Category: Cyffredinol – General

Cwrs Cymraeg Dyffryn Shenandoah

Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia was the site of our 35th annual Cwrs Cymraeg Dyffryn Shenandoah, this year organized with the help of Jaque Lyman, head of the local committee. Great thanks to Jaque for doing a wonderful job and for making everyone feel welcome and at home.

We are grateful for the kind support from NAFOW, as well as some generous donations from the Edmonton Welsh Society, the Calgary Welsh Society and a number of anonymous donors who sponsored the attendance of several students. We were pleased this year to award the Barckley Scholarship to Sarah Stevenson and the Mergenthal Scholarship to Marjorie Stump. Several bursaries were also awarded to Bill Roberts, Mary Ann O’Brien, Ceri Jones, Maegan Langer, Nicole Evans, Howard Evans (Nicole’s grandfather) and Celyn Pratt.

The weather was fine for the whole week though quite hot. Thankfully, the facilities and dormitory areas on campus were air-conditioned. The food was exceptionally good with choice and variety to suit everyone’s needs and the kitchen staff were very kind and helpful.

We were fortunate to have Geraint Wilson-Price return again to the Cwrs, this year as lead tutor. Geraint has taught on the Cwrs for many years and his easy and engaging manner make for a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Fellow tutors included Angharad Devonald, Chris Reynolds and Mark Stonelake from Wales, and Marta Diaz, John Otley and Kevin Rottet from North America. As well as running Welsh classes for levels 1 to 7, this fantastic team put on workshops for Breton, Welsh Reading for Beginners, Opera Sebon, History of the Language, Introduction to Contemporary Welsh Music, Five Important Dates in Welsh History, and oversaw production of Drych Dyffryn, the Cwrs newspaper, an excellent record of the week’s excitements.

Every evening, course participants were given the opportunity to practice their Welsh in a relaxed environment with plenty of social activities. Film night was particularly special this year as we were lent the Welsh language film Patagonia by Gren Thomas, one of its producers and a past Cwrs participant. The film follows the journey of an old Patagonian woman trying to find her roots in Wales with the help of her grandson and tracked the parallel journey of a young Welsh couple losing and finding their way in Patagonia. Look out for this film at next year’s Oscars, as it is Britain’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film. Chris led us enthusiastically on the dance floor for a twmpath, a Welsh traditional barn dance, testing our counting skills. He was aided by Brooks Jones and his wonderful banjo playing. Later in the week we held an impromptu games night where Scrabble was played in Welsh (and Wenglish). Pub Quiz night was designed by Geraint, testing our Welsh geography and popular culture. It was boisterously competitive yet friendly and, naturally, the evening ended in song.

We made our way to Harpers Ferry, an historic town in Jefferson County, for our mid-week field trip. The town is best known for its role in the American Civil War and for John Brown’s raid on the armoury. We were impressed by the costumed guides who wore their eighteenth-century frocks in intense heat.

There were three levels of competition for our Eisteddfod entries. There were several entries at the highest level this year. In an excellent repeat performance, the Chair was awarded to Rob Davis for his poem, “Gwreiddyn a chrag”. Llongyfarchiadau!

The Cwrs week culminated in a banquet. For Paul Batty this meant feasting with three generations of Welsh-speaking family – with his grandparents & Mam there too. Being all together, this was the perfect time to remember Tom Reilly, a great friend and supporter of the Cwrs, and to announce the first recipient of the Tom Reilly Memorial Scholarship, eighteen-year old Trisha Thomas, on her third time on the Cwrs. Trisha is a talented linguist, as was Tom, and has already begun her studies in languages at the University of Chicago.

Maegan Langer spoke for all declaring this year’s Noson Lawen ‘exceptional’. It truly was an evening to remember. Individual performances were given by both Cwrs veterans and greenhorns, with a number of wonderfully entertaining and hilarious class skits (ahoy there, Level 1 pirates!). There was also a performance by the Cwrs choir, accompanied by Timothy Doughty on piano and directed by myself, of a Welsh hymn, ‘Tydi a Roddaist’ and a folk song, ‘Mae’r Ddaear Yn Glasu’, learnt after only four practices. A memorable evening!

