Hello again All!

 

Sharing information on some upcoming broadcasts, and also on two DVDs now available.  Will follow up  soon with last minute updates on the concert, and news about our Hail Britannia 2009 trip.

 

KWHD – TV53 DENVER BROADCASTS. KWHD (www.kwhdtv53.com) is a religious station that targets the area of Denver First Church – the “megachurch” where we are performing.  We wanted to purchase airtime to broadcast the PBS-format of our 2007 Veterans Day Concert “Once to Every Man and Nation.”  The broadcasts would enhance our presence in that market and boost concert publicity and ticket sales.  KWHD liked the program so much that they offered us three free extra air slots in addition to our paid two, plus 100 airings of a 30 second promotional spot that they also produced free of charge.  I sent you the promo spot last week – it announces the broadcasts but also advertises our upcoming concert. 

 

The first two broadcasts were last Friday, October 17 and Monday, October 20 respectively.  The remaining three broadcasts are as follows:

 

• Saturday, October 25, 10:00 – 10:30 pm
• Sunday, October 26, 10:00 – 10:30 am
• Sunday, October 26, 7:30 – 8:00 pm

 

If you have friends in Denver , CO , please share with them the airdates. I am attaching a Press Release about these Denver broadcasts.  The Promo Spot is also posted on our home page www.medicalmusical.org.

 

PBS BROADCASTS.  In addition to the above, the following PBS stations have confirmed airdates of “Once to Every Man and Nation.”  Incidentally, the broadcast was edited down to 30 minutes, and follows the PBS format.  If you have friends in the broadcast markets below, feel free to advise them of airdates.

1.       WEIU, Charleston , IL (www.weiu.net)  – Tuesday, November 11 at 10 pm .

2.       Smoky Hills Public Television, Bunker Hill , KS (www.pbs.org/shptv/) – Wednesday, November 5, 2008.

3.       Ozarks Public Television, Springfield , MO (www.optv.org) – November 9 at 2:30 pm .

4.       WCNY, Syracuse , NY (www.wcny.org) – Sunday, November 9 at 2:00 pm .

5.       WKNO, Memphis , TN (www.wkno.org) – Tuesday, November 11 at 9:30 pm .

 

DVDS.  Two concert DVDs are now “out” and available for purchase.

1.       “Once to Every Man and Nation”:  Is our 2007 Veterans Day Concert featuring Art Linkletter and Miss America Rebecca Dreman.  The DVD carries separate chapters for its first half, the Intermission and the second half.  As I mentioned, the second half of the concert is abbreviated and edited into PBS format.

 

2.       “Thus Spake America ”: Is our 2007 Patriot Day (9/11) Memorial Concert featuring Bill Kurtis, Larnelle Harris, Adrian Cronauer, Miss America Heather French Henry and the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubs Jones.  Incidentally, we are dedicating that DVD to the memory of our dear Congresswoman friend. 

 

Each of these DVDs sells for $10.00, plus $5.00 shipping for up to 3 DVDs.  The DVDs would conjure up beautiful memories of our concerts for those who participated.  They’d also offer those of you who did not attend an opportunity to live these wonderful experiences with us.  Furthermore, these DVDs make ideal and incredibly inexpensive Holiday gifts to family and friends. And, if one of your friends or family members is serving in the military, these DVDs would be great morale boosters for them.  Of course, they are the perfect gift to the veterans in your workplace, family, church, synagogue, or neighborhood.  We will have these DVDs for sale in Denver (no shipping charges!) and will soon post an order form on our website (www.medicalmusical.org, click on “Order DVDs”).

 

WORLD WAR II MEDALLIONS. The Non Commissioned Officers Association of the USA confers a splendid “Medallion of Honor and Remembrance” on WWII Veterans.  If a member of your family is one of the Greatest Generation, please let us know.  We will forward their names to NCOA so that they would receive that Medallion.  If you will be in Denver , we intend to use the concert Intermission to give the medallions out.  Send the name, branch and dates of Service to Elizabeth Nunan at vanmmg@hotmail.com.

