Sunday 4 October, Johnsonville Club, 1 Norman Lane, Johnsonville, 2.00 pm 

An Acoustic Routes Special General Meeting will be held on Sunday 4 October at 2pm, upstairs at the Johnsonville Club, 1 Norman Lane, Johnsonville. Please do come along if you can – the club really needs your presence, support, interest and input.

We’ll start with lunch (provided) from 1-2pm, and after the meeting (which will be short if enough people put their hands up) you can join in a Jam Session, Sing & dance-along, with invited guests Michael Muggeridge and Cara Brasted. They’ll be bringing their guitars, banjos, fiddles, mandolins, voices and energy! Be sure to bring yours too so you can join in, and maybe even dance!

The SGM will start at 2pm. This year we need your support more than ever. Constitutionally, our president is required to step down after six consecutive years in the role, which means, sadly, that Ruth Birnie has to step down from the committee at this time, and a new president must be elected. Ruth is committed to the club and will be available to support the new incumbent and help with their transition into the role, as will others who have been involved in the longer term.

At the recent AGM we were unable to elect a committee for the 2026-2027 year. The existing committee agreed to carry on until the Special General Meeting, at which time we will, hopefully, elect a new committee. We have a new treasurer waiting in the wings, but we still need to elect a new president and secretary along with a few new members on the committee. It’s a special opportunity to add some ‘oomph’ to the club!

It’s not a significant time commitment – we meet once a month over snacks and drinks to book musicians and plan the club’s activities. We currently have three main events each month, which need to be publicised and which require at least one committee member to be present to set up, host and run. Club members who are not on the committee often help.

Possible Tasks – Helping on the desk to meet and greet members and take money at the Concert nights so the performers can be paid. Compering at a concert. Assisting the set up and pack down with help from the audience at Concert nights, sing-around sessions and Social Club daytime sessions. Promotion of Acoustic Routes events through any media or networks available to you. Help with other activities such as the Joan Prior Award.

Please note that all of these tasks can be learned “on the job”. Your enthusiasm for and interest in folk music, energy and ideas are what’s most needed.

For more information about standing for committee, or to volunteer to stand for committee, please contact a committee member – contact details are on page 8 of the October Balladeer.

If we don’t elect a new committee, the next step according to the constitution is to wind up the club. You can help prevent that from happening by coming along to the SGM and showing your support.

Janette Munneke for AR Committee

If you’ve got a moment to go onto Facebook, and you’re planning to come to the lunch, please hit ‘going’ on the event invite – it will help us with catering.

https://www.facebook.com/wellingtonfolkclub

https://www.facebook.com/groups/347362439094076

Sunday 14 December, 21 Gordon Road, Plimmerton, 2.30 pm 

Our Christmas party will once again be hosted this year by the wonderful Anne McGregor and Roy McGuinness.

Please bring a plate of food for the afternoon meal, including something for the barbeque if you wish, a bottle of what you like to drink, and of course instruments and songs. The meal will start around 3.30pm. Disposable plates etc. will be provided but those of you who have picnic sets could bring them too, to help reduce the waste.

The Koha this year is for DCM (Downtown Community Ministry), whose vision is for communities where whānau are housed, connected, and thriving. https://www.dcm.org.nz/

We warmly invite you, your family and any like-minded and/or musical friends to come along and welcome in the season with music and festivity! Sorry no dogs.

Sunday 8 December, 21 Gordon Road, Plimmerton, 1.30 pm – note the earlier time this year.

Our Christmas party will once again be hosted this year by the wonderful Anne McGregor and Roy McGuinness.

Please bring a plate of food for the afternoon meal, a bottle of what you like to drink, and of course instruments and songs. The meal will start around 2.30pm. Disposable plates etc. will be provided but those of you who have picnic sets could bring them too, to help reduce the waste.

The Koha this year is for DCM (Downtown Community Ministry), whose vision is for communities where whānau are housed, connected, and thriving. https://www.dcm.org.nz/

We warmly invite you, your family and any like-minded and/or musical friends to come along and welcome in the season with music and festivity! Sorry no dogs.

Sunday 10 December, 21 Gordon Road, Plimmerton, 2.00 pm – note the different venue and slightly earlier time.

This year’s Christmas Party is at a venue that will be familiar to many of you, because it has been the scene of many an up-close-and-personal concert, not to mention the annual Waitangi Day gathering. We’re lucky to be able to continue the recent tradition of holding our Christmas party on the Kapiti Coast, this year hosted by the magnificent Anne McGregor and Roy McGuinness.

What To Bring

Please bring a plate of food for the evening meal (starting at around 5pm), a bottle of what you like to drink, and of course instruments and songs. We ask that you give a Koha, which will be donated to Atareira Mental Health Support in time for Christmas. Disposable plates etc. will be provided but those of you who have picnic sets could bring them too, to help reduce the waste. Sorry no dogs.

We warmly invite you, your family and any like-minded and/or musical friends.

Sunday 11 December, 43 Pehi Kupa Street, Waikanae, 3.00 pm

10/12/2022 – please see below for a COVID update.

