Dear Praise,

Don't give up and think that no one is interested. I don't think a lot of people are going to make a committment 1&1/2 years ahead!

I went to annap's last month. It was real low key, but there was a fair number of people who were there somewhere between the beginning and the end. By low key, I mean it wasn't highly organized or structured.

I think if we get something organized, announce dates next spring, etc, people will come-maybe not a huge number of them, but enough to make some music and have a nice time. And if it's around the time of the Champlain Valley Fest, then people will have an added incentive to make the trip. It would be a good location to get the Canadians, New Englanders, and Mid-atlantic folks together, and a good place to be in August.

Anyway, I will help, and Susan A-R said she would too. We don't need a big committee right now. I'm positive that in your work with the Red Cross and the church, you've worked with big committees, and had lots of people participating in things, but my guess (I'm a relative newbie, too) is that many of these folks aren't used to operating that way, at least not in this venue.

We can talk it up from time to time, but it's not going to be a hot topic for 1&1/2 years. The next time M'catters get together for something, like Old Songs or another gathering at annap's or whatever, we can feel folks out some more on it. Also, probably if we get a few mudcatters that others would especially like the chance to be around, like Max, Rick Fielding, Spaw, Big Mick, etc, to say they'll come, other people will get more motivated to commit themselves.

Don't give up. We can do this!

Mary McCaffrey