Hello All: 

 

Hope you are staying cool.  Here are a few updates!

 

NOVEMBER WASHINGTON HOTEL. We now have hotel information for the Washington Concert in November.  It is the Sheraton Crystal City, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202, Tel: 703-486-1111.  Our group rate is $159 per room per night single or double occupancy.  Call 1-888-627-8209 for reservations.  Identify yourself with the VA-National Medical Musical Group to get our special rate. You may also make your reservation online at http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/VANMM.  Scroll down the page and click on the blue box “Reserve” to make a reservation.  Our price is good from Friday, October 30 through Friday, November 6.  Rehearsals start Saturday afternoon, October 31.  The hotel has a free shuttle from Reagan National Airport.  Reservations cut off date is September 30, 2009, or when our assigned block of rooms are taken.  This may happen early on, so I encourage you to make your reservation soon.  Their regular price is much higher!  Remember that you must be duly registered as a VA-NMMG member for 2009 in order to obtain our rate at the hotel.

 

NOVEMBER REHEARSAL SCHEDULE.
Saturday, October 31:
2:00 – 5:00; 7:00 - 10:00 pm at the Sheraton Crystal City, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202, Tel: 703-486-1111. 

Sunday, November 1: 2:00 - 5:00 pm and 7:00 - 10:00 pm at the Sheraton.

Monday, November 2: 7:00 - 10:00 pm at the Sheraton.

 

Tuesday, November 3: 7:00 pm. Dress Rehearsal (casual dress) at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave., NE, Washington, DC, 202-526-8300, www.nationalshrine.com.  Free parking at the Basilica, or you may use our group bus transportation from the Sheraton departing at 5:30 pm (There is a charge!)   If you wish to use Metro transportation, the Basilica stop is Brookland-Catholic University on the Red line.

 

Wednesday, November 4: 6:30 pm PRECONCERT, and 7:30 pm CONCERT at the National Shrine.  Buses depart the hotel 5:00 pm.  Bus charge: $20 – it is subsidized by VA-NMMG.  This charge covers the two roundtrips on Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

CONCERT RECAPS.  As you know, we will perform twin “Healing for the Nations” concerts in November. 


Dates and locations are:

a.     Healing for the Nations #2 – the 2009 Veterans Day Concert.  Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 7:30 pm.  At the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC (www.nationalshrine.com).  Preconcert starts 6:30 pm.

b.     Healing for the Nations #3 – 2009 Remembrance Day Concert.  Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 7:30 pm.  At the Central Hall of London in Westminster, London, England (www.c-h-w.com).  The London concert celebrates British-American friendship and its contributions to humanity.

Theme of both these concerts is “Hands Across the Sea – for Humanity”.   We hope to tape both programs live for later broadcast

 

The twin concerts advocate for two international healing causes:
(a) Peace in the Explosive Middle East.
A great gift to our servicemen and women is to forestall military conflicts which may pull them into harm’s way.
(b) Malaria Eradication in Africa. The UN agency “Roll Back Malaria” and the international organization “Malaria No More” are helping us in this anti-malaria quest. 

 

REPERTOIRE. As I said in my previous message, there are many factors that impact it this year, and therefore the process is a bit more complex than usual.  However, the repertoire is close to completion, and I’ll share it soon.  Music will be mailed out in August. 

 

PARTICIPATION POLL.  As in past years, we are polling our members to confirm participation in our November activities.  Would you please respond by completing the brief form below?

 

Hail Britannia 2009.  We are now up to 67 travelers on the Hail Britannia 2009 trip.  We are hopeful that more travelers will join us and I encourage you, if you have not signed up yet, to reconsider – with the idea of traveling with us!  The London Concert is shaping up to be spectacular.  Several London choirs and orchestras will collaborate with us.  Our London Massed Chorus in now about 180 singers strong and the Orchestra about 45.  For those of you who may have been reluctant to travel, this really is the year to travel!!   

 

Tour details and Trip Registration Forms are on our website www.medicalmusical.org, click on “Hail Britannia”.  Remember that you must be a duly registered 2009 member in order to qualify for the trip. To register on line, go to www.medicalmusical.org, click on “Join”.  Remember also to claim your reward of a free Optional Excursion, except for the Thames River Dinner Cruise, if you register a new traveler on the trip.  For questions, call our office at 202-797-0700, or email vanmmg@hotmail.com.

 

2009 REGISTRATIONS. If you haven’t done it yet, please register for the 2009 season.  Registrations are good for one calendar year, and you must be duly registered in order to participate in the concerts, hotels, trips, etc.  Also, try to send in a donation if you can.  We surely need it this year!  Donations are tax deductible – see below. 

 

DONATIONS.  I hate to keep bringing this up – but this has been a difficult year for fundraising.  I would encourage all to continue to be as generous as you can – and have been – in contributing to VA-NMMG, over and above the Registration fee.  Thank you all who made contributions!  See the updated categories on the Registration Form.  For registrations using a credit card, go to our secure site www.medicalmusical.org, click on “Join” and “Donate”.  You may also print the form posted on the website and mail it with your check to VA-NMMG, Attn: Robert Wisleder, 197 Juniper Lane, Hanover, MA  02339-1247. 

 

PERSONALIA. 

Two of our doctors have published books!

1.       Rick Holm, MD (Bass and South Dakota Governor of the American College of Physicians).  Rick has recently released "The Picture of Health: A View from the Prairie."  The book features Rick's essays on medical topics, illustrated with photographs by Dr. Judith R. Peterson, a Sioux Falls physician.  For more information about the book and about Rick’s weekly TV program, go to http://oncall.sdstate.org/. Congratulations Rick!  The book is outstanding and a treasure trove of health information and anecdotes.  Rick’s email address is rickholmster@gmail.com.    

 

2.       Bob Green, MD (Violin and Former Concert Announcer).  Bob has published a medical memoir, "A Journey through Medicine". It contains a series of vignettes reflecting Bob's practice and interrelationships with patients over the years. The book is generally available, including from the publisher, www.huronriverpress.com. Congratulations, too, Bob! We look forward to finding more about your fascinating life and rich professional experiences.  Bob’s email address is rgreen@med.umich.edu.

Regards to all. 

 

Please [Click Here] to complete our concert participation poll before Aug. 05, 2009

 

Victor