Life Happens, Again & Again

Alaska * Alberta * British Columbia * Idaho * Montana * Oregon * Saskatchewan * Washington

The Northwest Campanologist

Vol 14. No.8 August 2023

We all know that at times, "life happens" and these happenings often occur in bunches. The explanation point behind my bunch of life happenings is spelled COVID. So coming to you from my quarantine room... This newsletter is so late, I considered not sending an August issue at all. In the ebb and flow of handbell activity, I would rate August as being a "low flow" month, much like our local streams. But our faithful advertisers have paid for a monthly ad. So, I decided to shine a spotlight on our advertisers, all of whom have been supporting this newsletter through their ads for years.

Remember, Christmas is coming - with the needs for new music and gifts for our friends.

In the upcoming September issue, you can look forward to seeing photos of Idaho State Chair, Corbin Rasmussen's, high school handbell choir students attending Distinctly Teen in Irving, Texas last month, a spotlight article on a past Distinguished Service Award recipient, and the announcement of the 2023-2024 chime loan recipients, in addition to upcoming Fall and Winter event information. If you are planning an event, remember to send the information to me for the newsletter and the Area 10 website.

Support Our Sponsors

Marlene and Wes Anderson

Marlene and Wes are our Malmark Ambassadors. If they are not at an Area 10 event, with all of their new toys, it's time to check in with them and find out what's wrong. I can't recall an event I've been to when they have not been there. I have Malmark bells and they have helped me with all my needs - even finding a key to an old Malmark case that somehow got locked!

Marlene is a former Chair of Area 10 and also a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.

Susan Berry

Handbell Services, Inc.

I have not had the pleasure of meeting Susan throughout my handbell journeys, but I am an owner of one of her several books, specifically the one shown at left. She has authored several books on handbell techniques. But the really FUN stuff can be found on her website. If you are looking for a gift for a fellow ringer (maybe even yourself!) check out the wide variety of high quality handbell paraphernalia, plus the more routine stuff like gloves and pencils and table pads and notebooks and...

The Raleigh Ringers

I learned to ring in the late '90s in Cary, NC - a bedroom community of Raleigh. While at my first handbell festival (when my chin never left the floor, amazed at dozens of choirs, all in tune, playing together) our lunchtime entertainment was The Raleigh Ringers. I remember commenting to one of my fellow choir members, "THAT'S handbells. I am not sure what we're doing, but THAT IS handbells!"

Of course, they are my favorite group. I have many of their CD's and DVD's. And their tye-dye gloves!

Jason Krug

Grassy Meadow Music

Many of you will know Jason as a clinician at an event you attended. For me, it was Big Sky in Bozeman, MT. I'm willing to guess that all of you have played at least one of his compositions. He is a prolific arranger and composer and built a large repertoire of 8 and 12-bell music for us when the pandemic hit. Level 3 12-bell music? You betcha. It isn't trivial.

I don't know how to describe the complexity of his original compositions. I'm studying one now for an upcoming event and I find myself taking a step back to listen to the full score rather than focusing just on my part. How he creates different phrases and weaves them all together and takes them apart again. Wow! Here's a link to that song, Sympatico. Listen to it. How would you describe that? Awesome? Maybe, sympatico.

Carol Scheel

Heitz Handbells and Music

I first met Carol Scheel at the Snake River Handbell Conference in Nampa, ID in 2020. My gosh did she have a lot of stuff! I volunteered to help her set up. It was amazing how many of how many different things can fit on a single table. But I have come to rely on Carol for most of my music needs. She offers discounts for event packets. I've learned to plan ahead and place my order in advance of an event we will both be attending and even save postage! Carol has been able to provide everything I've looked for. And in her spare time, she arranges songs for belltree! Yeah!