Friends

Georgetown Gazette  -   Thursday, May 7, 2009

 Many to thank for successful 6^th Annual Nature Fest

 

Editor - The Friends of the Nature Area and KFOK want to say a big thank you to the community and the Gazette for the wonderful support for the weekend’s (April 25) fabulous events.  The Nature Fest and KFOK Concert were so fun for everyone who participated.

Thank you Rebecca, for your coverage in the Gazette, and attendance at the festival and concert.  We must say a huge thanks to our co-sponsors KFOK, without some of the members’ help with making signs, selling tickets, running booths, organizing, connecting with people and making music, the festival and concert would not have been so extraordinary You know who you are - Mignon Geli, Marian Smith, John Daniels,  Gary Oswald, Roland Chaves, Kathleen Lindsen, Angela Baker, David  Blonski and Nina Blonski.  

Thanks to the food vendors John from Rose’s Garden Café, BBQ Express, and  Liz Butterfield and all the folks who helped at the Taco Booth. The food was delicious!  There are so many people who helped with this year’s festival making it the largest and most attended in six years.

Thank you Liz Dowell for handling the publicity, Mike Taylor for the sound, and stage help (for the 6^th year in a row) Drew Woodall and Loren Nakai for the introductions of performers on stage, and Jennifer Dwight- Frost and Rachel Tretiakow for helping with contacting student performers and handing out ribbons on stage.  Thanks to Charlie Rosenau who brought signs, equipment and assisted in the Village. Thanks to Tina Grant for helping with clean up. And thanks to Smelly Mel’s for their donation toward the facilities at the festival.

Many thanks to the S.T.A.R. volunteers who helped keep the festival safe and secure year after year.

Special thanks go to Jim Ingram and Kim Horn who worked magic to bring in the new benches in the amphitheater. We know it was a community effort with Growlersburg, Rotary and many others pitching in.

Thanks to all the underwriters, vendors and performers who are too many to list. However, we had several organizations or businesses that made large contributions and we must say thanks to: El Dorado Community Foundation, Red Hawk Casino, El Dorado Arts Council and Irene Smith of Buffalo Hill Antiques.

We had about 50 youth on stage through out the day singing, dancing, drumming, and playing instruments. They were so courageous and talented.  

I would also like to say thanks to all the members and supporters of the El Dorado County Indian Council for the support, excellent food, and masterful drumming and singing that occurred on Saturday. The Talk Drum is awesome. Thanks to Kimberly ShiningStar for your stories. You are very wise and have much to teach us!  Thanks to the Nakai’s - Loren, Anno and daughter for their traditional songs.  

Thanks to the extremely talented and funny Joe Craven and Blackfire. Those young Native American band members were such professionals, inspiring musicians and political activists; we are glad you included Georgetown in your California tour. All who heard you perform were touched and inspired.

We all love the presence and dancing of Percy “War Cloud” Edwards. You made the festival very special for about 30 second and third grade students who drummed for you. We all loved you, and Thoz Womenz  and the Fancy Dancers.

Then there was Lawrence Laughing and Teresa Bear Fox from New York sharing their stories and songs of  the Akwesasne accompanied by Yovani , originally from Ecuador playing his pan flute and hand drum simultaneously.  

Let’s not forget the Azteca/Mexica Danzantes who traveled here from all over California sharing their  ceremonial and high energy dancing.

Finally, thanks to Roberto Garcia and Dorinda Moreno for introducing us to Anna and Fawn Oakes honoring the legacy of Richard Oakes, Mohawk, who inspired the occupation of Alcatraz 40 years ago, which was a catalyst for Indian activism and self-determination.

And last, but by far the least, thanks to the Friends of Nature Area and FONA members, Mignon Geli and John Daniels, who were the backbone and constant supporters for me and everyone else. Mignon was phenomenal in her professional organizing skills, fundraising abilities, seeking and securing the best musicians we have ever had perform.  She took on the responsibility of being the festival coordinator. And John contributed so much of his time putting up signs, cleaning up , selling concert tickets and assisting wherever we needed him for several days.

Thanks to KFOK member Marian Smith for her expertise in designing the program, organizing the concert and emceeing the event.  Thanks to Peggy Depue for helping coordinate the creation of the Nature Fest t-shirt this year.  If you did not get a festival t-shirt and want to purchase one for $15, stop by the Georgetown School office and ask Nanette. Thanks to Nanci’s Screen Printing for making the beautiful t-shirts.

Thanks to all FONA members,  Susan Whittington, Ray Griffiths, Karen Shadle, Heather Schelske, Jackie Morgan, Howard Hiemke, Dana Walsh, Jennifer Dwight Frost, Dave Cox, Mignon Geli, Zady Wirth, and  John Daniels for all the many things you did. It  was another successful festival!!

- Susan Whittington and all the Nature Fest/KFOK concert organizers.