I've just been wondering... what if the roles were reversed?
What if the majority of the country's population were Jewish and the minority were Christian and Catholic?
What if YOU were in that minority and EVERYONE on the street, in a store, in a restaurant, EVEREYONE wished you a Happy Hannukah? What if that was the phrase that you heard on the radio, in every holiday commercial on T.V.? What if every newscaster said that at the end of their broadcast?
How long would it be, hearing it day-in-and-day-out, before you eventually turned around and proclaimed:
"Why do you assume that I am Jewish and that Hannukah is the holiday I celebrate? I won't deny you celebrating your own religious holiday, but please don't assume that I will join in YOUR celebration. Why can't you just say 'Happy Holidays'? That would cover EVERYONE, Christian, Jew, Muslim, EVERYONE?"
I just wonder... in any case:
Happy Holidays to All!
If you have any comments about this article by me, please feel free to post them at the bottom of the newsletter. - Thanks.
ETSU Opportunities
Masters Degree in Storytelling
A special opportunity for all NSN members Looking for a Master’s Degree in storytelling? NSN has an arrangement with East Tennessee State University (ETSU) to offer NSN members in-state tuition when attending classes in storytelling.
This means if you live in Oregon, for example, you can now attend the summer institutes and regular classes in the storytelling program at ETSU for Tennessee tuition rates – a significant savings! Visit the ETSU website for information on the Storytelling Program at ETSU. Apply for admission and sign up for your classes through ETSU. Complete the Contract Voucher and send it to the NSN office. The form may be submitted electronically or printed and mailed to the address listed on the form.
Enjoy the classes!
Faculty Position Open in Storytelling
The Department of Communication and Performance at East Tennessee State University seeks an Assistant or Associate Professor of Storytelling and Storytelling Program Coordinator. This position carries full-time, tenure-track status starting August 15, 2019, pending availability of funds.
We seek an energetic and inspiring faculty member with strong academic credentials and proven storytelling performance experience. This faculty member will contribute to our Communication & Storytelling Studies master’s degree program by training students in the art & craft of storytelling. We aim to hire someone who understands, and will help our students understand, storytelling not only as folk and traditional art, but also as contemporary practice with socially transformative potential. We seek someone with a strong commitment to interdisciplinarity, intersectionality, cultural equity, and ethics of storytelling practices.
Conference Scholarships to Northlands' Confabulation!
Madison, WI - April 26-28, 2019
Northlands Storytelling Network is offering “New Voices” Conference Scholarships to anyone 18 years and older who is new to storytelling and is interested in improving their skills and/or using storytelling in their respective fields.
Recipients of the scholarships will be paired with others at the conference who will act as guides and resources during the conference. Up to four scholarships may be awarded. Members of the Northlands Scholarship Committee will judge applications and determine scholarship winners. Winners will be notified as soon as possible after the application deadline.
Who May Apply:
• Adults ages 18 year and older, interested in using storytelling in their respective fields, i.e., education, psychology, museum education, environmental education, healing arts, law, religion, business, theater, freelance storytelling, library services, etc. • Recipients may only receive the scholarship twice within a five-year period. Winners Receive: • Free conference registration. • 2 nights (Friday & Saturday) shared lodging with another scholarship recipient. • Friday lunch and dinner and Saturday lunch and dinner (complimentary breakfast at hotel)
• Membership to Northlands Storytelling Network for one year. Additional Requirements: • Must provide own transportation to/from conference.
• Meet with the New Voices coordinator and other scholarship recipients over breakfast Saturday morning. Application:
Please provide the following information:
• Name, Address, City, State, Zip
• Telephone Numbers (home and cell)
• Email Address
• Employer/Job Title
• Year of Birth
• Answer the following questions:
1. How did you hear about the New Voices Scholarship?
2. Why are you interested in attending the Northlands Storytelling Conference?
3. Have you ever received a Northlands Scholarship? If so, in what year?
4. Have you ever attended a regional or national storytelling conference?
If so, in what year and the name of the conference?
5. Describe your experience with storytelling and/or story listening.
6. How can storytelling be used in your present or desired line of work?
The Fringe @ the NSN is back for its 13th Season! Explore the limits of storytelling at the National Storytelling Summit. July 25-27, 2019 Fremont, California
Want to present 55 minutes of your most compelling, riskiest, experimental or work in progress storytelling? How about joining forces with a friend(s) to create an ensemble performance event? Think of all the possibilities: 55 minutes of autobiography, performance art, folktales, stand-up, puppetry, dance or your favorite long form story!
What is the Fringe? The NSN Fringe follows the standard Fringe Festival model by providing the opportunity for you to experience many aspects of a typical Fringe Festival including the selection process and performance framework. In keeping with the Fringe principle of an un-juried selection process, Fringe performers for the 2019 National Storytelling Summit will be selected by lottery.
Deadline for submission: Midnight on January 31, 2019 CST
The National Storytelling Network (NSN) is offering Scholarships to students and young adults interested in attending our 2019 National Storytelling Summit. Recipients of the scholarships will be paired with others at the Summit that will act as guides and resources during the Summit. For more information contact Judy Sima (judy@judysima.com or 248-644-3951).
Who May Apply?
