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We have added a new poster ( streetRootsLG.pdf ) to our download center, which references the online competions in the Left Coast Eisteddfod Portland, Oregon 2009. Please feel free to download and print it for display at forthcoming Welsh and Celtic events.
This poster is appearing as a print ad in the next four editions of Portland independent newspaper, Street Roots , which also operates a non-profit helping the homeless in Portland and is supported by many Portland businesses and will, we hope, encourage a number of new local entrants in the various competition categories
There have been two recent amendments to competition rules. In order to give our judges adequate time to select the winning entries, it has been decided that the closing date for all submissions will be August 15th. Also it has been decided that contestants may submit two stories in the Short Story Competition . The Submission Guidelines pages will be updated to reflect the new arrangements shortly.
With less than three months to go till the date of the Eisteddfod , now is the time to pour on the coals to finish your entries and get them in. We would love to announce your name at the Left Coast Eisteddfod.
| Cor Meibion Morlais performing for the Chris Corcoran Committee Meeting (comedy show) at the Muni, Pontypridd. Please see the choir's website for more details: www.cor-meibion-morlais.org.uk . Full size the video screen for full comedic effect. |
The Rhondda still boasts 5 Male Choirs with around a membership of 340 voices.
Americymru: Can you tell us a little about the history of the choir?
Cor Meibion Morlais was formed in 1928 as a chapel guild choir, in order to entertain the chapel members through the winter months. It soon developed into a capable singing ensemble , entering and winning many eisteddfodau and giving concerts throughout South Wales. The choir has an unbroken 81 year history and has only had 5 conductors throughout its existance.The choir has travelled extensively throughout the U.K together with an impressive 19 overseas tours, visiting Germany ( 2 ), Holland ( 2 ),France ( 5 ), Belgium, Spain, Ireland,Hungary, Czech Republic, Finland, Estonia,Canada ( 2 ) and the U.S.A. The choir has just secured funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to research and write a book on the choir's history. The funding also allows for the production of a DVD about the choir , together with the preperation of an archive / museum exhibition.
This funding has been complimented by funding from The Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Partnership which will enable the choir to convert its own rehearsal facility, the Morlais Hall , into a Visitor / Cultural Centre .
The choir's website carries press releases on this subject in more detail
Americymru: Were there strong connections in the past between the choir and the mining industry in the Rhondda Valleys?
At the time of the choir's formation and up until the 1950's the mining industry provided the majority of choir members.
Americymru: How large is your choir, who are your members and what are their positions in the choir?
Currently, the choir has 44 members, ranging in age from 19 to 75. We currently have three 19 year old members, all studying at University. Their subjects at University are Music , Law and Radiology.
Conductor, John Asquith is a freelance linguist and also works with the Welsh National Opera Company as Vocal Coach in foreign languages.
Accompanist, Rosalie Evans is a freelance accompanist, piano teacher and she also works for the Welsh National Opera Max as a Repetiteur.
Chairman, Nigel Morgan is a Business Executive with British Gas , one of the U.K.'s largest energy suppliers.
Vice Chairman, John Nash is a Director of a Training Services provider.
Treasurer , Huw Jones is an Accountant.
Secretary, Byron Young is retired and was formerly a Senior Manager in the manufacturing industry.
Americymru: How does someone join the choir, what is your selection process?
The selection process by which the choir selects new members is not too complicated.
New members are usually introduced into the choir by a friend or work colleague,or sometimes they just turn up at one of our rehearsals and ask to join. Our Conductor will allow him to sit in on the first night wherever he may feel comfortable but and the end of the rehearsal ,the conductor will invite him to sing a couple of scales for him. The new member will then be told by the conductor in which section of the choir he will be singing in. The new member serves a 3 month probation , during which he will be expected to attend as many rehearsals as is possible. This also allows the choir to, learn a little more about him . At the end of the 3 months the choir's committee and conductor will review his application to join the choir and make a decision, as to whether he becomes a full member of the choir.
Americymru: What kind of committment do your choir members make, what's expected of them?
The choir rehearses each Tuesday and Friday from 7.30pm until 9pm. Extra rehearsals may be called whenever the demand on the choir becomes too much for the normal 2 rehearsals each week. Concert engagements vary each year but the past 2 years we have performed at 30 engagements, each year and 2009 appears to be heading the same way. Choir members are expected to attend a minimum of 50% of rehearsals but the choir accepts that family and work has to take priority over the choir.
| Cor Meibion Morlais performing for the Chris Corcoran Committee Meeting (comedy show) at the Muni, Pontypridd. Please see the choir's website for more details: www.cor-meibion-morlais.org.uk . Full size the video screen for full comedic effect. |
Our full concerts will last for around 2 hours but we also perform at Pre Dinner or After Dinner engagements for usually 45 minutes. Singing at Weddings are another demand on the choir. In 2006 we performed at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, in Halifax, Canada, singing at 10 performances for audiences of around 7,000 people. Being adaptable and willing to try new things are vitally important in order to change with the times.
