TeamWales: News Flash!

This website is unlikely to be updated in the future. 

Several months ago, another website * was set up for the St David's Society of Greater St. Louis  in order to reach a wider 'audience'. Each of these sites have their own favorable attributes, (and limitations) but there is no point being redundant.   Consequently, some aspects (notably the Calendar and Photo Sections) will be 'frozen' as of this date. 

* www.MySpace.com/StLouisWelsh

Also, the site you are now looking at has changed today when it reverted to the 'basic' styling. It will no longer have as much storage capacity, so some items will go to the MySpace site.

Whether the site will then remain in this basic format - or be taken down altogether - is yet to be determined.  It may be left up as a fossil to be discovered by a few passing souls who are welcome to use such various handouts and links that may remain accessible.

 I hope the site has been , and may continue to be, beneficial to you.

 Diolch yn fawr!

Sorry to report that a couple of scheduled events had to be cancelled.

BUT - a few new events are being planned including:

1. A Fall Picnic

2. Christmas gathering

- details to follow - look to the Calendar section.

The Pub gang meeting at Dressel's on July 19th (4 pm to ?) will also mark a temporary farewell to Ed - til  next June. Stop by and buy him a pint!

The movie Hedd Wyn was shown to a small but appreciative group in mid January.

In mid February, a couple of us went to Lexington, MO to see the fine concert by The Black Mountain Male Choir - from Pontardulais, near Swansea, Wales.

The Annual Meeting of SDSoGSL on March 2nd at Dressel's Pub was a great success. Those assembled enjoyed the fine food, the singing by the Welsh Heritage Choir, and the Quiz - with its various prize-winners. A drawing was also held to give a one-year free subscription to Ninnau.

Later, in mid March, a couple of members went to see Tom (The Song) Jones at the Family Arena in St. Charles.

In mid April, a 'Te bach' was held at Darlene and Jerry's house. Great food, tea and conversation was had by all.

Photos of various events in 2008 will appear on our 'sister-site': www.MySpace.com/StLouisWelsh  as well as in the Photos section of this site.

2008 has been a fantastic year for Welsh sports enthusiasts:

First - Wales wins the Grand Slam in The 6 Nations Rugby  - undefeated!

Second - The Ospreys (Swansea & Neath) win the EDF Energy Cup (Rugby) Final 

Third - Cardiff City advances to the FA Cup Final on May 17th 

Fourth - Swansea City wins promotion to the FA Champions League

Fifth - Joe Calzaghe outpoints Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas

Read on - and also check the 'Calendar Page' to see what's in store:

Here's a 'heads-up' on upcoming events you should consider attending.  Most of these will also be addressed in a forthcoming 'snail-mail' (to members) in the next week or two, but for those who like to plan early, here goes:
 
February 10th - open to all
 
Each member and their friend(s) are invited to come out to Llywelyn's Pub at 4747 McPherson Avenue (Central West End) - 314-361-3003 if you get lost - at 4 pm till ?? to gather for a beer and chat. NO RSVP required - just show up and look for your countrymen - someone will surely be recognizable to you; if not, Ed will probably be wearing a Welsh Flag in his hat!
 
February 15th - open to all
 
The Black Mountain Male Choir (from Pontardulais - just outside of Swansea, Wales) will perform at the Wentworth   Military Academy Chapel Auditorioum in Lexington, MO at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25 (advance) or $30 at the door (ddors open at 6:45 pm) - obtainable from Susan Worthington 660-259-4559.

February 29th - open to all
 
Tune in at 6 pm to www.radioIRFT.com to listen to the start of 30 hours of Welsh music to celebrate St. David's Day.
 
March 1st - open to all
 
This is OUR day!!  St. David's Day. Tune in 'all through the day' (Ar hyd a dydd) to www.radioIRFT.com to hear Welsh music and a big 'shout out' to all Welsh people. If you've done your homework assignment *, you may also be able to hear 'shout-outs' on local radio stations throughout the day.
 
