5 fee and is available for advanced registration only. The shuttle will also run back to the hotel between sessions and after the intersession meal. The Sunday intersession meal will be held at the Westin Hotel, adjacent to the Southern Theatre. To maintain and preserve the condition of the Southern Theatre, a $3.00 per ticket “Restoration Charge” is added to the base ticket price of each event at the Southern. This charge has been included in the ticket price for the 84th National Gymanfa Ganu. The WNAA will absorb this cost for all Youth Gymanfa tickets. If you have questions about the festival or would like to request a paper registration form, please contact me on 607-279-7402 or via email: [email protected] I hope to see you in Columbus! Megan Williams Executive Secretary P. O. BOX 1054, TRUMANSBURG, NY 14886 , PHONE 607-279-7402, FAX 877-448-6633, EMAIL: [email protected] WNAA encourages AWOs to suggest qualified prospective candidates for the Board of Trustees. Contact [email protected] for more information. The NAFOW Registration area is on the 2nd floor of the Hyatt Regency. Reserved Festival packets include nametags and tickets to events and may be Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nafow. picked up during the hours listed below. See us on Americymru at www.americymru.net. Registration Desk hours: Sept 2-Sept 6 RESERVE TICKETS BY MAIL, FAX OR ON LINE Actual hours may vary slightly depending on volunteer availability. Register and purchase tickets on line at www.NAFOW.org. Wednesday: 5:00pm – 8:00pm All ticket reservation materials are available at our website. Thursday: 8:30am – 12:00pm, 1:00pm – 5:30pm, 7:00pm-7:30pm Friday: 8:30am—12:00pm, 1:00pm-6:00pm THIS PACKET INCLUDES Saturday: 9:00am – 12:00pm, 1:00pm – 4:30pm, 7:00pm-7:30pm 1. 2015 NAFOW Schedule at a Glance overview Sunday: 1:00pm – 2:00pm (At the Southern Theatre) 2. NAFOW Ticket Reservation Form and Menu Descriptions 3. Tour Ticket Reservation form Banquet table seating will be available throughout the hours the Registration Desk is open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. You MUST The following forms are available from the website or by request: have a table assignment to attend the banquet. WNAA International Headquarters, PO Box 1054, Trumansburg, NY 14886. Email [email protected], Ph.(607) 279-7402, Fax (877) 448-6633. NAFOW is held each year in a different US or Canadian city over the four days Eisteddfod entry form (register to compete, see website for complete details) leading up to Labor Day. Marketplace (reserve a table for your business or organization) Advertising in the Festival Program Volunteers are needed to check tickets at doors, help out in the Tea Room or at the WNAA sales table in the Marketplace. Email [email protected]. Completed ticket reservation forms for the 2015 North American Festival of Wales must arrive at WNAA International Headquarters no later than AUGUST 1st. The Welsh North American Association, the largest Welsh cultural organization Online registration will remain open until Friday, August 28, 2015. in North America, strives to preserve, develop and promote our Welsh cultural heritage and traditions including, but not limited to, the National Gymanfa Ganu. Admission to seminars and the Gymanfa Ganu is included in the Festival Pass. Separate tickets must be purchased for concerts, meals and tours. (See regis- The Board of Trustees is made up of people from across the US, Canada and tration form). Seating at day-time events is on a first-come, first-served basis. Wales who volunteer their time and talents. The Executive Secretary is a part-time paid position. These people plan, publicize and carry out the North American FESTIVAL WEBSITE Festival of Wales. The Board members serve on a variety of committees to Visit www.NAFOW.org for full details of all aspects of the festival, the venue accomplish this task; if you would like to join the team and volunteer your time hotel, buy Festival Passes and tickets, seminar descriptions, biographies and and skills to help in this exciting work, contact [email protected] for more photographs of festival participants and presenters and any updated information. information. Add your name to [email protected] to receive Festival updates and announce- AFFILIATED WELSH ORGANIZATIONS ments throughout the year. Affiliated Welsh Organizations, AWOs, are