Sunday, December 9, 2007

January meeting! Each member in 2008 (new/renewed) will receive a handsome OAC TOTE BAG Large enough to handle a stack of accordion music for your next gig, or a very large lunch. Totes will be mailed to those unable to attend meetings. Please complete the membership form. Fill in all the spaces so that we may verify your information even if you are a long time member. Youth Members: that goes for you, too! Membership Dues options are listed on the form. Write your check to: Oklahoma Accordion Club The mailing address is at the bottom of the form. Thank you for your continued support of the best accordion organization anywhere! In This Issue............. How to Get Your Tote (AKA Membership Renewal National Accordion Convention Info Treasurer's Report First New Members for 2008 Secretary Report President's Message BIG SQUEEZE DATE SET Your Suggestions Meeting Themes: NO PRO SUNDAY SEE US ON THE WEB: oklahomaaccordionclub.com What They Are Saying About the OAC Tote..... " My new OAC tote really gives me something to smile about!" ~Mona Lisa Gherardini "I will never, never, NEVER give up my OAC tote bag! ~Winston Churchill "I cannot tell a lie. This is one great tote. ~George Washington "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse! Or one of those OAC tote bags would be even better!" ~William Shakespeare in 'Richard III' Out going treasurer Beth Henson accepts her 'thank you' gift from the OAC for two years of excellent work on the Board. Beth received a high quality folding music stand. Thanks, again, Beth! Man: My doctor advised me to give up playing the accordion. Friend: Why? Man: He lives in the apartment below.

National Accordion Association Convention MARCH 13-15, 2008 (Thur, Fri, Sat) Make your plans NOW! There is nothing like being with a group of kindred spirits and surrounded by non-stop accordion music of the highest caliber. The Richardson Hotel, in Richardson, Texas, just north of Dallas, will again be the location. The room rate is $85/night until the February 25th deadline. It then goes back to the regular rate of $119/night. Call the hotel direct at 972-231-9600 and ask for the IN-HOUSE RESERVATION DESK and ask for the "accordion convention" rate of $85/ night. It is best to call during the day and do not call the 1-800 number on the hotel website. Registration is $150 for 3 days with banquet meals for accordionist, and a spouse pass is $50 without banquet. NAA members get a significant discount. The OAC will be helping folks coordinate carpooling. Additional information can be found on the NAA website which is updated as the convention date gets closer. The general schedule is now posted! NAA website: http://www.accordions.com/naa/ Youth Band at Convention Great news! There will be a YOUTH BAND at the NAA convention. An open invitation is extended to teenagers and younger who play accordion and read music grade 2 or better. Music for your grade level is now available at nocharge. Order your music today and be ready to join with others at the NAA Youth Band rehearsals. Contact Dick Albreski at juaccord@Hotmail.com or call him direct at 405-721-0564. Be part of the new generation. The 'Accords' Ensemble from OKC will participate in the NAA Youth Band OAC OFFICERS r. Dan Orza (405) 326-1124 bdomarketing@cox.net Vice r. Bob Mansfield (405) 364-0037 bobmansfield@cox.net Secretary Mrs. Max Gunter (405) 946-9410 MaxJack1@aol.com Librarian Mr. Troy Jones (405) 821-9550 troyjones@troyjones.com Treasurer Mr. Roland Lohmann 216 Pine Tree Lane Norman, OK 73072 rolandshimr@aol.com Hospitality Ms. Anne DeJohn (405) 771-5772 OAC Orchestra Newsletter Editor Mrs. Jackie MaShore (405) 399-3555 jacmash@tds.net Note from the Editor: Your suggestions and submissions are always appreciated! Treasurer's Report.............Roland Lohmann As I took office, the OAC checking account had a balance of $773.69. Members have renewed their memberships with dues in the amount of $269.00, which brings our total to $1,042.69. As my term as treasurer has now begun, I want to thank the club for the opportunity to serve. Thanks to Beth for a smooth transition and to Max and Beth for helping me with the drawing, and with collecting dues at the January meeting while I attended my Granddaughters first birthday party, arriving at the meeting just in time to hear some great performances! I appreciate Jackie's resolve to play something at each meeting, and, of course special thanks are due to my friend, Bob Mansfield, for encouraging me to get involved with the accordion and the club. Thanks Bob! I will not be at the next meeting because I will be on a mission to Israel with the Oklahoma City Jewish Federation. Beth and Max have once again graciously consented to help me. I appreciate you both. Roland R. Lohmann, Treasurer Mountain Smoke Band proudly supports the OAC http://www.myspace.com/mo untainsmokeband www.mountainsmokeband.c om Next show: Feb 29th UCO Jazz Lab