* Call a local radio or TV station to ask them to announce 'Happy St. David's Day' and play Welsh music during their broadcasts. 
 
Wear RED, wear a daffodil or leek in your lapel, hang out 'Y Ddraig Goch' - the Welsh Flag, phone a friend in Wales, go buy a bottle of ESB or Felinfoel Ale, go to Dressel's Pub or Llywelyn's pub.
 
Show your Welshness!
 
March 2nd - open to all
 
Our Annual Meeting, upstairs in Dressel's Pub at 419-North Euclid (Central West End) - 314-361-1060 if you get lost - from about 11:45 am till 4:00 pm. A hearty Welsh Lunch, song and music by the Welsh Heritage Choir, fun and learning from a 20-Questions-on-Wales Quiz, a brief business address, and time for fellowship awaits you - for the low price of $20. Dressel's will have a cash bar and hot fireplace available for those in need of such things.  
 
March 11th - open to all
 
Tom (The Song) Jones - LIVE at the Family Arena in St. Charles.
Check the usual ticket outlets for details on ticket pricing / availability.

 
April 13th - members only
 
Darlene S. will be hosting a 'Welsh Tea' at 3 pm.
RSVP by April 6th to Darlene at 1-800-555-0000 to obtain further details.
Bring a snack or dish to share with others.
 
June 22nd members only
 
An old (1800s) Welsh tradition is depicted in a very moving film, 'The Last Sin-Eater', to be shown at 2:00 at Mel's house.
RSVP by June 15th to 1-800-555-0000 and to get directions. 
Arrive anytime after 1:00 pm - film to commence at 2:00 pm.
BYOB, snack-to-share.
 
July 19th - open to all
 
Meet at Dressel's Pub (CWE) at 4:00 pm for drinks, chat - and if hungry, food. Look for the gang - downstairs - unless we get too many or too rowdy, then we may move upstairs! 
 
August (date TBA) - members only
 
Morfudd will open up her swimming pool for us to show our bones or blubber! Details later.
 
August 28th-31st
 
The Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association (WNGGA) in conjunction with the North American Festival of Wales (NAFOW) will be held in Chicago, IL. Details will become available at www.wngga.org in the coming months. This is an event not to be missed. If you can't attend all 4 days, try 1 or 2.  
 
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Thanks for visiting us here at www.eteamz.active.com/TeamWales - and now there is another site, www.MySpace.com/StLouisWelsh that is reaching out to find potential members.

Now you can get T-shirts, sweats, golf-shirts, bags, pants, etc. - ALL showing the "SDSoGSL" motif. 

Just click on the 'Sportswear' link to see the items, styles, colors, motif-variations, etc.

Motif style and some personalizing (your sport on front; your name on back) can be added too. 

If interested in viewing any style / personalizing that is not readily available, make your request to SDSoGSL101@hotmail.com and I'll pull it up for you to view. Use the same contact for further inquiries.

Get yourself 'togged out' for 2008!

In the beginning, the Lord God Almighty turned to his best mate, the Archangel Gabriel, and said:

 "Gabby, today I am going to create a beautiful part of the earth and I will call it ‘Wales’. I will make a country of breathtaking blue lakes, rich green forests and dark beautiful mountains, which from time to time will be snow covered. I will give it clear, swift rivers, which will overflow with salmon and trout.

The land shall be lush and fertile - on which the people can raise cattle and grow their food. Underneath the land I shall lay rich seams of coal for the inhabitants to mine.  I shall also scatter it with gold, which future Kings and Queens shall seek for their wedding rings.  

Around the coast, I will make some of the most beautiful areas in the world, with golden, sandy beaches and cliffs that will attract all manner of wildlife. With lots of islands that will be like a paradise to all who visit them. In the deep blue waters around the shores, there will be an abundance of sea life.

