Neighborhood Nonprofit Spotlight: Oregon Bluegrass Association

Patch talks to Christine Palmer of Oregon Bluegrass Association (OBA) about the ways it strengthens the folk music scene in Oregon.

Patch: Tell Patch a little bit about your organization!

Oregon Bluegrass: During a picking party in 1982, Steve Waller of the Sawtooth Mountain Boys as well as some of his band mates came up with the idea of forming an organization that would facilitate networking among both those who played an instrument and those who just appreciated bluegrass music. That evolved over the next 34 years, the organization became more organized while retaining its core as a social club that is meant to facilitate having fun.

Bluegrass has many branches to the tree and is by no means confined to only the ‘old time’ sound. At festivals during jams we hear many 60's era tunes (such as the Eagles, Crosby, Stills and Nash and even the Moody Blues) that have been ‘bluegrassed up’ by using a banjo or mandolin to play the melody. The goal is to have fun. And it offers quite the social life. My husband and I go to probably four or five festivals a year. Sometime we camp, sometimes we rent an RV. But as soon as we get there, there are willing hands to help set up our tent and we feel so welcome. That was the way it was from day one. That’s my takeaway from being a part of this organization: these are the nicest people on earth. The commonality is the music but you don’t have to play to be a part of it. At a festival, you can watch the stage shows, then wander around the campground and listen to some of the best acoustic music you can find.

Patch: How does your organization help to strengthen the local community?

Oregon Bluegrass: We’re all about appreciating and preserving what we call America’s original folk music. We operate a couple of programs. One is Chick’s Kids, which offers kids ages 7 to 14 the opportunity to learn to play guitar, banjo, mandolin or bass at no charge. Chick’s Kids meets once a month and performs at four or five festivals per year. We also have a scholarship fund that helps local musicians achieve their goals – for instance, if a local musician is invited to showcase their music at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s annual conference in Raleigh NC, we can offer some financial help with getting them there. This scholarship fund, called the Steve Waller Scholarship Fund, is still in its infancy.

We have a good start on fundraising and are just now in the process of forming the criteria for applicants, which we hope to have completed in the next 3 or 4 months. Our website is also a great central location to find a jam to play in, which events such as festivals and concerts are coming up and a great list of bluegrass bands for your next occasion. We’re also adding a page of instructors if you’d like to learn an instrument. And as of the last year, we are hosting concerts with national bands who are on their way through our area.

Patch: What is the biggest struggle your organization faces?

Oregon Bluegrass: Because we are a social club, it’s hard to say that there is anything that we struggle with. Our members pay $25 per year to belong and we sell merchandise and have concerts. Those things underwrite our web hosting, insurance and the basic needs that we have. We’re more about getting together and enjoying each other.

Patch: What do you hope for the future of your nonprofit?

Oregon Bluegrass: I hope the scholarship fund is able to help some local musicians launch their careers in music. Or help pay for their education. I hope that after Stacey Harnew-Swanson is finished running Chick’s Kids, that we find a person with the same enthusiasm to continue it. Chick’s Kids will always be a part of the OBA.

Image via Christine Palmer; Oregon Bluegrass Association