Accordion Club of the Redwoods

Hi Folks,

Once again our annual ACR picnic is behind us and we had a good turnout for our new location with good food and great music and everyone seemed to have a good time. A big thank you again to Jeanne and Finn for allowing us to hold this year’s picnic at their ranch. Thank you also to all of the volunteers who worked to make this year’s picnic happen and to the musicians who played for our entertainment.

Now on to the annual Cotati Accordion Festival. It looks like we have a good lineup of entertainment this year. Don’t forget three of Joan Traverso’s students who played for our meeting a couple of months ago will be performing on the Cotati stage this year: Christopher and William Steffan and David Hayward. Let’s get out and cheer them on in their Cotati debut. Also performing this year will be the band from our sister club Golden State led by Club president Carole Enneking.

Of course our own Steve Balich and his band will have everyone dancing in the Polka Tent as they have been doing since the very first Cotati Accordion Festival twenty-two years ago.

It should be a good time for all who attend so try to make time to spend Saturday August 18 or Sunday August 19 attending this accordion event. You can even attend both days if you want! Just remember to get your tickets from one of our volunteers who are selling pre-event tickets to the festival for our club. Our club treasury earns $2 dollars for every ticket we sell and you can also save $2 on each one-day ticket you purchase from the club. This is a triple win situation when you buy your tickets from the ACR ahead of time: The club earns $2, you save $2 on the cost of the ticket, and you don’t have to stand in line to buy your ticket on the day you attend. Your can purchase your tickets from m Cathy Patton at (707) 792-0944 or Art or Carola Clark (707) 584-5800. Remember that our monthly meeting is the day AFTER Cotati this year so you need to contact someone before the August meeting to buy discounted advance tickets, but there is still an excellent reason for you to attend the August meeting. Our featured performing artist for the month of August will be Ron Borelli. Ron is a very busy and talented musician and we are extremely fortunate to have him play for us this month, so make it a point to attend the meeting and show him our appreciation.
I look forward to seeing you at Cotati.

Tony Mustaro
President
Accordion Club of the Redwoods

Note from the Editor
I do not know if anyone noticed how few us stepped to volunteer to set up and break down the picnic? I noticed afterward how guilty I was for not asking if help was needed. We need to change that. We are depending to much on others doing the work and we just enjoy. Lets change that!

The Kids are Alright.
The ACR will honor it’s scholarship students at the September 17th meeting. Each scholarship student is required to show their progress twice a year. So this is a time for them to strut their stuff and show us just how much they have improved in the last several months. Please be sure to be there to show your support. Bring your friends along to show them the rising stars of tomorrow. Good luck Kids!

Mark Your Calendars!
Louisiana Gumbo Feed in October
In October we will be in for a real treat. Past ACR President Kris Nelson will be whipping up a Cajun Gumbo prior to the Ocotober 15th meeting.
Don’t worry that it will be too spicy for you. It’s a savory soup of chicken and smoked sausage that will tickle your taste buds, not burn your tongue. The door donation will be $5.00 if you want dinner ($3.00 if you don’t). You will get a ticket with your dinner donation. Which you will need to present to be served. Dinner will be served at 6:00pm and the meeting will start at 7:30pm.

ACR Band Update
The ACR Band will have its next meeting on August 20th, 6:30 before the ACR general meeting. All levels of players are welcome. It helps if you can read sheet music. Bring an accordion and a good measure of enthusiasm. If you would like to play in the band, please contact Steve Balich at 707-874-3494.

Cotati Accordion Festival
Mark your Calendars for August 18 & 19, 2012
9:30 – 8:30 both days.
Announcing the return of Dick Contino and a host of others.
Here is a partial list below (in no particular order).

Dick Contino, Santiago Jimenez & Chris Rybak,The Mad Maggies, Alicia Baker, Amber Lee Baker, Circus Finelli, Polkacide, THAT Damned Band, BlackEyed Dempseys, Chervona, The Sansa and Shiri Show, Gator Beat, MotorDude Zydeco, Copper Box, Roxanne Oliva & KAZAMOZe, Big Lou’s Dance Party, Chuck Berger, Tatiana Semichasnaya, Steve Albini, The Great Morgani, The Golden State Accordion Club Band, Future Accordion Stars (Marjorie Konrad’s students), The Steve Balilch Sr. Polka Band, Jim Gilman, The Accordion Babes Showcase, The Wild Catahoulas, Mark St. Mary, and Peter Robuffo.
Remember When you buy your CAF tickets through the ACR we get a donation from the festival!

Also Cotati Accordion Festival
We have a new ticket seller this year.
Don’t forget to get your tickets from Cathy Patton at (707) 792-0944 for this event, check out at
http://www.cotatifest.com/ for the entertainers and specials.