What News? Feb 9 2005
(terry gonda newsletter)

terry's Eighth Notes 

A quick note to say hello. I'm sorry to friends out west that the east part of the country (and us frankly) seems to have stolen winter from you. ;)

Also, to friends and fans of Vermont singer-songwriter Rachel Bissex: please send warm wishes and prayers her way as she continues to struggle with cancer treatments. Please no phone calls or emails...but you can buy her CDs (http://cdbaby.com/cd/rachelbissex4).

Shows
The December Christmas show was great fun. It's the first time I've done a show that was actually intersprinkled with Christmas songs. It was intimate and had a good deal of audience interaction and we were all in such a good mood. I think it was one of my favorite shows of the year.

We spent some time in the UK over the holiday season...okay the ENTIRE holiday season. Some small house concert performances and an pseudo-appearance on Bob Harris' New Year Day (evening) national BBC Radio 2 show. Kirsti and I worked the phones, performed an impromptu snippet of Credence Clearwater Revival's "Up around the Bend", and listened while Bob played "Lines on My Finger" from the CD. We'd spent New Year's Eve with him and his family and had a great visit. The rest of the trip was spent visiting Kirsti's friends and most importantly her family and 4 month old nephew Oscar! He delighted us for Christmas by eating bananna-his first real food ever. But I digress.

The Broe Rehab Choir Detroit Rescue Mission show was truly inspirational. Every year I am very touched by the amount of hope in the room during this performance. All of the performances through the year are great, but the Christmas one just has to be the best. I'm blessed to be a part of the Choir and their mission of spreading hope through music and their stories.

The Pontiac Area Vicariate Young Adult retreat at the Subiaco Benedictine Monastary was held at the end of January once again. It was an incredible weekend. We were snowed in during a blizzard that brought at least 10 inches of snow to the area. We got to watch the show nature put on through the large glass windows of a geodesic dome retreat house --complete with fire place. :) Kirsti and I were the resident musicians. If you're having an event like this and want to consider us for such a thing, let us know. It's one of our favorite things to do.

Upcoming Schedule

Feb 22 2005 Mariners Inn, Detroit, MI. Terry joins the Broe Tabernacle Choir for a lunchtime concert. 12:30 til 2:00 445 Ledyard, Detroit MI 48201 Tel: (313) 962-9446

March 5 2005 Panzer House Concert Series, Columbia MD. Terry joins up with Colleen Sexton and Trina Hamlin for a wonderful evening in the round.

March 8 2005 Living Room, New York, NY. Terry, Colleen Sexton and Trina Hamlin perform at a venue the New York Press calls "New York's Best Acoustic Music Cafe".

April 7 2005 Vandiver Inn, Havre de Grace, MD. As part of the Susquehannah Music and Arts Festival concert series. Terry will be performing a full set.

May 6-8 2005 Susquehannah Music and Arts Festival, Darlington, MD. This is one of our favorite festivals of the year. Terry will be playing mainstage, and possibly a workshop or two. Try and make this one if at all possible - you'll love the atmosphere and ambience here.

June 11 2005 Who's At Folk Festival, Royal Oak, MI
Catch Terry and other Michigan singer-songwriters at the First Methodist Church in Royal Oak.

What you can do...
Buy CDs for your friends and family for presents for the holiday season and new year. :) We're even taking 30% off the price as our own holiday sale! CDs are available at the sale price of $12 only through www.terrygonda.com , and I'm happy to personalize them before sending them out if you wish (just say what name or message you'd like in the "notes and instructions" box when making your payment).

Parting notes
In this usually non-music section of the newsletter I let you know of something you can do to spread Light into the world.

I've read in a few places that donations for the Tsunami disaster have topped out. Apparently the Red Cross has announced they do not need more at this time. However I'd like to point you over to a particular charity that helps in areas like this: the Mercy Corps. Some research I have done shows that they show up at the top of lists who rank the quality of charities.

If you're not aware, charities have administrative costs. Some organizations are better at keeping their over head (administrative costs low) and also are good at leveraging your donations to get more money. Some are also better at "teaching one to fish" instead of only giving out fish. Mercy Corp ranks among the best consistantly (with 91% going straight to their causes). I have started a regular giving program to them with a monthly donation that I think I can afford. Even the cost of a cappuccino once a month for the year can do wonders. They have three different areas of work they do that you can choose from (or you can give a little to each).http://www.mercycorps.org/monthlygiving/

Peace be in your heart and home...

-tg

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