As festival director, I can only express my deep thanks, on behalf of the management committee for the festival, for all of the warm and caring comments above. I thought the spirit of community among so many people who are deeply involved in the real traditional music, was extraordinary, and exactly what I would have hoped for.

There is not the slightest doubt that we would have done better in September. The critical question for next year will be the availability of the site. For reasons mentioned by Steve Suffet above, I find it very difficult to imagine where else we could hold it -- remember this was cosponsored by Polytechnic and the festival did not have to pay for the use of the site. After the Club Board has had a chance to discuss it all, I imagine we will be opening discussions with the university to see what is possible. The site really worked quite well, except for the overactive A.C. The crew, security, maintenance, facilities, were superb -- totally professional, and I cannot overstate how critical this is. Anyone who has run such an event knows what I mean. If we are after Labor Day next year, the cafeteria will be open.

A bit of a plug: Following an appeal at the festival to help us make up the deficit, people contributed almost $2000!!! Hard to imagine a more profound sign of what it meant to so many. That coupled with some saving due to the unfortunate absence of the Coppers has left us with a deficit but not a catastrophe. There is no doubt that the Board will be announcing a fund raising effort to erase this deficit and raise an advance kitty for next year. If anyone reading this would like to contribute, or hold a fundraising event, or whatever, please do email me at jerepst@att.net.

We have endeavored to put on a festival of the highest possible quality in traditional music, an event that the NY area has needed -- in my opinion -- for as long as anyone can remember. Artistically I think it was an astonishing success. Again, my thanks to all the staff and volunteers, and my invitation for all lovers of the tradition to join us. You can put your name on an email list to be notified of things for next year. I think you can send a message to info@eisteddfod-ny.org.

Jerry Epstein