Welcome to the Heartland Bluegrass Association of Florida's website. We encourage all who have not yet joined the organization to do so, or just come out for our monthly Just Jammin' weekends at Craig's RV and just join in the fun. Check the CALENDAR on the website for dates and specifics for each month.

NEWSLETTER

Newsletter Feb.- April 2012

Here, my friends, is my “State of the Association” Address!

Welcome back Snowbirds! We’re now halfway through the season here in the deep, deep south, and more and more bluegrass people are discovering Heartland. Most comments we receive are along the lines of people being excited about once again having regular monthly bluegrass weekends at Craig’s RV, and feeling the warmth and friendliness of our association’s members and atmosphere. We’re enrolling new members each month, and our active members are anxious to renew their membership when it expires so they don’t miss out on anything. We’re also seeing new “old” faces of people who enjoyed bluegrass at Craig’s in years past, and are just now learning that the game is on once again at the greatest bluegrass camping venue in Florida. Welcome home, old friends!

As always, our focus remains on the family atmosphere of Heartland, with jamming being at the very heart of Heartland Bluegrass Association’s Just Jammin’ weekends. We’re extremely fortunate to have a roster of bands who are willing and eager to play for you in our Saturday stage shows, despite the fact that they barely get compensated enough to cover their expenses. We also have a core group of incredibly talented pickers and singers among our membership, and have been able to put together “house bands” that please and entertain, to fill slots on the show rosters when we don’t have enough bands to fill out the shows.

Allen and Vicky Wickey, owners of Craig’s RV, have been the most supportive hosts anyone could wish for, and we’re head-over-heels grateful for all they have done and continue to do on behalf of Heartland. And special thanks to Joel for all that he does to keep the campgrounds orderly and the campers happy. What truly great people y’all are. Please watch for all the other bluegrass events and festivals where Craig’s RV is the venue, and support them by attending and buying your lunches at their great concession stand. Carol’s Cobblers is also a big hit with their great homemade desserts during the winter Just Jammin’ weekends and festivals. It don’t get no better than that, folks.

Our member-volunteers are the foundation of the structure that is Heartland Bluegrass Association, and without them we wouldn’t be able to even get off the ground for our monthly events. Our deepest appreciation goes to Tom and Marty, Jim and Jane, Dee and Richard, Ken and Jamie, Jack, Joe and Marge, Tom and Sandy, Elisa, Jim W., Bill and Betty, and all the others who jump in to help when something needs to be done. If your name doesn’t show up here, it’s only because there are just too many for my tired old brain to list. We’re also indebted to members of our Board of Directors, who give their time and talent to assure that the business of the association is done in an efficient and timely manner. What a great bunch of people we have in this outfit!

At the annual meeting the Board approved the purchase of our own sound system to use in the shows, and with the help of Joe Shallow and Allen Wickey we have accomplished this. We’re now on the hunt for additional quality components to further improve an already good system.

Our Flea Market/Yard Sale was a smashing success over the very well attended New Year’s Weekend on December 30-31, 2011. Thanks to all who donated “stuff” to sell, and helped out with the sale. We were able to add a nice little sum to the bank account as a result of those donations, which helps us keep on doing what we do.

We managed to co-host an off-schedule, non-Heartland event with Craig’s RV last December to showcase the talents of Clay Hess, Jon Garon, and the Walker Brothers with Austin Wilder. Although this event wasn’t free for Heartland members, we were able to keep it ridiculously affordable and still make the musicians happy with what the admission charge generated to cover their costs. We’d love to be able to do this occasionally to keep Heartland and Craig’s RV visible as bluegrass resources.

February will mark the first time that Central Florida Bluegrass Association will join us to combine a monthly camping event with their own. Cheri Hornsby will be bringing Cotton Eyed Does andLittle Girl and the Dreadful Snakes to play in the show on Saturday, Feb. 25th, and Sawgrass Drifters will fill out the show.

We’re doing the best we can, but if anyone has a suggestion as to how we can improve things, please let us know. We know we can’t please all the people all of the time, but we certainly want to keep as many of you happy as possible!

Dave Cowles, President

Heartland Bluegrass Music Association

The website you are visiting was designed by my nephew ( my namesake, Dave Cowles, Boiling Springs, South Carolina). He does a fantastic job, and keeps it updated for us as we provide new information. You can find him at: Kowulz Design.