NEWS		NEWS    NEWS    NEWS    NEWS    NEWS    NEWS    NEWS Last updated 1st August 2008 Members' News August 2008 Lottery Over the last year and a half the Fiddle Group has been spending the grant money given to us by Awards for All, part of the National Lottery.  The grant of £5000 was to go towards our music books, the web site music pages, the ceilidh workshop, tune writing workshop (plus tune book) and a new CD.  In July we completed this work and sent copies of everything through to the lottery.  In no time at all they replied with the good news that we completed everything as required.  Most members already have the tune books and the whole world has access to the new music pages on the Internet.  The demo CD will be expanded to become a full blown CD of 10 tracks and will be on sale in the Autumn. Many members have asked to repeat the tune writing workshop and others are keen to do more on the ceilidh front. We will do these things later in the year. The last thing to do is to finish recording all the tunes in the music books so that others can learn them. We will sort out who can record what and just add to the bank of tunes as time permits. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the work.  It has been a huge amount of effort and it has all been worthwhile as we now have a superb resource for the future. Personally I seem to have spent days if not weeks at the various tasks.    Andrew Gigs and sessions July was not exactly busy - just two gigs and both on the same day.  And what a contrast. The first was a last minute booking (although there is a long story behind that which we won't repeat here) for a BBQ in the afternoon, with a quiet audience enjoying the afternoon sun.  The second was a full blown wedding ceilidh with wild enthusiastic dancing until quite late. Our congratulations go to Cindy (of the flute) and Enda.  It was one of those really good events that come along every so often.  The sound was great (thanks Glen) the playing was very good and the dancing was wonderful We also had one new member of the band, who showed that many members could be playing for ceilidhs in the near future.. Friday sessions were quiet - as they usually are in the summer.  We decided only to meet twice and on both evenings had some good tunes.  New Look Friday evenings The new format for Friday evenings has been working pretty well. There has been more playing and more learning - which is what it was all about.  Two things we have not managed yet are the monthly tune lists for learning and proper beginners' sessions.  Both are being planned and once the Friday sessions really get going again we will have these in place. Monthly Tune List is now ready The learning list for the month is here August 2008 Annual Ceilidh / Concert We are hoping to hold the annual ceilidh in Auchterarder on 8th of  November.  This year we will be playing a ceilidh but also doing half a dozen pieces for show -  involving as many members as we can.  We will start organising that soon.  We also need a few people to organise tickets, food, drink, advertising and so on.  Your Executive Committee don't feel inclined to do it all so please volunteer if you can.  The idea is to sell tickets in the group in September and to outside the group in October.
		Remember you can always offer items for the web, including photos, news items, tunes, essays or other stuff. Just email to the usual address of provide a paper copy to Andrew or Jan. Thanks to those who have returned unwanted fiddles. If you know of people who still have them but don't come perhaps you could reclaim the fiddles for us.