Dragon Tales online

February - June 2010

Page 4

St David’s Day Celebration

Continued from page 1

Program for the Day:

Registration Opens at 9:15a.m.

Seminar 1 – The Mabinogi and Us, by Sioned Wyn

9:30a.m. – 10:20a.m., Ballroom, $5 per person

A look into what ties the Mabinogi, its characters and themes with Modern Wales and Welshness. What do we as Welsh people have to thank the Mabinogi for and how does it influence our modern lives consciously and subconsciously? How do the legends describe food and feasting and how substantial is the difference between that and the reality of food and feasting today? Also looking at place names and descriptions of places as well as looking at the interesting mini-stories included within the legends that describe the naming of places.

Seminar 2 – A Whistle-stop Tour of Modern Wales since the 19^th Century – by Sioned Wyn

10:30a.m. – 11:20a.m., Ballroom, $5 per person

Interesting facts and histories about modern Wales from the time that large numbers of Welsh started immigrating to the US until today. Includes devolution of power to Wales and the Senedd in Cardiff; the situation of the Welsh language and how schools are affecting its growth and modern Welsh culture.

Annual Meeting

11:30 a.m. to 11:50, Ballroom

Open to all current WSCO members

Lunch

Noon, Ballroom

After Lunch – Ysgol Gân – Ballroom

In years past we have had a structured program and a sing along, but many have asked for an informal ysgol gân, or singing school, to take us to the next step in polishing our Welsh pronunciation, and who better to guide us through that than a person directly from Wales?  Sioned will direct, teach, and help us find new levels of enjoyment in the Language of Heaven.  We’ll sing a few more songs than normal, and know you’ll enjoy getting the hwyl going.

Information continued on page 8.

Map and directions on page 8.

A registration form is here.  Please return with payment by Monday, Feb. 22, 2010  to reserve your meal/s.

2009 Gymanfa and Te Bach

Donna Boyce

On a beautiful sunny, but chilly, October afternoon over one hundred people gathered in the lovely sanctuary of the Central College Presbyterian Church to raise our voices in song.

With Tom Lloyd to direct us and Jim Hildreth at the pipe organ to keep us on key, we were enthusiastic with the English lyrics and gave our best effort with the Welsh.

Tom, the choir director at First Presbyterian Church in London, Ohio, had few rest breaks during the afternoon – he was slated to conduct the London Presbyterian Men’s Ensemble for our special music and he graciously agreed to also direct us through the Gymanfa when the scheduled conductor had to bow out for medical reasons.

The Ensemble was accompanied by harpist James Predovich and performed a variety of songs, alternating with our hymn-singing -- my favorite was “Bound for Jubilee.”

Special moments – the In Remembrance service, when we honored those members who died during the previous year, and the Lord’s Prayer in Welsh, delivered by Sioned Wyn, intern at the Madog Center for Welsh Studies.

We thank Mary Ellen Morgan, chair of the event, for all her work towards another successful WSCO Gymanfa.

The Gymanfa was followed by a Te Bach which was, as always, a chattering joyous occasion with friends greeting old friends and taking advantage of the opportunity to meet new Gymanfa attendees.

I thank the many people without whom I could not successfully chair our popular and well-attended teas: food donators, room arrangers, beverage prep and servers, the food prep team, kitchen clean-up crew, and all those who pitched in to pack up and clean up --so many willing hands – diolch yn fawr iawn!

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