You have chosen your new 2009 board and I am honored to be re-elected as the 2009 President. The new executive board is comprised of: Pat Warford, President, Jerry DeMoro, First Vice President, John Tepiew, Second Vice- President, Kellie Kelso, Treasurer and Kathleen Tepiew, Secretary. The additional board members for 2009 include: Birdie Rayman, Ken Bauer, Judy Demoro, Stan Melton, Jim Coombs, Mike Wallace, Frank Rayman, Richard Pendergrass, and Brenda Seely. I'm sure I speak for the entire board when I say we are proud to serve the Blues Society of the Ozarks and will do our best to continue to Keep the Blues Alive in the Ozarks.
Plans are underway to for the Greater Ozark Blues Festival. Don't forget to mark you calendar for September 11 & 12 we are going to be at Bass Pro Shop again this year. I have heard some rumors but nothing in writing about the line up. But I have faith that Monte and Stan will put together a stellar line up as they have in the past. Will keep you posted.
I would like to personally thank Kendra Wallace for all her hard work on keeping the membership data base. Kendra has decided to pass on the data base to Jerry Demoro who will take it over in February. Kendra not only developed the data base but was also the editor of the newsletter as well as serving on nearly every committee that we have . In fact, if it wasn't for Kendra & Mike I probably would never have joined the BSO. She has donated countless hours to the Blues Society and I just wanted to thank Kendra for all her contributions to the BSO.
I want to wish Nathan Keck and the Blues Division, Rich Berry, & The Juke Joint Allstars good luck in Memphis. Our representatives for The 25th International Blues Competition sponsored by The Blues Foundation is held on Beale Street in Memphis on February 4-7, 2009. This year there is going to be Youth Showcase at several venues on Beale Street this is the first year for this event which showcases the under 21 blues musicians. If you haven't been been you need to treat yourself and if you have you'll go back again. Talent from all over the world descend on Beale Street at the IBC representing Blues Societies to compete in the band and solo/duo competition. Hope to see ya there.
The next monthly meeting will be on Wednesday February 11th at Whiskey Hollar Roadhouse (the old Repair Shop), 2251 E Kearney, Springfield, Mo. Al has brought back Walleye Wednesday & he also has Trip Wire every Thursday night. See ya all then.
Well by the time you read this I'll be spending some quality time in Florida before we head back to the IBC in Memphis. We need a few days to rest up from the Blues Cruise seven full days on nonstop blues music including but not limited to Irma Thomas, Taj Mahal, Reba Russell, Jimmy Thackery, Tommy Castro, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, John Hammond, E G Kight, Holmes Brothers, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Larry McCray, Trampled Under Foot, Homemade Jamz Band, to name a few. I'm so excited and I'll let you know how it went I'm sure we'll have some good stories to share.
Cruizin for the Blues,
Pat Warford, President
