Hello everyone.

I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to see so much in action these days! This is what we are all about folks - carrying on John's work - and we are doing that in leaps and bounds. I can just picture John sitting up there with a big grin on his face and a sparkle in his eye saying "Far out!".

As our group grows, we find that "It's About Time - The New England Family of John Denver" no longer describes who we are. So from now on we will be "It's About Time - The World Family Vision of John Denver". We will never forget our New England roots, but we have grown to so much more than that in such a very short time. This weekend marks our 6 month anniversary. Can you believe it?

For those of you who haven't visited our page in a while ( http://members.aol.com/tybrenn ), take a minute see all the work that Sandy has been up to. She's really done a wonderful job keeping our growing ranks in order. I want to ask you all a favor to help her out. For those of you listed in our "connecting with other members" section of the page, please double check your email address and let us know if it's incorrect. We've had several people change email addresses lately and it's not easy to keep up all the time. For those of you not listed in this section, it's merely an address book that provides easy access to other members by location. So if you want to be included, please let Sandy know. (Don't worry - it doesn't volunteer you for anything!)

Now that the group is in full swing, you will begin to see changes in the newsletter. I am asking everyone and anyone who wants to contribute to send me an article, statement, idea, etc. to be included each month. I do reserve the right to edit, however, to keep the length reasonable. The newsletter will also be evolving into new formats to see which types of sections will work the best. So let me know what you think of this months changes!

You will also notice that the length of the newsletter increases as the activity in the group and in the World Family at large increases. In an effort to keep it from taking forever to download on your computers, I have broken the mailing lists into 7 rather than 2. Hopefully this will help. If anyone needs to reach the group at large, feel free to contact me to get the other addresses.

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Quote of the month:

May's quote was sent in by Diana Taylor from Indiana.

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Fundraisers:

The Cyber Cookbook is available through the end of this month. To order, email me to get the address to send a check for a minimum of $5.00 made out to The Hunger Project. I will need your email address and whether you have a PC or Mac so as to provide you with the online cookbook as easily as possible. We are still awaiting a number of checks from people who already placed orders. Please try to get those in as soon as possible.

We are planning a Benefit Concert to help Windstar this August. The tentative date is Aug 2, but this may change. We are planning to hold the event at the Alpine Grove Banquet Facility in Hollis, New Hampshire (near Nashua, just over north of the Mass. border) It is a nice area with tall pines, an open field and it is next to the Nashua River. Plan for a day of music, food, games, and fun! Tickets will be $20.00 or less depending on the expected turnout. Children (6-12) will be half price. More details to follow. Right now Richard needs a big YESSSS! from many of you JD fans to get this thing going. E-mail him ASAP at RHolmes@jlc.net with the response that you would like to attend.

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Tree Plantings:

From Shirlee Laskarzewski in Connecticut:

We held our John Denver Memorial Tree Planting during our local Earth Day celebration, on Saturday, April 25. This was a follow-up to our Memorial Service held last November 12. At that time, we collected a free-will offering, and the tree was purchased with a portion of the funds collected.

Saturday was a cool, but mostly sunny day here in Plainville, Connecticut. As I walked to the spot where the tree was to be planted, I noticed a red-winged black bird in a tree alongside of the path, so that was a nice start. As 10:30 approached, a small gathering began to form near our three-foot Colorado blue spruce. We started our program with John singing "Welcome to My Morning".

After I welcomed everyone, we listened to "Singing Skies and Dancing Waters". Then I used a small spade to throw a couple of scoops of soil around the tree and invited the people to take part by taking turns doing the same. All this time, John was singing songs pertaining to the environment and the relationship of this planet's citizens to one another. After the tree was planted, the small crowd broke up. I awaited the arrival of a gentleman who had called me the day before, asking to bring his guitar to play and sing John Denver songs. A previous commitment prevented him from attending the actual tree planting. I am so glad that he came and that I got to meet this special person! Francis sings John's songs with a great deal of love, enthusiasm, and talent, as well as with the same intonations in his voice as John has.

He started off with "Rocky Mountain High" and I looked up and saw a hawk flying over the area! I pointed it out to Francis and another JD friend, Barbara. I knew then that John was surely with us in spirit. It was a wonderful day. We still had some funds left over after purchasing the tree, so we sent the rest to The Hunger Project, one of the groups near and dear to John's heart.

From Charles Paschal in North Carolina:

It was held April 18, 1998, at Hagan-Stone Park, near Greensboro, NC. The day was a huge success, in spite of the weather not being too cooperative. It was a rather cool, damp day, for springtime in North Carolina, but thankfully, we had a huge shelter rented for the event, and it contained a wonderful large fireplace! We built a nice, warming fire, which helped to set the mood as friends began to gather and mingle.