Americymru: Do you have a season or perform year round? How many performances in a year?
We perform all year round and end up having to turn down engagements simply because we are an amateur choir , whose members work for a living. 2009, we're on track for 30 engagements this year.
Americymru: Does the choir have standards or pieces that it's known for or gets asked to perform specifically?
We are very often asked to perform items that people have heard us sing on our CDs. For special occasions we have learnt pieces of music outside our normal repertoire, The Beatles " All you need is love", Ting Tings " That's not my name", Pulp's " Common People", John Denver's " Annie's Song", to name just a few.
Americymru: In 2008 you toured Finland and Estonia. Can you describe that experience for us?
Our 2008 tour to Finland and Estonia was a wonderfull experience for our choristers and their wives who made the tour. The highlight was probably singing " Finlandia" in Welsh and Finnish to the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament in the Parliament Building.
Americymru: Where can people obtain recordings of your performances?
Our website gives details on how to purchase our recordings.
Americymru: Any plans to visit the USA?
We have no plans at present to re-visit the U.S.A.unless one of your readers wishes to open up discussions with us on such a proposal.
Americymru: Any final message for the members and readers of Americymru?
Our tour to the U.S.A. and Canada in 1996 was an unforgettable experience for those choir members and their wives who were able to make the tour. The warmth of the welcome and the hospitality we received at all of our concerts was remarkable and we were overwhelmed to find Welsh exiles and decendents having travelled hundreds of miles to be with us. Modern technology has made keeping in touch so much easier but it would be an exciting prospect to think that one day we could tour the U.S.A. for a second time.
I dont know whether it's a Celtic character trait or just a personal foible but trainwrecks and disaster areas always hold me spellbound. So when I took the decision to migrate to the United States more than a decade ago I pondered my top ten "to visit" list. One of the locations near the top of that list was Mt St Helens. I got lucky there, it's only 40 miles north of Portland alongside I5 and I have visited many times over the last decade. Another location near the top of the list was Centralia P.A.. For anyone unfamiliar with the town and its incredible history there is a wealth of information below. This year on the way back from NAFOW in Scranton our return flight was booked from Harrisburg airport. Centralia is about 60 miles north of Harrisburg just off Highway 81.
As the pictures below clearly demonstrate Centralia is a ghost town. An underground fire has been burning in the anthracite seam below the town since 1962 and efforts to put it out were abandoned decades ago. Experts disagree on how long the subterranean conflagration will continue to rage but some estimates give it another 1000 years. Nearly 3000 people lived in Centralia in its heyday. According to the 2010 census there are now 10.
( You will need to click on the individual photos below to view the commentaries and it should be noted in passing that no visit to this fascinating corner of PA is complete without a visit to the Ashland Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train )
For a brief introduction to the town and its history there is always the Wikipedia but the most authoritative account is undoubtedly The Day The Earth Caved In by Joan Quigley first published in 2007. In the prologue we learn that:-
"By 1980, Centralia boasted more than twenty-five hundred residents, most of whom had emigrated from Ireland, Wales, Germany and to an increasing extent from southern and eastern Europe."
Pictured below is the damage caused to Route 61 by the underground fire and an aerial panorama of the rerouted highway after attempts to maintain the old road were abandoned in 1993.
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| #ccf; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.4em; width: 15%; font-weight: bold;"> Description | Panoramic view of Route 61 through Centralia, PA |
| #ccf; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.4em; width: 15%; font-weight: bold;"> Date | 26 March 2008 |
| #ccf; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.4em; width: 15%; font-weight: bold;"> Source | Own work |
| #ccf; text-align: right; padding-right: 0.4em; width: 15%; font-weight: bold;"> Author |
Here is a short video documentary about the fire, its aftermath and its effect on local residents:-
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Today....as part of our ongoing first birthday celebrations....we are pleased to announce the launch of our new Americymru GAMES ARCADE . Waste hours of your own and your friends time in fruitless and futile competitions to establish ( e.g. ) who is the Americymru Supreme Frisbee Dog. Yes folks its sync'd with our database so you can compete against other members high scores.
When you first use the Games Arcade ( or any of our other new features:- Classifieds , Polls , New Forum , Download Center ) you will be asked for your email address. Please provide your Americymru registration email address. This will happen only once...and the sole purpose of the exercise is to complete the bridge between the two databases. Anyway dont sweat the technical stuff....just register and enjoy!
We have configured the games to open in a new window....so you may need to selectively disable your popup blocker and resize the window in some cases. There are currently 302 games in the arcade including Shooters, Sports, Strategy and RPG's. Any problems, comments or suggestions please post in the box at the bottom of this page.
