Greetings to all and hoping you are ready to embark on some real warm weather the day before summer begins!!!
I do want to wholeheartedly thank our most recent feature, Ron Israel for a tremendous feature and a wonderful and giving ROMulin audience. Ron took his opportunity to make his entire "pass the bucket feature Funds" and donate it to an organization which will help all traumatized women in Haiti. Ron Israel has been a statesman and our Local Ambassador of giving & Caring to those in dire need in many countries around the world. Please do see Ron's website for all the exact info on where all the $$'s from his bucket will be going toward as I have moved the flier I had in front of me. Ron's website is www.ronisraelmusic.com
I do want to make sure that all of you are aware the JIMMY DORR is our very next feature at ROM on 6-25-12. Based on the names I already have as pre-sign ups, I know we are going to have an incredible tribute show to the multi-talented Jimmy Dorr but also the tribute will be to each and every one of you that choose to perform as well as those that choose too sit back and enjoy the Camaraderie of Our ROMulin Community and and just enjoy each other and the plenty of entertainment that will bill in high gear in the for this show that will range from 1st timers at ROM to some very special treat if all happen as plans but you just will not know if you do not show!! So Come on down!!!!!
We do have some Community issues that are part of why we are so very close and caring as NOT only a Community of artist's but also a Community of caring individuals. As with all communities and families we will have the wonderful high's while also experiencing some hard to figure out low's. I do wish to share with you just some of these right now in this issue of my Blog as there are some very significant issues ongoing as I type within our Community.
I must explain though this Blog is done by myself for ROM, where I refer to Our Community of Artist's I am speaking of each and every venue that you all may be a part of now or maybe tomorrow and I will also ask you to SHARE SOME OF THIS INFO TO OTHERS IN YOUR DAILY LIVES AS THAT IS HOW VERY IMPORTANT ALL THIS IS AND HOW THIS FAMILY COMMUNITY WORKS AND GET THE WORD OUT AND ABOUT both dealing with folks within our family of artist's that we are so are so blessed to have with us.
Because we are a Community and a Family we are so very blessed to have each other whether we play, perform, sit and clap we are a group of individual's that gather together at ROM and all the other fantastic Live , Local music venues where we have all met and become fast and often most long lasting and wonderful friends. I thanks each and every one of you for that and for all we do for each other when in time of need.
I am going to offer up some words my self about the current Status of our dear friend Stephen Salmon and will then post a wonderful note posted by our dear friend, Don White. Though for the moment it is NOT speaking of any of our venues but instead, those wonderful individuals, that fill our many Venues and it is important to recall, at any point in time, it can be any one of us!!
Stephen Salmon has been a dear friend to me personally as well as many of you! As some may know and other may NOT know Stephen was working on a roof as part of his work in the construction trade. Stephen took a very significant fall off the roof and latter and was blessed by having from my vantage point as an EMT, the best Possible Trauma care for his massive head injury. Each step that was done for Stephen was done so timely. Which itself was so very important. It was touch and go there for a while Stephen was in the ICU and due to some impeccable Pre-hosptial care and an immediate call to 911. Stephen was intially placed into a self induced coma to help his body rest and the swelling in his head to go down. This is often a very slow process with many hills and valley's .
I was very honored to get a wonderful email from "Erin," Stephen's lovely daughter today, who actually with all going on, is getting married in 4 weeks. She is a Mom to a very happy sounding baby of 18 mos.
I did ask Erin if I may share some of the updates on her Dad with all of you within there reach and arm of not only the ROM Blog but is wishing to get the info out to all those that have been so caring and supportive of both Stephen, her and the family. To say the least from where Stephen was even last Saturday to what and how he is today is simply a blessing and a "Miracle of the highest degree".
