Date: April 24th 2007

April 24th, 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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MECDA Events

April 28 - SLO CHAPTER -"MECDA Movie Night" on Saturday. We will be showing the movie "The Bellydancers of Cairo". Doors open at 5:30 with the movie starting at 6pm.

IE Yard Sale ~ April 28, Rialto, CA
MECDA IE chapter is having another yard sale. So look for that junk that’s nice enough to sell & bring it any time on FRIDAY, the 27th to get it ready. If you can’t drop it but live close, I will pick up. The sale is only Saturday. Left overs will be donated to charity. ALL money goes towards paying for IE events. IF you want to donate your time & help us during the yard sale PLEASE contact me! we NEED your help setting up, dealing with the customers, (and their kids) and generally running non-stop BUT we do have a blast, doing it! Contact Dea at 909-874-1249 or jadidea@hotmail.com

Shaman’s Vision ~ April 29, Tehachapi, CA
Mountain Tribal Chapter presents a visionary scenario in this all-new fusion-themed event of Magick, Myth and Fantasy! Workshops: Marguerite: “The Shaman’s Dance”. Saahira: “Quest for the Vision”. Live music by Fontain’s M.U.S.E. (www.beatmagic.org) Join us for an eclectic mix of fusion, tribal, interpretive, gothic and folkloric dance! Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 125 East F Street, (93561). Vendors, Dancers info: 661-822-1083 silk_road_legacy@ridgenet.net


Cairo Carnivale Audition ~ May 19, North Hollywood, CA
Help MECDA improve! Last year, many people missed the Carnviale Entrance. Lets’s bring the Carnivale atmosphere to the public at the entrance and set the mood. Sign Twirlers will be on Huntington Dr. at the street entrance. Use your own props, a sign, cane,veils or sword to twirl and wave. Greeters will be outside the entrance to Cairo Carnivale dancing and answering questions. Greeters must bring their own music & battery-operated CD/tape player or your personal musicians. All sign twirlers and greeters are volunteers and each shift is 2 hours long. Volunteering gives you free admittance into the Carnivale the day you volunteer. Bring what you are planning to wear at Cairo Carnivale to the audition, any props you will be using and your music. We only have the studio for 2 hours, so don’t be late! The auditions will be held from 12-2PM in Studio B at The Debbie Reynolds Studio: 6514 Lankershim Blvd, (91606) 818-985-3193 Info: Linda at 310- 369-5543 M-F,
10-6pm inda.fleischman@fox.com

CAIRO CARNIVALE ~ June 9-10, Arcadia, CA
Cairo Carnivale returns to Santa Anita RaceTrack with the outdoor Gypsy Camp in the Paddock Gardens leading to the spacious new Bazaar Stage & Shopping area.
This years featured Instructors are: Karim Nagi of TurboTabla fame, Sahra Saeeda & her classic Egyptian style, Jim Boz, performer & choreographer, and Amy Sigil of Unmata for Tribal classes. Each Teacher offers a different class each day. LIMITED SPACE! Online deadline is JUNE1st. Class details in brochure & online!
This year’s “Saturday Evening Show” will be held on the Bazaar Stage (indoors) & will be SAHRA’s spectacular “Ra, Eclipse of the Sun”, featuring Sahra & her dancers PLUS performances by all Cairo Carnivale instructors.
MECDA needs YOU! VOLUNTEER & get in FREE!
For 2hrs of work at the one of the many needed positions, you get admission to the carnivale that day, a goodie bag with raffle tickets & treats AND MECDA’s gratitude.

NEW THIS YEAR at Cairo Carnivale!
MECDA will offer a FABULOUS prize for the LAST Raffle EACH Day. Please, note that for these special prizes only: YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN & able to take it then. Saturday’s prize is a SAROYAN SCIMITAR, donated by Harry Saroyan. Sunday’s prize is a television. These SPECIAL Raffles will be on the GYPSY Stage, look for the exact time in the Cairo Carnivale Program.
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Flowers to raise funds!! MECDA will sell T-shirts with our PURPLE ROSE Logo & PLUMERIA cuttings at the Carnivale to go towards a Pasadena Rose Parade float. To volunteer for this event or be on the float committee, contact Avianna at: aviannabd@aol.com
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Performer-Volunteers must include admission payment with their applications. MECDA will hold your check & return it to you at your assigned volunteer shift.
MECDA Dance Party ~ June 24th, Laguna Beach, CA
Hosted by Jheri St. James. The event will be held at the Veterans Memorial Community Center, 384 Legion St, (92651). 1-5:30pm. POT LUCK! Raffle! Dancers or Info
Contact Jheri at 949-494-5031, jheristjames@yahoo.com
Admission: MECDA member $4 (Or $2 WITH pot luck)
NON-MECDA $5 (Or $3 WITH pot luck)

