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Ya see, I was walkin' up the Pookah Hill behind me house, when all of a sudden, the Fairy Queen appeared and asked me to tell a story at their grand banquet. Oh, it was lovely, simply lovely, with the fairy folk a-dancin' and the the fiddlers a-playin'. I put me head down on a rock to take a wee rest and, when I woke up, three whole months had passed.

So, ya see, the delay in the RW Newsletter twasn't me fault at all...I was bewitched, I tell ya! Bewitched!

But, even the Fairy Queen, herself, couldn't keep me away from the March Riverwind meeting.

Stories told:

• Warren Wyman told a story he read in Charles Laughton's collected stories in Tell Me a Story. Here is a collection of stories Charles Laughton could not get out of his mind after reading them.  This actor was also a professional reader and taught many how to read aloud. Warren told "The Story Teller" by Saki. The following is an excerpt from the Intro:

As I am not an inventor of stories - I have many times tried to write very simple stories, but they all looked and sounded terrible the next morning - I have become a teller of stories.

I like stories better than anything else that is made by man. And the stories that I like best of all are those that have been told and retold before they were set down. These are the best stories, the stories that were told before they were written....

• Ron Adams told the Greek myth/legend of Leda seduced by Zeus in the form of an pursuant swan. She gave birth to Clytemnestra, Castor and Pollux, and the face that sunk a thousand Greeks...Helen of Troy.

Business:

Mary Lu Bretsch reported that we were at least in the black for the Riverwind Weekend. We had 35 registered and 5 no-shows.  Marilyn Kinsella told the group that she is in contact with Barbara Freeman for RWWW 25.

Discussion: Trivia Night (date and time TBA) will probably be in April. The benefits will be earmarked for the NSN Conference in July. As co-sponsors for the conference, we ask that members come to the trivia night and/or make contributions to make this a success.

Discussion: Basket - The St. Louis Storytelling Festival was very happy with the baskets they received last year. It proved to be a money maker for the festival. They would like for us to donate another basket. After much discussion, we decided to go with the theme of "Riverwind Whirlwind Basket". We will give a free pass for the RW weekend. Please bring in other items for the basket. They could include something to go with the theme: pinwheels, ornate fans, mini-fan, mini-tornadoes, gift certificate from the Lewis and Clark Visitors' Center OR non-theme items: gift certificates to local theatres and restaurants, books, CDs (Naomi graciously donated two of her CDs to the basket!). Please bring your items to the RW meeting on Wednesday, April 11th.

And, speaking of the meeting:

Riverwind meeting is Wednesday, April 11th, at Bob's Rendezvous Room. Click on the name for directions. Please call Ron, if you are a regular and will not be coming. Also call, if you are bringing an added guest. In March RW had to subsidize the meeting, since we did not have 10 people.

       Am I talking Crazy Gibberish?

RWWW 24 is but a memory. We had a great time shaking our sillies out and making up new rhymes...speaking of which...read our poetic lamentations by clicking HERE. Mary Garrett wrote a nice report on the MO-Tell newsletter. She wasn't able to stay for the entire weekend, but to read about what she said, click HERE.

On Saturday night, workshop leader Naomi Baltuck and Prez, Ron Adams complemented each other by telling personal and ancient mythology!

Sundays sacred/inspirational stories:

• The Kinsellas showed up in their colorful Egyptian galabayas (outfits). After Larry talked a bit about some of their experiences (see www.flintknapper.com for the whole itinerary), Marilyn told "The Blue Faience Hippopotamus" that she told on the bus on the way to Alexandria.
• Karen Young reminded us to fear those who hear voices. Sometimes, like St Joan of Arc, they are there to inform and inspire.
• Sharon Thompson told a short, yet poignant story about a man looking for God.
• Roger Rose told "The Mary Story". He was inspired to tell the rest of her story in this moving tribute.
• Marcia Ollinger told a Tomi DePaulo favorite "Clown of God." By using our talents we truly honor God!

The Riverwind Story Celebration: We had about 50 people in attendance. Marilyn Kinsella emceed the following storytellers:

Sharon Thompson told "Why Cat Lives with Woman" while Mary Lu Bretsch told "Man's Best Friend." Mary Lu also told a story about a tiger that got everyone participating.

Roger Rose told Natalie Babbitt's Ashes from The Devil's Storybook. Just when things were looking up...the pig was back!

Warren Wyman told a story about a ring and choosing a snake...called "In the Balance". Sometimes what we believe to be important isn't important at all...and can even keep us from achieving what is.

Naomi Baltuck told a personal story about growing up in a large family. Their antic were legendary in her old hometown. Just to prove it, she returned to find the footprints had faded in color but not in memory.

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                    Lucky Riverwind 

It takes many hands to make light work of the Riverwind Weekend. Thank you...   

Roger Rose for being our airport "limo" shuttling Naomi to and fro. And, oh the story he has to tell!

Mary Lu Bretsch for registration, name tags, folders and publicity.

Lynn Beetner for the delicious nosh before, between and after the workshop. We showed our appreciation by invading the table like an starving army of red ants.

Marilyn Kinsella for the brochure, emceeing and seeing that Naomi arrived at the visitors' center in good steed.

Ron Adams for securing the Lewis and Clark Visitors Center and Bob's Catering, and being the host with the most.

The Riverwind Storytellers who came, participated, and made our new attendees feel welcome.

         NSN Conference in St. Louis

"Storytelling:  Reflecting Our  Past, Creating Your Future”  

St Louis, MO                                                      July 12- 15, 2007

Mary Lu Bretsch is a co-chairman for this event. Riverwind is certainly represented with Phyllis Hostmeyer telling at the Regional Concert and Lucy Grondahl presenting a workshop Imagination Stretching: Dragons and Taverns and Bears (Oh My!)   We need to support this once in a lifetime opportunity by volunteering in some way and, of course, monetarily. See Mary Lu about how you can be a part of this conference.

          2007 Northlands Conference:

                  April 26-29, 2007
The Edgewater Hotel w Madison, WI

Stephanie Rhein, Phyllis Hostmeyer and Marilyn Kinsella are attending this conference.

Besides a host of workshops from many states, I'll. Teller - Leanne Johnson will be presenting an intensive on creating music for your storytelling. Other I'll. tellers presenting workshops are: Linda Gorham, Mike Speller, Karen Wollscheid, Sue Black, and Lainie Levin.

Phyllis Hostmeyer will be the I'll. Teller for 5-5-5 Concert.

To learn more about Northlands and to become a member go to Membership.

St. Louis Storytelling Festival Under the Arch   

                          May 2-5, 2007    

      Read about this year's featured storytellers:

• Andy Offutt Irwin
• Antonio Rocha
• Tim Tingle
• Diane Williams
• Kuniko Yamamoto
• Karen Young

Many of the Riverwinders will be telling at the Arch this year. For a line-up of the regional tellers, click HERE

There is a new webpage on the Festival's Website for teachers: St. Louis Storytelling Festival Study Guide It includes helpful hints with pre and post activities to prepare the classroom for hearing a storyteller, the academic benefits of storytelling, state standards, generic activities, and specific study guides. Any storyteller/teacher who has a study guide based on a story told at the Arch can have it published (or linked) to this page. Contributors to the webpage are Sherry Norfolk, Annette Harrison, and Marilyn Kinsella.

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me"

For the latest I'll. Tell E-newsletter, just click HERE. If you'd like to be on the list to receive this free newsletter, let me know.