Date: January 28th 2007

Jan 27, 2007 Issue of the “MECDA ONLY” NEWSLETTER

For events sponsored by the Middle Eastern Culture & Dance Association

This publication contains MECDA sponsored events ONLY.
It is distributed to all who request it, Members & non-members.
Let your friends know that they can

join this newsletter FREE at: http://www.mecda.org/newsletter.php?linkId=7

THIS IS NOT the MECDA Happenings
To get All the EVENTS through the HAPPENINGS,
JOIN MECDA!!
Online go to: http://www.mecda.org/membership
or use form at the end of this message.

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UPCOMING MECDA EVENTs:

March 3, Redlands, CA
Inland Empire launches the Atomic Raq-it! at the Masonic Temple, 131 Cajon Ave. this is a 50’s, 60’s AND 70’s themed belly dance event! 2-6pm Raq-around the clock! Belly dance to your favorite oldies! Admission $5 Volunteers get in free! We need help in the kitchen selling food and setup & cleanup work 2 hours.. get in free! “ANDREW’S BAD STUFF” a local cover band, will be closing the event so get your goove on Belly Dancing is 2:15-5:15 pm & Andrew’s Bad Stuff starts at 5:30! For Info/Dancer/Vendor/volunteers contact Dea at 909-874-1249 jadidea@hotmail.comPlease contact Dea asap if you can help! Info/Dancer/Vendor signs up contact Dea at 909-874-1249 jadidea@hotmail.com


March 18, Montclair, CA
Catharae’s annual Mecda Dance party will be held at the Montclair Civic Center, 5111 Benito St.
From 12:30-5:30pm.
Admission:
$5.00 Non-MECDA member
$4.00 Non-MECDA member with Potluck dish
$3.00 MECDA member
$2.00 MECDA member WITH Potluck dish
Vendors and for more info:
Contact Catharae at 909-982-6475

April 1, Redlands, CA
The Inland Empire Chapter will host a BD swapmeet. The “Camel Spit, Shop & Swap” will be from 1-5pm at the Redlands Clubhouse, 140 W. Pioneer Ave, 92374. Anyone interested in selling gently used & new costumes, veils, zills, music, fabric, decorative objects or anything for belly dancers! Fees: $20 a table & $20 a rack space! (We provide the tables.. not racks). This is a pot luck! Admission for the public is FREE if they bring a potluck dish to share. Admission without a dish:$3 contact Dea for a vendor app. jadidea@hotmail.com 909-874-1249


April 21, San Bernardino, CA
Inland Empire Chapter’s ‘Festival of Dancing Colors’ & Mardi Gras will be held at Cal. State University, SB, at 5500 University Parkway (92407) in the EVENT CENTER from 2-6pm. Come join us, it’s a huge room with a big stage! Lots of room for everyone! We are having 3 workshops too! Zahreen teaching “Finding your way with your sword”; Catharae teaching “Veil Techniques”; Politti teaching “Swimming thru honey’. Cal State is a beautiful school with gorgeous mountains for a backdrop! Tons of vendors, all day dancing, food available! For dancers contact Dea at 909-874-1249 or jadidea@hotmail.com more info to follow!

APRIL 28th. Redlands, CA
Howdy! Yep! the MECDA IE chapter is at it again! we did so well last year
at the yard sale.. well, we are going to do it AGAIN!!!! So please look for junk you don't want any more.. but that's nice enough that someone will want to buy.. My darling husband does NOT want to store the stuff here.. so please bring it the day before the yard sale (any time on FRIDAY 27th) so we can get it ready for the sale. This yard sale is Saturday only. Anything left after the sale will be donated to charity. If you can't bring your stuff to us.. I will come to you! (if you live a reasonable distance) ALL money from this yard sale goes towards paying for events put on by the IE chapter. IF you want to donate your time and help us during the yard sale PLEASE contact me! we NEED your help! this is a lot of work! Setting up, dealing with the customers, (and their kids) and generally running non stop for a whole day is tuff! BUT we do have a blast doing it! Again, contact me with questions or volunteering or donations. Thanks! Dea


April 28-29, Tehachapi, CA
“SHAMAN’S VISION”, Mountain Tribal Chapter presents a fusion-themed event of Magick, Myth and Fantasy! Workshops with Marguerite and Saahira, “Sorceress of the Emerald Winds”. Details to be announced. Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 125 East F Street, Tehachapi, CA 93561. 661-822-1083 silk_road_legacy@ridgenet.net


POSTPONED ---->May 5-6, Victorville, CA
Desert Communities & Inland Empire Chapters present the 2nd Red Tent Hafla! Contact Blaize at: dancingearthgirl@verizon.net


June 9-10, 2007 ARCADIA, CA
CAIRO CARNIVALE 2007 returns to Santa Anita Park for 2007. MECDA will continue to have their outdoor Gypsy Camp in the Paddock Gardens. Directly above this venue, will be a more accessible and spacious Bazaar location, in the track’s “Top of the Stretch”.
MECDA will be offering workshops by some of the country’s finest: Karim Nagi of TurboTabla fame, Sahra Saeeda with her Egyptian classic style, Jim Boz, the internationally renowned performer & choreographer, and Amy Sigil of Unmata for Tribal classes.
Be sure to experience our Saturday evening show, the spectacular “Ra, Eclipse of the Sun,” produced and directed by Sahra. This exciting evening show will feature performances by all instructors.
Applications for Volunteers, Performers, Program & Shimmython Info should be delivered with this issue of the Happenings and will be available soon after, online. Watch for more details & on the MECDA website.