The people who live there will be called ‘The Welsh’ and they will be the friendliest people on earth. They will be the most talented of peoples, with many great singers and actors."

"Excuse me sir," interrupted the Archangel Gabriel, "don’t you think you’re being a bit too generous to these Welsh?"

"Don't talk rubbish," replied the Lord. "Wait till you see the neighbors I'm giving them!”

We had a 'Pub-gang' meeting at Dressel's on November 8th. A handful of members attended and had a good chat and a bowl of Dressel's cawl.  We are scheduled (see Calendar Page) to give it another try in February.

On December 8th, our 'Prez and wife' held an Open House. Athough the response was disappointing (we'll have to 'splain what RSVP mean, I guess!) the dozen or so that attended had a good time.  Three Welsh choirs (on CD) entertained us as we consumed mass quantities of food and wine. The leek soup, Welsh cakes and sausage rolls were great favorites. Sadly, EVERYBODY forgot to bring their cameras - so no photos to share.

To see learn when and where the Welsh Heritage Choir will next perform, or if you are interested in joining the choir (Welsh language is NOT required) contact nadinee402@hotmail.com for details.

WHC events will also be posted on this site (in the Calendar Page) as soon as when we (SDSoGSL) are provided notification. 

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More than 180 people attended the WHC's Annual Concert at St. Paul's UCC on November 4th.  The legendary concert theater-organist, Stan Kann, performed amidst the WHC's splendid choral and instrumental renditions of 15 or so traditional Welsh songs.

Check the 'Links Page' for:

1. More photographs from Wales 

2. An entertaining way to pass the forthcoming cold winter nights.

See the Calendar Page for dates you should keep open.

 The SDSoGSL has an event scheduled each month through April 2008!!

Eteamz has added a new feature to the Photographs Page.

Now, you can select the 'Show album in lightbox viewer' mode. You will then see the photos sequentially, in a 'slideshow manner'.

It is NOT the mode to select if you just want to view selected photos from the display of thumbnails - OR if you want to read the entire captioning provided with the photos, because the 'lightbox viewer' mode frequently fails to show the entire caption.

You may exit the 'lightbox viewer' mode at any time and revert to the 'selected photo' mode at any time.

The Welsh Heritage Choir performed - albeit only very briefly (maybe 15 - 20 minutes) on August 25th at the Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park.

Although only a disappointingly small number of SDSoGSL members showed up to support the choir, the "Y Ddraig Goch windsock" was raised again and I managed to get a few 'flyers' (there's a new one in the Handouts Page - check it out) handed out to some in the audience - including a few with Native American, Mexican and Iranian blood in their veins - but 'Hwyl' in their hearts! 

A few photographs of the event may appear next week - stay tuned!

Visit the Links Page for two new additions:

Great U-Tube video clips of/from Wales in one, and an extensive variety of items in the other - from the Welsh in Arizona! 

Although suffering typical 'August-in-St. Louis' weather, a good number of people were able to enjoy the singing and instrumental offerings from the Welsh Heritage Choir in the shade at the north end of the Clayton Farmer's Market yesterday morning. 

Songs in Welsh and in English were delivered along with accompaniment on the keyboard, harp and bodhran (pronounced 'bow-ran') as marketers strolled past stalls selling produce and hosting a 'Chef-off' by Culinary School ('Ecole Culinaire') experts.

See the Photographs Page - Welsh Events and Welsh People Albums 

A small, but enthusiastic group showed up to enjoy the Pool Party hosted by our gracious 'Carmarthen femme-fatale' following the Welsh Heritage Choir's performance at Clayton Farmer's Market.

Good food and conversation lasted several hours and two more of the chorists were abducted (err - I mean 'inducted')  to become members of SDSoGSL.

While most adults secluded themselves in the cool and shade indoors at the 'Ladue Mansion', the younger gang made good use of the large swimming pool out back. 

See the 'Welsh Events' Album in thr Photographs page.