It was a great joy to see Cwrs friends again and to meet so many new people. Thank you to all the Cymdeithas Madog Board members for their hard work during the year; to Jaque Lyman for her organizational skills; Cheryl Mitchell for making such thoughtful gift bags; the tutors for their patience and expertise; and to all of you, Cwrs Dysgyblion, who made it such an amazing week.

Special thanks are due to Sarah Stevenson for her nine years spent working for the Board. Sarah’s one of the hardest working and most reliable people I’ve ever met and she’s earned a well-deserved rest. And please remember to buy her book, “Latte Rebellion”, available at fine bookshops everywhere.

Hope to see you all in Salt Lake City next summer for Cwrs Halen y Ddaear! / Gobeitho gwela i chi i gyd yn Ninas Llyn Halen yr haf nesa!

Cwrs Cymru Deg, 2010

This past summer, Cymdeithas Madog held its 34th annual Welsh language course in Cardiff, Wales on the tenth anniversary of our last Cwrs Cymraeg in Wales. Cwrs Cymru Deg, which translates as both “Wales Course Ten” and “Beautiful Wales Course”, drew a small but spirited 49 participants to Birchwood University Hall campus to study Welsh language and partake in Welsh culture.

We were pleased to see the highly respected Hefina Phillips return as lead tutor, in addition to some Cwrs favourites: Chris Reynolds, Annette Evans, Aled Llion Jones, Deian Evans, and one new tutor from Wales, Angharad Devonald. Our level five students this year had the honour of joining the Cardiff Wlpan course held at the Welsh Adult Learning Centre, Cardiff University. As always, the tutors provided a high level of teaching coupled with Hefina’s tremendous amount of energy, effort and great humour which made for a tremendous week of learning.

We had some wonderful guest speakers during the week, including Geraint Nash, senior curator of Sain Ffagan, National History Museum of Wales; the Right Honourable Dafydd Wigley, MP for Caernarfon; Efa Gruffudd, the chief executive of the Urdd; and Dafydd Iwan, musician and director of the record label Sain.

The evening activities were equally impressive and gave our students the opportunity to socialize, practice their Welsh outside of class and immerse in Welsh culture. Monday evening, we held our usual twmpath dawns but this year were treated to a live Welsh band called ‘Pluck and Squeeze’ led by the charismatic caller, Alun. Tuesday evening, we met in the Welsh language pub Y Mochyn Du for quiz night. One of our regular tutors, Geraint Wilson-Price, directed the evening, keeping us on our toes as well as full of laughter.

On Wednesday afternoon, we were taken on a tour around Cardiff, which included a visit to the Bay area, a tour of the Welsh Assembly, a visit to the Millennium Centre, and a trip to Penarth. Thanks to the help of Maggie Dower and Nance and Mike Smith of the Edmonton St. David’s Society, we were treated to a special visit with the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Keith Hyde, and his wife Ann. The Mayor gave each of our students a wonderful gift, a book called “Caerdydd: Aileni Prifddinas”. We ended the evening with a meal at the Mimosa restaurant, owned by Ioan Gruffydd.

Thursday evening we were treated to a great surprise when one of our tutors, Chris Reynolds, invited his musician friends from Swansea for a spirited session of traditional Welsh folk music. The great music continued Friday evening as Dafydd Iwan brought his guitar to the campus pub and gave a special intimate concert just for our participants. He was a good sport and stayed afterwards to take pictures with everyone and sign CDs.

On both Saturday and Sunday, we were able to make the journey to Welsh National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale. It was a wonderful opportunity for our participants to practice their Welsh as well as take part in the largest cultural event in Wales. Cymdeithas Madog held its own annual Eisteddfod, where course participants are invited to compete and demonstrate the Welsh they’ve learned throughout the week. The best entry in the top-level category this year was awarded to a young student named Rob Davis. It was very heartening to see someone that young with such a strong interest in the Welsh language. Llongyfarchiadau Rob!

A fitting end to the week was the final banquet, where we were joined by many past and present tutors including Basil Davies, Mark Stonelake and Maldwyn Pate. Amongst them was also next year’s lead tutor, whom I’m happy to announce is Geraint Wilson-Price. During the banquet, special thanks were given to Shirley McKee and Hefina Philips as this was their final year serving on the Board. Both have put in years of service, dedication and hard work. We are all eternally grateful. Diolch o galon!

