-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Shapenote] Upcoming Illinois State & Minnesota Conventions !!
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:59:17 -0500
From: Ted Mercer <tmercer22@...>
To: <shapenote@...>



There is no Chicago "3rd Sunday" Citywide singing for September. All are
encouraged to support the Illinois State Sacred Harp Singing Convention in
Taylorville, Illinois, about 3 hours south of Chicago, on Saturday the 20th
and Sunday the 21st.

The Illinois State is the oldest convention in the Midwest and I believe the
2nd-oldest "outside the South" convention. The singing will be held at the
Christian County Historical Museum in Taylorville this coming weekend. See
http://www.shapenote.net/berkley/2008ilcon.pdf for details. A number of
historic structures have been moved to the grounds of this museum, including
the old county courthouse where Lincoln argued cases. The (new) courthouse
several blocks away has a statue of Lincoln with a pig at his feet (no
lipstick visible). To get the story you'll have to attend . . . The
current singing location is a good singing space.

If you can offer rides for one or both days or wish to get a ride, please
post to this list!

The weekend of Sept 27-28 is the ever-popular Minnesota State Convention,
held just outside the Twin Cities in an excellent singing space. For
details, see
http://www.freude.com/mnfasola/convention.html. Minnesota is known for its
convivial, gospel-music-flavored socials as well as its excellent all-day
singing.

If you can offer a ride or wish to car-pool, please post to this site.
(Airfares to Minneapolis are currently insane.) Another good transportation
option is the inexpensive Megabus (current advance fare about $32 each
way!):
http://megabus.com/us/ The Twin Cities singers do offer housing for
visiting singers; see their web info above.

If you haven't been out of town to a singing yet or are a newer singer, both
these events are great, friendly options!

--Ted Mercer
cell 312-719-4075