Colorado Storytelling News
June, 2010
Greetings! Here are storytelling events and announcements for June.
The HEADLINES – SCROLL down for details.
- Three Story Circles choices:
- Original Denver Swallow Hill Storytelling Circle: Swallow Hill, 3rd Monday, May 21, 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
- New Swallow Hill Storytelling Circle: Swallow Hill, 1st Sunday June 6, and perhaps July 4 1- to 3 pm.
- Boulder Story Circle: Boulder Public Library, 2nd Sunday, June 13, hosted by Linda Jacobson, 3:30 to 5:00 pm.
- Northern Colorado Storytelling Circle, second Thursday of the month (except summer) 7pm in the large meeting room of the Loveland Library. Contact Dan Overholser for details at (303) 485-7541.
- Update on Opalanga Pugh — Sad News - See Below
- Update on 2010 National Storytelling Conference
- Upcoming performances by Susan Marie Frontczak, and Sunny Marie Hackman
- NSN Year of the Regions 2011
- Colorado
Radio Storytelling:
- KRFC, Loveland, 88.9 FM, See below for new program
- KRZA, San Luis Valley, 88.7 FM, last Sunday each month, 5 pm krza.org
Details of Events and News:
1. Story Circles - Storytellers and story listeners are equally welcomed at the Story Sharing Circles, sponsored by the combined efforts of Rocky Mountain Storytellers Guild, Swallow Hill Music School and the Boulder Public Library. These are excellent opportunities to try out new stories, dust off old ones, engage in conversation about storytelling and let others in the storytelling community know what you are doing, or simply to gather in good company and listen. Hope to see you at one of the circles!
Denver Circles at Swallow Hill (71 E. Yale, Denver) held in the Cafe:
1st Sunday afternoon of each month, 1-3 pm, hosted by Julie Davis and guests. Contact Julie Davis jdavis@indra.com
3rd Monday evening of each month, 6:30-8:30 pm, hosted by Kate Lutz and Lev Ropes. Contact Kate katelutz@mindspring.com or Lev levropes@comcast.net
Boulder Circle in the Boulder Public Library, the South Pulse Point:
2nd Sunday of each month, 3:30-5 pm, following the 2pm the Second Sunday Storytelling event, Contact Linda Batlin Lbatlin@aol.com
2. Update on Opalanga.
It is with a heavy and full heart that I write this newsletter today. Our dear Opalanga passed away in the early hours of June 5, 2010 and is at peace. The following is the notice that is posted to her CaringBridge Website:
Dear Community,
Our beloved sister Opalanga made her transition this morning at 2:38am. Opalanga waited until the house was real quiet, with her mother Mary laying at her side just closing her eyes. Her breathing slowed… the inhale then the exhale, one after the other until she inhaled one more time and then she peacefully slipped into the realm of the ancestors, upon whose shoulders her very life was built upon. In a note left by one of the many community members touched by Opalanga it said “I will not die an unlived life” Did our sister, auntie, cousin, like a mother, elder healer, teacher, griot live? Please take just a moment to breathe, and by all means tell your story each and every day, sing your song each and everyday, and remember to dance. Moments are precious one time events.
Reflections from Keisha…
As I sit here in my Auntie’s office, I am taken back to not Opalanga the storyteller, but Donna the photographer. See, my Auntie was telling stories with pictures before words. So, now I ask you to close your eyes and picture her dressed from head to toe and dancing her dance of life. Can you please picture this for us? Fully healed, with God’s spirit in her and around her. This is how my grandma, uncle, and the rest of our family see her. Please join us in celebrating her legacy.
I also want to take this moment to thank you for your love and support of my Auntie. You have shown us the true human spirit that lives in all of us. I would like to leave you with a poem I wrote in the third grade that earned Auntie and me a meeting with Nikki Giovanni.
“When I cry it makes me feel good. It lets the bad things out. And let’s the good things in.”
Now, even as I write, the “Walkers for Opalanga” are gathered out front of this house with folks dancing to drummer’s rhythms & beaded shakeres percussion with shouts and praises, hand clappin and signifying all adding to the luscious mix. All this in celebration of sister Opalanga’s life. Members of the community spoke and shared about Opalanga, what she brought and how she taught and most of all, how she shared with and loved us, her community. Old friends and new were greeting, hugging in rounds of tears and laughter acknowledging the power and magic that moved through Opalanga into each and everyone she has touched.
Taken from a self proclamation on the wall in her office, our beloved sister leaves you with these words:
“I am grateful to have a close circle of friends and family who are my true village community. We share love and concerns, honest feedback and authentic ways of being. We are all learners, and doers, and teachers. We share our talents and gifts. We are profoundly related and unstoppable in our commitment to create a better world.”
