Friday, November 15, 2013

November 2013 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - Volume 9, Number 3



Hi there...

So October came and went without a Fellow Travelers' Advisory -- excellent evidence that I am not indispensable.  October was a whirlwind of a month.  October 1st found me in Ireland with my 22 tourmates on day 3 of our Westport, Clifden, Kerry tour.  What a fabulous group of folks!


Thursday, September 26, 2013

2013 Inishfree Tour with Anne Feeney



2013 Inishfree Tour with Anne Feeney

My apologies for the uneven and spotty content of this document.  Please feel free to advise me if you want a different picture or edited bio before I go to print.  PLEASE make your subject 2013 BIO


Todd Davis - Beaver Falls, PA
Todd is an ordained minister, music lover and presenter, and peace activist 
pictured here with his wife Emilie
Ken Orchard - Victoria, BC
Ken is a musician and music-lover, as well as a concert presenter
No picture available for Carole Costello, his partner.
Dori Binsted (left of center ... in all ways)
Silver Spring, MD


Nell Postans -Victoria, BC
NO PHOTO AVAILABLE
BIO BELOW
I was an aquatic biologist until I retired this March, and Molly is a musician for a couple of dance groups, and portrays Emily Carr (a British Columbian artist and writer from the early 1900s) on walks through Victoria.  She also teaches ukulele.  My musical exploits mostly involve playing for three Morris dance sides (a kind of silly ancient English dance style with waving hankies and/or banging sticks) and I also write and sing songs with or without Molly.

Molly and I are neighbours, friends and musicians.  About 15 years ago, we formed a group called Pennyfarthing with our husbands, but sadly, her husband (Rod) had a nasty accident and stroke in 2007, and my husband (Laurie) had a degenerative nerve disorder and died in 2011.  In 2008, Laurie, Molly and I accompanied Anne Feeney, Tom Piggott, intrepid Paddy the driver and a group of spirited travellers on one of Anne's tours and had such a wonderful time that a chance to repeat the experience was too tempting to miss.

Mollly Raher Newman - Victoria, BC
I'm celebrating my 65th birthday On September 30 - so it looks like there are a few important events centering on the end of September! What a great way to start things out. 
I'm delighted to be on this trip, and will be bringing my harp, ukulele and strumstick to join in with the music. Nell and I have worked out some lovely duets of our favourite Canadian songs and Irish ones as well
Maya Conn, Los Angeles, CA

Atheist; Scientific Rationalism; Pantheism
(that was all that Facebook permitted me to download)


Molly Martin (L) and Holly Holbrook (R)
Bay Area
Molly and Holly both sent me bios which I cannot find... so sorry.  I know Molly is a skilled tradeswoman whom I met at Women's Labor Education events...
I don't think I've met Holly

Kay Magill - Oakland, CA
If Kay sent me a bio and pic, I can't find it... but I've known her since she was 14.  We went together to the Philadelphia Folk Festival in 1967. She's a National Merit Scholar, one of the smartest people I've ever known, and she works for a progressive think tank in Oakland.
JULIE COOKE (on left)


I am virtually retired (which means I'm pretty busy but no one pays me any more!) Had several careers: elementary school teacher, travel agent, travel manager (for parts of the University of California), consultant, hypnotherapist. I survived several marriages and have three adult daughters, two on the West Coast, one on the East, so I travel a bit to visit. Also spend some time in Hawaii and on cruise ships. I'm excited that this trip to Ireland kind of popped up out of no where and look forward to meeting everyone.




Carol Tova Newman
Astoria, OR

Greetings from Carol Newman though perhaps Tova for this trip since we
have a Carol and a Newman. I live in the country in NW Oregon near
unity Radio: folk music (playing the powerful Anne Feeney &
Astoria where I spend much time hosting two radio shows on KMUN Com m friends) and live arts interviews. I teach international folk dance in
amp; environs, supporting human rights, peace & justice are som
schools and community; Music, dance, theater, art, protecting our River &e of my passions. Originally from NYC, I've been in OR 39 years; traveled,
nd.
hitchhiked & lived in many countries since college in 1965 but never Irel
a


Lynn Burow
 I have been working for Boeing for 36 years and I hoping to retire next spring. I met Anne Feeney at Labor Summer School in 2009 and have enjoyed her music ever since. I read about this trip to Ireland. I am also part Irish, and we have been researching our roots. I enjoy traveling and hope to do more in the near future. I enjoy attending Highland Festivals and learning more about my past.