It was great to see everyone once again during the Cwrs and, naturally, it was sad to see them all leave at the end of the week. Fortunately, we will have a chance to reunite next summer during Cwrs Cymraeg 2011, which will be held at Shenandoah University, Winchester, Virginia, July 17-24. Hope to see you all there!

Cwrs Cymraeg y Rhosyn Gwyllt, 2008

For the fourth time, Cwrs Cymraeg Cymdeithas Madog was welcomed back to Iowa-home of the wild rose-for our annual week-long Welsh course. Cwrs y Rhosyn Gwyllt, which translates to the Wild Rose Course, brought 47 students and seven tutors to the campus of Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa to learn the Welsh language and enjoy cultural activities, including some after-hours singing in the local “tafarn” (pub).

As always, it was a busy week but packed with hwyl. The first official course activity was dinner on Sunday followed by a welcome reception in Barker Hall lounge. Students, teachers, Board members, and local organizers were able to mingle with one another in a casual, comfortable atmosphere and enjoy a variety of snacks, including Welsh cakes. A sing-along capped off the evening, led by a new face on the Cwrs, Deian Evans-originally from North Wales, he is currently the minister of Dewi Sant Church in Toronto, Canada, and the husband of Board member and frequent Cwrs tutor Annette Evans.

In addition to Deian and Annette, course students were pleased to see Mark Stonelake return as lead tutor, along with fellow tutors from Wales Chris Reynolds and Geraint Wilson Price. Geraint, who is Director of the Gwent Welsh for Adults Centre, was another new face at Cwrs Cymraeg. Rounding out the teaching staff were frequent course tutors Hefina Phillips and Marta Diaz. As always, the tutors provided a very high standard of teaching in their daily Welsh classes as well as encouragement inside and outside of class.

Tutors also offered an array of additional opportunities to learn in the form of afternoon workshops on Welsh-related topics. This year we had a number of wonderful sessions to choose from, including Reading for Beginners, Intermediate/Advanced Reading, Welsh Conversation, Situation of Welsh: 2001 Census, Elements of the Welsh Language, History of Christianity and Cymraeg, Treasure Hunting in Y Drych, and the course newspaper. Treasure Hunting in Y Drych was offered by Lefel 7 student Martha Davies, who works with the Great Plains Welsh Heritage Project and brought samples of interesting items from early issues of the Welsh-American newspaper.

The evenings offered students and tutors alike the opportunity to socialize and practice Welsh in an out-of-class setting. Besides the unofficial gatherings at the pub for a drink and a few songs, there were organized activities each night. Tutor Chris Reynolds led Monday evening’s twmpath dawns (folk dancing) again this year, which was a great ice-breaker as well as a good workout. New Cwrs tutor Geraint Wilson Price led the quiz this year, which took place in the banquet room at La Casa Restaurant-whose helpful staff became honorary Cymry for the evening.

Wednesday we were treated to a post-lunch plenary lecture by Berwyn Jones, Ph.D., also a student on the course. Dr. Jones, President of the Great Plains Welsh Heritage Project, gave a talk and slideshow on Welsh Pioneers of the Middle West as well as the valuable work undertaken by the Great Plains Welsh Heritage Project. Afterwards, those who opted for the mid-week field trip got on the bus and were treated to a guided tour of some of the famous covered bridges of nearby Madison County, as well as an optional visit to the John Wayne Birthplace in Winterset and a cookout in scenic Winterset City Park. An intrepid group of course attendees even took a brisk hike to Clark Tower, which overlooks the scenic 100-acre park. Wednesday evening ended with a storytelling session in the Barker Hall lounge from our resident storyteller, Ginny Grove.

Thursday night a Welsh film, Solomon & Gaenor, was shown in the Carver Hall auditorium, and Friday night was the Cwrs Cymraeg Eisteddfod, honoring the winners of our literary competition. At the CM eisteddfod, course attendees are invited to compete in one of three levels of written Welsh. Prizes for the top three entrants in each category are awarded by the teaching staff, outfitted as the Gorsedd of Bards. The winner of the top-level category is awarded the miniature Eisteddfod chair to take home for the next year. This year, our winner was Ginny Grove of Denver, Colorado. Llongyfarchiadau – congratulations!

