Heads up, Getaway folks! The 2013 Getaway is being planned, and the Program Committee -- me, Carly Gewirz (Mudcatter "Carly"), and longtime Getaway-goer Kathie Mack -- is ready for your input!

This year's Getaway will be held October 4-7, at West River Conference Center on an inlet of the Chesapeake Bay. This is the same place we've been at for the last several years, and it's a beautiful spot.

If you'd like more information about the Getaway, just put "Getaway" into the Mudcat filter box, set the time for 2-3 years, and you'll get more than anyone could reasonably read. For a more concise description, 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 very soon.

We have a fine lineup of Special Guests this year: LARRY HANKS and DEBORAH ROBINS 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; the delightful duo of ANN MAYO MUIR and CHRISTINA MUIR will join us once again (Ann couldn't make it last year due to a family emergency in France, so we're trying again); JOHN ROBERTS, a Getaway favorite, will bring songs from both sides of the Pond; CASTLEBAY (FRED GOSBEE and JULIA LANE), whom we first met last year, will bring back their fine Celtic and New England music; the irrepressible MIKE AGRANOFF will no doubt provide more than a few laughs; and an old friend of the Getaway, MARK GILSTON, will be back with his dulcimer and squeezebox. All of these folks will be performing in mini-concerts and participating in lots of workshops.

Now we're 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 we can't do that until we know who's coming and what they'd like to do. So -- please tell us if you'll be there, 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 please don't assume that just because something is discussed here, it will necessarily make the final cut), we do promise to consider all ideas. You can post them to this thread, or PM Carly or me.

Just so things don't get out of hand, it would be helpful if this thread were reserved for program suggestions. Other Getaway topics should be posted elsewhere. Thanks!

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

Nancy