Harry Wyman and Ellen Light
St Louis, MO
We are going to Ireland to celebrate... our belated Honeymoon!  We were married 7 years ago Sept. 30, and we get to have the commemoration in Ireland, a dream coming true-- as was our meeting and marrying rather late in the game.

We live in St. Louis, Missouri... Harry is a retired elementary school teacher, who now works part-time at a local grocery... and I'm a retired (desktop) graphic artist and also keep up a couple of part-time jobs. 

Harry's family heritage must be Irish, since he is part leprechaun "on his Mother's side," as he says.  He's a vegetarian, devoted to taking part in local peace and social justice vigils, and he's also likes to do a few magic tricks, and --whatever you do, don't ask him about our grandchildren.

I had a nomadic early adulthood, many counterculture adventures, and traveled and lived in different parts of this country, (with a special fondness for the Pacific NW and New Mexico) but never have been abroad. For a couple of decades I hosted a singer-songwriter series at a local venue...I play some guitar and have written a few songs along the way... mostly enjoy the old folk stuff.  I'm also an aspiring writer, working on that '60s memoir before I forget it all!
(L) Joey Hartman (not on the tour) and partner Jim Gorman
Burnaby, BC
Mary Wallon

no photo
Sharlene Cece
Sharlene Cece from Santa Cruz County, originally from Motown, retired from SEIU and UFCW (where she served as president Santa Cruz Co Labor Council, and on the executive board of UFCW local 5.  She clerked at Safeway.  A real music enthusiast, Shar's musical tastes are very eclectic.

















Mary (above) and Scott Stefansen,(right)
I suspect Mary's photo is not current, but it's the only one I could access.
Eugene, OR







Not pictured/no bio provided
Annamay Nelson, Burbank, CA
(who provided glorious hospitality to me on my last tour!)
Annamay's son, Bill Nelson, Burbank, CA
(I didn't get to meet Bill on my tour)


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

September 2013 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - Volume 9, Number 2




Hi there everyone!

In less than 24 hours I leave for Dublin.  Our tour begins in earnest on the 29th but I was hoping to get a chance to settle in beforehand.

This will be a really short newsletter, as I think it's probably time to pack...


The Summer of Solidarity Tour was fabulous!

Everyone was so gracious and wonderful with our group -- for most of the tour it was with me and six guys, mostly members of USW. I will always be grateful for their kindness, support and graciousness.  We visited 19 cities and were involved in 31 actions - fighting (and stopping!) foreclosures, supporting locked out and striking workers, supporting the fight for $15/hr for fast food workers, rallying and singing to save the Postal Service.  One of our great stops was in Madison, WI, where we joined the Solidarity Singers at the Capitol on day 548 of their incredibly inspiring vigil..  They've written a new verse to Have You Been to Jail for Justice?   I love it!


If you are arrested by Walker's palace guard
Don't argue or converse with them
Just ask them "What's the charge?"
Ask to speak to an attorney
Call your friend who lives next door
Have 'em call the Lawyers' Guild - 520-0654

BRILLIANT!

Working with activists in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, Madison,the twin cities, Moorhead, MN, Butte, MT, Missoula MT, Portland, OR, San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles CA was a great inspiration for all of us.  I also did 17 or 19 performances in those cities with the amazingly talented and energetic and charming punk rapper - Mike O'Brien from Sudbury, ON.

Here are some pics from the tour...



Frank Little, 1879-1917


There are lots of shots on my tourmates' FB pages ... Check out Fight Back Pittsburgh, Patrick Young, The Summer of Solidarity page and follow the leads there.  This is the grave of Frank Little, intrepid IWW organizer who was "murdered by the capitalist class," a it says on his tombstone.  A refurbished grave was the vision of Mike Boyzsa, who, like Frank Little, organized a lot of folks to help with this project. The personal highlight of the tour was seeing Mike and Amy in Oakland, where we had a lovely dinner at the home of Jen Delyth and Chris Chandler





Here are my darling grandsons, Sebastian and Nicholas, whom I got to see in LA


MEET ME IN ST LOUIS

I'm so looking forward to the Jerry Tucker Legacy Conference scheduled in St. Louis for October 11- 13.  I'll be performing in Friday, October 11th.  Be there!

