Message from Nick Baskerville, VASA President
Message from Clint Atwater, VASA Treasurer and Membership Chair
Message from Darlene Green, VASA Board Member
Message from Beth Ohlsson, VASA Secretary
Surrounded by Excellence
Reflections on the VASA Virtual Gathering 2021 by Beth Ohlsson The Virginia Storytelling Association (VASA) had its annual Gathering virtually this year, and even though I am truly “Zoomed-out”, I was blown away by the caliber of this year’s event. The event was organized and coordinated by Mylinda Butterworth, who graduated with me from East Tennessee State’s Master’s program in Storytelling. Organizing, coordinating, and marketing conferences is Mylinda’s strong suit. In fact, her Capstone Project was a how-to guide for … Continue reading →
Board Spotlight: Clint Atwater
Clint Atwater What propelled you into oral storytelling? I was introduced to the world of oral storytelling through Toastmasters. I have been involved in Toastmasters since 2012. During a conversation with some other Toastmasters, I commented that the speech projects I enjoyed the most were those where I shared personal stories. My friends suggested that I attend Sounds of the Mountains Storytelling Festival, which I did in 2018. To say that I was blown away is a significant understatement. I … Continue reading →
Board Spotlight: Anette Stjarnhjarta
Anette Stjarnhjarta What propelled you into oral storytelling? My little brother Hans. He would ask me to tell him about my dreams and that led him to ask for stories. I enjoyed telling stories and to see how happy that made him. What is one story you heard that stays with you after many years – and why? The story about Pippi Longstocking. Pippi is red-haired, freckled, unconventional, and superhumanly strong – able to lift her horse one-handed! She is playful … Continue reading →
Board Spotlight: Nick Baskerville
Editor’s Note: This is the first of a series of Spotlights on your current VASA Board members. In the next few weeks, we’ll spotlight Nick Baskerville, Clint Atwater and Anette Stjarnhjarta. I’d love to see your picture, name and story up here in the near future. Nick Baskerville What’s the value of telling stories for you? In listening to stories? The biggest value I see with being a storyteller or a story listener is seeing the same perspective. A well-constructed … Continue reading →
What it means to be a VASA Board Member during a pandemic
By Clinton Atwater Editor’s Note: Another in our series of notes from VASA Board members. Clint also serves as our Association Treasurer, and as such has brought a steady, intelligent and pragmatic hand to VASA’s finances. When Gayle Turner asked me if I would consider being on the Board of Directors for VASA, I was both intrigued and honored. What I never considered is that my service would coincide with a pandemic. What a year it has been! Over the … Continue reading →
The Joy of Serving on the VASA Board
This mini-memoir by VASA former President and Board Member, Gayle Turner, is the first of a series of articles by present and former Board Members telling their stories of finding joy serving the board, our membership and the larger Virginia storytelling community. When I decided to explore the world of storytelling someone, I do not remember who, but I am eternally grateful to them, told me I should check out the Virginia Storytelling Alliance. I discovered they were holding their … Continue reading →
2021 VASA Gathering
June 3 – 6 2021 The 2021 VASA Gathering: “Stories That Matter!” A Virtual Extravaganza of Storytelling, Workshops, Story Swaps and Story Coaching! Keep your eyes open for the Gathering Call for Tellers and Presenters, The Conference Program, Registration and Connection Information. Gathering news and information will be posted here and on our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/VAStorytelling A special edition of the VASA Newsletter will also be sent to all VASA Members.
Continue reading →Tales of the Decameron 2020-2021
Wikipedia, my real brain, tells us that: The Decameron is a collection of novellas by the 14th-century Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375). The book is structured as a frame story containing 100 tales told by a group of seven young women and three young men as they shelter in a secluded villa just outside Florence to escape the raging Black Death (of the mid-14th Century). The tales of love in The Decameron range from the erotic to the tragic. Additionally, … Continue reading →
Once Upon a Time…VASA President’s Message 2020
When I came in a few months ago as the new VASA Board President, we were all in COVID-19 lockdown. Our annual meeting – the Virginia Gathering – had moved to a Zoom platform, performances and schools were cancelled, libraries and gathering places were closed. We don’t know how long the social implications of COVID-19 will last. The Black Lives Matter movement has opened our eyes further to injustices in and around us. Climate change and partisan politics threaten and divide us more than … Continue reading →
How Storytelling Can Save the World
Posted by Les Schaffer Once upon a time, I heard, storyteller Dovie Thomason say something like, “Whenever I did something bad, instead of punishing me, my Grandma, told me a story. I got to hear a lot of stories.” I can certainly relate to this as my Grandma did about the same. I might not have always listened, but I sure got a sense of right behavior, who I was and where I’m from. My Bubbie’s stories helped save this … Continue reading →
A Hearty Yes! The Human Thirst for Tales of Heroism
Editor’s Note: Scott Allison, my friend and true hero in his own right, reminds us of our need for Hero Stories, as almost never before in these strange and dangerous times. We storytellers may not be the creators of a Covid-19 vaccine, but by bringing Hero Stories to today’s audiences, we will provide a virtual fail-safe medicine for soul and spirit. Les Schaffer, August 10, 2020 A Hearty Yes! The Human Thirst for Tales of Heroism by Scott T. Allison … Continue reading →
VASA Blog Needs Feeding
What is a Blog? Blog [bläɡ] NOUN: a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style. synonyms: description · report · version · story · narration · narrative · statement · news VERB: add new material to or regularly update a blog. “it’s about a week since I last blogged” Now that you know what a Blog is, it’s time for you to support … Continue reading →
Jackie Baldwin
Dear storytelling friends, Many of you already know that our dear Jackie Baldwin transitioned last month. While we knew her as a storyteller and owner of the Story-Lovers website that gave us all so many gifts of story, there was so much more to this warm, remarkable, generous woman. Jackie’s daughter Val posted this about her and she gave me permission to share it with all of you. What a life she lived! “On June 12th our family lost its … Continue reading →
A Swede in Fredericksburg VA: Standing out and Building Community
It was great to see so many of you at last week’s Online Gathering. In these days of isolation and anxiety, it was, for me, a healing experience to meet (if only on Zoom) and talk to you. And, speaking of meeting, here’s a chance to meet and get to know a bit, one of our new Board Members, Anette Stjärnhjärta. Anette is a very smart, outgoing, and totally charming person who is the chief energizer and organizer of Fredericksburg’s … Continue reading →
How Can We Up Our Storytelling Game
Dear Storytellers, Story-listeners, Story-lovers: I’m Les Schaffer, storyteller, Virginia Storytelling Alliance (VASA) Board Member, and now tasked with editing the VASA Blog in what may be the darkest times I’ve ever lived through. And I’ve lived through the Great Depression, WWII, the Polio epidemic, the threats of nuclear and environmental destruction, decades of seemingly endless wars, Civil Rights good and bad times, vast and violent financial instability, and more than enough personal crises and issues. You’re never going to kill … Continue reading →