Jana Broder's DrumMagic Weblog

I have just returned from the General Assembly of the YMCA. This event happens only once every 5 years and this year was in Nashville, Tennessee. I was fortunate enough to have earned this privilege by serving at my local YMCA and receiving volunteer of the year. The YMCA is my charity of choice. I believe in it's mission. I am still amazed at the number of folks that are positively touched by the efforts of our local YMCA's. It is not only a pleasure to volunteer for this organization, it's an honor.

The event was held at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville. That is 54 acres of bliss with it's own convention center. 5500 volunteers and staff, from throughout the 50 states and beyond, gathered for one of the most community inspiring events of my life. Speakers ranging from Dr. Phil to Cokie Roberts enlightened us with their wisdom and YMCA stories. The experience was awesome.

Take the time to visit your local YMCA. See what you can do to help your community through service at the YMCA. The pay-off is almost overwhelming. www.tampaymca.org/

Posted by Jana Broder at 01:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It has been a dream of mine, since sitting in on a panel discussion for Drum Circle Facilitators, to share what I've done here in Tampa with others that want to make it their own potential careers. I have thought for some time now that Drum Magic is a wonderful model to teach from. My only goal all along has been to get more people drumming and certainly by teaching 8 others to do what I'm doing in their own towns, I am accomplishing that goal.

So is born, the first of it's kind ever, intensive on building a Drum Circle Facilitators business. It's not really for hobby drummers. They might find this a bit too serious. It's for the motivated individual whoo thinks they are ready to leap into this work. I think more people should have my job. I often wonder why more don't. Maybe it's because they are unsure how to do it. On the home page of my website, there is a link to the program announcement. If you know of anyone that might be interested, please forward the link. Only 8 slots will be filled.

Stay safe during the start of another school year. I hope to drum with you all in the weeks to come.

Jana

Posted by Jana Broder at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sometimes I am not aware of the group I will be drumming with until I get to the location. In the case of Alpha House of Tampa, I really had no idea. I was hired by a participant in a Downtown Tampa Rotary drumming demonstration I did a few months ago. I do these free demonstrations often and I really never know what will come from them. My summer is filled with so many diverse groups that sometimes I do not have the time to research the group before I get there. All I knew is that it was called Alpha House of Tampa.

 Well, what a pleasant surprise. After an amazing team-building experience with the staff of Alpha House, I immediately went to their website to find out who they are. The drumming was so connected and so cohesive, I knew that these woman had spent some significant and meaningful time together. So, I looked it up and here is what I found:

The Vision:

To provide opportunities for pregnant and parenting women in crisis to create promising lives for themselves and their babies.

The Mission:

If you are interested in learning more about this incredible group of people in Tampa and want to know more, check out their website at  http://www.alphahouseoftampa.org/ . There are many opportunities for you to support and/or volunteer for this organization.

I can not wait to return to this group and drum with them again. It was a true highlight in my week. Just another reason why I love my job!

Posted by Jana Broder at 06:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today was a day I always enjoy each summer. It's one of the 2 days every summer that I drum with the children at Beth-El Farmworkers Ministries in Wimauma. The children range in age from kindergarten to 5th graders and take a 2 week back to school camp at the mission. This is my 3rd year helping with this project and some of the children have drummed with me all 3 years. My favorite today was a young man who said that the first year he drummed with me, he had his drum taken away from him, the second year he was the best drummer in the class and this year he's a camp counselor bringing the other children in for the drumming program. Each child gets to play djembe' with me and sing all of my favorite drumming tunes. I always ask for dancers and it still surprises me how the boys jump right up and the girls wont dance.

 So, after each class, I would open the door of the sanctuary and greet the next class. The class I last finished with goes outside to play. But, when the counselors would ask them what they wanted to play it was always soccer or kick ball or basketball. Well, the same answer came out each time...we don't have any balls. So I finished up my last class, packed up the trailer and headed right over to wal-mart. For less than $20 I bought 2 soccer balls, a bouncy ball, and a basketball and went right back to the mission. I imagine that those will be good for now but when I return on July 17th, I'll be bringing a few more.

Why do I say this? Well, sometime you might be at K-mart or Wal-mart or some other mart and see one of those huge bins filled with balls. You might want to grab a few and bring them to your local mission. It's summer camp time and they all need stuff. And, it feels really good to see those kids kicking and throwing and running and jumping. You know why? Because when they don't have the stuff they need, they just sit there.

Another great day at work!  Badabaday...Jana

Posted by Jana Broder at 04:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)