2021 has brought some new faces and returned a few to the California State Old-Time Fiddlers’ Association District 8 Board. Strongly committed to serving our membership, the board is hard at work behind the scenes, so that we can all enjoy the fun times ahead, when Covid restraints are lifted.

Please welcome your new President, Pat Cronin, your new State Director, Bob Bueling, your new Treasurer, Joe Johnson, your new Membership Secretary and Recording Secretary, Lori Litow!

New District 8 Website

We now have a brand new website for District 8, professionally designed and managed by one of our members, Zachary James Wilson (Zachary James).

Membership Applications & Dues Payments

Membership Applications can now be processed via the website for those who have internet access. For those members who do not use the internet, we will still make our traditional membership forms and newsletter available in hard copy. Once we have updated our membership contacts, you will receive your renewals and updates via email or hard copy (if you do not have email). Payments for new and renewal memberships can be made via the website

Bylaw Revisions

The District 8 Bylaws have been revised, approved by our Board of Directors and placed on the District 8 website, along with the Articles of Incorporation

Membership Growth

We are looking into new ways to interest younger people to join the ranks of our membership and to get involved in the joy that “old time” music brings to others.

CSOTFA State Website

Our new District 8 website is now located on the State’s website, under the Districts tab.

Community Outreach

We are planning local community outreach programs to educate all ages in the art of “old time” music, from the early days of hillbilly music, to the roots of Americana and Country, to Bluegrass and to the Nu-Grass sounds of today.

Newsletter Gets A Face Lift

Our "Low Down Hoe Down" newsletter will be emailed to you automatically through our website. It will keep you updated on changes in our local organization, District 8.

Food Trucks at Monthly Jam

We are looking into having Food Trucks on sight to provide food and drinks for members, guests, and the community.

County and Community Center Update

The County of Ventura Parks and Rec has been contacted regarding our re-opening. They assure us that our rent credits for 2020 will be honored in 2021. We will still meet at the Oakview Community Center when the Covid restrictions lift.

Membership Updates

•  We will be contacting all members to update their contact information and their email address for future communication. Since our newsletter will be sent out through our new website, it is very important that we ensure all your contact information is accurate.

• We will be contacting all Members to survey you for your requests, ideas, suggestions for CSOTFA in 2021.

• All new members will fill out the standard Membership Form authorized by the State Membership Director as outlined in our bylaws. All new members will receive a membership card showing the term for which they have paid their dues.

RENEWING OR JOINING? YOU HAVE OPTIONS

Looking Forward

• When we are able to get together in person again, we will plan a “Together Again Celebration” at the Oakview Community Center for all members.

• When we are allowed to meet again in person, we will have a new performance system, structured to provide you with more diversity in songs and performers.

• Our jams on the patio will welcome all members.

• The Kunkle room will still be available as a multi-purpose room, to be used as needed for members to play acoustic music.

• We will have educational workshops, to support the musicians and appreciators of music, who want to learn more about the origins and history of old-time music, performance and jamming.

• We are looking for music teachers who will join us in the effort to educate our members on the acoustic instruments of old-time music and performance skills.

• We are looking for member volunteers who want to contribute to articles, research, informative, humorous, information to share with other members for our newsletter and website.

• Our website will provide a streamlined, automated system for booking gigs with CSOTFA performers who can perform appropriately and professionally to represent District 8.

• We are working on creating an online store for CSOTFA-D8 quality merchandise that can be purchased by members at reasonable prices. This will help us to advertise CSOTFA.

• All members: Please send us links to your music websites, Facebook Pages or Groups, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.

• We are considering bringing back a table to be set up in the back of the community room for sale or give-away of members’ "music-related" items, like instruments, books, music, art and jewelry.

• We are looking for volunteers to clean out and set up a display to showcase pictures and memoirs of our District 8 members and Fiddle / Acoustic Instrument contest winners, to be housed in the glass/wood case at the front of the community center.