Greetings, Blues Buddies!

Thank you to all for your support this past year and for helping to keep the Blues alive!

MAPLE BLUES AWARDS

The Maple Blues Awards promote blues music across Canada and recognize outstanding achievements in the field. Winners of the 13th Annual Maple Blues Awards will be announced at the Annual Maple Blues Awards Gala in Toronto, January 18, 2010. Follow the instructions on the website at http://www.mapleblues.ca/ to register and receive your password and link to the voting website. Voting ends Sunday, December 13 at noon (EST).

Please consider helping to promote our Ottawa nominees which include:

1. MonkeyJunk: Ottawa based swamp boogie, soul R&B and bedroom funk band: Entertainer of the Year, Electric Act of the Year, & Recording of the Year, for their record “Tiger In Your Tank”
2. Steve Marriner: Male Vocalist of the Year & Harmonica Player of the Year
3. Tony D: Guitar Player of the Year

MonkeyJunk drummer fans, please note … you can write in candidates on your ballot, so you can vote for Matt Sobb, too!

A full list of nominees appears on the Toronto Blues Society website: http://www.torontobluessociety.com/mba/nominees.htm


OBS CHRISTMAS PARTY & Annual General Meeting

December 19, 2009 @ Tucson’s, 2440 Bank Street, Ottawa

With performances by Jesse Greene Band
(Jesse Greene, Marc Seguin, Dan Grewal, Jason Cote and Luke Donovan)

Catch Ottawa's representative to this year’s International Blues Challenge (IBC) in a full evening of entertainment to showcase the winning act and to help raise funds to cover their expenses to travel to the international competition in Memphis Tennessee, January 2010. All OBS members who attend will receive a free gift. Additional details will be available soon at www.ottawabluessociety.com

In conjunction with the OBS Christmas Party, Saturday, December 19 at Tucson's, the Ottawa Blues Society will host an Annual General Meeting, which will include elections for two Directors.

As well, there will be a number of open stages taking place across the city (Ottawa) on Sat., Dec. 12, including Daniel O'Connell's Pub, The Atomic Rooster, Irenes Pub, The Carleton Tavern, The Elmdale Tavern (and maybe more!) Start and end times are approx. 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. There will be 50/50 draws throughout the day at all locations.


NEW VOLUNTEERS WELCOME

Please consider how you too might help to: “Foster appreciation, promotion, preservation and enjoyment of the blues in all its forms” through supporting your Ottawa Blues Society as a volunteer. For further information on these and other volunteer opportunities contact the Board of Directors: http://www.ottawabluessociety.com/contact.php


VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

Board of Directors (2 year term)

To attend regular Board meetings to address all OBS business needs - areas of responsibilities, flexible.

Volunteer Coordinator

To help recruit, schedule, orient and recognize volunteers for the two annual OBS events: the Bluesfest Promotional Tent (July) and the Blues Challenge Event (September).

Special Events Volunteers

To assist at OBS sponsored, annual events: Bluesfest Promotional Tent and the Blues Challenge Event (free admission for volunteers)


MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Is your membership due for renewal? Please confirm the expiry date of your membership card and contact us soon to be sure you're on the mailing list to receive our award winning, quarterly newsletter, "OBScene".


LOOKING FOR A COOL CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA?

Why not give a one year OBS Membership to that blues fan on your list! Contact our President, Liz, to secure the mailing of an OBS Membership Certificate in time for Christmas and the official Membership Card will follow shortly afterwards:

http://www.ottawabluessociety.com/contact.php


OBS CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Effective immediately the new mailing address is:
P.O. Box 8124, Station ‘T’, Ottawa, ON, K1G 3H6.


See you at the Christmas Party / AGM on 19 December!

Debra Thornington, Director
on behalf of the OBS Board

www.ottawabluessociety.com