Victoria Accordion Club

Highlights

March 5, 2006

There was a large turn out at the meeting today. Three new guests as well as Edelweiss Club

members came to hear the band and soloists.

BAND REPORT

The Band may be performing May 27^th at a fundraiser for Breast Cancer held at St. Patrick’s School 7:00-11:00 p.m. Sanna Pellat is looking for volunteers to play. There will be an Octoberfest theme for the event.

Patty Forman has been in contact with The Water’s Edge in Sidney. They are requesting a performance of dancing and sing-a-longs for a date in June. It has been confirmed that the band will play at this event. More details to follow at the next meeting.

OLD BUSINESS

Arnie Krenn entertained at the February Schnitzel Night. The event was well attended.

Robert Hildenbrand will be the entertainer for April 6^th.

The Annual General Meeting for the Edelweiss Club will be March 19^th. Members are encouraged to attend and vote for the executive.

Patty Forman would like suggestions for a logo for the club shirts. She is also looking into the price to have a design made up professionally. As well, please send Patty thoughts on whether you would prefer basic t-shirts, higher quality t-shirts, jackets, polar fleece vests, etc.

NEW BUSINESS

Shelagh Armour Godbolt has been in contact with our executive in regards to the Chemainus

Festival, August 11-13^th. Shelagh is not able to organize the event any longer. The VAC has been asked to take over the event.

The consensus of our members, at today’s meeting, was to offer our assistance to the Cowichan Valley Cultural Arts Society, with the possibility of taking over the event for 2007. We could also discuss moving the location to Victoria.

The following members have volunteered to assist with the organization of the Chemainus Festival: John Fear, Yvonne MacPherson, Patty Forman, Mary Ross, Dennis Harley, Monica Trautmann, Robert Hildenbrand

If anyone else is willing to assist, please e-mail Dennis Harley dgharley@shaw.ca

Bernadette Conlon, accordionist from Australia e-mailed the executive. She will be making a return engagement to Las Vegas, Leavenworth, and Kimberley. She was inquiring about a performance in Victoria. Mary Ross has put Bernadette’s name forward to Chemainus for consideration, but the VAC will not be hosting any accordion concerts during the June/July time frame.

Arnie Krenn has made a generous donation to our club. He gave us two vintage accordions, a sturdy, durable briefcase, and a Tyrolean Teddy Bear. These items will serve as fundraisers for the club and will be sold to the highest bidder at the April meeting. Arnie made the request that the money raised should be used at the local level. He would also like to see more young people being introduced to the accordion.

PERFORMANCES

A star-studded cast of accordionists performed solos with a theme of Classical, Love Songs, or Latin music

Daphne McDonald gave us a splendid performance of Ave Maria.

Robert Hildenbrand started with a medley of Latin American Love Songs followed by a Viennese Waltz

Patty Forman chose the classical theme with three numbers Pachabel’s Canon in D, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desire, and Chopin’s Polonaise.

Two of our members have had strokes in the past year. It was great to see them making a full recovery. Listening to their music was an inspiration to us all.

A standing ovation goes to Irv Lang and Arnie Krenn.

Irv played The Man I Love and Embraceable You. Arnie played Maria Elena, a German Polka, How Great Thou Art, and Auf Wiedersehn.

Rose Twordik had us all humming along to the famous tango Jealousy and followed up with

Blue Hawaii.