Adults ages 18-35 (graduated or no longer attending high school), interested in using storytelling in their respective fields (i.e., education, psychology, museum educator, environmental educator, healing arts, law, religion, business, theater, freelance storytelling, etc.)
I am in need of additional tellers for each night. We are actively seeking out a range of diversity and experience for these events.
Please also note that we have lined up a series of great workshops, presented by nationally-experienced leaders.
>>> If you'd like to tell or teach, would you please make contact with me at "staff @ smalltoothdog. com." The shows are curated and I will work with you to get your spoken-word or storytelling piece ready.
Storyrise - Workshop & Concert! Thursday, January 3rd - 6:00 pm
Goodyear Branch Library
14455 W. Van Buren C-101, Goodyear
Sean Buvala presents StoryRise - A workshop and a concert.
6:00 pm - 6:45 pm:
Exploring the Abstract Through Concrete Poetic Detail
with Tomás J. Stanton
In this workshop, participants will learn to express the abstract (Love, Faith, Fear, Joy) through concrete imagery and poetic devices. In addition, we will explore how poetry and narrative structure connect to create poetic narratives.
7:00 pm - 8:45 pm: Turn the Page
Free outdoor storytelling performance. It's time for new beginnings or old endings. Flip over a new leaf in your old book. It's time to see what has been and wonder about the future. It's time to make plans that may or may not be broken. In this storytelling performance for adult audiences, our tellers will tell both true and should-be-true tale and personal narratives. Held outdoors so dress warmly. Tellers include Tomás J. Stanton, Mark Goldman, Sean Buvala and others.
Odyssey Storytelling in Tucson - Magical Thursday, January 3 - 7:00 pm The Sea of Glass Center for the Arts 330 E. 7th Street
Odyssey Storytelling Presents: Magical
Curated by Ana Gaskin
$10 General / $7 Students
7-9pm Doors open at 6:30
Storytellers include:
Miles Schneiderman
Bella Vivante
Kermie Wohlenhaus
Joe Silins
Stephen Hall
Ron Lancaster
Story Kinship - Tucson Workshop & TOT Guild Meeting Saturday - January 5th - 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Harmony Meeting Room
1200 N El Dorado Place, Suite B-200. Tucson MAP LINK
Ring in the New Year with a Workshop by Mark Goldman
Tucson Tellers of Tales will host Mark Goldman with an exceptional workshop focusing on traditional tales!
Story Kinship: Exploring Your Personal Connections to Non-personal Tales
Storyteller Susan Klein says, “When something within a folktale resonates with your own story...that’s when the responsibility begins. You do whatever you need to do to get to the root of what it means to you and the truth that resides in the story.” This session will assist you in exploring and understanding your personal connections to your selected folktale; fairytale; fact-based or other non-personal tale - Making the story uniquely yours!
Join us for this unique workshop that was a great success at the Rocky Mountain Storytelling Festival in 2017 and the Tejas Storytelling Festival in 2018.
Phoenix Peeps: I've got TWO seats open if you want to drive down with me. Or maybe we can make our own "caravan"! Email me if you are interested: mark@storytellermark.com.
West Side Story Tellers Guild Meeting Saturday, December 5th~ 10am - Noon St. John's Lutheran Church
7205 N. 51st Ave., Glendale.
The West Side Story Tellers monthly guild meeting will be from 10 am to Noon.
First hour: Business Meeting
Second Hour: Storytelling
This week's tip is in the form of a link to a great website and a great post. One of my tips is ALWYAS do as much research as you can. Well, here's a ton of links regarding crafting historical (and other fact-based) stories! Colleague and friend Karen Chace has accumulated a number of wonderful liinks regarding crafting these types of stories. I have checked out many of them and they are great!
If you are planning a historical or other fact-based tale, these are links you should bookmark!. In fact, you should bookmark this page from Karen as it is an invaluable resource!
A Christmas Tradition from David Letterman & Jay Thomas
What tales do you have that you tell every Christmas (or Hanukkah)? A true, personal story like the one below? Or a "traditional" tale of the time and good cheer? If only you could tell it as well as the late Jay Thomas.
It just wouldn't be Christmas without hearing this wonderful Lone Ranger tale as told by Jay Thomas, which became an annual holiday tradition on Dave Letterman's show. This year it is now a tribute to both Clayton Moore and Jay Thomas, who passed away earlier this year.
Note: You will have to turn the sound on once the video starts.
******************************* THERE'S A LOT GOING ON EACH MONTH ***************************
-------------------CHECK EACH WEBSITE OR THE CALENDAR PAGE TO CONFIRM DATES AND TIMES ---------------------------------CALL TO MAKE SURE THE EVENT IS STILL ON
FStorytellers - Female Story Tellers - Tucson
Usually sometime during the first week of the month - but check their website) at 7 pm - TUCSON https://www.fstorytellers.com/
West Side Story Tellers - Storytellers Guild First Saturday of each month - GLENDALE *NO meetings in July & August http://westsidestorytellers.weebly.com
East Valley Tellers of Tales -Storytellers Guild Second Saturday of each month - SCOTTSDALE - *NO meetings in July & August http://www.evtot.com
Storyfind Fourth Saturday of each month (usually - check calendar) - *NO meetings in June & July
SMCC Storytelling Institute
A monthly workshop designed to help storytellers build community and deepen repertoire. See the Calendar