April showers bring May flowers! It is time to smell the flowers – roses and tulips!
Speaking of tulips, there are hundreds of thousands of tulips now blooming in rural suburban Chicago! There are literally hundreds of colors of tulips blooming now through probably Mother’s Day – all waiting to be viewed and bought!
May in Latin is Maius so named after the Greek Goddess Maia – and also identified with the Roman era Goddess of fertility Bona Dea – the festival always being held in May. The Roman poet Ovid provides a second etymology noting that May is named for Maiores or Latin for “elders” and hence June is named for Juniores or obviously young people.
Many ancient Roman observances for May are included such as Bona Dea – held on May 1st while Argei was held on May 14th
The birthstone for May is the emerald – the symbol of love and success!
The flowers for the month of May are usually the Lily of the Valley and/or the Crataegus monogyna.
Of course the Zodia signs for the month are Taurus and Gemini.
The month of May is host to a variety of events and celebrations including:
- Working Class History Month
- Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- National Music Month in New Zealand
- National Pet Month
- National Smile Month
- Labor Day
- Mother’s Day
Flowers – time to smell the flowers – speaking of flowers….many years ago when I retired from the City of Chicago I purposely took a year off to decide what to do with the rest of my life, what could possibly amount to 30+ years. So, in the meantime I decided to take walks every day and I walked through the neighborhood and during this time I had the opportunity to walk down different streets every day – and hence I had the wonderful chance to see and smell the variety of flowers, plants and trees where I lived. This certainly gave me a new insight into life and living and to see the real world beyond my former daily work life. I challenge each one of you to take the time to step back from your daily work life and to smell the flowers – the roses and the tulips. Just maybe this could include signing up and attending the Great Lakes Regional Convention June 25-28, 2023 in Evanston to hear a variety of organ recitals and workshop presentations!
NORTH SHORE AGO BOARD ELECTION:
Please hurry – there are still a few days left where you can vote for the candidates to serve on the North Shore Chapter AGO Board for the 3-year term 2023-2026. The votes are still being counted – the Ballot is located in the April issue of the Overtones newsletter.
EVERY MEMBER CHALLENGE:
The last couple of months we have mentioned the EVERY MEMBER CHALLENGE! Each and every member of the North Shore Chapter is encouraged to not only invite a colleague or neighboring church organist who is not a member of the Chapter to a Chapter event but then to ask them to become a member of the Chapter. Certainly this is the perfect time for new organists and friends to join the North Shore Chapter since North Shore members do receive a good discount on registering and attending the Great Lakes Regional Convention in Evanston this June 25-28
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
The Regional Convention is looking for several volunteers for a variety of activities to assist during the convention. Obviously there are a variety of offerings or functions that need to be performed during this last week of June. If you have a few hours, or a half day or even a full day to devote in assisting during the convention, then please contact Judy Kohl, the Volunteer Coordinator at: judygkohl@gmail.com
NORTH SHORE CHAPTER AGO ANNUAL BANQUET:
May 21, 2023 is the date set for the North Shore Chapter AGO Annual Banquet. Final details are currently being worked out so please put this date on your calendar and then watch for an Eblast with all of the pertinent information as to location, time and costs along with a way to register for your attendance at the event!
MAY POEM
From the pen of Henry Sylvester Cornwall
Come walk with me along this willowed lane,
Where, like lost coinage from some miser’s store,
The golden dandelions more and more
Glow, as the warm sun kisses them again!
For this is May! who with a daisy chain
Leads on the laughing Hours; for now is o’er
Long winter’s trance. No longer rise and roar
His forest-wrenching blasts. The hopeful swain, Along the furrow, sings behind his team;
Loud pipes the redbreast—troubadour of spring,
And vocal all the morning copses ring;
More blue the skies in lucent lakelets gleam;
And the glad earth, caressed by murmuring showers,
Wakes like a bride, to deck herself with flowers!
Bob Woodworth Jr.
Dean