At the 2024 VASA Gathering, Donna Will stood up and shared a short story. It was so wonderful, we asked if we could post it to the blog. Here’s a history, of sorts, of our beloved Virginia Storytelling Alliance.

A Small Story of Gratitude
By Donna Will

Once Upon a time there was a workshop held in Williamsburg, given by a man named Pete. Pete Houston. From that one workshop was formed an organization for storytellers, story listeners, story lovers. This group became a force in Virginia, while over the years its fortunes ebbed and flowed. From this group sprang nationally known tellers such as Kim Weitkamp, Sheila Arnold, Darcy Tucker, Megan Hicks. And over the years tellers went on to glory, such as Max Swift, Ralph Chatham, Mimi and Rocky Rockwell, who named their mountaintop home “Castle Yonder”.

As these fortunes began to ebb even more, Covid struck, and it could have been the demise of VASA, but from Covid sprang the younger generation!  The younger generation with their energy, their tech knowledge, and their desire to carry on.

For these storytellers and lovers, and their enthusiasm, the old guard is, and will be, forever grateful.

THE END
(but thankfully, not really!)