July 2009 I would like to offer my sincerely condolences to Jimmy Guy Cottengim family, friends, and fans. Jimmy Guy passed away peacefully at his home and leaves behind a lifetime full of songs and music to remember him by not to mention passing on his talents to his two sons Jody and Stoney Cottengim of The Tripwire Band. We held a benefit to celebrate his life this past Sunday, and I would like to thank all who could attend for your support. I’m sure the family appreciates your generosity in their time of need. If this is the first you have heard about it, I apologize. We did our best to get the word out and we didn’t want to exclude anyone, but there was a need to put it together quickly. I think I speak for all the Blues Society when I say we were glad we could do it. I also want to thank the American Legion Post on Scenic for jumping right in with letting us have it there and all the help they provided.    I would also like to thank all who worked the Wakarusa event in Arkansas where the BSO had a beverage tent. We made a little money, although we didn’t have a very lucrative location. Mulberry Mountain is a beautiful site and the weather was nearly perfect and had approximately 12,000 people in attendance and 130 bands; this was a successful event. There wasn’t a lot of blues on the lineup, but organizers and volunteers were great to work with, and I feel sure that if we do the event again with a main stage location we certainly could make a significant amount of money for the Blues Society. Everyone there worked hard, and I appreciate all the volunteers that gave up their weekend for the Blues Society. I also want to thank all the volunteers that have already gotten in touch with me that they want to do it next year. The decision hasn’t been made, of course, on doing the event again if we are asked, but I for one had a memorable time. The plans for the Greater Ozark Blues Festival is well underway. This event couldn’t go on without the help of the volunteers. If you would like to volunteer please email me, Kellie Kelso or bluesvolunteer@gmail.com. Please state when you are available to work, and if you have any preference on where you would like to work. As always you get a two-day pass for the festival when you volunteer for a shift. The current economic downturn has made this year a tough one for sponsorship and many festivals have folded all over the country due to lack of money to put on their event. Our festival is not only featuring a great lineup, but also has been able to keep the price of admission the same as last year. With the great site provided by Bass Pro Shop, we will proudly present the 13th Annual Greater Ozark Blues Festival with the promise of many more to come. We all have a part to play in keeping the Blues Alive in the Ozarks and our festival is the foremost vehicle to do that, so tell everyone that The Greater Ozark Blues Festival is alive and well and is being held September 11 and 12 at the Bass Pro parking. The Basketcases are still looking for items to put into the baskets that we give to the bands at the festival. If you have something you would like to contribute, please give me a call or email me. Our Blues in the School program has several irons in the fire as well. We have Kellie Hunt coming on September 10 to put on a program for two schools and one for the public at Cartoons in the evening. We also have Harper booked in September for at least one school and an evening program at the Library. The Rumble the Blues Away is also scheduled in September at Three Twenty to raise money to keep the program ticking. The Bits program is one of the best vehicles to introduce our youths to the blues and hopefully a greater appreciation for the music. Don’t forget the next picnic will be held July 19th at Ritter Springs Park. The weather is likely to be warm, but there is ample shade at Ritter Springs and we’ll need it, because the music gets pretty hot from the jammers. Put together a summer side dish and come on out to enjoy music, food and fun at Ritter Springs Park with the Blues Society. As always, it’s a free event and the kids are not only welcomed but encouraged to come. See ya then. Our next monthly membership meeting is going to be held at Whiskey Holler on Kearney in the back room on July 8, at 7 p.m. Cruizin for the Blues, Pat Warford, President