UPCOMING SHOWS
October 11th-13th, 2013
St Louis Labor Conference
Sheraton Clayton Plaza, Fleur De Lys A Ballroom
7730 Bonhomme Ave
Clayton, MO
I perform Friday night at 7
http://stllaborconference.com/
Price: see site

Saturday, October 19th, 2013 8:00 PM
Eugene Debs Award
Sycamore Banquet Center
Terre Haute, IN
812--232-2163
http://debsfoundation.org/
honoring Eliseo Medina

TMC Award Dinner Honoring Bill McKibben - Nov. 4

Thomas Merton Center's Award Dinner - Honoring Bill McKibben
Monday November 4, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM EST
On Monday, November 4, at Sheraton Station Square, the Thomas Merton Center 
will be honoring Bill McKibben, internationally renowned environmental activist, 
at our annual Merton Award Dinner at Station Square. We hope you can join 
with us in honoring this champion of environmental and social justice!
Sheraton Station Square Southside
Call 412-361-3022

See you next month!  Thanks for your support and encouragement!  I'd be lost without it!

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Monday, August 12, 2013

August 2013 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - Volume Nine, #1


lots to tell this month... all tour dates details updating continuously at http://annefeeney.com/calendar.html
please buy CDs at http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid
Please forward this widely


BANKSTERS BEWARE!! COMING VERY SOON...........

We've got a pretty ambitious route planned, but if you're on our route and you're in struggle, let us know if your could use some energy/support/inspiration/encouragement from the Summer of Solidarity rabblerousers, educators and artists!  We'll do our best to be there.

AUGUST 17th PHILA * AUGUST 18th PITTSBURGH *
AUGUST 19th  DETROIT * AUGUST 20 and 21 CHICAGO *
AUGUST 22nd MADISON *AUGUST 23rd MN STATE FAIR
AUGUST 24th FARGO *  AUGUST 26th MISSOULA AUGUST 28th PDX * AUGUST 30th SAN FRANCISCO
LABOR DAY 2013  LOS ANGELES!!!!!!
Save our Postal Service!!
Mike O'Brien of Kill the Autocrat








Countdown to Ireland!!


My 21 fellow travelers and I will meet in Bunratty on September 29th and head off for 9 adventure-packed days in the west of Ireland.  The tour is coming together brilliantly and I'm just thrilled and honored to be hosting it.  

Next year I hope to host a labor history tour of Ireland at the end of July/beginning of August.  Drop me a line if you'd like to join us. Read more at: http://johnsmithmusic.com/tour-ireland



GASLAND TWO




Do yourself a favor and watch Josh Fox's terrific Gasland Two.  http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/ It doesn't matter if you haven't seen Gasland One.  Educate yourself on this crucial issue or Range Resources will do it for you.

If you want to read about Fracking, Professor Walt Brasch,  a respected writer and dear friend who happens to live right in Marcellus Shale country, has written a terrific book called "Fracking Pennsylvania."  I'll have a few copies to sell on the tour or you can order it directly from Walt ...  http://www.walterbrasch.com/

Fracking update in Michigan from Ellis Boal:

The Committee to Ban Fracking in Michigan is nearing the end of a 6-month voter petitioning campaign to get the question of banning horizontal fracking and storage of the waste on the 2014 statewide ballot.

Additionally, the measure would reverse the state's 1930s-era policy requiring environmental regulators to "foster" the oil-gas industry favorably.  Regulators currently also have to "maximize" oil-gas production (not to mention maximizing global warming and industry profits).

A quarter-million valid witnessed signatures must be turned in by October 1.  Last year a similar campaign got 30,000 signatures with 450 volunteers.

This year the Committee is better organized.  The industry knows this.  In a May press release the Michigan Chamber of Commerce labelled the Committee dangerous, emotional, and extremist.

If voted in, the governor cannot veto the measure, nor can the legislature repeal it except by a 75 percent vote of each house.

Unlike other states where fracking is well established, it is just getting started here.  But it started big:  Last year Encana Oil & Gas drilled the world's largest frack well, in a state forest in Kalkaska County; it used 21 million gallons of water.






On July 14 Anne Feeney, together with George Mann and Rik Palieri, endorsed the Committee campaign, on the Detroit leg of the Almanac Trail tour, which celebrates the groundbreaking 1941 tour of the Almanac Singers to union halls across the country.

The Committee is seeking volunteer circulators in Michigan willing to get 200 signatures each, a time commitment of 10-12 hours.  And donations are very welcome from anywhere.  Sign up here:  http://letsbanfracking.org .


