A Second Visit To Park Royal United Church

Once again SMUG had been invited to perform at the regular Sunday morning service at Park Royal United Church in Charlottetown, and obviously back by popular demand following their mid-summer performance in July. Most of the same selections were again chosen and again the ministerial assistant, Barbara Cairns, conducted the service. Leslie Hiscott was the choir director and it was his invitation that brought us back to Park Royal.We missed a few of our regular Smuggers but were delighted to have Mary Weeks, our newest Smugger, play with us for the first time.

Early Sunday morning rehearsal

SMUG in full flight


Ralph checking his notes and Maurice looking for "something"


Ron Tuning up before the performance

Bob with our newest member Mary Weeks



Allison and Vera in the choir room relaxing before the service.

FULL HOUSE AT ST.PAUL'S ANGLICAN

Smug was honoured again today by being invited to lead the 10 a.m. Sunday morning service in song at St. Paul's Anglican Church in Charlottetown. The service was billed as "The Smug Service" . The Reverend Jay MacDonald conducted the service and the Eucharist. Smug performed 11 selections under the direction of Allison Coles; an exuberant congregation joined us in many. A brief reception was held in the fellowship hall following the service where many kind words were appreciated by the Smuggers present.Several mentioned that we should be the "Sunday Morning Ukulele Group". Smug has two more church services coming up, one at Park Royal United Church on November 15th and another at Central Queens United Church in Hunter River on November 22nd.(Both on Sunday!...Oh. well) Several other invitations have been put on hold for a time to let the Smuggers catch their breath and prepare for the Christmas season.

STOOPING TO HELP A CHILD

Smug provided the evening entertainment at The Potentate's Annual Reception and Banquet. Illustrious Sir Sam Nahas, Philae Potentate for 2009, made a presentation of flowers to our own Mary Lynn Ross after his address for the evening. He told members of the Island Shrine Club how much their work was appreciated by the members of Philae. Both Mary Lynn and her mother spoke and gave thanks to the Shriners for all of the help Mary Lynn has received from The Island Shrine Club and Philae over many years. Smug provided a fresh new program for the evening which resulted in a standing ovation and a curtain call ending with Jester Hairston's "Amen"

St. John's Church in Milton

Smug performed today at St. John's Anglican Church in Milton, PEI. In the mind of this writer, it was our finest effort yet. With 15 Smuggers turning out to perform 10 selections, it proved once again that practice makes (almost) perfect. Smug was under the capable direction of Allison Coles, and The Reverend Evelyn Knorr performed the service. Her kind words towards Smug in her remarks, once again, made us feel just that way. She also added that we would be welcome to return again.
Unfortunately this performance was to be the last for Rob and Heidi Litke who are getting ready to perform at the Ukulele Ceilidh in Liverpool in late October after which they will be returning to Denver for the winter. We have enjoyed having them with us for the past month and hope next summer when they return to the Island they will join with us again. Smug's next performance will be the Potentate's Visit on October 10th, 2009.

New Beginnings

Smug was privileged today to have two visitors, who we hope will become regular members, at least for the spring,summer and fall seasons.They were Heidi and Ron Litke, summer residents on PEI from Denver, Colorado. Heidi plays a wonderful ukulele(s) and Rob a wonderful bass, which was a first for Smug, and gave the group a rich sound that suggested a bass has been needed for some time. Heidi and Rob treated Smug to a couple of duets after morning coffee and Joanne's coffee cake. The Smugulele that followed took a different turn with some impromptu jamming, which included the trying out of Heidi's Beansprout Banjo ukulele, and enriched with Rob's bass playing. Heidi is a partner in the Beansprout Company along with Aaron Keim. She has also directed the Denver Ukulele Orchestra for two years. Heidi and Rob have been regular attenders at the International Ukulele Ceilidh in Liverpool,Nova Scotia, since its inception and are looking forward to a return in October, having made many friends at the Ceilidh over the years.Heidi tracked down several members of Smug through the Ceilidh committee earlier this week. They are both Canadians from Ontario and discovered PEI during a summer golf excursion.Rob and Heidi moved to Denver in 1986 after completing their education where Heidi first worked as a Forest Ranger. Members of Smug who attended this morning's Smugulele were delighted to have them join in the fun and look forward to having them become members when on the Island. Smug are presently preparing for a performance at St. John's Anglican Church in Milton on Sept 20th.

Smug in Stanhope

The second annual Smugulele and barbecue took place today at the Campbell summer home in Stanhope, PEI. 14 Smuggers turned up and made the comment which was quoted at last weeks Smugulele, "Feed them and They Will Come", a true one for sure. The host promised more than one hamburger for each this year, and was true to his word. Barbecued hamburgers were supplemented by Salads Ziegler, and Pop and Chips Acorn, along with Deviled Eggs Steeves, and there were some molasses cookies there for coffee time as well. Barry did the barbecuing and Leah and Darlene(and Bob) did the work, which left nothing for David to do.(Smart Guy!) Vera had cut her finger during onion cutting, but it turned out not to need a band-aid after all.

Ron and David kept the singing going and Allison again graced the group with his handsome bass playing, until almost noon, when there was a call from the front room for food, so we had to stop and get cracking, er, cooking. It was a great Smugulele and comments were made about how much better we are sounding and keeping in time as well.The temperature in the cottage was 35 degrees when we left(that's 95 degrees F for our American friends), but too many mosquitos to sit outside so close to the trees.

We had received a DVD and a CD from Dianne Sutton, leader of YesterUkes from Laurens, South Carolina, just yesterday and everyone was anxious to hear another ukulele band. Dianne and many of the YesterUkes have written to us and passed along encouragement. They have proven to be very popular in their area with sometimes two or three performances weekly throughout the year. We all send them our good health wishes and a happy strumming. We're not sure where they get the energy to perform so often, but the CD and DVD are wonderful and as professional as they have become.

Everyone who could make it enjoyed the singing, playing and eating,and we realize we are still having fun in spite of the odd pressure that creeps in every so often.The kitchen was clean and we wrapped up at 1 p.m.

Our Friends at Andrews of Stratford

Smug performed at Andrews of Stratford, in Stratford Prince Edward Island on Saturday, July 18th, 2009, for many of the residents . Only our second public performance, we are still getting our "sea legs" as the seafarers say, but enthusiastic none the less. Smug performed a short program consisting of seven selections, then passed out songsheets so the residents could sing along with the ukuleles. We were all treated to coffee and muffins at coffee-break time and moved out to the deck for a few more selections before closing the program.

It would be the hope of Smug and the activity director of Andrews that some of the residents might show some interest in playing in a small ukulele group this fall for their own enjoyment. Smug has expressed a willingness to participate in helping to make this happen.

New Friends Everywhere