 

DENVER CONCERT.  All systems are go for it!  We have agreed to a somewhat unusual rehearsal schedule to accommodate our host church, where all rehearsals will be held.  Notably, the Dress Rehearsal is Saturday morning, Nov. 1, 8:30 am – noon.  The rest of Saturday is free.  Note also that there are now no afternoon rehearsals, and that the nightly rehearsals now start at 5:00 pm , except for Wednesday where we start at 6:30 pm .  The revised schedule is as follows:

 

REVISED DENVER REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29: 6:30 – 9:30 pm at the First Church of the Nazarene, 3800 E. Hampden Ave. Englewood, CO, www.denverfirstchurch.com, Tel: 303-761-8370.  Free Parking.  Shuttle buses from the hotel to the church will start running at 5:00 pm .

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30:  5:00 – 9:30 pm .  First Church of the Nazarene. Shuttle buses to the church will start running at 3:30 pm .

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31: 5:00 – 9:30 pm . First Church of the Nazarene. Shuttle buses to the church will start running at 3:30 pm .

 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1: 8:30 am – 12:00 pm (coffee and donuts at 8:00 am ) (Dress Rehearsal), First Church of the Nazarene.  Shuttle buses to the church will start running at 7:30 am . No rehearsals Saturday afternoon or evening.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2: 1:30-4:00 pm (Touch Up Rehearsal) followed by light meal, generously provided by the church at no charge. 5:00 pm Preconcert, and 6:00 pm Concert at the First Church of the Nazarene. Shuttle buses to the church will start running at noon.  Also at 4:30 pm for companions to attend the concert.

 

GROUND TRANSPORTATION IN DENVER. Our host church is graciously providing a shuttle between the Embassy Suites and the church.  The shuttle schedule is included in the rehearsal schedule above.  After each day’s rehearsals, and following the concert, the shuttle buses will return us to the hotel.

 

Also, Marliese Haemmerle has researched ways to get to our Embassy Suites Hotel from the Denver Int'l Airport .  She recommends the inexpensive SUPER SHUTTLE.  The shuttle's website is: http://www.supershuttle.com and you can make your reservation in advance.  Thank you Marliese! 

 

HAIL BRITANNIA 2009.  There are some exciting developments on the front of our trip to Great Britain next year.  Seeing that this message is getting too long, you just have to take my word for it for now!  I’ll be back soon with details.

 

PERSONALIA. 

James “Uncle Sam” Van Zandt (VA-NMMG Head Usher).  Jim recently retired from VA’s Central Office.  As reported in VAnguard Magazine: ” VA’s Central Office is a busy place.  Thousands of people pass through security and the revolving door at 810 Vermont Avenue every day – rarely is anyone coming through that door given a second glance.  But with a snow-white beard accentuated by a bowtie, Congressional Liaison Officer James E. Van Zandt II has a presence that stands out in the crowd.  Images of Santa Claus or Uncle Sam immediately come to mind.  ‘We (Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty) were out in front of the building pushing savings bonds and the character kind of stuck with me,” he said.  “Then the VA-National Medical Musical Group asked me to participate in its Flag Day concert as Uncle Sam and I’ve been doing it with them ever since.’”

 

Jim’s presence has brightened our concerts and we are happy he is not “retiring” from VA-NMMG.  Several of us attended Jim’s retirement party.  Joyce Crenshaw and Bill Van Stone sang beautifully in Jim’s honor and Wayne Johnson provided great music on the keyboard – thanks Joyce, Bill and Wayne.  Best wishes Jim in your retirement. I know you have been traveling all across the USA since you are retired.   However, you can run, but you can’t hide from us – particularly in Uncle Sam’s outfit! Jim’s email is ezvz@earthlink.net.   

 

Jim “Uncle Sam” Van Zandt

 

 

Regards to all.  Victor