This also just in from MI - http://www.popularresistance.org/daring-aerial-blockade-stops-tar-sands-pipeline-expansion-in-michigan/http://www.popularresistance.org/daring-aerial-blockade-stops-tar-sands-pipeline-expansion-in-michigan/

American Crystal Sugar Lockout Ends

I wrote to you so many times about the struggles of the workers at American Crystal Sugar in North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, I wanted to tell you the conclusion -  it's infuriating.. Over 1300 workers were locked out of their jobs by this greedy and very profitable employer for 20 long months. The newspapers describe the employer as a "farmer-owned cooperative" - and at one point that was quite true.  

First agribusiness wiped out the small farms, and then they set their sights on the workers who process the agribusiness produce. 

Against all odds, the workers held out through four contract votes, turning down the company's only offer - a 13% raise to be immediately consumed by rising health care premiums  - and shop floor "flexibility" for management, which would have allowed them to bypass seniority, negotiated safety clauses and much more.

These workers forfeited almost $66,000 each to protect their (and our) rights in the workplace.  They're back at work on the rotten contract management originally tried to shove down their throats.  They work side by side with scabs who crossed their picketlines.  My hat is off to these resolute working class heroes who tried so hard to hold the line for us all.  As my friend Jon Fromer said,"Capitalism Sucks."  As Dorothy Day says, "Do you think our problems stem from our acceptance of this filthy rotten system?" (Charlie King says that, too...)


*************************************************

Heartfelt thanks to the O'Briens, Paul Lowenberg and all the staff and volunteers at the Northern Lights Festival Boreal in Sudbury, ON last month ... Great music, great hospitality, great times!!



MILESTONES

It is with great sadness we note the passing of Toshi Seeger, Jane Becker, Mary Pam (Sprague) Kilgore and Stephanie Bledsoe.

Toshi-Aline Ohta Seeger died on July 9th.  This link is to a good obit, although it omits that she produced "Power of Song," the fabulous documentary film about her husband, Pete Seeger  http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/toshi-seeger-wife-of-pete-seeger-dead-at-91-20130711

And feminists and labor advocates everywhere mourned the passing of Jane Becker http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/goedwardsville/obituary.aspx?n=jane-becker&pid=166019202&fhid=19072#fbLoggedOut  She was a fixture in Pittsburgh politics for a generation, and empowered many women in politics.

On July 23rd my friend Mary Pam (Sprague) Kilgore died of cancer.  We worked together very closely in the early 80s when Mary Pam was the voice of WYEP-FM, which, at that time , was listener supported community radio.  She will be missed by many.


Stephanie Bledsoe
And, in a senselessly tragic accident, our family/community was devastated by the sudden death of Stephanie Bledsoe on Friday, August 9th.  Stephanie was 26 years old.  She sang the processional at my daughter Amy's wedding on December 15th of last year.

It seems impossible that this bright light is no longer with us.  Heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.






SEND A CARD TO REBELGAL AND IWW STALWART FAITH PETRIC!!


Our wonderful friend Faith Petric had another bad fall and has decided that her beloved and legendary 3 story house on Clayton St. (with no bathroom on the first floor) in San Francisco can no longer be her home... She's 97, and the last time I saw her perform was with Lou and Peter Berryman at the Freight and Salvage in January 2013. The first time I saw her perform was at our syndicalist bar and grill, Wobbly Joe's.  I was hugely pregnant with Amy and Daniel was still one year old.  I had been moping a little, feeling like I would never get a chance to pursue music.  Here was Faith, 66 years old, driving a VW bug around the country performing in folk clubs. She's called the "Fort Knox of Folk Music" because of her encyclopedic repertoire (which I am so pleased to say includes "Have You Been to Jail for Justice?"). She had removed the back seat and installed a mattress, in case she didn't find a place to stay.  I was so exhilarated to realize that I could "have it all" - kids AND a so-called career in folk music, and I resolved to do it until I was at least 97, as Faith is today.  Her 98th birthday is September 13th (born in 1915!)  She's sharp as a tack and would welcome hearing from you.

Please send her a letter of appreciation and your well wishes. Her address is:
Faith Petric
c/o Coming Home Hospice
115 Diamond Street
San Francisco, CA 94114

And keep Sarah Elizabeth Campbell and Al and Dotty Dale in your thoughts...

