Craobh Dugan's November Update

by Chris Hoke

A chara!
Sorry this is a few days late -- I lost track of time. I heard it is November already...WOW!! is all I can say. Craobh Dugan had a great October!

On the 13th, we hosted our Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Seton Center in Utica. Of course we had a great pot luck supper followed by our meeting and then music and dancing. 

On Sunday the 15th, we welcomed Caitlin and Ciaran from Ireland who performed a lovely "house" concert for about 37 people.  What a great show! These are the kinds of things we love to offer to show off the Irish Culture!!

The following weekend, over 85 people enjoyed our presentation of The Irish and the Erie at the Oneida County Historical Society. 

Thanks to all who participated and/or attended these events. We TRULY have a great Comhaltas Branch!!!! 

Officers Elected for 2017-2018  
At the AGM, we elected officers for the '17-'18 year. Those who were voted into office include: Chair, Chris Hoke; Vice-Chair, Skip Mansur; Secretary, Colleen Martin; Treasurer, Mike Hhoke; Public Relations Officer, Sue Romero; Language Officer, Tom Malley; Auditor, Mike Carroll; Youth Officer, Margaret Carroll; Convention Delegates, Gracie Schell and Tom Malley.  Thank you to each for volunteering to aid our branch in carrying out our mission. And MANY THANKS to Ryan Troy who stepped down as Vice-Chair and to Bill Fahy who stepped down as PRO.  We appreciate your service to our club!!

NOTE:  As you will see in the calendar below, this month only, the Stockdale's Session will be the 4th Tuesday, which will be the 28th of November.   Mark this on your calendar!!

Craobh Dugan's New Special Program The Irish and the Erie
I am proud to say this production has been very well-received. The group has performed it 6 times, to rave reviews.  There are 3 showings in November, including one this weekend at Utica College on November 4th at 4.00pm.  They are having a day of events celebrating the Digging of the Erie Canal and asked us to present our show. If you are free on Saturday November 4th, why not check it out? The show is also being performed for the residents at Preswick Glen and Acacia Village this month.

Reminders: 
Our branch continues to host two monthly traditional music sessions, on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. The 1st is at Nail Creek Pub on Varick St in Utica and the 3rd is at Stockdale's Pub in Oriskany.  Both start at 7.30.  Come for a listen if you have not done that in a while. It is always great music!!  Also on Friday evenings, we teach Irish Ceili Dancing at the Seton Center at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Utica. Classes start at 7pm. There is no charge, and you do NOT need a partner or special shoes.  All you do need is an interest in trying out Ceili Dancing and a willingness to have FUN!!  Come on, give it a try!!

Finally, please continue to check our website often. All our events are on the Calendar, and we often post articles and  photos about our activities in the News section. Also you can like our Facebook Page where we post about other traditional Irish happenings in the area and other fun Irish facts.  You will really see what an active group this is!!  We ALL make it what it is!!

Some of Craobh Dugan officers and our convention delegates will travel to Boston the first weekend of November for the Northeast Regional AGM. As always, Craobh Dugan will make an important impression there. We are not the largest branch in the region, but we are at least as busy and productive as the other branches . Kudos to us!!

Goals for the Near Future
Two goals I mentioned at our AGM include for our musicians to (finally) make another CD. Bill Fahy is taking the lead on this, and I am confident that it WILL happen!!

The other goal is for us to continue to host house (or small-venue) concerts. For a glimpse of what that kind of concert is like see our post about Caitlin and Ciaran. We held two house concerts this year and I believe we are gaining momentum. We will keep our ear to the tracks as to who is traveling through the region and we will try again to host a few each year. Watch our Facebook Page for information on these and other events! 

I do believe that is all for this month.  Please remember to check out the website and please do come to a session or ceili dance class. You will be very glad you came!!

NOVEMBER Events at a Glance
3----Ceili Dance Class  @ Seton Center (Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 2222 Genessee St. Utica) 7.00pm
4----Irish & Erie at Utica College 4.00pm
7----Open Session at Nail Creek Pub  7.30pm
10--Ceili Dance Class  @ cSeton Center 7.00pm
14---Irish & Erie at Preswick Glen  7.00pm
16---Irish & Erie at Acacia Village  7.00pm
17---Ceili Dance Class  @ Seton Center 7.00pm
21---Musicians Practice @ TBD  7.00pm
23---HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!
28---**Stockdale's Session 7.30pm