encouraged to send representatives to the annual AWO Meeting on Friday, Sept. 4. This meeting is your chance to FESTIVAL VENUE: meet other local Welsh leaders to discuss common issues. Each AWO is entitled The Hyatt Regency, 350 North High Street, Columbus, OH, 43215. Go online or to one vote at WNAA’s Annual General Meeting Saturday, Sept. 5. AWOs should refer to Ticket Reservation Form for more details. To make your reservations update their contact each year and include an email address for WNAA mailings. and to secure the NAFOW rate, book online through www.nafow.org or call toll- This can be done at either meeting or at the Registration desk on the Convention free 1.888.421.1442 and give them the group name, “North American Festival of level. Wales 2015.” 2015 North American Festival of Wales SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE WED September 2 SAT September 5 8:00am – 4:30pm WNAA Board Meeting 7:30am – 8:30am Walking Tour of Columbus 5:00pm – 8:00pm Registration and Banquet Seating opens 9:00am – 5:00pm Marketplace THU September 3 9:00am – 5:00pm Tea Room 9:00am – 3:30pm Tour: Granville, the Welsh Hills and Licking County 9:00am – 10:00am WNAA Annual General 10:00am - 2:00pm Workshop: Genealogy 10:00am – 12:00pm WNAA Board of Trustees meeting 12:00pm – 5:00pm Marketplace 10:30 am –11:30am Seminar: A Layman’s Take on Cynghanedd 12:00pm – 3:00pm Tea Room 10:30am –11:30 am Seminar: Welsh Genealogy 3:00pm – 7:00pm Eisteddfod Rehearsals 10:30am – 12:00pm Theatre Production: ‘That Was Bob’ 4:00pm – 5:00pm Opening Ceremony 10:30am – 12:00pm Seminar: Welsh Language II 5:00pm – 5:30pm Pre-Dinner Social Hour 10:30am – 12:00pm Eisteddfod Competitions: Recitation 5:30pm – 7:00pm Pre-Concert Dinner 12:00pm – 1:00pm Seminar: The Crow & the Canary 7:30pm – 9:30pm Opening Concert: Calan 12:00pm – 1:00pm Seminar: Welsh Poetry in Translation 10:00pm – 12:00am Informal Singing 12:00pm – 1:00pm Seminar: Welsh Cinema & Ethnic Identity FRI September 4 1:00pm – 3:00pm NWAF Meeting 9:00am – 5:00pm Marketplace 1:00pm – 3:00pm Eisteddfod Competitions: Voice 9:00am – 5:00pm Tea Room 1:00pm – 4:00pm Children’s Activities 9:00am – 10:30am Affiliated Welsh Organizations Meeting 1:00pm – 5:00pm Cinema Wales: films TBD 9:00am – 10:00am Seminar: The Crow & Canary 2:00pm – 3:00pm Seminar: Welshness & Choral Membership 9:00am – 10:00am Seminar: A Welsh Slideshow & Quiz 2:00pm – 3:00pm Seminar: Patagonia 150 Years 10:00am – 11:00am Seminar: Welsh Cinema & Ethnic Identity 2:00pm – 3:00pm Seminar: Welsh Slideshow & Quiz 10:30am – 11:30am Seminar: Welshness & Choral Membership 3:00pm – 4:00pm Seminar: Welsh Hymn Singing Tradition (in Ohio) 10:30am – 11:30am Seminar: Welsh Writing & Identity in 19th century Ohio 3:00pm – 4:00pm Seminar: Patagonia: Flooding, Drought & Adaptation 10:30am – 12:00pm Seminar: Welsh Language I 3:45pm – 4:30pm Eisteddfod Winners’ Concert th 11:00am – 12:00pm Seminar: Flooding, Drought & Adaptation in Patagonia 4:30pm – 5:30pm Ninnau 40 Anniversary Cocktail Hour 1:00pm – 2:00pm Seminar: Welsh-American Hymn Singing Tradition (in Ohio) 6:00pm – 7:00pm Pre-Concert Dinner 1:00pm – 2:00pm Seminar: Welsh Poetry in Translation 7:30pm – 10:00pm Grand Concert: Côr y Penrhyn, soloist Gwawr Edwards 1:00pm – 3:00pm Seminar: Welsh Folk Dancing 10:00pm – 12:00am Informal Singing 1:00pm – 4:00pm Children’s Activities 10:00pm – 12:00am Pub Night: M.C. Calan 1:00pm – 5:00pm Cinema Wales: films TBD SUN September 6 1:30pm – 3:00pm Seminar: Ysgol Gân (Hymn Singing Class) 9:00am – 1:00pm Marketplace th 3:00pm – 4:00pm Seminar: Welsh Writing & Identity in 19 c Ohio 9:00am – 1:00pm Tea Room 3:00pm – 4:00pm Seminar: Genealogy 10:00am – 11:00am Worship Service 3:00pm – 4:00pm Seminar: Myra; the Lost Fairy Tales of West Wales 12:00pm – 1:00pm Say Something in Welsh meet-up 5:00pm – 6:00pm Pennsylvania Welsh Societies Meeting 1:00pm – Shuttle Buses to Southern Theatre 5:00pm- 6:00pm Say Something in Welsh meet-up 2:00pm – 4:30pm Gymanfa Ganu: Afternoon Session 6:00pm – 7:00pm Pre-Banquet Social Hour 4:30pm – 6:00pm Intersession Dinner 7:00pm – 10:00pm Gala Awards Banquet: featuring Meinir Wyn Roberts 7:00pm – 9:00pm Gymanfa Ganu: Evening Session 10:00pm – 12:00am Informal Singing 9:00pm – 9:30pm Closing Ceremony 10:00pm – 12:00am Open Mic Night: hosted by Calan 10:00pm – 12:00am Informal Singing Scheduling of events is subject to change.