The week was capped off by Saturday night’s festivities, which included a banquet attended by several members of the local St. David’s Society as well as the much-anticipated noson lawen (merry evening). The emcee was lead tutor Mark Stonelake, and there were performances from the course choir and many individual students as well as skits from each class. The final course activity was Sunday morning’s nondenominational service, led by Deian Evans and accompanied by the course choir.

During the course week, we also experienced the tremendous warmth and hospitality of small-town, Midwest America. The staff at the nearby café and at La Casa Restaurant; the good-natured waitress at the nearby tafarn, Mojo, who didn’t even bat an eye when thirty crazy Welsh burst in upon her quiet Monday evening; or our server “Ioan” at the brand-new pizza restaurant, who actually learned some Welsh while he was taking everybody’s beer orders, the last night of the course-perhaps it was no different than other years, but the community hospitality was a treasure of Indianola which coursegoers certainly won’t forget.

All in all, it was another successful Cwrs Cymraeg. Many thanks go to the local committee, Ada Mae Lewis and Ruth Hall, for their inexhaustible efforts planning and implementing the wonderful week; and to the hardworking staff of Simpson College. Also, our gratitude goes out to the National Welsh-American Foundation for their generous grant towards our 2008 scholarship awards. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at next year’s course in Edmonton, Alberta, at the University of Alberta, Augustana Campus, July 19 – 26, 2009.

Cwrs Cymraeg yr Ymerodraeth, 2007

Cwrs yr Ymerodraeth – the Empire Course – brought Cymdeithas Madog’s annual week-long Welsh course to New York, the Empire State, for a week of language learning and hwyl. From July 22 – 29, 2007, 55 students and seven tutors converged on the campus of Sage College of Albany, New York, for an activity-packed Cwrs Cymraeg (Welsh course) that garnered rave reviews from students, tutors, organizers, and campus staff alike.

A welcome reception in the Kahl Campus Center kicked off the week, complete with a rousing sing-along, as well as a homemade cake from local organizer Pam Slotsky featuring green frosting hills and fluffy white marshmallow sheep. The reception, sponsored by the St. David’s Welsh Society of the Capital District, gave students the opportunity to meet the tutors, local organizers, Board members, and one another.

Course regulars were pleased to welcome veteran Cwrs tutor Steve Morris from the University of Swansea as Lead Tutor. Together with the Board, he assembled an excellent teaching staff: Diana Manzanilla, a former Cwrs student, made her debut as a teacher, teaching Level 1 students; Annette Evans, who recently moved to Toronto from Wales, taught Level 2; Kevin Rottet taught Level 3; Chris Reynolds, from Abertawe, also made his debut as a Cwrs teacher for Level 4 students; Elwyn Hughes of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, returned after a sixteen year hiatus to teach Level 5 and serve as our Eisteddfod’s Arch-druid; Hefina Phillips, originally from Cwm Giedd and now from Oakville, Ontario, taught the Level 5+ class; and Steve Morris taught Level 6. Meredith Rehbach led our Cwrs singing and Choir with her usual hwyl.

Of course, every member of the teaching staff provided encouragement throughout the week, not only in daily language classes but also during two sessions of afternoon workshops. Cwrs students sampled a variety of Welsh-related topics and activities during the workshops, such as Pronunciation Using Folk Songs, Welsh Conversation, Welsh Websites, and the Cwrs Choir. In the evenings, students and tutors had the opportunity to socialize and practice Welsh in a more informal environment (and we’re not just talking about the pub!). First-time Cwrs tutor Chris Reynolds led Monday evening’s twmpath dawns, or folk dance evening, starting the week on a cheerful note. Tuesday evening’s trivia quiz, led by quiz master Hefina Phillips, was just as spirited, and was followed by a sing-along at a local pub, The Fountain.