MORE EXCITING TOUR DATES!!!
September 7th at the Botto House American Labor Museum
Help to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Paterson Silk Strike, and the 30th anniversary of the museum...

I'm so looking forward to the Jerry Tucker Legacy Conference scheduled in St. Louis for October 11- 13.  I'll be performing in Friday, October 11th.  Be there!


FAMILY NEWS
daniel berlin... 1980
sebastian berlin ... 2013

the apple doesn't fall far....


Wednesday, July 31, 2013

July 2013 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - Volume Eight #12

Thanks so much for being part of my community of friends, family, fans, followers and fellow travelers.I'm looking forward to a fabulous summer and fall.  This is the place to get all my latest news.  Your information is never sold or exchanged and will be kept completely confidential by me, and of course, the NSA and the FBI.  

Power to the little people!!
Nicholas John Berlin - Born June 21, 2013



Today (July 31st) my son Dan, his wife wonderful Monique, my grandson Sebastian and my newborn grandson Nicholas, will head off to the west coast to spend a month with Monique's family in Pasadena. Then they will head off to Zimbabwe once again for two years. They've been here since July 19th and were joined on the 22nd by my daughter Amy - a very proud aunt. Her wonderful husband Mike arrived on the 27th 

It's been such a joy to have a lively house filled with my beloved family. But everyone leaves today :-(  My heart is aching.  Julie can't come here until October.





On August 16th I head out on the Summer of Solidarity Tour with an international delegation of about dozen activists and artists - going from town to town, state to state, struggle to struggle, picket line to rally.  We'll be comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable everywhere we go.  We hope to see you

Tour Schedule

August 17—Philadelphia
August 18—Pittsburgh
August 19—Detroit
August 20-21—Chicago
August 22—Madison
August 23—Minneapolis
August 24—Fargo, ND
August 26—Missoula, MT
August 28—Portland, OR
August 30—San Francisco, CA
September 1-2—Los Angeles
get the details at: 
Site is updated regularly
Additional tour dates of mine are at http://annefeeney.com/calendar.html
including a great show on September 7 at the American Labor Museum in Haledon, NJ and (I hope) a September 6 or 8 show in New York or Brooklyn - stay tuned!

 

Ireland awaits us!!
My merry group of 21 travelers arrives in Ireland on or before September 29 when we set off on our adventures in the West of Ireland.  I'm so looking forward to this trip.  For those who have to stay behind.... mark your calendar now.  Save the last week in July and the first week of August to make sure you can come on my first Labor History Tour of Ireland.  
Some general information:
Early Arrivals:
The Bed and Breakfasts that will be hosting us are Ashgrove House and Sheila and Frank Tiernan's wonderful B and B, both located on the "Low Road" in Bunratty.  An easy walk from there to Durty Nelly's pub, to Bunratty Castle, to Bunratty Folk Park, and the shops at Bunratty. Cabs are also available.
Email Sheila at frashe @ eircom.net to confirm your reservation  - Mention my name or Inishfree Tour in your subject line.
Dublin Visitors:
I can wholeheartedly recommend the Best Western Academy Plaza while in Dublin.  The rates are reasonable, the location ideal, the restaurant convivial, and the breakfasts delightful.  It's a stone's throw from the Temple Bar, the General Post Office, Clery's Department Store, the Hop on/Hop Off bus stop.  Review the many packages available on the website: Academy Plaza Hotel


Thanks to the generous support of Rosemary Trump, Shelley Kessler, Nina Fendel, Tommy Simonds, Karen Newman, Kimberly Sever, Ron Berlin, Jill Merrill, Lloyd Cunningham and others whom I can't find at this hour... I've committed myself to this Summer of Solidarity Tour... but I'm still $2000 short for my August bills, my hot water heater has been red-tagged by the gas company, my property taxes are due NOW... I know, we're all struggling...If you are weary of my financial woes, think about how humiliating it is for me to have to keep coming back to you. All of you super generous friends out there, please sit this one out.  You've done so much, too much, already.  I'll never be able to repay you.  But if you're someone who's doing okay, appreciates my work and would like to help me continue it, please send a check to:


Anne Feeney
2240 Milligan Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
or use Paypal by clicking the "Donate" button halfway down on my webpage -
If you can't afford any extra expenses, please disregard this appeal.  I'm so happy that you're on my list.
In grateful solidarity,
Anne        


Earlier this month on the Almanac Trail with George Mann and Rik Palieri                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

with Walter Reuther
In Cleveland
In Detroit


Anne Feeney
http://annefeeney.com
http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid - Buy or download CDs!
412-877-6480 (cell)

"Anne Feeney is the greatest labor singer in North America." -- Utah Phillips

 see you next month...

