It's been an interesting winter. Jeannie Hewson, head of the education committee, organized some very successful workshops - one on mummering and one on guitar accompaniment for traditional music. Both were well attended and, judging from the photos, well enjoyed.

The two Saturday workshops for kids culminated in a Youth Concert at the LSPU Hall. Fergus O'Byrne has written an article you'll read elsewhere in this issue. I want to thank all of the facilitators for their time and interest. The youngest performer was 7, the oldest 16, and what great fiddlers, accordion-players and singers they are! Traditional music is in good hands.

Two good things have come from this: First, the young peoples' workshops and concerts will become at least annual events - and we'd really like to do it more often than that, but it's a time-consuming venture. Second, some of the performers want to join the Folk Arts Council, so at the last Board meeting we instituted a youth membership fee (youth being under 18) of half the adult fee.

The thundering silence in response to my queries about amendments to the constitution indicates that you trust the Board of Directors to make whatever changes they think necessary. By-law 31 had already been amended, so that 15 per cent of the membership at a general membership meeting will constitute a quorum; and by-law 36 will be amended to include a percentage rather than a cardinal number; we will discuss the deletion of references to a paid CEO and also whether membership fees will be increased as necessary to cover the cost of peripherals such as The Broadside. You will then be asked to ratify the changes.

(Bylaw 39. The by-laws of the Corporation may be repealed or amended by Resolution enacted by a majority of the Directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors and sanctioned by an affirmation vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Members at a meeting duly called for the purpose of considering the said by-law, or by mail or e-mailed ballot.)

And that reminds me: Check your membership, and if you've not paid, do it soon. Encourage your friends as well. Remember, it entitles you to discounts on some items at O'Brien's Music Store (one of our stalwart sponsors) as well as on weekend passes to the folk festival.

Bridget Noonan is back in our office after the winter hiatus, so if you have questions about Folk Club, the festival or anything else that's relevant, you can call her at 576-8508.

Warm thoughts go out to our friend, ex-board member, festival and Folk Club volunteer, Hugh Scott, who underwent - and will again undergo - some major surgery. The benefit was a roaring success. Hugh and Cathy were blown away by the show of support. I recall so many benefits throughout my 20 years of working with this organization; it's wonderful how everyone in the community supports everyone else in times of trouble.

Congrats to Rick West for keeping our Web page up to date and lookin' good; it just got us a Port of Call award; check it out at http://www.downhomer.comportcall/port.html. Now there's a site that gets a lot of hits!

That's it from me. Support local artists. Learn The Ode. See you at folk club.