On Wednesday afternoon, we offered our sole plenary session followed by our annual day trip. Garrett Riggs of the Slate Valley Museum in Granville, New York, presented a lecture with artifacts on “North Wales in New York and Vermont: the Migration and Cultural Impact of Quarrymen in the Slate Valley.” For this year’s Day Trip we boarded the Albany Aqua Duck and toured not only the streets of Albany but its river: our splash into the Hudson afforded us a beautiful panorama of the city’s shores and buildings, its bridges, and the USS Slater, a World War II destroyer escort.

A Welsh film was shown on Thursday evening in the Opalka Gallery, Llythyrau Ellis Williams (The Letters of Ellis Williams), followed by our annual Eisteddfod on Friday evening, which was livened up by a special performance of the Dawns y Blodau courtesy of some of the course tutors. This year’s prizes went to Jim Strickland (Levels 1 and 2), Bill Roberts (Levels 3, 4, and 5), and the winner of this year’s Chair, Mary Williams-Norton for her essay on Ymerodraeth – Empire.

Saturday evening’s noson lawen, or merry evening, ended the Cwrs week just as cheerfully as it began, with a program of performances by classes and individual students. Lead Tutor Steve Morris was the emcee, with assistance from the rest of the teaching staff in the form of jokes. A few highlights of the evening included magic tricks from Board President-Elect Bill Roberts and a hilarious North Welsh/South Welsh musical duet from local New York attendees Jim Strickland and Katharine Houk. The final official course activity was the Sunday morning nondenominational service.

This incredibly well-executed and well-enjoyed week owes an enormous debt to the ever-vigilant and responsive Local Committee, led by Leslie Neumann and ably abetted by Pam Slotsky and Robert Jones of St. David’s Welsh Society of the Capital District; and their partnership with host institution Sage College of Albany and its Director of Conferences and Special Events, the gracious and patient Will Limer. The Board is profoundly grateful for their hospitality and attentiveness.

The 31st annual Cwrs was an undisputed success – and, as always, it was a bit difficult to say goodbye to new and old friends. One of the most emotional moments took place during the Saturday evening banquet, when everyone honored longtime Board member and former President Jenny Hubbard Young as she stepped down from the Board after nine years of service. Fortunately, course attendees will have the opportunity to reunite next summer. Cwrs Cymraeg 2008 will return to Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, July 13 – 20, 2008.

Cwrs Cymraeg y Cwm Canol, 2006

Despite one of the worst heat waves on record, the 2006 Cwrs Cymraeg in Stockton, California-Cwrs y Cwm Canol-was a breath of fresh air and an undeniable success. Seven tutors and nearly 55 students gathered at University of the Pacific for the Central Valley Welsh Course, July 16 – 23, 2006, meeting old friends and new for Cymdeithas Madog’s annual week of Welsh language learning.

The week began with a welcome reception sponsored by the Welsh-American Society of Northern California in the lavishly appointed President’s Room. Students who had journeyed from all over the United States and Canada were able to meet one another and greet the tutors, headed by veteran lead tutor Mark Stonelake. Mark, Maldwyn Pate, and David Morgan were the contingent from Wales, while the North American teaching staff contained a number of familiar faces: Marta Diaz, Hefina Phillips, and Meredith Rehbach, along with first-time Cwrs tutor John Good. All the tutors offered their students numerous chances to learn and practice their Welsh throughout the week during daily language classes-punctuated, of course, by much-needed coffee breaks.

Each day students were also offered their choice of afternoon workshops in topics as varied as Reading, Background to Wales, and the cwrs newspaper . In addition, there were four post-lunch plenary sessions: an informative lecture about the Welsh founder of University of the Pacific; a panel discussion on going from Welsh learner to Welsh teacher; a slideshow about the Welsh colony in Patagonia; and a look at the history of the Eisteddfod.

The evening activities offered the chance to socialize and practice Welsh in a more casual setting, while learning more about Welsh culture. Monday night’s twmpath dawns, or Folk Dance, was an excellent icebreaker. With some live musical accompaniment from tutor/musician John Good and Cwrs student Vivien Bosley, a little extra merriment was brought to dances such as the lively jac-y-do. Tuesday night consisted of a trivia quiz in the nearby Valley Brew pub, and everyone learned a few more factoids about Wales while agonizing over the challenging questions (and cheerfully accusing one another of cheating!).

