Past and future news

July 27, 2016

My husband called me this morning and said "there is a good write-up in the Watonga Republican about the paint party you did to help raise funds for Leah Weber."  I was glad to hear it and eager to read the article once I got home from work  
The article was short and sweet and highlighted people coming together for a good cause.  A slight correction though: it was not only faculty members of Watonga schools who came together for the fundraiser.  Phoenix Circle Foundation provided the supplies (paint, canvases, and instructions) for the group of friends and family who came out to participate in this different kind of fundraiser.  Linda Barrett led the class in creating individual pieces of art that the participants could take home.   Phoenix Circle Foundation's program called "ART for FUNd$$(c) has worked with several organizations to help raise funds, including Relay for Life teams here and in other towns, and the 2015 After-Prom Party in addition to the fundraiser to help Leah Weber.  Because it is a non-profit organization, it doesn't have a budget for newspaper advertising so it relies on social media, word of mouth, flyers posted locally and at places of business in nearby towns, and publication of our "press releases" which we send out regularly to numerous print publications.
  
When you work with Phoenix Circle Foundation on a fundraiser, you get multiple benefits:  
*  donations are tax-deductible to the individual donor because we are a 501(c)(3) organization, and we provide a receipt for your records;
*  you and the people you bring together for the fundraiser help support the mission of Phoenix Circle Foundation, which is to promote educational, charitable, and cultural events and opportunities in our area and SPECIFICALLY, but not exclusively, to children; and
*you are able to raise funds for your cause in a unique way (a paint party, pizza dinner, other activities) and enjoy the company of others who share your goal.  


So, here's our "ad":








































We can also be reached by email at "phoenixcir@yahoo.com.



NOW, ON TO OTHER NEWS ---


On July 22, the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service held a program where youth ages 9-15 prepared a meal and invited a guest for dinner.  The group met at the First United Methodist Church and Joy Rhodes taught them about food safety, healthy eating, and then gave them a hands-on experience of preparing and serving a meal.  The youth visited the Blaine County Community Garden and learned about composting and growing fresh produce. They set aside the "kitchen scraps" from the vegetables they cut up for the dinner and took them out to the composting section of the garden.  The youth did a great job measuring and cooking the food, were wonderful hosts, and the meal was delicious (and nutritious!).  Parents of the cooks were invited to come for a "family dinner" and a good time was had by all. The kids also helped clean up after the meal.  The program was made possible by a Walmart Foundation - 4H Healthy Living Grant.  [Ed note:  A big "thank you" to Joy Rhodes for her hard work in getting the grant and organizing this activity for the youth. Thank you too to the First United Methodist Church for allowing the use of their kitchen and fellowship hall for the activity.]



The Blaine County Free Fair is coming up - August 25, 26, and 27.  There are many many categories for ALL AGES to enter something, and Joy Rhodes and others have been working with 4H youth on activities and projects in preparation for this event.  Personally, I am excited to work with the youth on art projects.  Several of the children who have attended art classes have entered their work in the Fair and have received RIBBONS -- the look of confidence and pride in their accomplishments is priceless.  
  

 photo used w/permission of parent.

PHOENIX CIRCLE FOUNDATION will hold paint classes for children and youth sometime early in August, so check out the facebook page for PHOENIX CIRCLE FOUNDATION for dates, times, and ages.

There are plenty of categories for Adults to enter also.  Pick up a copy of the BLAINE COUNTY FREE FAIR insert from the Watonga Republican Office or wherever you see one on shelves in stores around town or the library. 

Before those activities, Phoenix Circle Foundation is once again partnering with the First United Methodist Church to give away school supplies to students in Watonga.  Heading up the project this year is Rory and Becky Espy, who can be reached at  907-398-4985.  The give-away is scheduled for SATURDAY, AUG 6, from 11 AM - 1 PM in Fellowship Hall at the First United Methodist Church.  

FYI:   The price of scrap iron is down.  We got a good rain out by Roman Nose State Park last night and early this morning. 

(c) Linda Barrett, Ed. 



