News & Articles

 

Want to contribute an article or news to the  website and newsletter?

 

Email info to webmaster@nibaweb.org or niba@nibaweb.org

 

(All contributions are subject to review and approval by NIBA)

From the NIBA News Letter Editor        Diane Haggart

The NIBA Newsletter is here to serve you, the members of NIBA.  As such, we are counting on you to let us know about bluegrass news and events in the Northern Illinois region.  We welcome and encourage your input to the newsletter, in the form of articles, photos, event listings, etc. 

 

Please send all submissions for the newsletter to:    

 

Email:  niba@nibaweb.org    or   US Mail:  NIBA, P.O. Box 310, West Dundee, IL  60118

 

We look forward to hearing from you!

Check out the NIBA web store at http://nibaweb.1freecart.com

 

NIBA stickers, t-shirts, hats and memberships make great Christmas gifts.

Use your PayPal account via our secure ordering website. All transactions are insured by PayPal.

Simply set up an account at PayPal.com and then you can order and pay for NIBA merchandise and/or memberships with either a direct bank debit transaction or a credit card payment.

Free shipping on all orders!

Keeping in Touch

 

Thank you to all our music friends for the support and sympathy shown recently when my Mother passed away. The many cards, kind words, and attendance at the memorial services were a tremendous help at a time like this.  The donations in Mom’s memory were greatly appreciated. The money was all contributed to Transitions Hospice of Huntley. They did a great job making Mom more comfortable during the last stages of her long battle with COPD.  Thank you all so much!

- Ken DeWitt and family

 

Please contact Mary Hayes at 815-751-4016 for submissions to Keeping in Touch.

Spread the Word!        Tom Haggart, NIBA President

 

As our membership steadily increases, the question may be asked, who is responsible for ensuring that membership levels continue to grow?  That is where you, as a NIBA member, come in. Every one of us has friends and acquaintances who are not NIBA members, often because they do not know that NIBA even exists!  Many times I have spoken with people who have expressed an interest in bluegrass music (both as musicians and listeners), and it quickly becomes apparent that they have never heard of NIBA.

Advertising is a great medium for getting the word out; the best advertising NIBA has is its own enthusiastic members.  Every time that you, as a NIBA member, tell someone outside of NIBA all about the association, you start a process which could lead to another person joining, which in turn could lead to that person also spreading the word, thereby continuing the increasing membership process.  Make 2012 the year in which we all strive to spread the word that NIBA exists and is thriving!  Spread the word in 2012 that we are “THE” association to belong to in order to keep the wonderful music of bluegrass alive for us and for future generations!

One of the great ways to promote interest in NIBA is to purchase a gift membership for someone; we all love gifts, don’t we!  A gift membership would allow a new member to experience what NIBA has to offer: a chance to actively support this great music, the opportunity to acquire many new friends among the NIBA members (I personally have found NIBA members to be some of the friendliest people you could meet!), and of course there’s our annual picnic, Christmas party, and summer festival!

Help to enrich someone’s life with bluegrass music; don’t delay, spread the word today!

Our next board meeting, to which you are all invited, will be held at Streator on February 18 at 5pm before the jam.  Come along, listen to what is happening, give us your thoughts and ideas; we hope to see you there!

Anything is Possible     by June Dixon

It just takes one person to believe in a person.  I have arthritis in both hands but Terry at Guitar Junkyard tuned my mandolin so I could play it.  Joe Durbin was a huge inspiration for me also.  Terry faithfully gives me mandolin lessons. 

Thank God for caring people like Terry who believes even though you have a handicap, you can still be a part of bluegrass & play something.  So grateful! 

News on the Templeton Family      by Leo McCauley

On January 8, 2012, the Templeton Family kicked off their 2012 season at the Visitors center at Starved Rock State Park in Utica, IL.  If you have seen the Templeton's in the past, you really need to see them this year, WOW.

Michael has written some music, Albert has written several new songs, and the harmony has gotten a lot better.  The boys voices have gotten better with "old age" I was told they will soon start a new CD which will be mostly their music, followed by a Gospel CD.  The Gospel CD is long overdue.  God has definitely blessed this family with a ton of talent.       

Attention Macomb, Peotone, and Princeton jam organizers!

 

We need the contact information for these jams, so that potential attendees can confirm if the jam is still going on. Please send this information (phone number required, email address optional) to niba@nibaweb.org or call 630-771-0703.         Thank you!