June 21, 2009. Chevy Chase, Md. Blue Grass Festival.

It was a big deal for Artemas, our very small community at the farm. The young women put it all together. The purpose of the event was to raise money foe a new baseball diamond for the Little League teams. These young women are a competent group, to plan, organize, cook and serve enough people to raise the funds to build the field for their kids. For years the field was on the property of the Columbia Gas Company and was given free of charge, but someone discovered at the Company, that the community events being held on the property was actually kids playing baseball, and the legal beagles would not allow it, so next season, the kids would be out of a playing field. The wives took over.

They hired a blue grass band from Bedford and they invited everyone in sight. They cooked all the food which was all donated and they put on a bang up event. To raise money, they only ask for donations for the ball field, so whatever you wish to donate goes to the field. Someone else donated the funds for the band. Now this is not a wealthy community, so I will be interested to hear how much money they raised. It would be possible to attend the event, eat dinner, listen to the band and yet not put any money in the pot. They tell me that they make more money at these fund raisers if they just ask for donations rather than set the price of admissions. I have figured out lots of other things they could have done to raise more money, but Tammy said they want and need the good will of all the community, and do not want to be looking like they are a nuisance.

At dinner we talked to a couple from Everett, who came just to hear the band. When they went through the dinner line, no one asked them for money, so during the meal, they asked us when and how they pay. We explained the system, so immediately they went and put twenty dollars in the jar. After the team awards were presented, where two of the three teams won the County championship, they went a bit deeper into their pockes and put twenty more dollars in the pot. The band was great. Very energetic and enthusiastic and talented. The whole event was impressive, all put on by these young women from Artemas.