Ann Kilkelly, Carol Burch-Brown, and Steve Bailey at ROOTS Week 2019. Photo: Melisa Cardona.
In This Issue:
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- Fly High, Ukulele Lady: Remembering Beloved ROOTer Ann Kilkelly
- Member News Release Dates
- Fiscal Sponsorship – Applications Opening & Eligibility Change
- Get Involved, Get Connected (Note the New ExComm Meeting Times!)
Fly High, Ukulele Lady: Remembering Beloved ROOTer Ann Kilkelly
Longtime ROOTS member Ann Kilkelly passed away at age 76 after a long struggle with dementia on September 9, 2023. Ann was the 30-year life partner of fellow ROOTS member Carol Burch-Brown and a friend, teacher, mentor, and collaborator to many Alternate ROOTS folks over the years.
Lisa Q. Mount writes, “Ann’s final tap performance that I saw, late at night at her last ROOTS meeting, was another of those moments when time suspended itself, and we all lived in her feet and what they knew, as other kinds of cognition had begun to falter. Singing Hard Times, not of the Stephen Foster variety but of the Ain’t Gonna Rule My Mind kind, accompanying her entry into a dance trance state, one of the most profound moments ever. And all who were present knew they were witnessing a peak performance, by someone whose craft and life were completely intertwined.”
Read our full remembrance of Ann on the ROOTS blog. There is also a beautiful obituary in the New River Valley News if you’d like to read more about her very full life.
Share your Memories of Ann
Ann’s family and friends are posting memories on this Bridging Histories page. ROOTers are invited to add photos or testimonials via this submission page, with “Ann Kilkelly” as the title. Hidden-gem dance videos welcome!
Celebration of Ann’s Life
A celebration of Ann’s life will take place on October 24, 2023 at the Creativity and Innovation District, 185 Kent Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060. Doors open 5:45 – 8PM, with performances and speeches from 6:00. Please RSVP HERE or to jburchbrown@gmail.com by October 14. In 2024 there will also be a celebration in Atlanta, Georgia (details to come).
Honor Ann Kilkelly with a Donation to Alternate ROOTS
We are deeply touched that Ann’s family invites donations in her memory to Alternate ROOTS. We promise to put them to good use.
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Member News Release Dates
As you may know, we publish two Member News editions each month to keep our community informed and connected. Here’s the key takeaway:
Your News in the 2nd Edition: We value your contributions and are committed to sharing your news with the ROOTS community. However, please note that news from members will exclusively appear in the 2nd edition of the month, which is typically released on the 3rd Monday of each month.
1st edition: The 1st edition newsletter (generally the 1st Monday of the month) will feature organizational announcements, news from the Executive Committee (ExComm) and other ROOTS Work Groups, and opportunities from the broader field.
This arrangement allows us to curate and present your news with the attention and care it deserves. We certainly haven’t forgotten about your news; we’re simply saving it for the 2nd edition to ensure it receives the spotlight it merits.
To share your news, please fill out this form by the first Monday of the month
Thank you for being an essential part of the ROOTS community!
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Fiscal Sponsorship – Applications Opening & Eligibility Change
ROOTS will begin accepting new fiscal sponsorship applications again on Tuesday, October 10!
We have made a change to the eligibility requirements. Applicants must have been either a voting or general member of ROOTS for at least one year to be eligible for the program.
What is fiscal sponsorship? Fiscal Sponsorship is a formal arrangement in which an organization with 501(c)(3) status sponsors a project that lacks exempt status, allowing the sponsored organization to seek grants and solicit tax-deductible donations under the sponsor’s exempt status. In return for this service, a fee is collected based on the total donations received by the sponsored organizations. The sponsored project could be an individual project, a one time collaboration, or a new organization.
To be eligible, the project must be in alignment with ROOTS’ mission.
For more information or to apply, please visit the website.
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—————————————Get Involved, Get Connected
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New ExComm Meeting Times
All members are invited to attend ExComm Meetings, which are held on the first Thursday of the month from 5:30-7:30 pm ET through the end of 2023. Meetings will switch to the first Tuesdays of the month in 2024.
Next meeting dates are:
- Thursday, November 2, 5:30-7:30 pm ET
- Thursday, December 7, 5:30-7:30 pm ET
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 879 9511 8235
Passcode: 498552
All approved ExComm meeting minutes are available HERE. Recently added:
Please read the minutes to stay current with the work of the ExComm and staff. If you have any issues accessing ExComm documents, marina@alternateroots.org can help you.
Membership Work Group
The ROOTS Membership Work Group works closely with the Membership team to help 1) review current practices and 2) develop new initiatives for the ROOTS membership body. This Work Group is being reactivated to dive deep into how we “do” membership, in response to ideas, concerns, and questions raised by many members.
If you are interested in joining this Work Group or want to learn more about what’s going on with all things ROOTS Membership, join the next call! All members are welcome! Please register at the links below:
———-Thursday, September 7, 6:30 pm ET
———-Register HERE
Membership Team Office Hours
The Membership Team is holding office hours every Tuesday and Thursday! During office hours, the Membership team can be reached by phone to answer any questions and assist with any membership matters.
Membership Team Office Hours:
Tuesday & Thursday: 11am – 2pm ET
(404) 577-1079 EXT. 302
Questions? Reach out to membership@alternateroots.org