I belong to the Folklore Society of Greater Washington. My membership gives me 9 free concerts a year (the likes of Jean Ritchie, Helen Schneyer, Double Decker String Band), discounts on a batch of other concerts, and a publication--the monthly Newsletter that tells me what's going on in the folk scene in my area. Well worth the investment.

I subscribe to Sing Out! magazine, too. Quarterly, it gives me ideas about CDs I need to check out, and the lyrics and sheet music for a dozen and half songs, at least one of which I want ot learn.

Maybe you need to ask yourself what you're after, and join and subscribe accordingly to publications and organizations that meet those needs.

Of course, Mudcat might well meet many of those needs...

-Charlie Baum