A little Watonga history

July 25, 2016

This past weekend we had the pleasure of visiting with relatives of "Sis" Cunningham, who were staying at the Chaparral Retreat on Hwy 8A near Roman Nose State Park.  It was especially interesting after having learned about "Sis" at the Woody Guthrie museum in Tulsa, OK.  
An accomplished musician,       Agnes 'Sis' Cunningham was one of five children.  Always known as Sis, was born at Watonga, Oklahoma, in February 1909. Her mother was a schoolteacher, her father a farmer eventually driven from his homestead (on a former Indian reservation) by a series of natural disasters which persuaded the bank to foreclose.

Sis Cunningham was a member of the Almanac Singers with Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger and a founding editor of "Broadside" Magazine, which published among many others the first song by Bob Dylan to appear in print. She passed away in New Paltz, N.Y. at age 95.

      The Almanac Singers performed protest songs in the early 1940s at union halls and to audiences of farm and factory workers throughout America. Sis Cunningham played the accordion with Guthrie on guitar and Seeger on banjo. Guthrie called them "the only group that rehearsed on stage"; they were among the first to bring blues, hillbilly, mountain music and Southern Methodist hymns to urban audiences.Sis was accomplished on piano, guitar and accordion, but trained as a teacher before enrolling at Commonwealth College near Mena, Arkansas, for "theoretical training in radical politics".  While there, she began writing songs, including "How Can You Keep On Movin' Unless You Migrate Too", which was recorded by Ry Cooder.  After leaving school, she worked for the Southern Tenant Farmers' Union while performing with the Red Dust Players, who sought to mobilize the poor of Oklahoma with radical songs and skits. She married George Friesen in 1941, a time of extreme tension between the Oklahoma state government and the Communist Party - of which she and her husband were members. The Party leadership was arrested and, fearing that they might be next, she and Friesen accepted an invitation from Guthrie and Seeger, whom they had met in Oklahoma, to move to New York.  Sis and Friesen moved in with them at Almanac House on West 10th Street.  She played accordion on their album Dear Mr. President (1942), and wrote the song Belt Line Girls, urging women to help with wartime production.
Source:  www.accordianusa.com

(No copyright infringement intended - some text and photos are used under the "fair use" copyright doctrine.)

MUSIC AND ART - the spice of life

July 22, 2016

I met some very special, big-hearted, courageous, and talented people last night at the Paint Party fundraiser for Leah Weber. Candice Blevins did a GREAT JOB organizing the event; I know how much work went into that and I appreciate her and all of her helpers and supporters of this fundraiser. 


ART forFUNd$ (c) by Phoenix Circle Foundation, is a way for anyone to raise money for a special cause, and your donation to participate in a Paint Party is tax-deductible to individuals. We believe in helping the community and in win-win endeavors. 

 

 

 

 

 

On Tuesday, Judy Painter and Rose Kimball from Austin Texas stopped in at the Chaparral Retreat on their way to Illinois and performed for us out on the front porch.  OKLAHOMA HOUSE CONCERTS has been featured on the KOSU Music Minute and we are getting a wide variety of musicians come through.  The atmosphere is unique and intimate.  Since Phoenix Circle Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), we don't have an "advertising" budget but are attracting people from all around NW OK and OKC suburbs from our posters, facebook posts, and word of mouth recommendations.  Donations to Phoenix Circle Foundation are appreciated and are tax-deductible to individuals.  We are so blessed to have these wonderful musicians come here.  

 

 

On September 17, guitarist Glenn Roth will be here, and on October 6, Merry Ellen Kirk will return for a second performance here.  OKLAHOMA HOUSE CONCERTS are FREE.  Andy and Linda Barrett provide lodging and meals for the minstrels, and these artists play for tips and CD sales and the sheer enjoyment of sharing their craft.  To receive information on upcoming shows and events, go to our facebook page, PHOENIX CIRCLE FOUNDATION, and "LIKE" it, or send us your email address at phoenixcir@yahoo.com.


(c) Linda Barrett, Ed.

Mid-July

July 12, 2016
The First United Methodist Church has a new pastor, Ms. Tracey Ivy, who started on June 1 and preached for the first time on June 12.  She is a breath of fresh air for our town.  She has attended one meeting of the Watonga Ministerial Alliance and met several of the ministers from other churches in town.  Moving itself is a daunting task, but transitioning from a city suburb like Chicago, where she is originally from, or even Broken Arrow, where her last post was, has to be overwhelming.  She has confessed that she is impatient but she has hit the ground running and we pray that the hardest part of the move is over.  Come hear her message on Sundays.  The FUMC's Sunday School is at 9:30 am, then we have a light breakfast "snack" and fellowship, and the service starts at 10:50 a.m. 


