John Dilbeck Musings

I want to thank my friend, Jerry Chautin, for alerting me to an article in the New York Times, A Basket Case in North Carolina, written by David Rakoff, and published on May 20, 2007.

In this article, the author talks about taking a week-long class at the John C Campbell Folk School, in Brasstown, NC.

Originally, like most men, he wanted to experience the thrill of blacksmithing, of smiting hot steel and shaping it into new forms with fire, hammer, and anvil, but (for reasons he details in the article) he changed to taking a basket weaving class.

As a true lover of the Folk School and all that goes on there, I felt the resonance of reading what I know to be true about the Folk School experience, not just what happens when taking a class and learning a new skill, or improving your ability to create pieces of art in your chosen craft.

Mr. Rakoff talks about the unexpected moments of silence and “getting into the zone” that artists strive for while transforming the vision in our minds into the item in our hands.

This is one of the best articles I’ve read about the Folk School, and I recommend it to you. I don’t know how long the New York Times keeps these articles archived, so maybe you should read A Basket Case in North Carolina, now.

(For more information about the John C. Campbell Folk School, its classes, crafts, and events, call 828-837-2775 or 1-800-FOLK-SCH (800-365-5724) or visit www.folkschool.org.)

“Funding Secrets to Start, Expand, or Buy a Business,” a free workshop, will be presented on 5/21/07 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM in the Patterson Building at the Tri-County Community College’s main campus in Murphy.

The instructor is volunteer SCORE business counselor Jerry Chautin. He has over 30-years business lending and commercial real estate financing experience. You can e-mail him for details at JKChautin@aol.com.

Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Please call Cecelia Crawford at 828-835-4318 to reserve your place.

Mike Arriola, the U. S. Small Business Administration’s Senior Area Manager for Western North Carolina, in cooperation with the Small Business Center at Tri-County Community College and SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), will offer a free workshop on financing techniques for businesses and will provide attendees with an opportunity to ask questions about other SBA programs. SCORE and Small Business Center representatives will be available for expanded business counseling and mentoring.

The workshop will be held at Tri-County Community College on January 14, 2005. If it snows, the alternative date will be January 19, 2005.

You can learn more about the SBA and its programs by calling 1-800-827-5722 or by visiting their website at www.sba.gov.

For more information about the upcoming workshop, call Cecilia Crawford at the Small Business Center at 828-835-4297 or email her at CCrawford@tricountycc.edu

If you have corporate or small business skills, and a desire to help business owners succeed, SCORE would like to speak with you about volunteering at the Murphy branch office. Contact Jerry Chautin at PO Box 254, Murphy, NC 28906 or via email at JKChautin@aol.com .