Secretary Report...............by Maxine "The Max" Gunter Bob Mansfield, Vice President, opened the meeting by welcoming guest Robert Frantz. Robert said he had received a new accordion for Christmas from his wife and wanted to know who could teach him to play it, and before long Robert became our newest member for 2008. Another guest, Margaret Oldham also joined the club at the meeting. Since the Big Squeeze last year was such a success, the Club is planning a second Big Squeeze at the OCU Jazz Lab in Edmond, OK, in May, 2008. And we are still looking for a new place to hold our monthly meetings, so if you have a suggestion, please contact any member of the Board. The NAA Convention in Richardson, TX, is coming up on March 13 thru 15, 2008. Reserve your room now. A "Thank You" goes to all those who brought refreshments. Instead of having a sign up sheet, we are at the mercy of whoever feels like bringing a snack and so far it has been quite successful. The OAC Orchestra practiced as usual before the meeting. The Orchestra, this week consisted of Jackie Mashore, conductor, and Darlene Dooner, Lois Roth, Karen West, Bob Mansfield, Jarion Baquero, and Maxine Gunter, began working on "The Thunderer", a march by John Philip Sousa. We need more members to join, so if you think you might be interested, contact our inspiring conductor, Jackie Mashore. It was a great meeting with wonderful music provided by: Jackie Mashore played "Poeme" by Fibich and "Laura's Waltz" by Dan Newton. During the meeting Jackie showed off a recently acquired bass accordion. Dick Albreski played "C'est Magnique" and "Clarinet Polka". Dick informed us that January 14th is National Accordion Day! Jairon Baquero "Juarez" a Spanish Waltz by Palmer-Hughes and "Jaleo de Jerez" Bob Mansfield "Free Again", "Tiko Tiko", "Uno", and "All My Love" Frankie and Eleanor Martinez entertained the group with Cajun Music, Okie Mex and/or Tex Mex and as a special request by Bill and Beth Henson, "Squeeze Box" If you have not yet renewed your membership, you should do so now! First New member of 2008 ROBERT FRANTZ shows his new accordion to Maxine and Karen. WELCOME ROBERT!!! Second New Member of 2008 MARGARET OLDHAM fills out her membership form. WELCOME MARGARET!!! President's Message - Dan Orza Happy New Year to all of my wonderful accordion friends in the Oklahoma Accordion Club. Sorry I had to miss the last meeting. I seldom miss one. But it was one of those very rare chances that I had to go hunting for elk. Well, to make a long story short… I'm back - no elk. It was a great hunt, great scenery, COLD, we hunted in 7 degree weather, the wind often blew up to 40 mph. I saw lots of bull and cow elk, but they were 500-600 yards away (way too far to shoot) and on the last day it snowed so hard we had a whiteout condition. So - NO ELK. That means we'll have no elk roast at our OAC summer picnic too. But, all things aside, I had a great experience. The mountains were beautiful. I understand that our January meeting went very well. Thank you Bob & Jackie for covering for me in my absence. Our accordion orchestra rehearsed and performed. YEAH! My goal for the coming year will be to get more and more people playing at meetings. Please remember …. Everyone is welcome to perform. You DO NOT need to be a polished musician to play at meetings. You can be a beginner. The music you play does not have to be perfectly played - we just want to have fun playing for each other, with each other, in groups, as solos, whatever …. Having fun. We are NOT judging. One more item … the Nation Accordion Association is in Dallas in March. If you are planning to go, sign up and let's see if we can plan some car pooling to save on transportation costs. It is an excellent opportunity to see and hear some mighty fine accordion music. Please remember to renew you membership as soon as possible. This year we are giving a beautiful bag to everyone upon receipt of you dues. Dan Orza OAC President The next Big Squeeze is Sunday, May 18th UCO Jazz Lab in Edmond. The first show last October was a huge success! Our accordionists fulfilled our goal of bringing the accordion to the public with an impressive concert. The format will be the same: a superb show of talent in an exhibition of a wide variety of accordion music! Plan now to either perform or attend! AVON Cosmetics ! Gifts !Jewelry ! Lotions Fragrances Complete Skin Care Ophelia Liebscher OAC Member 405-262-0526 Orders placed and delivered at OAC meetings for your convenience 4/07 !JUST ACCORDIONS Sales" Repairs" Instruction Dick Albreski (405) 721-0564 7109 N.W. 102nd St., OKC, OK 73162 juaccord@hotmail.com 7-07 Accordionist Nominated For Grammy Awards Jeff Taylor, accordionist with the western swing band The Time Jumpers shared that the band has nominations in two Grammy Award categories. Best Country instrumental performance, and Best country performance by a duo or group with vocal. The nominations were announced December 6, 2007. Grammy Awards will be presented February 10, 2008 in Los An