On Wednesday was the mid-week field trip. Students were taken by bus to the state capital, Sacramento, where they toured the Capitol building and gardens-including a glimpse of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office-as well as walking around historic Old Sacramento. The trip was topped off by a picnic in the shade at William Land Park, a welcome cool-down after walking around in the summer warmth. A smaller group of students opted to visit the nearby scenic ranch of Lefel 6 student Wade Dowdell, and they too reported a relaxing afternoon. Upon returning, some students joined in the Welsh Games Night and improved their Welsh skills with Bingo and Hangman, followed by an impromptu storytelling session from our resident raconteur, Ginny Grove.

Thursday night was movie night. Students gathered to watch Mela, a touching film in Welsh about a young girl who becomes friends with an elderly beekeeper. Friday evening was the yearly Cwrs Eisteddfod. Course attendees are invited to participate in one of three levels of competition for a brief written piece in Welsh, and prizes are awarded by our very own Gorsedd of Bards. The top honors this year went to Lefel 6 student Janis Cortese of Burbank, California, who was awarded the CM miniature eisteddfod chair to take home until next year’s course. Prizes were also awarded to Diana Moller, the winner for Levels 3-5, and Myriah Williams, who won the competition for Levels 1 and 2.

For many, the highlight of the course is Saturday evening’s noson lawen, or merry evening. Each class performed an entertaining skit, emceed by Lead Tutor Mark Stonelake and his collection of atrocious jokes; there were also musical performances, recitations, and two songs performed by the the Cwrs choir, which never fails to amaze the audience with its skill after only a week of practice. The week was topped off by the Sunday morning nondenominational service in the beautiful Morris Chapel on the UOP campus.

All in all, the 30th annual Cwrs Cymraeg was another successful week of camaraderie and hwyl, thanks in no small part to local organizers Brenda Jones Belaski, Maxine Garrison, and Sarah Stevenson, and to photographer Bonnie Pavlis. Though temperatures were in the triple digits, spirits were equally high, making our annual course a memorable experience. This year’s Eisteddfod winner sums it up well: “Learning about my fellow students comprised a large part of my enjoyment; there are almost as many reasons to study this sweetest of languages as there are people who study it.” The Board of Cymdeithas Madog hopes to see many familiar faces next year at Sage College in Albany, NY, for Cwrs yr Ymerodraeth (The Empire Course), July 22-29, 2007.

Cwrs Cymraeg yr Afon Fawr, 2005

This past July 17-24, the annual Cymdeithas Madog Welsh course was held at the University of Rio Grande in Rio Grande, a small town with a large Welsh influence and a very Spanish name located near the Ohio River in southeastern Ohio. As always, the week was packed with Welsh learning and activities. Cwrs Cymraeg yr Afon Fawr (the Rio Grande Welsh Course or the Big River Welsh Course) was hosted by the Madog Center for Welsh Studies at the University of Rio Grande and the Cardigan Club. Jeanne Jindra, president of the Cardigan Club, and Dr. Tim Jilg, director of the Madog Center, were most gracious as the local organizers, and we owe them a big thank you-Diolch yn fawr, Tim and Jeanne!

What happens during the week at Cwrs Cymraeg? To put it simply, lots of learning and fun. The course officially starts with a reception given by the local organizers on the first Sunday evening. With nearly 70 students, young and old (though young at heart), from all over North America, our old friends greet one another and meet the wide-eyed newbies. Here we meet the board of directors, who oversee the scope and details of the course, as well as the tutors, all fluent Welsh speakers and patient teachers.

The daily routine begins early Monday morning with a plenary session led by the three lead tutors (Kevin Rottet, Meredith Roberts Rehbach, and Marta Diaz). We receive announcements, instructions about the day’s or week’s events, a Welsh song or two, and the daily Welsh proverb such as “Gorau cam, cam cyntaf ” (“The best step is the first step”).

On to our classes in which we study the Welsh Language. We had seven levels this year from beginners to fluent speakers; the beginners’ class was by far the largest and only such an experienced and dedicated tutor as Meredith Roberts Rehbach could have managed to bring everyone along making great strides during one short week. As one student put it, Meredith kept everyone “active and involved.” We had two new tutors on the course this year: Annette Evans from Toronto and Winston Evans from Chicago, both of whom are recent arrivals to North America from Wales. Students again appreciated the skill, enthusiasm, and humor all the tutors bring to the classes.