The Red Carpet Country Tourism board is working on renewing memberships and this fall's issue of the Visitor's Guide.  The annual Tourism Conference is scheduled for August 23, 2016 in Fairview, OK.  Find out all the information you need on the RCC facebook page or on the website at www.redcarpetcountry.com.   You can contact Linda Barrett, the board member representing Blaine County, for membership (580-623-4269, or  Sherri Feely for advertising (580-822-0001). 

Tonight we will be serving pizza dinner to youth groups from Clinton SC and  Ozark, MO who are in our area doing mission work through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Oklahoma.  This is the third time Steve Graham has brought youth groups out to the Chaparral Retreat for dinner, and they are a joy to visit with. Each group has been an amazing testament to God's love. 


I guess that's all the news that isn't News for this week! 
(c) Linda Barrett

All the News that isn't news ...

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!! 


This past week has been busy. 
Check out the wonderful creativity of the 4H children of Blaine County who expressed their patriotism though ART -- these aren't all of the works of art the children did, only ones I got photos of.  There are others posted on the Blaine Co. Community Events facebook page.  The smiles on the faces of these children is so inspirational and I am so happy to be able to work with the 4-H Coordinator and families. 


Speaking of 4-H, the Blaine County Free Fair is coming up in late August - a booklet showing the categories should be available soon.  ART is one of the categories, along with sewing, cooking, canning, growing vegetables, livestock show  .... lots of categories for all ages.  The dates will probably be posted in the Watonga Republican.


The BLAINE COUNTY HEALTH & HUNGER COMMUNITY GARDEN is ready for groups, families, or individuals to "adopt a plot" or volunteer to help maintain the garden space while you grow produce for your family and to share with the community.  There are actually tomato plants GROWING in spite of the heat.  It would be nice to see more participants and more beds filled up.  For signup forms or general information, Contact Linda at the 1st United Methodist Church, 623-5122. 

 

On Tuesday July 19, JUDY PAINTER and ROSE KIMBALL will be playing a house concert at the Chaparral Retreat at 6:30 pm.  Oklahoma House Concerts are informal, intimate shows and we are lucky to have musicians stop here on their way to another gig.  A donation of $5 is requested, and  Andy and Linda Barrett provide lodging and meals while they are in our area (tips for the girls will be appreciated.  Judy and Rose will be heading to Illinois after they play here.  Check them out on youtube at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0ZBfhMiNsg...

 Here is a link to their webpage:
http://www.judyandrosemusic.com/#!judy-and-rose-videos/c1yws.  Flyers will be posted around town and on facebook:   Oklahoma House Concerts, Chaparral Retreat & Guesthouse, Blaine Co. Community Events pages. 

CANDICE BLEVINS is hosting a canvas painting fundraiser for Leah Weber!! There are a few details to come, but MARK YOUR CALENDARS for JULY 21 (Thursday) at 6:30 pm! This event is going to be so much fun, and we are going to help raise money for the amazing Leah Weber as well!  There is a flyer on Blaine Co. Community Events facebook page and the ART for FUND$ page. 

If you would like to donate a baked good, or tea, lemonade, or water, please get in contact with any of us tagged.

*Update*  The sunflower picture is what we will be painting! A $30 donation is requested, and all supplies are provided. 

Mark your calendars! July 21st, 6:30!  Tickets are available for pre-sale:  Call Linda at 623-4269 or 623-5122, or call Candice Blevins.

SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVE-AWAY.  The First United Methodist Church and Phoenix Circle Foundation are partnering again this year to give away school supplies to elementary and middle school children.  Last year we were able to serve over 100 children and there were still children who we did not receive supplies -- we gave away all that we had.  We can't do it without community involvement -- anyone can help by dropping off school supplies at the First United Methodist Church, or making a donation which will allow us to purchase supplies.  Phoenix Circle Foundation is able to get supplies at a substantial discount.  If you have any questions, please call the church office at 580-623-5122 and leave your name and phone number. 



[(c) Linda Barrett, Ed.]