Events

The Calendar of the Welsh Society of Central Ohio begins March 1 - Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant (St. David's Day )

St David's Day July Picnic 2006 Bus Trip to Southeast Ohio
October Gymanfa Ganu Welsh Chorus Welsh Country Dancers Board Meetings

For other events of interest: See News

This year’s St. David’s Day Celebration and Dinner will take place on February 25, 2006, at the lovely Clintonville Woman's Club at 3951 North High Street, near the Park of Roses.

This change was made due to the reputation of the fine food at the Woman’s Club and to have a more intimate feeling for our gathering. Free parking is provided in the rear of the building, but there is also a passenger drop off location on the south side of the building. Should we have a larger turn out than usual, we are invited to use the parking lot of the church next door for overflow parking.

Our after dinner entertainment will feature Barbara Smith Davis, soprano, who starred in the worldwide traveling company of ‘The Sound of Music’ and sang the role of the Abbess to great acclaim, and her basso husband, J. B. Davis, who sang for us at our last Gymanfa. Tremendous musicians individually, they are even better when they sing duets! This should be a lovely evening with good food, outstanding talent, and warm fellowship.

The price for the buffet dinner, which features a choice of roast beef or turkey (you need not reserve an entree selection in advance), salad, two vegetables, dessert, rolls, butter, and coffee or tea, is $25 for adults; $10 for children from 12 to 18; and $5 for children under 12. All prices include tip and entertainment. There will help available for those needing it with the buffet service.

Also, due to the rules at the Woman’s Club, we will not have an open bar, but we are invited to bring any beer and/or wine we wish to consume, and there will be mixes available, as well as soft drinks. They request that no hard beverages be brought.

This year, there will be two seminars at a cost of $5 each. Shirley McKee, a fluent speaker of Welsh will present Tips for Using a Welsh-English Dictionary. This seminar will be of special interest to anyone with maps, documents, epitaphs, letters, or other personal items written in Welsh. We'll look specifically at the problem of why Welsh words often do not seem to show up in Welsh-English dictionaries. No knowledge of Welsh is assumed.

The second seminar will be Welsh Plant Lore, and will be discussing the folk lore in Wales concentrating on the sayings, practices, and beliefs held by the Welsh concerning various types of flora. Many herbs and flowers were used in Wales at different times throughout the year for medicinal purposes, to bring good luck, and to ward off the devil. Trees were also thought to have mystical powers and were held in high regard. Legends concerning these plants will also be discussed.

St. David’s Day Schedule

3:00 to 3:45	Seminar - Tips on Using a Welsh Dictionary by Shirley McKee
4:00 to 4:45	Seminar - *Welsh Plant Lore* by Tim Jilg
5:00 to 5:30	Annual Meeting
5:30 to 6:00	Happy Hour
6 on	Dinner and Entertainment

(Registration form)

Send registration to Dr. & Mrs. Homer Williams before February 19, 2006

St David's Day Celebration

Ohio State House - noon on March 1st

Capital Square, Broad and High Streets, southeast corner, downtown Columbus, Ohio (In case of rain, meet first in the State House Rotunda.)

The Welsh of Ohio will be honored for the large contributions that they have made, and continue to make, throughout the state.

Prior to the raising of the Welsh flag, WSCO will present daffodils to Governor Taft or his representative. (The daffodil is a national symbol in Wales.) Some attendees will wear the Welsh national costume, and the Welsh Country Dancers of Central Ohio will demonstrate a dance, possibly inviting others to join them.

St. David's Cathedral

David, Patron Saint of Wales

Dewi Sant, St. David, founded a monastic community in the 6th century which became a fountainhead for the Christian message during Britain’s Dark Ages. He was the son of Sandde, Prince of Powys, and Non, daughter of a chieftan of Menevia whose lands included the peninsula in Pembrokeshire on which the cathedral town of St. David now stands. His city has been an important Christian shrine since medieval times when it was declared that two pilgrimages to St. David’s would equal one pilgrimage to Rome. It has been described as the holiest ground in Great Britain.

David died on the first of March, 589 A.D., and was buried in what is today St. David’s Cathedral. March 1st, Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant (St. David’s Day), is celebrated all over the world by wearing either of the national emblems, a leek or a daffodil, in commemoration of this Celtic saint’s death.

Annual Picnic - Blendon Woods Metro Park, 4265 E. Dublin-Granville Road, Westerville

Dogwood shelter area Map

Saturday, July 15, 2006, from 5:00 until 10 pm

The annual Welsh family picnic has traditionally been held at Blendon Woods Metropolitan Park at a shelter house in the group picnic area, with easily-learned audience-participation folk dancing preceding the meal and group singing after.

Bring your own table service, beverage, and a dish to share, along with a lawn chair if you’d like.

Bob Penry leading music

Bus Trip to Southeast Ohio

Jackson and Gallia Counties, Ohio - September 30, 2006

This year's bus trip will include a stop at the Madog Center to see a traveling Welsh Exhibition that starts at Ellis Island in June. We will visit several other places of Welsh interest. Speakers and plans to be announced.

Nebo Church

Gymanfa Ganu (Welsh Hymn Singing) - Central College Presbyterian Church, 975 S. Sunbury Road, Westerville

Sunday, October 1, 2006 at 2:30pm [Note the change to the FIRST Sunday in October]

The WSCO gymanfa features special music performed by a soloist or choir. Special performers in recent years have been the Greater Canton Male Voice Choir, the Grande Chorale from Rio Grande University, and JB Davis, Basso Soloist.

The WSCO gymanfa is followed by a Te Bach (little tea) featuring Welsh tea cakes made by our own members.

Welsh Chorus

The Welsh chorus rehearses on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at Worthington United Methodist Church. The meeting room will be marked with directional signs.

The church is at 600 North High Street, just several blocks south of 161, and there is generous parking in the rear of the church.

Please plan to attend and bring anyone who enjoys singing - Welsh folk songs, popular music and hymns.

There is an elevator, so please don't fret about that.

Welsh Country Dancers of Central Ohio

This Welsh folk dancing group was formed in 1985 by members of WSCO and was originally tutored by Mair Evans from Wales. The group is currently under the direction of Donna Boyce and has performed at many Welsh, Celtic and International events, as well as the Ohio State Fair.

We are a friendly group of amateur dancers based in Columbus, Ohio, whose main intent is to enjoy ourselves and each other's company while learning the folk dances of Wales and sharing this aspect of Welsh heritage with others.

You do not need to be a member of WSCO to dance with us. Performing at events is voluntary, so feel free to join us just for the enjoyment of learning the dances. It isn’t necessary to bring a partner — come alone, if you like, or bring a friend (or two!).

Classes are the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month, September through June, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. (verify schedule on or around holidays)

Location: Old Township Hall, Worthington, Ohio; 67 E. Granville Rd.
(Dublin-Granville Rd./Rt. 161), just east of N. High St./Rt. 23, at the corner of Hartford.

We have no dues, but a $2 donation each session helps us pay the rent.

Also, we usually teach Welsh dancing at the WSCO annual picnic

For more information: telephone 614-471-2620
or email welshcountrydancer@sbcglobal.net

Board Meetings

Board meetings are open to all members. If you wish to bring an item before the Board of Directors, contact a board member and ask them to get your issue on the agenda.

Board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month, except July, August and December, from 7 pm to 9 pm.

Glenwood United Methodist Church (Church Lounge)
2833 Valleyview Drive (Next to the YMCA)

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Thursday, July 20, 2006 11:52 PM