June 30, Redlands, CA
Inland Empire Chapter will host Punk Raqs.

August 4, Redlands, CA
Inland Empire Chapter will host a student recital.

October 13, Redlands, CA
Inland Empire Chapter will host a Halloween Party.

NEW MECDA PROJECT

Perhaps the Purple Rose of Cairo will become a reality, as MECDA embarks on new project. The Central Board will be applying to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade held on New years Day. We expect that it may take from 1 to 5 yrs to be accepted, which will give us time to raise the money needed to build our own float. The funds will come from fund-raising projects, events and contests. You may even win (or purchase?) a spot ON THE FLOAT. We want to have boothes at Mecda sponsored events & need the help of all the Chapters & members. Look for the first one at Cairo Carnivale 2007.

This is a large endevour & will take a dedicated committee to accomplish. So, we are looking for some very special people to help us make this project happen. The reward will be seeing our creation parading down Colorado Blvd in front of millions of viewers. If you feel you have the time, dedication and perserverence contact our committee chair, Avianna, at roseparade@mecda.org.

In Memoriam

Frank Campa passed away Jan 8, 2007. He was the brother of Lucy Diaz & Benny Campa, dedicatd MECDA members of the BC Chapter. Our hearts go out to you at this sad time. Condolences can be sent to them at: 15824 Arrow Hwy, Irwindale, Ca, 91706

!! IMPORTANT!!
ADDRESS for FLYERS:
MECDA Happenings Flyers, c/o Dea Koepfle
807 N. Vista Ave, Rialto, CA 92376
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PLEASE SUBMIT your event listing flyers & classified ads online
DEADLINE IS THE 10TH!!! Of the previous month.
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HAPPENINGS FLYER NEWS!!!
ALL Flyers must be sent to this Address:
MECDA Happenings, c/o Dea Koepfle
807 N. Vista Ave, Rialto, CA 92376

PLEASE note the FLYER RULES:

1. LATE FEE is now $50. (Deadline is still the 10th)
2. LATE FEE will ONLY be accepted from the 10th -13th.
AFTER the 15th DO NOT SEND FLYERS. DO NOT CALL.
3. You must supply A FULL shipment of flyers. This amount varies & is always contained in the current issue. (Currently its 500.)

NEW STANDARDS ARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
MECDA CENTRAL BOARD MEETINGS

All MECDA members are welcome to attend any and all Central Board meetings. Minutes are available by request. If you are unable to attend, but would like to contribute your ideas, please contact any Central Board officer by email or phone and your ideas will be shared. We embrace any and all suggestions on making our dance community stronger. Please share your ideas for events that would interest our members. There is additional contact information on the back cover.
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MECDA is seeking: Pamela Robertson-Lostumbo (a.k.a. GAZELLE) on a financial matter. Last known address was in Arizona. Gazelle is associated with “Cloud Creations” custom clothing and costumes business, is a teacher and performer. Information leading to contacting her would be appreciated. Thank you. MECDAdirectory@hotmail.com
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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

We looking for members in North Jersey might be interested in starting MECDA chapter? Time to gather your friends together and get involved. We have had a few inquiries and we would like to see if we can match up the interested parties, to get things going. Email to membership@mecda.org with your contact info.
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MEMBERSHIP Renewal INFORMATION

RENEW at any time to take advantage of the Specials!
Your Expiration date appears on MECDA mailing labels. Your membership expires at the end of the month indicated. To avoid a lapse in membership, renew early.

Happenings: Printed or Emailed?? MECDA can e-mail you the same image as the Printed Happenings usually a week earlier, at a savings of $15 a year.


HAPPENINGS ASSEMBLY MEETINGS 2007
Contact Dea at 909-874-1249 or Jadidea@hotmail.com to come out and help.

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www.mecda.org

You can access the Happenings current flyers on MECDA’s web-site: www.mecda.org & click on “Happenings” – and then on “Flyers” when it appears below that.
For travel instructions, check www.mapquest.com
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S H E L T E R D O N A T I O N S:
In keeping with MECDA’s commitment to abolishing family violence, we request that you bring new personal hygiene items and/or any gently used clothing that you may no longer need to MECDA’s Dance Parties. Your donations will in turn be taken to the nearest shelter for the benefit of battered women on behalf of MECDA. Thank you!
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Dance Party Hostesses ... remember to submit your event particulars - such as travel directions, cost of admission, parking info, links to maps, etc. - to us as soon as possible so your event can get as much exposure as possible. You will want to send this information to both our Party Coordinator parties@mecda.org & the Happenings Editor at happenings@mecda.org .

FINALLY SOMETHING THAT IS FREE! REALLY!
Help Fund Mammograms for Low Income Women! Visit The Breast Cancer Site at http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/home every day
and click on the pink "Fund Free Mammograms" button
to help fund free mammograms for homeless, low-income women.
It costs you nothing to help make early detection and survival possible. Funding is paid by site sponsors and goes to the nonprofit National Breast Cancer Foundation, who uses it to grant access to mammography to women in need. You can click once per day.
Pass it along as a way to fight breast cancer all year long!

MECDA MEMBERSHIP FORM

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MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS NEW RENEWING*
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E-MAILED Happenings Membership $35 $30

International E-mailed Happenings & Chronicles.$60

Family Membership- Full price for first member; $9.00
for each family member at the same address.
Name of Family Member: ___________

Renewals:Must be received within 60 days of expiration

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