TALK STORY CONFERENCE 

July 16-20, 2009    Honolulu, Hawai'i

FEEDBACK & REACTIONS   

                               THIS PAGE: LINKS TO MEDIA & POSTED CONF. PHOTOS 

                                   JEFF GEREʻs REFLECTION ON CONFERENCE

On each page on this site are posted feedback & photos for each workshop & event. Below that dayʻs log of responses are General Responses for the Conference (there are so many!) & longer ʻletterʻ from one of us.

I am deeply moved by the overwhelming appreciation & thoughtful praise you have sent. I also enjoy the fact that not all responses are positive. Youʻre a feisty & opinionated group. When youʻre pleased youʻre effusive; when NOT moved you SAY so.. although two people have written to have remarks removed. I did. Isnʻt this sharing what is most valuable in this exercise? Telling each other what we feel? Enjoy reading each other.

This posting closes the formal Conference chapter of my life.

You may now remove the strings from your wrists if you have not by now (and need an OK). Today as I finished the posting it has been 8 months of this Conference. ALL PAU (Iʻm done, finished) ... and I did pretty well with this website here. Thanks.

Jeff Gere

Honolulu Star Bulletin Article: basic info on Conference

http://www.starbulletin.com/features/20090710_stories_to_da_max.html 

Hawaii Public Radio Great Interview with Emil Wolfgramm at his country home

http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/hpr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3517&Itemid=70

Honolulu Advertiser Article (great opening graphics, lots of Alton Chung quotes and a dysfunctional video of Lopaka, Jeff, Nyla)

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090714/LIFE/907140302/1076/Talk-Story

Haleakala Times(press release basically with photos)

http://www.haleakalatimes.com/2009/07/15/news/news/gifted_gabbers_to_teach_their_art_at_maui_talk_story_conference/

Storyteller.net Interview : Sean Buvala with JeffGere hyping the Conference

http://www.storyteller.net/news/2009/06/608/ 

Aaron Kleffman Conference Photos:

http://talkstory2009.shutterfly.com 

 Prasong Saihong photos are posted

                                   JEFF GERE: NOTES & REFLECTIONS

 Hi. Since we left each other I’ve een scrawling notes on bits of paper, which now congeal into this  reflective note. 

MAUI BREIFLY: 17 of us filled a gorgeous large upcountry house & toured to Lahaina (a fond memory: two long ocean floatingss with Margy MacDonald). The Maui Talk Story (Saturday 7/25) was small, but I finally got to listen to some workshops.. We all had time to chat and tell two nights. Dominique & I hiked the last morning and danced all afternoon to Les and others. It was great fun & we left tired. Oh, and Katrina Kearfott recorded with Les Adam (piano) & Carlos Xavier (flute) at Mana’o Radio.

NOW, BOTTOM LINE: The Talk Story Conference was BIG FUN, a BIG CHALLENGE  keeping all the balls in the air, and it CAME OFF! Sure’m tired, my feet are fatter, and my smile broader. There is a glow that hummmms. My world is bigger because you are in it. Forgive me when I was curt.

As it unfolded (as planned), I too was moved: it really DID have a ritual structure. It was a story with a beginning, end, & chapters, with characters who came & went while many continued. I loved that we had group & individual experiences (see comments on following pages). I’m proud of our intimacy- your presence mattered! Your ideas improved it too (all workshop leaders saying a short intro & we applaud them after their offerings). I loved that all workshops filled. I loved that it wasn’t too big. What QUALITY! Meals together was good. It was really fun being with other passionate, committed story nuts. I loved my afternoon swims.  I was surprised you didn’t say more names remembering the deceased and loved ones. It was touching to receive your collection for expenses. Thanks & thank you. And BOY, you bought lots of STUFF!!  By the way, Margy MacDonald and Lani Peterson waived their keynote fees. Diane Ferlatte donated her CD sales. All checks go out by the weekend. I owe Dominique a dinner.

I witnessed a team of Dominique, Nyla, Cyle, Moira, Dann & more play their parts

 FULLY. I’d return from erranding to find engaged & gregarious workshops and feel SO CONTENT. I loved having Jenni Cargill & Eric Wolf at our house. I loved having work groups & visitors up for dinner. I loved entering the Peacock as you ate. This Conference was a singular pleasure for me. Really.

Hawaii’s tellers were magnificent. I was awed by my friends doing what they do for you.. Emil, Lopaka, Tita, Alton, Kealoha & See, Les. Barbara Kawakami- rare!  I’m so glad we brought Makia, (& that dance!). I was glad I insisted on telling a few stories along with the rest. I was so PROUD of ‘us’, & PROUD to present ‘us’ to ‘you’. It was a dream fulfilled. Again, thank you for coming, being, & making it happen. In a word:     

     COMMUNITY & CELEBRATION…. And THANKS.

VIDEO: We recorded the ‘In Your Face Workshop (Bobbby, Robert & I), the Saturday Island Spooky Concert, & the Sunday Stars! Concert ! I’ll edit them this next month or so. To repay production expenses, if you want a DVD of any/all sessions, send me a check (to Jeff Gere, PO Box 37495, Honolulu Hawaii 96837) ($10 each= CHEAP!) in a self-addressed envelope with $3 of stamps on it (thanks to all the tellers for permission & support. Yes, you’ll get a free copy of the show you were in). These videos will play on Oahu’s Communitty Access TV (you might look into them for your area too). Send envelope & check to (so you wonʻt ask me)(again):

                                   Jeff Gere, PO Box 37495, Honolulu, Hi  96837

PS We audio recorded the Maui Talk Story Concert, which I’ll share if you like ($10)

DO IT AGAIN? Well, it depends on our local talent & Dominique. IF we fit into the NSN off-year in 2011, IF the Pacific Region wants it, and IF we can do it differently, easier, better. Meals were a pain, the kitchen guy crabby, & the registration form didn’t work. But I love the ocean, the view, and hotel location. Perhaps in Kualoa Beach Park in tents & cots right on the sea?   

MY NEXT?  Talk Story Festival (21^st year) comes October 9-11 (3 free nights) with Lyn Ford (Ohio, 3^rd time), Michael Parent (Maine), Kuniko (Japan/ Florida), Alton Chung (Oregon) and the local talents featured in the Conference, and after to Maui. Come back to the Queen Kapiolani Hotel for THAT! I’ll tell at the LA Story Fest Nov. 14 & after will visit the Bay Area. I do o plan to work on ‘story media’ for Eric Wolf at the LA Conference 2010 (next summer). See you there!

SO NOW, OF YOU, I ASK YOU to Act on the Conference Inspiration & Ideas. Do something to grow storytelling in your own yard. Give a workshop, do a show, volunteer, record your voice, make some media friends, or listen to more tellers. Follow up & step out.

                         If not now, when? If not us who? Yes you can.

Eric Wolf did many interviews. Listen to them at: www.storytellingwithchildren.com    Since we’re at it, listen to 40 some half hour story pod casts (my radio show) at www.talkstoryradio.com. These shows aired on Hawaii Public Radio, on Kathy Collin’s ‘Mana’o Radio, and on the University radio station. You might do that in your town. Please.

  COMMUNITY, CELEBRATION, & THANKS.

Mahalo Nui Loa & Aloha,     

Jeff Gere

www.jeffgere.com