Around noon, we started our cookout. After lunch, we sat down to listen to John Denver CD's, and we were treated to an unplanned surprise. One of our new members, Greg Lemons, brought both his 6 and 12 string acoustic guitars along, and favored us with lots of JD tunes. When he began playing, JD's "I'm Sorry" was playing on the boom box, and about halfway through the song, Greg chimed right in...note for note...string for string...with JD! Greg's version of "Rocky Mountain High" was sensational!

About 2:00, we all went to the head of a hiking trail in the park, near the park entrance, and planted a Colorado Blue Spruce tree in honor and memory of John Denver. We played "Friends With You" and "Spring Is Alive (in Carolina)" during the planting. We then proceeded to the entrance to the campground, and planted another Colorado Blue Spruce there near the roadway. As Greg Lemons dug the hole to plant the tree in, one of the members casually mentioned something about how we needed so "Sunshine On OUR Shoulders" on this raw, damp day, and then, just as the tree was placed into the hole, the clouds parted, and the sun shone on our group gloriously!!! What a coincidence!

We then finished planting the tree, and drove back to the shelter, and it again began to drizzle rain. We plan to erect signs near the trees later, designating why they were planted. We then started watching JD videos. We took a vote on which one of JD's causes to take up a contribution for. Since we had planted trees, we decided upon "Plant-It 2000". This little group of people generously donated well over $100.00 to "Plant-It 2000". I am so proud of our little group...and it is so great to spend time with fellow JD fans, who truly got the messages he tried so valliantly to convey.

From Mary Ellen Padget in Indiana:

There will be a Tree Planting at Shades State Park, Indiana. We will meet on May 23rd at 11am. Brian Taylor will play and sing a set of specially requested songs, Diana Taylor will perform a Native American blessing of the tree. We may picnic, hike, or just get to know each other. More will be decided as we go along. This event is open to the public. I will say a few words to John about my commitment to carry on his causes. Input from others is welcome.

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Adopt-A-Highway

Diane Nilsson in Wilton, NH

has adopted a 2 mile section of highway and is looking for volunteers to help her keep it clean. I hope all you NH residents can give her a hand - it's a formidable task on your own and a lot of fun with a group! Please contact Diane , her email: dnilsson@tellink.net

From Mary Ellen Padget in Indiana:

Friends of John Denver - Indiana Adopt-A-Highway We had our first cleanup day on Saturday April 25. We collected 15 garbage bags in the first mile. It began to rain so we will finish May 2. Our sign should be up shortly, then we will scan a picture. (Note from Marcelle: I have a picture of their sign if anyone is interested in seeing it. It looks great!) To adopt-a-highway, you have to sign a form that you will clean your two mile stretch at least 4 times a year.

From Evelyn Pinney in Colorado (Colorado Friends of John Denver)

What: Highway Adoption Program - Weekend in Vail, Colorado!

Who: Colorado Friends of John Denver & The Antlers at Vail

When: May 22 - 24, 1998 Where: Antlers at Vail - Colorado

The Colorado Friends of John Denver have adopted a two-mile stretch of I-70 as part of the Colorado Highway Adoption Program. Our section runs between Dotsero and the Glenwood Canyon, between highway markers 131 and 133. As part of our May Weekend in Vail, we will be spending about 1.5 hours doing litter patrol along our stretch of highway, followed by a BBQ at the Antlers swimming pool! The Antlers at Vail is GENEROUSLY offering a price room rate for this event. Please call them at (970) 476-2471, and ask for ROB for details. You can visit their website at: http://www.vail.net/lodging/v.select/antlers.html What to Bring: For the highway clean-up, you'll need gloves, walking shoes, sunscreen, jackets in case of wind, water - we'll supply trash bags and reflective vests. SORRY! No children on the highway! Families and pets ARE welcome to the Antlers for the remainder of the weekendÉ.HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! For more info: Evelyn evepin@csn.net - (970) 926-0918 Brenda - coeagle@usa.net The URL for the road adoption gathering is at: http://www.jdenver.net/eagle/adopt.htm

*Anyone else that has adopted a length of highway, please let us know. Let's see if we can connect the country in John's name!

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Gatherings:

From Michael Pushard in Maine:

The "Its About Time" [New England] group had its first gathering on Sunday, May 3rd,1998,at Miriam's home in Acton, Mass. My wife, Diane, and I, were the first to arrive from Maine around 12:30p.m. We pulled in Miriam's drive and noticed a picture of John on the door, obviously we had found the right place! After meeting Miriam we unloaded the music gear and started setting up. One by one people began to show up, Maureen and her children, Paula and Pat together, Richard, Paul, Meg, Marcelle and her children, and all the way from Michigan, Brian and Chris. After some time chatting and introducing ourselves, we had a short meeting of the group to discuss the upcoming concert, and I gave a brief talk about Peace2000. Now the real fun began, the music! Boy, did we have a great time singing and playing, sharing Johns music and spirit. Everyone joined in the fun, we had Brian singing about Yellowstone,(nice rendition of a wolf howl Brian!),I was doing anything I could think of(Calypso(with Paul and Meg doing great vocals) and Wild Montana Skies with Marce, as well as Fly Away and so many others, Meg playing keyboard and singing some special original songs, Paul and Brian with such great fingerpicking and singing style. Paul did a great job with My Sweet Lady and Darcy Farrow. We all did some of our own original material and it was a fantastic time. It was hard to break away from the fun, after running over our 6p.m. time. My wife and I didn't get out of Acton until after 7p.m. We arrived home about 11:30p.m. in Newport, Maine just filled with a day of great music, fun, friendship, and sharing.

I encourage anyone else having gatherings to share their experience with us. (Yes, Julie that means you since I know you're having one in Indiana in few weeks!)

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Press Releases:

BRIAN TAYLOR TO APPEAR AT 6/27 PLANT-IT 2000 BENEFIT IN MODESTO, CALIFORNIA

TAYLOR, MI -- Balladeer and acoustic guitarist Brian Taylor of Taylor, Michigan, who is touring and performing for his 22nd year in 1998; has announced a performance addition to his "Wolves and Trees" tour, which is a tribute to the late John Denver, singer/songwriter, actor/performer and world citizen. Taylor will be performing at a benefit to be held at the 600-seat State Theatre in Modesto, California on Saturday, June 27, 1998. The event will be a fundraiser for Plant-It 2000, an organization that Denver co-founded to plant and maintain as many indigenous trees as possible by the year 2000. The tour will also include another fundraising event in Ohio in July, plus various concerts in Colorado in October and New England later this year. These concerts will all be supporting Denver's global causes. Taylor will be featuring a song Denver created shortly before his death, "Yellowstone (Coming Home)," in support of the Wolf Reintroduction Project to the Yellowstone/Selway-Bitterroot region of central Idaho. The tour will also highlight a song Taylor wrote late in 1997 and dedicated to Denver's memory, called "Eulogy." Brian Taylor Concerts will also be planting a tree in each of the locales in which he performs one of these tribute concerts.

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Reminders:

Now is the time to register for the "JD Summer Celebration 1998" at Camp Mary Orton in Columbus, Ohio the weekend of July 25-26, 1998. This will be a Windstar-like event with many one-hour sessions dealing with the environment and other JD related topics that is open to everyone. There are events planned for children ages 7 - 17. A memorial service for John Denver will be held Sunday morning. For more information, there is a website available: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Boulevard/2376/

Be sure to register fast. The cost to register goes up on June 1! Also, the lodging in the area is booking up quickly so make your plans soon.

I am working on an IAT sponsored event for the evening of Oct. 12 in Aspen. Anyone interested in helping out, please let me know! This event has real potential to be BIG so please let me know if you plan to be in Aspen that day. I'm trying to keep this event free of charge (or as close as possible) and in an outdoor setting. Anyone wishing to perform, please contact me as soon as possible.

"Colors in Time" musical memories of John Denver is the title of the CD Pete Huttlinger and Chris Nole recorded in memory of John. It is currently available through:

The price is $15.00 + $1.50 shipping (U.S.A.) Other countries should email for shipping charges. The reviews are extremely good! This is a must have!

"As the First Snows Fell in Colorado" CD is available (In Memory of JD) The words and music are by V. Buddy Renfo and Tim Malchak. Ordering Information: Price: $8.00 includes Shipping and Handling. (International orders please add $2.00) Please send your check (payable to Dreamland Productions) to:

For more information, you can visit this site: http://www.mumze.com/dreamland

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A sad note from Dorothy in New York:

It is with extreme sadness and a heavy heart that I must inform everyone that our friend, Buddy Renfro, passed away early this morning after a short but brave battle against cancer. For anyone who is not familiar with the song, "As The First Snows Fell in Colorado", Buddy wrote this song for his dear friend, John Denver. Buddy will be missed by so many people. He was a kind and generous man, who was always full of happiness. Just being in his company made you feel wonderful - full of love, full of laughter. Most notably, Buddy along with his colleagues of the Hard Travelers performed benefit concerts with all proceeds going directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Each year the group devotes countless hours on behalf of this wonderful organization. His beautiful tribute to John Denver now also stands as a legacy to remind us of the wonderful human being that Buddy was. Please join with me in prayer for Buddy, his family, his colleagues, and his friends. Let us now all celebrate his life - an honor in which is most deserving. Rest in Peace our dear friend...till we meet again...

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Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm exhausted! Wow, what a long newsletter. Guess that means we're on the right track folks. Keep the news coming!

Peace to you all, Marcelle

"It's about time we start to live it, the family of man..." -John Denver