12 hour marathon jam

[TinaBee1]

I saw this on the bluegrass blog site :
John Santa, whose book, Bluegrass Is My Second Language, has been
popular with many of our readers, is involved in a special event later
this month that has grown into something many Bluegrass Blog regulars
may want to support.

For the past five years, Santa and a group he jams with, The RDU
Session players, have held an annual 12-hour marathon jam in Chapel
Hill, NC to raise funds for Fisher House. This worthy organization
offers housing for families of wounded American servicemen and women who
are receiving treatment at military hospitals, much like the Ronald
McDonald House does for families of ill children.

This year’s event is scheduled for January 31, but it has spread
beyond its origins in the Research Triangle on North Carolina. Santa
tells us that affiliated jams have been organized in the following US
cities:

Chapel Hill, NC
Birchdale, MN
Tucson, AZ
Richmond, VA
Boston, MA
Coon Rapids, MN
Birmingham, AL
The jams are not strictly limited to bluegrass, but are only open to
acoustic music. They will run from 1:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. on the
31st and while free and open to the public, as a benefit for Fisher
House, donations are freely encouraged.

Some of these events will ask for sponsorship of individual pickers
based on how many hours they play.

The organizers are especially proud of their first non-US jam this
year. The US Army has agreed to allow a group of string-picking soldiers
at Camp Victory in Baghdad to participate. They won’t be able to do
the entire 12 hours because of the time difference and their military
duties, but they will be jamming to raise funds for Fisher House in Fort
Bragg, NC.

***does anyone have info on what's going on in Richmond,VA?

[sgarrity]

Excellent question!

[lespaul_79]

we need one in Boulder, CO (central for Denver, Ned, Lyons pickers).

[Austin Koerner]

They'll be raising money in Fort Bragg? Hmm, I wonder if it is only to those on base, if not, I'd love to go.

Actually, I'm looking at the glow from Fort Bragg from my window right now.

[CoMando]

Don't know about Richmond, but the Birmingham event will be held at my coffeeshop, Java & Jams.

Java & Jams
321 N. 20th St
Birmingham, Al.
205 321-5282

The Fisher House is a wonderful charity, that, among other things, provides housing for family's of military men who are hospitalized for illness, injury or disease.

http://www.fisherhouse.org/

If any of you would like to make a donation or sponsor a picker, PM me.

[man dough nollij]

Hmmm. Interesting name. I wonder why this is sceduled for January. Could it be that it is right after the busy season for mister Santa? Hmmm? :confused:

[Mattg]

we need one in Boulder, CO (central for Denver, Ned, Lyons pickers).

Count me in for several hours. I've recorded a few of the Borders and Super Joe Coffee (in Superior) jams and we average 8 songs per hour. That's just less than 100 different songs we'd need to come up with. Of course if we let everyone take 2 or three breaks, that could be fewer songs. I mean, how many times you suppose we could play Angeline the Baker and not go nuts?

[Mandolingirl50]

So Excited that everyone is talking about the Marithon Jam for The Fisher House! I participated last year With John Santa and Greg Rawlings and a few other Wonderful pickers including Greg's daughter Ashley, who played the Big Doghouse Bass, she's i think 11. Well, the family is antisipating his return soon after 15 months in Baghdad. He told us this is what we could do for the soldiers and their families before he was deployed. It was a Great honor to have been so blessed with the donations to Fisher House in Ft Bragg, but go to their web sight find the one nearest you in your State. Set up a marathon or just donate to them. The fact that the Baghdad Guys are going to be playing with us over there too, oh my! This is what he sent me today:

All,
Gotta tell you that this is getting more and more impressive. Everyone is doing a wonderful job. We are honored to be a part of it and are looking forward to pickin some at the same time as ya'll. We'll be pickin from 1900-2200 Baghdad Time which is 1100-1400 EST. We'll also be pickin in the morning.

Actually explaining "ATW" is really appropriate given where we are with this event. Many of us over here are paratroopers. We kind of make our living by intentionally getting surrounded and fighting our way out. Not for the faint of heart or spirit. In the early days during motivational lectures or when just passing a formation the senior officer would ask his paratroopers, "How Far?". Actually, he would normally bellow. The response was, "All the Way." All the Way (shortened in emails to ATW) has become the battle cry of the Airborne. It means that we will not quit, much like our comrades recovering in the medical centers across the country. Having been around these great Americans, I can tell you that these guys and gals and their families will inspire you every time.

It's our distinct honor and privilege to serve with you.


HOW FAR?!

Greg


He is really a Great Person! So that's it! Keep it going January 31st. Join us!