Minutes from the July 14th and September 8th meetings of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.
Zimfest News Blog
Holiday Membership Fundraiser
Dear Zimfest community,
We hope this message finds you well! As the days grow shorter and the holidays loom on the horizon, we wanted to take a minute to say thank you for your membership and/or donation. “But Daniel, I’m not a member,” some of you say, wringing your hands feverishly. That’s ok! It’s easier than ever to sign up. From as little as $10.00 per year for our Youth/Student membership, there are membership categories to fit any budget and situation!
Consider Regular, Family, Couple, Teacher, Lifetime, and even Lifetime Family memberships. Members may choose to have their names published on the website and in the Festival Guide as a public display of support for Zimfest. Membership fees are also 100% tax deductible. Please refer to the membership page to renew or initiate a membership — https://zimfest.org/about/membership/. Not sure if you’re still a member, or have questions about your status? Drop us a line at za-members (at) zimfest(dot)org. Already a member? Or maybe you just don’t want your name on any lists but still feel like helping? Consider a tax-deductible donation of whatever amount works for you! Our long term goal is to have the majority of Zimfest participants be members of the organization. We have seen an increase in previous years. It is our hope that a healthy dialogue about the festival and Association can emerge from a membership that feels a sense of ownership in the Zimfest Association. Membership covers the calendar year January 1st through December 31st, and any memberships purchased during this campaign will be applied to 2020!
Not only do your memberships and donations help keep the festival going, but you are also helping to bring the very best teachers we can find! Starting last year, your contributions also started going towards our new fellowship program, which helps to bring one veteran and one brand new Zimbabwean teacher to our festival each year! This year we were able to sponsor community favorite, Mr. Michael Sibanda, as well as our new friend whom we all hope to see again, Tafadzwa Gapara! Supporting Zimbabwean participation at the festival is always one of our top priorities and we are thrilled at this new chance to put your contributions to good use. Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving, celebrated the Tuesday after Thanksgiving if you’re looking for more excuses to lend us a hand. Help us become the best festival we can be!
Many thanks,
The Board
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
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Zimfest 2020
Dear Zimfest community,
On Friday, Zimfest organizers and I had a successful visit and consultation with Conference Services at The Evergreen State College. I am pleased to announce that both parties agree: we are confirming Zimfest 2020 to be held from July 30 – August 2 at this public liberal arts college in Olympia, Washington. You can write those penciled-in dates in ink now!
There are of course many details to be worked out as this will be the first Zimfest at Evergreen, conveniently located between Portland and Seattle. I am happy to say we have some Olympia community members working on Local Arrangements along with at least one Evergreen student. The Zimfest Organizing and Tech committees will begin preparing for performance and teacher applications to open January 2, 2020. Make your plans and get ready for a “Greener” experience!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Claire Jones, Festival Coordinator
Zimfest 2020: Music Dancing Across Borders
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
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Zimfest 2020
Dear Zimfest community,
Thank you to all who filled out the post-Zimfest survey or have otherwise communicated to the ZA Board and organizers about their feelings and desires for Zimfest in 2020.
Based on support from the community, the Board has decided to go ahead with plans to produce Zimfest 2020 at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA! I have been in touch with Conference Services at Evergreen and they are enthusiastic about hosting Zimfest from July 30-August 2, 2020. We are in the process of ironing out some details and look forward to signing a Booking Agreement. So, not 100% confirmed yet, but I would advise you to save these dates!
We are happy to say that a number of people stepped up at this year’s festival to volunteer to help organize the next Zimfest. As always, however (you know the drill), we welcome your volunteering help! Let us know if you are interested in helping to organize, or would be available for special assignments – e.g., proof-reading, publicity or technical tasks – for brief periods of time during the course of the year. You can write to me at claire{at}zimfest{dot}org or the Board at board{at}zimfest{dot}org.
– Claire Jones, Festival Coordinator
Music Dancing Across Borders
Posted In: Festival News
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Post-Festival Blues
Greetings Zimfest community,
Zimfest 2019 has come and gone and I, for one, have now caught up on my sleep after four days of incredible music and gathering with new and old friends!
Why are we blue? We want to hear from you! The Post-Festival Survey is open on the website and we’d love to hear your feedback: what did you like and what didn’t you like about Zimfest 2019 at Western Oregon University. If you didn’t make it to the festival this year, there is a question for you too – we’d like to hear why you didn’t come!
The Zimfest Association Board of Directors will be meeting soon to make a final decision on Zimfest 2020. We need your input.
If you would like to offer to help organize the next festival, please email board{at}zimfest{dot}org or contact Claire directly at claire{at}zimfest{dot}org.
Thank you, Tatenda, Siyabonga!
Claire and the 2019 Organizers
Posted In: Festival News
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Two Days Until Z-Day!
Hello Zimfest Friends,
The festival is upon us and we will see each other very soon! It is hot here in Seattle and the weather forecast for Monmouth is continued temperatures in the 80s with possible showers on Saturday. Be prepared for anything!
- Remember that the WOU dorms are not air-conditioned – bring a fan for nighttime sleeping. Also bring your own soap, as the linen packs do not include soap.
- As we mentioned in a previous blog post, all WOU dorm rooms now have mini-fridges and microwaves, so you can refrigerate drinks to stay hydrated! The requirement to purchase at least two meals per night remains in place however.