Punk Raqs ~ June 30, San Bern., CA
“PUNK RAQS:This ain’t your mothers bellydance!” is presented by the Inland Empire Chapter, from 1-6pm at Cal State University San Bernardino’s Event Center, “Santos Manuel Student Union”, 5500 University Parkway, (92407). Admission: $5. Dancers, Vendors, or for info contact Dea jadidea@hotmail.com 909-874-1249

IE Student Recital ~ August 4,
San Bernardino, CA
Presented by MECDA’s Inland Empire Chapter. at Cal State University San Bernardino’s Event Center, “Santos Manuel Student Union”, 5500 University Parkway, (92407). 1-6pm. Admission: $5. This event is for belly dance STUDENTS & the NON professional dancer who would like the experience of dancing on a stage without the pressure of competing withan “advanced” dancer. Contact Dea: 909-874 1249 jadidea@hotmail.com

Future MECDA Chapter events
Aug 5 or 12: DC ~ Double Veil workshop with Anaheed
Sep 20: DC ~ Desert Chapter Student Dance Recital
Oct 13: IE ~ Halloween Party.
Oct 27: SLO ~ Halloween Belly Ball
Dec 13: DC ~ Jingle All The Way

CENTRAL BOARD MEETINGS
All MECDA members are welcome to attend any Central Board meetings. We embrace any & all suggestions to make our organization & dance community stronger. Minutes are available by request (contact secretary@mecda.org). If you would like to contribute your ideas & expertise, please attend a meeting or send your thoughts to CentralBoard@mecda.org or the PO Box. The next meetings are: May 20th in Redlands & June 3rd Sierra Madre. Post Carnivale Meeting TBD.

THE CENTRAL BOARD WANTS YOUR OPINION
The board is considering changes in the membership benefits & before any decisions are made we are requesting your input. Do we continue to offer the Chronicles Magazine with MECDA Membership? If not, do we find another magazine or expand the Happenings to contain reviews, with photos online OR ?? We would love to hear your ideas and opinions!

HAPPENINGS ASSEMBLY MEETINGS
The IE team will be assembling the Happenings on*:
May 19, Jun 16, Jul 21, Aug 25, Sep 22, Oct 20, Nov 17, Dec 22. To help contact 909-874-1249 or Jadidea@hotmail.com Dates may change

Welcome New MECDA Members of 2007

Gail Lopez, Sheila Schultz, Dee Dee Asad, Peggy Estes, Lee Anne & Katherine Rose Zajicek, Nancy Crouch, Annabelle Walker, Amy Montevaldo, Tanya Lee, Hiromi Leach, Holly Dorushka, Cheryl Mayer, Chelle Hendrix, Harriet Myers, Nancy Shomo, Amy Geiszler-Jones, Teresa Click, Mary Seitz, Carolyn McLellan, Nancy B. O’Donnell, Annaka & Bridget Blomfield, Sabrina & Lorraine Hertzberg, Roy Griner, Oceana Wintermute, Heather Howard, Brandie Franks, Raye DeRoss & Family, Rosaura Updyke, Liliana Sanchez, Allison Dreyer, Noemi Nunez, Susan & Jeff Swiggers, Debra Kochheim, Cindy Sanchez, Patricia Ford, Jilly Mandeson, Dave Frankus, Leslie Aldrich, Margaret Farrington, Marley Kent, Sharon Rose, Gerrie Ordaz, Paula Barber, Amaya Mattei, Kim Sakkara, Richard Lowe, Daria Freeman, Eden Lighthipe, Yvonne Holowell, Glenn Gunnels, Jennifer Morel, Tarri Peters, Brighid Malone, Linda Brown, Patrica Ann Solomon, Mae Phillips, Tevaites Fearnley, Sean Weiland, Rivkah Entin

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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 missing a mailing, renew early.
Happenings: Printed or Emailed?? MECDA can e-mail you the same image as the Printed Happenings which arrives about 10 days sooner, at a savings of $15 a year.
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!! 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.




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