Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Gallery Walk December 2007

Art Walk - Gallery Walk continues to grow and evolve with the number of locations approaching the fifty mark this fall. Saturday December 1st 6-9pm be downtown, enjoy some brisk fresh winter air along with holiday lights and art of all kinds.

Did you know that the hat store on the corner of Main & High St is the largest retailer of hats in Wisconsin? Their wholesalers are the source of that statement. Curious? Click on the Gallery Walk link on this page to learn more.

I advocate buying NOTHING until at least February 2008 but if the 'Christmas Itch' makes it impossible for you to leave the checkbook and plastic at home, why not cure that itch downtown and try to keep as much of that $$$ right here in Oshkosh.

I will be wearing a Salvation Army smock and ringing a bell somewhere in the neighborhood of the New Moon Cafe Saturday evening. The Red Kettle Campaign is on track: Goal-$150,000 by Dec. 24. Stop by and say hi.

Needed... A few dedicated helpers who will take my smock and bell and give me a break Saturday so I can visit a few galleries. Ever tried ringing a bell for donations? Here's your chance. Leave me a note here:

garyfromoshkosh@hotmail.com

Pray for peace.

Friday, November 09, 2007

Holiday Parade and More

The annual Christmas Parade is Saturday November 10. Be downtown at 10am for over an hour of fun.

I will be entertaining at the New Moon Cafe on piano before and after the parade. I encourage you to stop by so you can put a 'face' to this blog. Will I be playing for tips? The answer is NO..., but have your wallet out if you make a request.

I am very proud to announce that the New Moon is contributing the place and I am contributing my time to kick-off the Bell Ringing Season for the Oshkosh Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army has a goal of $150,000 this Christmas season. That's a lot of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters in the Red Kettles in the next six weeks. Note that every cent collected in Oshkosh stays right here in Oshkosh!

Please stop by the New Moon and help us kick-start the Red Kettle campaign. Pocket change helps. Feel free to write a check. In fact feel free to match the amount collected this weekend at the New Moon. Call the Oshkosh Salvation Army at (920) 232-7660 and Kendall will assist you.

While I am making dares... I dare the 'Goat Pack' groups to get out and ring bells for the Salvation Army.

This will be the third year in a row that I have worked with the New Moon in doing this. One of the New Moon's owners used the phrase: "becoming a tradition".

I like that.

Ann Frisch to speak on Guatemala

Ann Frisch will be speaking on Wednesday November 14 about her experiences as peace keeper in Guatemala. She will be speaking at noon at the monthly meeting of the League of Women Voters (China King Restaurant on Koeller Road Oshkosh at noon) and the Feast and Fellowship meeting of the Unitarian Fellowship (2600 E. Philip Lane, Appleton – Calumet and 441 across from Family Video 6 p.m.).
Ann Frisch was a peace keeper for Nonviolent Peaceforce in Guatemala from April through June of this year. With three other team members, she provided protective accompaniment for La Unidád de Protección de Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos, the Unit of Protection for Human Rights Workers. This group of Guatemalans has braved break-ins to their office and death threats to interview witnesses and victims of human rights violations and to try to get the Guatemalan government to prosecute the violators. The idea behind the protective accompaniment is that would-be assassins are less likely to attack human rights workers if the eyes and conscience of the world are shining a light on them.
The idea for an unarmed nonpartisan peace keeping force first originated with Mahatma Gandhi. If nonviolence works within countries, why not between countries? Nonviolent Peaceforce's aim is to replace the armed peace keeping forces of the world with unarmed protective accompaniment. The NP website is at http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/
Ann will speak about her experiences in Guatemala and the philosophy behind the peace keeping efforts. Her Guatemala blog is at http://www.annfrisch.blogspot.com/