This year’s Christmas Party is at a lovely venue at the end of Pehi Kupa Street, Waikanae, across a bridge on the eastern side of the railway tracks. It is about 700 metres walk north from Waikanae train station and there is plenty of off-street parking at the end of the drive. Please see the map in the Balladeer if you need more directions.

What To Bring

Please bring a plate of food for supper, a bottle of what you like to drink, and of course instruments and songs. We ask that you give a Koha, which will be donated to Atareira Mental Health Support in time for Christmas. Disposable plates etc. will be provided but those of you who have picnic sets could bring them too, to help reduce the waste. Sorry no dogs.

We warmly invite you, your family and any like-minded and/or musical friends.

Update 10/12/2022:  Unfortunately, COVID is making the rounds of some of our folkie whānau and we’re sad that those affected won’t be able to attend the Christmas Party this year. We hope that anyone who is symptomatic or who has tested positive for COVID will also stay home to protect the folk community. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you there and, fingers crossed, the sun will come along as well!

Wishing those who are unwell a speedy recovery, and Merry Christmas to all from the Acoustic Routes Committee 

Acoustic Routes Christmas Party, Sue and Kim Rose’s home, 329a Paekakariki Hill Road Pauatahanui, Saturday 12 December, 3 pm

We warmly invite you, your family and any like-minded and/or musical friends to the Acoustic Routes Christmas Party.

Sue and Kim have once again very kindly offered to host this year’s party at their gorgeous rural retreat nestled in a little valley about 3 km from the Pauatahanui shops. (It’s about the same distance from Wellington as Plimmerton.)

What To Bring

Please bring a plate of food for supper, a bottle of what you like to drink, and of course instruments and songs. We ask that you give a Koha, which will be donated to a charity in time for Christmas. Disposable plates, etc., will be provided but those of you who have picnic sets could bring them too, to help reduce the waste.

Please don’t bring dogs, no matter how musical!

Instructions for Getting There

Sue and Kim’s home is 3.29 kilometres from Pauatahanui village, heading north up the Paekakariki Hill Rd. At the end of a long straight you’ll find the golf club on the right. Turn left into the drive just past that, cross the bridge and take the left-hand fork to the house. There is a lot of bamboo on their roadside boundary. The nearest train stations are Paremata and Plimmerton if you are being picked up by a driver. Cell phone coverage is marginal but if you have any problems finding it, phone 2379029.

Acoustic Routes Christmas Party, Sue and Kim Rose’s home, 329a Paekakariki Hill Road Pauatahanui, Saturday 14 December, 3 pm

We warmly invite you, your family and any like-minded and/or musical friends to the Acoustic Routes Christmas Party.

Sue and Kim have once again very kindly offered to host this year’s party at their gorgeous rural retreat nestled in a little valley about 3 km from the Pauatahanui shops. (It’s about the same distance from Wellington as Plimmerton.)

What To Bring

Please bring a plate of food for supper, a bottle of what you like to drink, and of course instruments and songs. We ask that you give a Koha, which will be donated to the Atareira Family Support Trust in time for Christmas. Disposable plates, etc., will be provided but those of you who have picnic sets could bring them too, to help reduce the waste.

Please don’t bring dogs, no matter how musical!

Instructions for Getting There

Sue and Kim’s home is 3.29 kilometres from Pauatahanui village, heading north up the Paekakariki Hill Rd. At the end of a long straight you’ll find the golf club on the right. Turn left into the drive just past that, cross the bridge and take the left-hand fork to the house. There is a lot of bamboo on their roadside boundary. The nearest train stations are Paremata and Plimmerton if you are being picked up by a driver. Cell phone coverage is marginal but if you have any problems finding it, phone 2379029.

This annual treat takes place in the great party venue of Anne and Roy’s home, 21 Gordon Road, Plimmerton. All folkies and musos are welcome.

The party starts at 2 pm, and the barbecue will be going from 5 pm. Bring something for the barbie, salads etc., your drink of choice and of course instruments and voices to celebrate the day.

Acoustic Routes Christmas Party, Sue and Kim Rose’s home, 329a Paekakariki Hill Road Pauahatanui, Saturday 15 December, 3 pm

Sue and Kim have once again very kindly offered to host this year’s AR Christmas party at their gorgeous rural retreat nestled in a little valley about 3 km from the Pauahatanui shops. (It’s about the same distance from Wellington as Plimmerton.)

We warmly invite you, your family and any like-minded and/or musical friends. (Sorry, no dogs, no matter how musical.) 

What To Bring

Please bring a plate of food for supper, a bottle of what you like to drink, and of course instruments and songs. We ask that you give a Koha, which will be donated to a charity in time for Christmas. Disposable plates, etc., will be provided but those of you who have picnic sets could bring them too, to help reduce the waste.

Instructions for Getting There

Sue and Kim’s home is 3.29 kilometres from Pauatahanui village, heading north up the Paekakariki Hill Rd. At the end of a long straight you’ll find the golf club on the right. Turn left into the drive just past that, cross the bridge and take the left-hand fork to the house. There is a lot of bamboo on their roadside boundary. The nearest train stations are Paremata and Plimmerton if you are being picked up by a driver. Cell phone coverage is marginal but if you have any problems finding it, phone 2379029.