Erin has told me that her Dad has made considerable strides over the past several days and has been discharged from the ICU. She told me the moment the had brought him out of the coma and took the tubes out, he was talking right away and she felt, he was back but that too was still early as yes it is still early when speaking of massive head trauma. With all that today our dear friend Stephen was up walking, talking, a mile a minute and even flirting with the nurses. In his down time he is back to being Stephen and has had total recall of all things in his life. He remembered he had promised his brother he would make a draft of building a shed for him in his yard and that is exactly how high functioning Stephen is today. I do also wan tho mention that I will be showing all of you that can join us at ROM this coming Monday for Jimmy Dorr's Feature what Stephen had done for me when just in simple conversation at ROM on week, the next time Stephen was with us at ROM he came with this beautiful draft of a logo. I have made it up to share with all of you on Monday. Erin has told me that his Physical Therapist has told her, at the rate he is going, he will be ready to be back to work in 6 mos. I think that is a grew those but I think we all just want Stephen to heal completely & get back to his love of all the Art's maybe first and then segway back into a work environment that is one that is filled with new safe plan to return to what he loves to do. Erin did share with me that for the moment though Dad is out of the ICU she thinks a move to a Rehab facility is imminent and does not want folks coming far out and find he is NOT there so what Erin's current plan is, will be to stay in touch with me and Erin does plan on joining us at ROM this coming Monday to give us her own update on her Dad, Stephen Salmon. Steve will need all our continued great prayers, thoughts and vibes coming his way! Rehab will likely be in one of 2 locations and Erin may know by Monday. At this jotting he will either be at a rehab in Worchester or will be brought to Spaulding Rehab in downtown Boston.
On behalf of Erin and all that she knows have already been there and are caring for her Dad she cannot thank you all enough. We will all wait too hear more during out announcements part of our ROM show on Monday. I will at this point ask that all folks that will be joining us a ROM on Monday to please drop your instrument cases on the church side between the pew's simply for all of our safety benefits and I will also ask that all be seated inside ROM by 6:55 when we will begin our announcements with our hope to begin our show right at 7PM and our new ROM goal of ending no later than 10:30 PM and this includes anyone that wishes to play. We will be many in number and come one come all. I do asked based on the prediction that all see where you are on the list and please be tuned up and ready to play or have your performance script in hand. I am certain we will all have an incredible time with our always incredible talent that joins us at ROM.
I will now with to a short note from Ellen Schmidt who has forwarded to me a concise and telling note from our Dear friend and mutual host of the Walnut St Cafe in Lynn on Sunday night's Don White. Don will be speaking of Dawn Frost who is scheduled to be our ROM Feature on, 11-26-12!!!!!
Hi Everyone,
Don White asked that I forward his announcement to my mailing list. I am happy to do so and I will be there at the event. As most of you know Don is constantly trying to be of help to others in the community. Thank you, Don!
Warm regards,
Ellen
June 18, 2012
Dear Friends,
As many of you may know, singer-songwriter Dawn Frost has been battling an advanced case of Lyme Disease for several years. She is facing serious neurological issues caused by the disease while having to deal with a monumental financial battle to pay for the treatment she needs.
Like a growing number of people stricken with Lyme Disease in Massachusetts and throughout the country, Dawn is caught in a growing controversy among the medical community, insurance companies, and the legislative process. Meanwhile, this has left her unable to work and has caused debilitating and painful symptoms, frequently leaving her dependent upon a walker or wheelchair.
Misdiagnosed for a decade and undergoing treatments that were ineffective, she was only able to regain strength and her ability to walk after being treated specifically for Lyme. However, in order to receive the treatment and services she needs by a "Lyme literate" doctor, she must go outside the insurance system. While the Massachusetts legislature passed a law to protect doctors who treat Lyme Disease, many turn patients away since insurance companies do not recognize and cover the treatment prescribed by Lyme literate doctors.
The Lyme Disease community is advocating for insurance companies to follow the guidelines set by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) -- a multi-disciplinary medical society that says Lyme Disease often fails to respond to standard antibiotic therapy as is currently prescribed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA).
Until the guidelines are further reviewed and updated by the medical community and legislators, and until ILADS guidelines are recognized and followed by the insurance companies, people like Dawn will have to live with the frustration of knowing there is a treatment that is effective but financially overwhelming. The potential good news is that Dawn's primary care doctor may be able at some point to follow the protocol set by the Lyme literate doctor. He will be attending the ILADS conference in Boston this November to gain insights on treatment. Until then, we as a community can come together and help make a difference.
I would like to invite you to show your support for Dawn by sharing a song or poem during a benefit we are planning on July 1, from 1-5, at the home of jazz poet Elizabeth Gordon McKim, 13 Willow Boston Machine Loft in Lynn. Elizabeth has generously offered her loft for us to come together and help raise the much-needed funds Dawn needs to keep her treatments on schedule.
I will be hosting this event and look forward to an afternoon of great music and poetry. Feel free to help spread the word and invite friends. Admission will be a contribution of your choice, and if you are unable to attend and would like to make a donation, you can send a check to Dawn at 13 Lenox St. Beverly, MA 01915.