In an attempt to secure original content displayed on the AC site we are hoping to limit downloads to signed in members only. This will obviously have the additional benefit of encouraging people to sign in 
I have just added the code and SJ is about to conduct tests. I'm hoping he will post here soon to tell us that all went spiffingly well ( or not as the case may be ).
Left Coast Eisteddfod Posters Available for Download in the New Americymru Download Center!
By Ceri Shaw, 2009-05-18
The first batch of Left Coast Eisteddfod posters are now available for download from our new download center . Attending a Welsh or Celtic event in the next few months? Please feel free to download our posters and print them off for display at your function. We will be adding more designs as the Eisteddfod draws closer.
You will need to be logged in to Americymru in order to download the posters and you may be asked to confirm your login email address before you access content. The new download area is available for all members to share files and you may upload any file to a maximum of 8 MB. If you have an event advertised on our events page and you want fliers to be available for distribution in the area, upload them here . You can link to the download center from any blogpost or events page on Americymru. . Welsh language course materials may also be added. In short ...anything that you want to make generally available. Dont forget that you can only share documents which are in the public domain or for which you own the copyright. All documents are subject to administrative approval before they are added to the repository. If you have any questions or comments about this new feature please feel free to add them to the comments box at the bottom of this page or as a thread to our new forum .
Poster number 4 in the download center is all about the Left Coast Eisteddfod online competitions and would be ideal for displaying in local libraries. Just one well placed poster could attract many new submissions.
21-22 August 2009 McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom
1332 West Burnside, Portland Oregon (503) 225-0047 FRIDAY NIGHT SHOWS 21 AUGUST 2009
HERE BE DRAGONS
JESUS PRESLEY
RUNAWAY NORM
21-22 August 2009 McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom
1332 West Burnside, Portland Oregon (503) 225-0047 SATURDAY NIGHT SHOWS 22 AUGUST 2009
CHRIS NEEDS
BRUCE ANDERSON
OCEANS APART
TYLER STENSON
21-22 August 2009 McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom
1332 West Burnside, Portland Oregon (503) 225-0047 ONLINE EISTEDDFOD COMPETITIONS Now Through 20 August 2009 Poetry Short Story Photograpy/Digital Image Biographical Essay
21-22 August 2009 McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom
1332 West Burnside, Portland Oregon (503) 225-0047 DAY TIME PROGRAMS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 21-22August 2009 Welsh Market Vendors Children's Entertainment and Activities Welsh Authors Readings, Artists Music, History, Genealogy, Culture
Americymru is one year old today!! In the course of our first year we have grown to a community of nearly 1300 members and we have exciting plans for our second year which we are sure will enable us to provide an even better service to our many members and readers.
Many of you will have noticed that we have been busy adding new features to the site in recent weeks. Several of these are now fully functional and fully integrated. To mark the occasion of the sites first birthday we are announcing the official launch of our new Classifieds section today. This is a free service available to all members who wish to advertise on the site.
The rules are simple ...you can read them HERE . To place an ad simply go to CLASSIFIEDS and click on 'Write Ad'. If you have any questions about the way this works please post in the appropriate thread on our new forum page HERE
Mae AmeriCymru yn flwydd oed heddiw!! Yn ystod ein blwyddyn gyntaf rydym wedi tyfu i fod yn gymuned o bron i 1300 o aelodau ac mae gennym gynlluniau cyffrous ar gyfer ein hail flwyddyn - cynlluniau fydd yn siwr o'n galluogi i ddarparu gwasanaeth gwell byth i'n haelodau a darllenwyr niferus.
Bydd llawer ohonoch wedi sylweddoli inni fod wrthi'n ychwanegu nodweddion newydd i'r wefan yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf. Mae nifer o'r rhain yn gweithio ac wedi'u hintegreiddio'n llawn. I nodi achlysur pen-blwydd cynta'r safwe rydym ni'n cyhoeddi heddiw lawnsiad swyddogol ein hadran Hysbysebion. Mae hwn yn wasanaeth sy'n rhad ac am ddim ac sydd ar gael i'n holl aelodau a hoffai hysbysebu ar y wefan.
Mae'r rheolau'n syml. Cewch eu darllen nhw yma . I hysbysebu, ewch at HYSBYSEBION a chlicio ar "ysgrifennu hysbyseb". Os bydd gennych unrhyw gwestiynau am sut mae hyn yn gweithio, postiwch sylwad yn yr edefyn priodol yn ein tudalan SEIAT newydd.
It was a great weekend and we have all sorts of material and reports to upload. But first, decompression. I am not the world's keenest traveller and although the journey went smoothly I am postponing any further activities till tomorrow morning.
Special thanks though, to new AmeriCymru member Michael Hill whose help with the AC stall in the marketplace was invaluable and also hugely entertaining. I'm hoping he's not going to come on here and post any details about my unique and cutting edge marketplace cash management system.
Delboy
Diolch