Thursday, June 27, 2013

June 2013 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - Volume Eight #11

Hi there Hellraisers - 

Last month was the first time nine years that I completely skipped a monthly edition of the Fellow Travelers' Advisory.  I didn't get one out in May, and if I don't get this out soon, June will be over too.  The good news is that there were so many happy and exciting developments in my life that I just did not have time to write!  I'll confess I'm running a little slower than I did prior to getting sick, but I'm still moving along at a relatively fast clip.  Big love and a special shout out to all my College Station and Bryan fans and friends -  especially Danny, Marsha and Phillip.

Here is the biggest news ... On June 21st my second grandson, Nicholas John Berlin, arrived by Caesarean section in Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington.  He arrived at 12:59PM and weighed 7lb 13 oz.  He's 21 inches long with lots of dark hair and dark eyes.

Nicholas John Berlin, Born 21 June 2013, 7lbs. 13 oz, 21 inches long

Mom (Monique Murad), Big Brother Sebastian, and Papa Daniel (Iron Man) Berlin


Immediate Destinations:

June 28-30th Great Labor Arts Exchange, Linthicum, MD  http://laborheritage.org/

This is the 35th anniversary of the Great Labor Arts Exchange, 
and the 20th Anniversaryof the founding of Local 1000 - 
The Traveling Musicians' Local of the American Federation of Musicians.  
Come for all or part of this three day conference that changed my life.
Tret Fure, Charlie King, Rebel Voices, Emma's Revolution and I will be among those welcoming you!

July 5th-7th Northern Lights Festival Boreal in Sudbury, Ontario  http://nlfbsudbury.com/performers
I am so looking forward to this fabulous festival.  My pal Martha Shunn is going to be
 my road buddy for this 1400 mile adventure.


July 12-14th The Almanac Trail with George Mann and Rik Palieri http://www.almanactrail.com/
       July 12th - Pittsburgh - USW Headquarters 7PM
       July 13th - Cleveland - 
       July 14th - Detroit

July 19-21 Committees of Correspondence National Convention 
       Pittsburgh, PA http://www.cc-ds.org/2013-convention/


August 17-Sept 2 Summer of Solidarity Tour  
August 17—Philadelphia
August 18—Pittsburgh
August 19—Detroit/Windsor, ON
August 20-21—Chicago, Metropolis, IL
August 22—Milwaukee
August 23—Minneapolis
August 24—Fargo, ND
August 26—Missoula, MT
August 28—Portland, OR
August 30—San Francisco, CA
September 1-2—Los Angeles, CA
*Dates subject to change based on needs of host organizations

LOVE IS LEGAL!!


Pictured here are three generations of my family outside the Supreme Court yesterday to hear them read the opinion overturning the Defense of Marriage Act.  It was fun to be among thousands of joyous celebrants on this historic occasion  L to R:  Me, my grandson Sebastian and my son Daniel. 
Sebastian was a huge hit walking around with his rainbow parasol!

SEPTEMBER 29th - OCTOBER 8th
Come to Ireland with me - still 3 seats left!!


We have a fantastic international delegation of tourists to come see Ireland this summer.  Six of our nineteen tourmates are from Canada... We would welcome three more folks to this tour... it's not too late!   Out of  consideration for our host hotels we will have to close reservations soon.  Please don't pass up this opportunity -- If you've wanted to do this for years, do it now, with us! Swedes, Danes, Finns (one of our favorite tourmates was from England) are all warmly welcome.

Top Ten Reasons to Go to Ireland with me...


10.  The airfare at the end of September will be at least $300 less than it is in the summer.
  9.  While it tends to rain for a little while almost every day of the year in Ireland, on the average, it rains less than  one tenth of an inch in late September and early October.  No one goes to Ireland for the weather... but September/October sunshine will make it easy to enjoy Ireland.  Check out this link and you can key in the day and year that you'd like the weather forecast for...

I think you'll agree we've picked a good time to go.




