The Getaway Program Committee (Carly Gewirz, Kathie Mack, and I) are already working on plans for the 2012 FSGW Getaway, and we're ready for your input.

This year's Getaway will be held September 28-October 1 at West River Conference Center on the Chesapeake Bay, and you're all invited!

If you'd like more information about the Getaway, just put "Getaway" in the Mudcat filter box, set the time for 2 or 3 years, and you'll get more information than anyone could reasonably read. Very soon there will be still more information, and an application form, on the Folklore Society of Greater Washington (FSGW) web site (www.fsgw.org).

One of the great things about the Getaway is that we really do try to tailor the program to the interests of those attending, but we can't do that until we know who's coming and what they want to do. So -- please tell us if you're coming, and if so, what workshops and activities you'd like to see on the program.

We have a fine line-up of Special Guests this year: Ann Mayo Muir and her daughter Christina Muir, who were with us for one day last year, will be back for the whole weekend; One of our favorite singing families, The Beans, will join us; we'll be welcoming Appalachian musicians Jon Newlin and Amy Davis; and we'll introduce you to a wonderful trio from Maine, "Meteora" (Kat Logan, Jim Loney, and Will Brown). Now we're starting to put together a list of possible workshops. We've already thought of quite a few, and we're ready for your suggestions!

So, if you're planning to come, let us know that, and tell us what you'd like to see on the program. Are there workshops you'd like to lead, co-lead, or attend? Workshops from previous years you'd like to see repeated (or not)? We're open to all suggestions, and though not all of them will end up on the final list (we have only two days, after all, so please don't assume that just because something's been suggested here, it will necessarily end up on the program), we do promise to consider any and all suggestions. You can post them to this thread, or PM Carly or me.

Just so things don't get too far out of control, please reserve this thread for program ideas. Other getaway topics can be posted elsewhere. Thanks!

The Getaway is all about participation, so start participating now!

Looking forward to seeing you at the Getaway!

Nancy