Talkin' Bluegrass Music

PROCLAMATION! BLUEGRASS MUSIC

HONORED IN COLLIERVILLE, TN

Monday, March 25, 2019

(Updated to include a photo of the Proclamation)

Town Square Gazebo in Springtime--We can't wait to get back out there!

IT GIVES US GREAT JOY to listen to bluegrass music with families and friends all around me in a park like the Collierville Historic Town Square, or a church (particularly the Collierville United Methodist Church Common Cup Coffee Shop) , or even in an impromptu setting in the carport. On this particular evening the Collierville Town Board of Mayor and Aldermen presented me (but really ALL OF US) with a proclamation for bringing bluegrass music to the entire community and surrounding states and towns. We are more than happy to share the music we love with others. Two jam enthusiasts, Christine Donhardt and Clay Caver noticed that the Collierville Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Jam is nearing its 20th season, and they thought it called for a celebration. Thanks, y'all! What a celebration it was!

L to R: Christine Donhardt, Betty Westmoreland,

Mayor Stan Joyner, Clay Caver

At back: Alderman Fraser and Alderman Allen

A cousin recently gave us a saying that we thought was T-shirt worthy: Bluegrass Music Is Sown In The Soul . . . And Hand-Picked! Thanks, Bill! We like that notion. We have the T-shirt. Bluegrass is the people's music which has roots all over Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Canada, France, Germany, and wherever people gathered for hundreds of years to play music and sing. They still gather to play and sing. The descendants of those early musicians brought the music to America and added their own flavor. Voila! Bluegrass and other forms of traditional music!

We shall share some photos of that wonderful evening at Collierville Town Hall, when Mayor Stan Joyner, with the backing of the Town Board of Aldermen, paused in their busy activities to say 'Thanks for 20 years of bluegrass music at our local churches and the Historic Town Square'. You're quite welcome, Mayor Joyner and Board members! Join us anytime! We are ready to take on the next 20 years!

Collierville Town Board of Mayor and Aldermen: Stan Joyner, Mayor; Maureen Fraser, Alderman; Tom Allen, Alderman; John Worley, Alderman; Billy Patton, Alderman; and John Stamps, Alderman

Further information about Collierville: www.collierville.com

Further information about the Collierville Jam: bwestmoreland9@hotmail.com

L to R: Christine Donhardt, Betty Westmoreland

Mayor Stan Joyner reading Proclamation

Betty as usual offering comments about the jam

Waiting with Clay Caver for the Board meeting to start

Board Agenda for March 25, 2019

L to R: Christine Donhardt, Betty,

Mayor Stan Joyner, Clay Caver

A recent article referred to Betty as "the instigator of the organized chaos". Guilty as charged! She has the T-shirt to prove it. Thanks for the idea, Jan!