 8.  My fabulously talented friend Pol MacAdaim has agreed to come to Westport to visit us, talk about his life in Belfast, and perform magnificent songs on the many traditional instruments that he plays.  You might even get to hear "The Internationale" sung in Irish!
7.   Paddy Downes,  the talented driver of our luxury coach, is also a marvelous bodhran player, step-dancer and turf-cutter.  We will find a way to get him to demonstrate all of his skills.
6.  Your tour includes ALL your breakfasts, ALL your accommodations, ALL admission fees to sponsored attractions, all ground transportation, THREE sumptuous dinners and at least one private concert by a fabulous Irish musician.

5. Western Ireland, where we are touring, is home to the best music and best musicians in Ireland... and we know when they're playing, and where they're playing, and we're your designated drivers!

4.  Staying at hotels for B and B prices gives you the best of both worlds as a traveler, economy and hospitality.  When we return from our pub crawls (er, I mean "musical experiences") the hospitality of the hotel is ours.  We can rehash our adventures, talk about the things we want to do on the tour, make some music, learn some songs, meet some of the other hotel guests.

3.  Most Irish tours are on great big buses.  You'll see the tourists being herded onto the buses, with their nametags emblazoned on their chests.  Their agenda is rigid.  Because we are three days in the same location we can pick the best time and best weather to take in the sights.  We can be flexible and catch spontaneous events that other tours miss.

2.  It's my pleasure to introduce you to some of the most interesting folks I've ever met.  You'll get to meet Niall Farrell, a great activist with a lot of insight.  You'll get to meet author Danny Donnelly and his wife, Caitriona McConnell Donnelly, fantastic storytellers and great students of Irish history.  You won't meet them on any other tour ...  They are very special to me, and I think you'll agree. 
1.  The best reason to come to Ireland now is - IT'S WITH ME!!! and all the fabulous tourmates you'll meet.  If you're bringing any special expertise to our tour, please let me know.  Our previous tours have been greatly enriched by gardeners, birders, geologists, painters, cartographers, photographers, musicians and singers.  Don't hold out on us! We've got less than two weeks together.  You'll see breathtaking scenery, learn oodles about Irish history and culture, meet some fabulous people, eat some great food, hear some unforgettable music -- but the pleasure is greatly enhanced by sharing this experience with so many interesting and like-minded tourmates.


JULY BIRTHDAYS

July 1st is my birthday.  The Summer of Solidarity Tour is a labor of love.  I'm the only one on the tour who can't take paid vacation to be part of the Summer of Solidarity.  It will probably cost me about $3500 to do the tour.  My birthday wish is to do the Summer of Solidarity Tour. If you'd like to help me do it, kindly send $35 (no donation is too small...) via Paypal to SOS2013@annefeeney.com or click on the "donate" box in the right margin of my blog or on the front page of http://annefeeney.com or mail it to me at 
2240 Milligan Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15218

July 2nd, Robin BerlinJuly 3rd, Suzanne Beers, Adam Moss, Pop Wagner, Pat Mitchell
July 5th, Gina Forsyth
July 7th, Cyd Cassone
July 8th, Michael Grefenstette, Kristen Grefenstette
July 10th, Cindy Sheehan, John Heyda, Judy Lane McCahill
July 12th, Arthur Krasinsky, Mike Williams, Ron Olesko and Suzanne McCahill Perrine
July 13th, Crow Johnson, Gus St. Anthony, Larry Evans
July 14th, Martha Lee Bohn, LE McCullough, Todd Samusson, Woody Guthrie
July 15th, Judy Fjell
July 16, Emily DeFerrari, Ben Manski and my triplet cousins Emma Colin and Tara Duncan!
July 17th Doug Clegg, Mark Ross
July 18th, Erin Grefenstette Henninger Graham Warwick
July 19th, George Frayne (aka Commander Cody), Michael Crouch, Turner Wright
July 20, Effron White
July 21st, Darcie Deaville
July 23, Monique Murad, Hilary Chiz, Dave Nachmanoff
July 25, Andrew McKnight, Bob Franke, Karen McCahill, Jim Mc Cahill
July 26, Joanne Nelson Powers
July 27, Rachel Stone, Randy Francisco, Susan Lewis
July 29, Colleen Nelson, Rain Day, Joanne Metcalfe
July 30, Marlo Mary Henninger
July 31, Burr Beard, Diane Crowe

GRADUATION CONGRATULATIONS TO
Casey Horne, Daniel McTiernan and Ashley Walch

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT
Bryan Reilly and Ashley Walch


See you next month!  Thanks so much for being on my mailing list and receiving the Fellow Travelers' Advisory.  Get my CDs at CDBaby - http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid