President’s Letter

8/09/24

Hello Everyone,

Sorry for the lateness of this email, I’ve been really busy this week. We won’t be opening Zion this Sunday for song circles. The weather looks like it is going to be nice. Head to Sharon Woods if you want to jam on Sunday.

If you want to jam tomorrow, Saturday, head to Community Happens Here.

Our next event at Zion will be open mic on Sunday, August 18.

All of the above is covered below:

  • Community Happens Here/QCB Jam

  • Leo Coffeehouse Summer Schedule

  • Summer Jams at Sharon Woods

  • Reference Information For New Subscribers (Below my sign off)

Community Happens Here/QCB Jam
August 10, 2024

It’s happening again, this Saturday, from 12:30-2:30 PM, at Community Happens Here at 6238 Montgomery Rd. in Pleasant Ridge. It’s also on the QCB calendar on our website: the second Saturday of each month. Join us to share in the fun and music.

Parking is available on Montgomery Rd., on Grand Vista Ave., and at the public parking lot behind Walgreens on Woodmont Ave.

Leo Coffeehouse Summer Schedule, 2024

Like the past two seasons, Leo Coffeehouse will be open at Zion UCC on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of June, July, and August, from 5:30-9:00 PM

On the 3rd Sundays we will have an open mic, with the sound system set up, if sound volunteers want to practice using the soundboard, or without the sound system, if the sound crew wants a break. The sign up sheet will go out at 5:30 PM and performers will start playing at 6:00 PM. 

Summer Song Circles: June 2nd, June 23rd (added),

June 30th (added), July 7th, July 14th (added), August 4th

Summer Open Mics: June 16th, July 21st, August 18th

Summer Jams at Sharon Woods

On off Leo Sundays during the summer, some of our folks like to get together at Sharon Woods to jam. The jam starts around 5:30 or so and often runs until the park closes at dusk. Technically a park pass is required, which helps support the Hamilton County Parks, but I'm not sure how you buy one on Sunday evenings since no one staffs the entrance gate at that time. You can buy them online and have it mailed to your home.

The Jams take place in the picnic area near the Pavilion Grove Shelter, located at the Sharon Center parking lot, which is the second drive on your left after you enter the park from Route 42.

To get to Sharon Woods, take I-275 to Sharonville (Route 42) exit then go south on Route 42/Lebanon Road to park entrance on left.

As described by Papa Joe Kretchmer in a past post:

"It’s very impromptu—we just show up with our instruments, find a table or a shelter (if it’s raining), and start jammin’. We usually stop around 9-ish, or when it gets dark. The jam is very much like the pre-show jam at Leo, i.e., it’s a song circle where people take turns choosing a song. It could be something only they know, or a number that everyone can join in on. Sometimes we get a small audience from the other folks at the park.

It’s just fun—and that’s what keeps it going. The first time you come to the park, you need to purchase a summer pass for $10 at the entrance. After that, you get a sticker to put on your windshield that indicates you’ve paid.”

QCB/Leo Coffeehouse Membership

We are keeping our standard annual QCB embership dues at $20.00 for a family, or for a single person plus a guest. Last year, knowing that the pandemic cut into our contingency funds, as we continued to pay overhead expenses with no income, some members donated larger amounts to QCB. We very much appreciate the support of all QCB members at all levels.

We are exploring setting up our website to allow the payment of different levels of dues support.  For now, if you’d like to pay the standard dues, you can pay them online here or by a check at Leo. (We’ve discontinued our P.O. Box, I will have a mailing address in the next newsletter for those who wish to mail their membership dues.)

If you would like to donate more than the $20.00 standard dues, you can do so by check, or through our website. When you get to the page with the box to relay instructions, just note that you are paying a larger amount for your dues.

For visitors who prefer not to become a member, a donation of $5.00 (cash) per person helps us pay the rent for our non-profit organization.  Donations can be slipped in the box at the welcome table outside our performance room, Founders Hall.  If you can’t afford that, pay what you can afford or nothing at all.  We will welcome you to join us either way.

That’s all for this Folknotes, I hope to see you soon.

Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse

Facebook:

Main page

QCB SongFarmers page

QCB Members Group page