Here are the details:
- Sunday, July 1, from 1-5
- 13 Willow Boston Machine Loft, Lynn (right next to Flagg Pharmacy; look for the red sign)
- Parking in Buffum Parking behind building (go to end of Willow/right onto Essex/Right onto Buffum)
- Arrival is between 1 and 1:30; if you come later, please call 617-320-0817 and someone will let you in to #401
- Pot luck: if you'd like to contribute, please bring something light to eat and/or drink for a summer day
- RSVP: important! There is limited capacity so please email Ruthann Baler at rb@ruthannbaler.com if you are attending and let her know how many people will be joining you.
Best regards,
Don White
I do want to thank you all for taking the time to read these important messages about members of our family currently in need of our attention and prayer however that happens for you.
I do have some brief and also just great things to look forward to by simply joining us at ROM this coming ROMday. Our dear friend of ROM and an incredible supporter and our house video guy, King Yee, is totally aware of our ongoing Fundraising efforts for the Church itself. Our first goal of these Fundraising events are to make this beautiful & wonderful Registered Historic Building, Handicapped Accessible. WE are on the way there with just having thus far done 1 fundraisers with more being planned. KIng will be bringing in a single 24 carat gold wiped long stem, (real rose), we will be doing this as a raffle at a dollar a ticket and ALL the benefits will be given directly to the church. WE will do the draw for the raffle, just before the feature goes on so we will know who the winner is. I can guarantee you right now, I have never won a RAFFEL BUT IF MY NAME IS DRAWN AS I WILL OF COUSE BUY SOME RAFFLES FOR THE FUNDRAISER FOR THE CHURCH, I WILL DO ANOTHER Raffle draw to make sure a true and deserving ROMulin does indeed win the Rose. Our ROM thanks as well as on behalf of there The Church I do want to thank King Yee for all he does to help make things righter for all he get himself involved with. WE at ROM are so very blessed to have King as such a dear and caring friend of ROM!!!
A few more brief notes and then I will make my Blog more infrequent for a longer while!!!! Our original intended feature for 7-9-12 was too be Wes Spiro, YES that is Barry's son who is always with us he is in from school. Well Wes did contact us a few weeks back and told us he was done with school for the summer and was lucky enuf to get a great job in NYC. Where Wes did know we kept our ROM backup list and when he did get the job, he contacted us immediately saying he wanted to stay in good stead with his new job, as well as giving us enuf time to put in place a replacement with time to do enuf notice to our Community. Our thanks for all your consideration Wes and we'll hope to chat with you next Season once your schedule is settled in!!!
Timing was incredible for our replacement feature for Wes
now on 7-9-12 Peter Neuendorffer will not only be our feature but will also be a "CD Release Party for his new CD called "Group Therapy the Musical" Peter's site is: www.extranote.net/extranote.html
Mike & I are certain the Peter will be a great feature and we look forward to all that comes with Peter and then again we are looking forward to ALL that each and every one of you bring to ROM each time you bless us by joining us by walking thought our doorway.
Please do remember the new rules for the ROM Random Draw did begin last show and will be even more fine tuned for the fairness for one and all. WE have changed the email sign up rule to make it a bit easier on me and centralize the email sign ups to 1 email address so that being said anyone is more than welcome to pre-sign up with me via email by noon of the day of ROM. I do ask that all request's now be sent to my ROM email address which is: neal@roslindaleopenmike.org
Anyone arriving after the draw has already taken place will be welcome to still be part of our entertainment night but please let either myself , Branson Bofat or Mike know of a requested add to the board and or as always swaps between 2 people are always welcome but due to maintaining an equitable fairness to all, I simply ask that NO ONE makes any changes to our board without permission. I keep a very concise record of who comes to ROM in my ROM diary each time we are together!! I look forward to seeing & hearing each & everyone of you this Monday for a Jimmy Dorr Extravaganza show!!
It will be a great night all around but especially if you are with us and YES, I mean YOU!!!! It is so very late so please do not make fun of me for my always typo's. Please do remember to make sure you look at your favorite website of our many incredible parts of our ROMulin Family and find out where they are playing next!!!!
Our group thought's hugs and Love to those we mentioned in this Blog to our Community family members and please do always feel free to share with a Community member if there is something special in nature that should be shared within our Community of Artist's
C ya, REAL SOON, Always, Much Love, Always, Neal :)))
