Fall is the most beautiful time of year where I grew up, in the Missouri Ozarks. The red, orange, and yellow leaves on the trees flame the hills with color, and there’s a hint of wood smoke in the crisp air. The sunlight even looks different this time of year, as we pull boots, flannel shirts and sweaters out of the closet and stock up the wood pile for the coming winter.
Fall is a time of contemplation about a year nearly gone, and what a challenge 2020 has been for us all, in more ways than one!
With Thanksgiving and the GivingTuesday fundraising campaign just around the corner, the image that comes to mind is a double-sided copper coin held in our hands. One side says “gratitude” and the other “generosity.” Gratitude for the grace extended to us this in this year of hard times is followed by a spirit of generosity, with the desire to share the love (in our case, the love of bluegrass music) with others so it can continue to enrich the lives of generations to come.
I hope you enjoy the new issue of The Cornerstone, which includes a project grant report all the way from the Czech Republic, news of a generous donation from Z Mandolins to the IBMA Bluegrass College Scholarship fund, the launch of a much-anticipated new website, a reminder about the December 1 deadline to apply for project grants, and more.
In this time of thanksgiving I’m especially grateful for each of you and what you add to the worldwide bluegrass community. As always, thanks for your support of the IBMA Foundation, as we work together to make the future of bluegrass a little brighter—as bright as an Ozark hillside in the fall.
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