IL Regional ECKANKAR Seminar, College of DuPage,Glen Ellyn, IL Saturday Aug.10th

Julie Olson was our Keynote speaker. Julie, the RESA of Iowa, spoke from the heart about her adventures in travel, art, health challenges, getting her priorities right, and much more. A heart opening talk at the very least, she had important lessons to teach and did so with much humility and grace.

Ju

Julie gave an overview of her life from the time when she first discovered ECKANKAR as a teen, achieving great success as an artist, losing everything, getting married to Paul and having a great marriage, having amazing experiences with healings and organ transplants, moves from NYC to SF to Iowa. It was all pretty breathtaking and one saw how keeping a Spiritual focus worked in the real world. Altogether a very inspiring talk!

We had some very juicy roundtable discussions. The couple from India in the middle are translating Stranger by the River into Tamil for the Indian populace. Malcolm in green was there with some new art and his usual humor and a few new grey hairs. The lady in pink told of coming in and out of ECK and what she learned along the way. Ruth on the upper left also had some stories to tell about the transforming power of the ECK in her life. Dave Clark is an old timer ECKist now who just keeps showing up, soaking it all in, and making his individual contribution. Sorry I didn't remember all your names!

Bob Breen told me about how differently ECKANKAR is presented in India, where four or five hundred people may show up for an introductory talk. I always enjoy listening to Bob's enthusiastic take on life. He got his info about India from the couple pictured above. Apparently ECKANKAR is growing faster in India and Africa now than in the USA, so they are studying the way it is presented in those places to see what they can learn and apply locally.

We had a workshop that was a bit complicated to explain. Danielle Lien did MC work while Julie created a mural on the fly of the insights that came from the workshop. It was fun to watch this gifted artist create this reflection of the moment, in the moment.

           Here the mural is unfolding as the workshop progressed.

The masterpiece grows right before our eyes.  It was fun interactivity. We shared insights and the artist translated them onto the mural. A creative exercise; the kind of thing that makes ECKANKAR  seminars so special.

                                 The finished piece

We got some keyboard magic from Russell Stern. He played a few pieces and we all were better for it. Healing, uplifting, transformational music. Thanks Russell.  BTW the order of these photos was not the order at the event. Gotta have a little creative license, no?

Ellen O'Keefe, looking very elegant, knocked us all out with her amazing voice. Ruth Ann SW, hidden behind her music, accompanied on keys. A new composition by Ruth Ann.

A better view of Ellen's colorful and artistic outfit. She's a gifted performer and knows how to sing from the heart. She and Ruth Ann have collaborated several times with stunning results.

Coleman Harris led a panel he called the ABC panel. The first two women's names began with A, then there was Bob (Bill?) and finally Coleman. Good personal stories illustrating how the ECK worked in personal lives.

The guy in the middle of the shot holding his chin is Paul, Julie's husband. John Dawson on the left.

After Julie finished the mural, they showed a video clip of Sri Harold making an essential point. IL has been putting on regionals a long time and I must say we have our act together as far as getting it all working. Everything ran pretty smoothly. They handed out evaluation forms so we can make it even better next year. Kudos to the hard working seminar staff!

Margit Dawson and Phyllis Mackh in a candid moment. Phyllis was one of the seminar coordinators. She is always a pleasure to work with, taking care 'o business with grace and charm.

This could have been the first photo, where the sacred space was being created. It works fine as the last photo too. Coming full Circle :)

There is one day left of this seminar: Julie will talk again, etc, here's the link to the seminar info: http://www.eck-illinois.org/RegionalSeminar.html

Siegel Schwall Band at Long Grove

To start at the end, here's Da Man himself when he came out into the audience to sign autographs.

First read a little history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siegel%E2%80%93Schwall_Band

The current incarnation of the band consists of Corky Siegel on harmonica and vocals, Sam Lay, drums and vocals, Jim Schwall on guitar and vocals, Rollo Radford on bass and vocals, and Sambo on percussion and vocals.

Bob Dylan called Sam Lay the " greatest living blues drummer" and having been anointed, Sam treats himself like royalty although he is really a pussycat. The band was great, very swinging, entertaining, funny, original and generally inspiring and uplifting, both getting up and getting down:)

The venue at Long Grove is just sweet and ideal in so many ways. Fountain Square park is a grassy area that will hold several hundred people. The stage is just a gazebo raised a few inches off the ground. It is a very intimate setting.

The concert was free but the Long Grove Arts Council did ask for donations. Who can begrudge them that for such a great evening of music?  They want to bring in originals and this they are doing. Sunday August 10 is Bonnie Koloc and the following week is the Klezmer band.

This is the guy from the Long Grove Arts council introducing the band and making his pitch for donations. I was glad to contribute. This concert was just ideal in so many respect: Great band, intimate venue, and the weather was co-operative too, partly cloudy and in the 70s. And it was free...

The crowd was mixed ages, but needless to say there was a lot of gray hair in evidence.

They were a very appreciative audience. Corky said we were an "elegant audience". I saw no signs of drunkenness or excessive rowdiness.

This is the stage. Made for real intimacy with the audience. Joe, the guy in the foreground with the grey hat was a photographer who encouraged me to come to the open mic the following Friday night at Beans and Leaves coffee house right next door. I went and it was great!

Some more shots of the band playing. The gazebo shaded the players so it was not ideal light for photography. But I'm not complainin'. Look how close I was sitting. And the price was right...

Rollo told some droll and funny stories. Of course what is missing from this blog post is the sound track. I won't be offended if you sneak over to You Tube and listen to some tracks of the band at other venues:)

Corky came out into the audience toward the end and excited and pleased everyone with his amazing harp playing.

Nowadays everyone has cameras in their phones so there were lots of photographers. Dig the guy at Corky's feet getting that creative angle.

                         The Cork uncorked. He be Jammin'!

There was a little old lady that Corky showered with affection. His mom? I dunno, I didn't ask, but he obviously loved her.

This was after the concert when he just came out to schmooze with the audience.

                            Flanked here by two red guards :)

 

The crowd got up and danced. The music demanded some movement!

 

This sweet dog was my next door neighbor. That's my blanket and pillow behind him. Next time I bring a folding chair!

After the concert I chatted with Jim Schwall. He is an awesome guitarist and a good guy.

Sam Lay in his blue satin shirt, revolver bling, and combo cape/blanket. He freaked out the audience when he sang a song that repeated the line:'I'm gonna shoot you.".  It took a few choruses until they realized it was a double entendre. Of course one of the things that makes the blues so juicy is how it gets at the truth.

Sambo did most of the heavy labor in the drumming dept. He was a strong player, laying down an authoritative beat. His hat fascinated me and after the concert I went up for a closer look.

He said it was custom made for him by an artist whose name escapes me. Pretty cool/ hot, eh?

                          I love handmade stuff like this.. And doesn't it suit a drummer to a fare-the-well?

              Here are some more shots taken during the concert.

This is the fountain of fountain square. The whole area is charming and fun, full of restaurants, boutiques, galleries, etc. It is often jammed with tourists especially in the warm weather but what is cool is there are no corporate franchises at all. Its all homemade by people.

The Long Grove Arts Council wants to buy this building. It looks like a perfect venue for a gallery, concerts, etc.