Yippee! Planning for the 2016 FSGW Getaway is well underway, and the Program Committee -- me, Carly Gewirz (Mudcatter "Carly"), and longtime Getaway-goers Kathie Mack and Lisa Null -- is ready for your ideas!

This year's Getaway will be held September 23-26 (NOTE -- earlier than usual!) 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. This lists the specifics for last year's event, but of course this year's will be similar. 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 great lineup of special guests this year: We're delighted to welcome SALLY ROGERS, a marvelous songwriter and singer of traditional and contemporary songs. British-born DAVID JONES presents music-hall songs, stories, sea songs and ballads that will make you laugh or melt your heart. LARRY KAPLAN is a fine guitarist and singer-songwriter with a maritime bent. If you like songs of cowboys and other working men, STEVE CORMIER will fill the bill. GEOFF KAUFMAN, a shanty-man at Mystic Seaport, will share songs of New England and the sea. SARO LYNCH-THOMASON comes from Asheville, NC, with lots of Appalachian ballads and regional songs. And to top it all off, the trio BARE BONES (Bill and Rebecca Kimmons and their "spare rib" Dock Cutlip) will bring us exquisite a capella harmonies and gospel songs. 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