Heads up, Getaway Folks! Planning for the 2014 FSGW Getaway is already underway, and the Program Committee -- me, Carly Gewirz (Mudcatter "Carly"), and longtime Getaway-goer Kathie Mack -- is ready for your ideas!

This year's Getaway -- our 50th! -- will be held September 26-29 at West River Conference Center on an inlet of the Chesapeake Bay. This is the same place we've been for the last several years, and it's a beautiful spot.

If you'd like more information about the Getaway, visit www.fsgw.org, scroll down a bit, and click on "Getaway" in the left-hand column. Complete, up-to-date information -- including an application form -- will be available on the FSGW site soon. Or you can put "Getaway" into the Mudcat filter box, set the time for 2-3 years, and you'll get more commentary than anyone could reasonably read.

We have a fine lineup of Special Guests this year. LARRY HANKS and DEBORAH ROBINS (who couldn't make it last year because of a last-minute medical emergency) will be here from the West Coast with songs of cowboys and more. ED TRICKETT's gentle approach and varied repertoire are sure to please. SARA GREY, back again from across the Pond, will bring her banjo and lots of songs. CAROLINE PATON of Folk-Legacy Records will enchant us all with ballads and much more. Multi-instrumentalist BOB ZENTZ and his partner JEANNE McDOUGALL will be joining us from Tidewater Virginia. We're eager to meet traditional Irish singer MAI HERNON and her guitarist husband, MICK McEVILLEY. Last, but definitely not least, our old friend HEATHER WOOD is sure to entertain. All of these folks will be performing in mini-concerts and participating in lots of workshops.

We are now starting to put together a list of possible workshops. We've thought of quite a few, and we're ready for your suggestions. 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 that's hard to do until we know who's coming and what they'd like to do. So: please tell us if you plan to come, and what you'd like to see on the program. Are there workshops you'd like to lead, co-lead, or attend? Workshops you'd like to see repeated (or not)? We're open to all suggestions, and although not all of them will end up on the final list (we have only 2 days, after all, so not everything can make the final cut), we do promise to consider all ideas. You can post them to this thread, or PM Carly or me.

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

Looking forward to seeing you all!

Nancy