- WOU Dining has informed us that Grab & Go bottled drinks and packaged snacks in the retail section of Valsetz will be available on a cash basis between lunch and dinner times according to the schedule shown on the On-Campus Dining webpage. (This schedule does not appear in our Festival Guide however.)
- Introduce yourself to Anesu Ndoro, volunteering at Zimfest as the Registration Co-Lead. Anesu, an anthropology student at Reed College, would like to do brief interviews with North Americans, asking how they got interested and involved in playing and listening to Zimbabwean music. What does the music mean to you?
- A couple of our Zimbabwean guests are looking for transportation back to Portland Airport on Sunday before the festival is over. If you might be able to offer a ride, please check the Ride Board on the website, or look for a physical Ride Board in the Registration Area at Zimfest.
See you in Monmouth!
Claire and the OC
Posted In: Festival News
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Ride Board and Registration Clarification
Howdy,
Want to get to know a Zimbabwean teacher or performer better? Give them a ride to or from Zimfest!
* We have Zimbabwean teachers and performers coming from all directions this year. Some will arrive directly from Zimbabwe and some are visiting communities elsewhere in the US before the festival. Some are experienced US travelers and some are first-time visitors. Given the variety of schedules and arrival points, it’s quite a logistical challenge to get all our Zim guests to Monmouth for the festival and to get them off to their next destination after the festival. As with so many aspects of Zimfest, we depend on festival goers to help by giving rides to teachers and performers on their way to and from Monmouth. The Ride Board on the website is the place to make connections between drivers and riders. You can post an offer or request a ride yourself, by entering some basic info on time and place plus a contact email or phone number.
– Mark Keller, Zimbabwean Guest Coordinator
* Also, a clari-fication from the Festival Coordinator: Housing and dining registrations are now closed, and the last day to register for workshops and sign up for volunteer shifts is July 31. These systems will close at midnight that day and no registration can take place until August 8 onsite.
– Claire Jones, Festival Coordinator
Music Dancing Across Borders
Posted In: Festival News
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Deadlines and Drums
Hello Zimfest community,
The festival is only 20 days away! Important information for you:
- Saturday July 20th is the last date to register for housing and dining as we need to send the data to our WOU host. There is not likely to be any housing available for walk-ins onsite, so register now!
- Registrations for workshops and volunteer signups will close August 1st at midnight. No changes can be made until Aug 8 at onsite registration.
- As always, we are in need of hand drums – Zimbabwean style ngoma, congas or similar ones – for our drumming classes. Please let us know whether you can lend one or more by writing teachers{at}zimfest{dot}org or just bring them to the Registration desk Thursday Aug. 8 at the festival. We promise to take good care of them for the weekend!
Zimfest 2019 OC
Posted In: Festival News
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May and June Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the May 12th and June 9th meetings of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
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Request for Volunteers
Hey Zimsters,
With less than a month before we all converge on the shady, accommodating campus of WOU, it’s time to think about packing yer dancing shoes, sharing rides, maybe adding another workshop, and VOLUNTEERING! There are plenty of opportunities to share your special gift of time (and a little muscle!). So please go to the Volunteer Sign-up https://zimfest.org/volunteer/signup/ and find some shifts to plug into. With your help, this is how Zimfest rolls!
–Heron Stombock, Volunteer Coordinator, Zimfest 2019
Posted In: Festival Details
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Interview with Zimfest Teacher Gilbert Zvamaida
Hello Zimfesters,
A quick news flash to alert you to a new Zimfest initiative!
We asked a Zimfest volunteer (Anesu Ndoro) to interview one of our new teachers, Gilbert Zvamaida, to learn more about his musical background and what he has to offer at Zimfest 2019. Mr. Zvamaida plays a mean guitar and is an expert in different Zimbabwean guitar styles. Listen to what he has to say on this interview excerpt.
Learn more about Gilbert Zvamaida and the workshops he will be teaching on the Workshop Teachers page. Better yet, sign up to learn to play mbira-guitar style or hear him talk about and demonstrate guitar styles in Zimbabwe!
While you’re on Youtube, search for and subscribe to our new Zimfest USA channel to hear the entire English-language interview with Gilbert Zvamaida and Anesu Ndoro and be alerted to upcoming Zimfest clips.
See you at the festival,
Claire and the OC (with Techie help!)
Posted In: Festival News
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Zimfest Housing and Dining Registration Closes July 20
Dear Zimfest community,
Zimfest 2019 is fast approaching! Updates for you this holiday weekend:
- July 20 is the last day to register for housing, meals and Zimfest booths. That is two short weeks away! Click on New Registration to sign up for dorm rooms as there are not likely to be any available onsite!
- Go to Vendor Information to sign up for a Marketplace Booth. A late fee will be applied for any applications submitted after July 20.
- Sinini and Pamela Ngwenya have had to cancel their participation in Zimfest 2019 because of paperwork and visa appointment delays in their Germany home base. We are disappointed but hope to host them at the next festival. Read about all workshop changes and cancellations on the Workshop Changes page. Students registered for cancelled workshops have been notified of workshop credits. No notification has been sent in the cases in which a substitute will be teaching a workshop originally listed under Sinini Ngwenya.
- Got your workshop schedule figured out? Don’t forget to sign up for Volunteer shifts to keep the festival running smoothly!
Stay cool,
Claire and the Zimfest 2019 OC
Music Dancing Across Borders
Posted In: Festival News
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