Our beloved Opalanga shared this message through the way she related to us and in the examples of her commitment throughout her life. Now go out there and be somebody, the best YOU that can be cause WE are the ones we've been waiting for.
Krick Krack Krout…. Now that story’s out!
The funeral service and memorial celebration honoring Opalanga are in the works. The service is tentatively scheduled for next Saturday. Stay tuned to this website and we will post a journal update to let you know more.
Blessings & Love to each and everyone of you…
Opalanga's Family and Healing Journey Council
Please go to the CaringBridge website at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/opalanga to find out about the service and to leave a message in the guest book. Also there is a notice in the online version of the Denver Post, (if you can’t connect this way, just go to The Denver Post site and then search articles on Opalanga Pugh). It has a picture of her and her mother from last week and some wonderful past photos in a slide show. Opalanga – we will miss you sorely, but your stories and memory will live on in each and every one of us you have touched.
3. 2010 National Storytelling Conference Update - “Many Stories One World”-National Storytelling Conference-Los Angeles, CA
All the buzz at NSN is about the 2010 National Storytelling Conference in Los Angeles, California, July 29-August 1, 2010 – registrations are pouring in and the excitement is growing for a spectacular event reaching out to the entire NSN Storytelling community. Seats are limited for master classes with Willy Claflin, Dianne de Las Casas, Nancy Donoval, Susan Klein, Rafe Martin, and Antonio Rocha. See www.storynet.org/conference for all the exciting details!
Are you attending the National Storytelling Conference and would like to have your resources available for sale? If you are interested in bringing up to 20 maximum items (books, CDS, DVDs) for sale, contact Cathryn Fairlee at cfair@monitor.net to obtain the application form. Forms must be requested by June 15, 2010. See http://www.storynet.org/conference/resourceroom.html
for complete guidelines.
NSN honors storytellers through the 2010 National and Regional Oracle Awards. These folks represent the very best NSN has to offer. They will receive their awards Saturday night at the conference. Look for individual bios in the July-August magazine.
National Awards
Lifetime Achievement — Donald Davis
Lifetime Achievement — Alice McGill
Lifetime Achievement — Ruth Stotter
Circle of Excellence — Willy Claflin
Distinguished National Service — Cristy West
Distinguished National Service — Eric Wolf
Regional Service & Leadership Awards
Western Region — Germaine Dietsch*
Southeast Region — Kathryn Lewis
North Central Region — Father Derek Simons
Mid-Atlantic Region — Norris Spencer
Northeast Region — Tony Toledo
Pacific Region — Linda Yemoto
South Central Region - Becky Walstrom & the St. Louis Storytelling Festival
Congratulations to Germaine Dietsch on receiving this richly deserved award!!
Look for individual bios in the July-August magazine.
4. Upcoming Storytelling Performances
Susan Marie Frontczak
- June 18 - Friday - Lakewood
- Eleanor Roosevelt in the Great Depression – “This is My Story”
- June 21 and 22 - Aspen and Basalt Public Libraries
- A Trip at Sea
- June 26 - Saturday - Aurora History Museum
- Eleanor Roosevelt in the Great Depression – “This is My Story”
- SOLD OUT - SECOND PROGRAM SCHEDULED AUGUST 21
For details on these performances, see her website at http://www.storysmith.org.
Sunny Marie Hackman
Sunny Marie Hackman, a storyteller and writer, tells us about a new fast-paced, exciting presentation style that is capturing the imagination of speakers all over the world. Check it out on this month's Toastmaster International podcast!
5. Colorado Radio Storytelling:
LARK Radio Theatre and The Poetry Show Schedule beginning in February 2010
Sundays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM
- 1st and 3rd Sunday
- The Poetry Show w/Dona Stein (d_stein_us@yahoo.com)
- The Poetry Show w/Dona Stein (d_stein_us@yahoo.com)
- 2nd and occasional 5th Sunday
- LARK Radio Theatre w/Bev Siglin (bjsiglin@juno.com)
- 4th Sunday
- Tell Us a Tale w/Peter Jones (bjsiglin@juno.com)
- Tell Us a Tale w/Peter Jones (bjsiglin@juno.com)
San Luis Valley, KRZA, 88.7 FM radio on the last Sunday each month at 5:00 p.m. hosted by the San Luis Valley Spellbinders.
SEND info for storytelling news to Lbatlin@aol.com.
Want the latest and best national storytelling news and articles on best storytelling practices? Join the National Storytelling Network (NSN), the go to place for storytelling, and get the scoop on what's happening all over the country AND how to improve your storytelling! http://www.storynet.org/
This information provided by…
Linda Batlin
(303) 494-6407
Please send me your notices of events and news for July. Thanks. Linda
Colorado Liaison for the National Storytelling Network
Co-president of the Rocky Mountain Storytellers Guild