2009 AGEHR Nat'l Seminar: Wednesday

Today was the first official day of National Seminar & it was an awesome day!!

I actually got up & about earlier than I had planned to, so I rang next to Ruben at 2 morning reading sessions. I rang CD4 - and to tell you the truth, I shouldn't have. I need to remember that I'm still recovering & shouldn't over-do it. More about that in a minute.

After the reading sessions, AGEHR President John Pfeiffer (who I met in February @ Distinctly Bronze West in Seattle) gave the Keynote Address. He really gave a great speech, all about making the Guild more beneficial to *ringers* rather than just directors.

After the Keynote was the 1st Advanced Ringing Track session with Jim Meredith (director of Sonos). It was a lot of fun, even though it was set up with "standard" ringing assignments, which we just don't do in Sonos, so the music is either *really* boring for the part, or simply impossible to play! A lot of what Sonos does is dependent on using duplicate bells and/or alternative assignments to make each ringer's part easier ro play. The stuff is actually *harder* if you use standard assignments!

After that, I attended a bit of Stevie Wiltse's class "Playing Passionately", but I had to leave early to go retrieve my nametag from the Advanced Ringing room & then I got sidetracked on my way back. *sigh* That's me: easily distracted. Also: we rang in the class & my arm hurt with the shakes, so I figured I should stop ringing for the day, anyway. :-(

I met with Jim for dinner @ 5:30 & we were joined by Rob Meyer (from Ann Arbor) as well as Dian & Dave Ruder (from the Bay Area).

After dinner was the Handbell Industry's 25th Anniversary reception by the pool. I had a wee bit too much of the champagne punch, but I got a *lot* of pics of me with people (until my battery ran out!) - all of which I will post to Flickr when I get a chance.

After the reception was the concert by Carillon, the bell choir from the University of Southern Mississippi, directed by Larry Smith. (Monika Durbin & Bobby Griffin from Pensacola came from that school). I had to leave the concert early because I couldn't stop coughing & I didn't want to disturb the whole show. :-(

I ended up back @ the bar with Rima Greer & Barb Farnswoth, which was a lot of fun! They are such great people & we had a great time telling stories & hashing ideas back & forth.

Now it's time for bed. The 1st class tomorrow is @ 8:30!
-Michèle (from my mobile phone)