The classes met in the morning and afternoon with a break for lunch and a midday plenary session. These sessions are an interesting mix of speakers and performers on a variety of Welsh-related topics. For example, Welsh poets were extolled. In conjunction with his photographic exhibit on display in the Greer Museum on campus, Rev. Gregory Griffith spoke of the “The Poetry of R.S. Thomas and the Landscape of Wales.” In addition, highly acclaimed Welsh poet, Menna Elfyn, was beamed into our auditorium in a video conference straight from Trinity College Carmarthen in Wales where she teaches creative writing. She spoke about her latest work, Perffaith Nam (Perfect Blemish), which explores imperfection in search for completion and answered questions from the audience. All very high-tech, and we have board member and tutor Kara Lewis to thank for arranging the event.

After the afternoon class, students can attend special workshops offered by the tutors. The topics vary but include reading Welsh, learning about contemporary Welsh music, and working on the Course Newspaper.

On Wednesday, we have a special tour of the setting of the course; in this case, the land where many Welsh immigrants chose to settle. This year we had a bus ride through the Welsh Scenic Byway, stopping at the Welsh American Heritage Museum in Oak Hill, Ohio, where Docent Mildred Bangert showed us the collection of Welsh books, bibles, photographs, clothing, etc. We moved on the Tyn Rhos Church where spontaneous singing broke out among the group. The tour ended with supper served at the home of our guide, Dr. Bill Thomas who is a descendent of John Jones Tyn Rhos, one of the many Welsh immigrants who settled in this area.

The evening activities are always great fun. On the first night we dance at the Twmpath; then we stir competitive emotions at Quiz night. Thursday evening we watch a Welsh film, and on Friday, the Eisteddfod, an odd mix of the sublime and the ridiculous in which we celebrate our own great poets and writers. Winners this year were Betty Belanus (beginners’ level), Bill Roberts (intermediate level), and Rebecca Redmile (fluent level). Saturday, we have yet another class, a banquet commemorating the week, and finally the Noson Lawen-a joyous medley of laughter and performance with class skits, singing, a science lesson, the lively and lovely sounds of the dulcimer, ending with the superb Cwrs Choir singing “Dim Ond Gair” and “Clychau Aberdyfi,” directed by Meredith Roberts Rehbach.

Sunday is a time for goodbyes. Some of us attend the nondenominational church service, a quiet time of worship and song led by Meredith. When we leave, we are all exhausted yet exhilarated by the adventure.

Remember:”Gorau cam, cam cyntaf” for learning Welsh, so come to Cwrs Y Cwm Canol (The Central Valley Course), Cymdeithas Madog’s all Welsh all week, next July 16-23 at the University of the Pacific’s beautiful campus in Stockton California.

Cwrs Cymraeg Y Ddeilen Goch, 2004

The annual Cwrs Cymraeg, sponsored by Cymdeithas Madog and appropriately titled “Cwrs y Ddeilen Goch” (The Red Leaf course), was held at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, July 18­25, 2004. Pawl Birt, a well-known teacher from previous courses, was Chair of the Local Committee. Other members were Glenson Jones, Stephan Charbonneau , David Roberts, and Jean Howard. Pawl’s experience showed, as the week seemed to flow along with perfect organization by these and other skilled professionals behind the scenes. Stephan Charbonneau designed an impressive green t-shirt for the course, incorporating Y Ddraig Goch and a Maple Leaf.

All 57 course attendees were brought together by their desire to learn or improve their Welsh, and in some cases, they did so with other family members! Significantly we had some 9 different family groups participating this year. But, in addition to our band of learners, the campus was host to several groups during the week, most notably a military ceremonial guard in red uniform coats and tall beaver hats often seen in marching formation in the early morning hours. Course participants were surprised at other times by their marching music, bagpipe playing, and kilts. What a delight to exit the cafeteria from lunch to the tune of John Phillip Sousa’s “Liberty Bell March,” probably better known as the theme from Monty Python! Young students from Japan and Mexico and a team of kayakers added to the diverse makeup of the campus during the week.

The course began with a reception, graciously hosted by the Ottawa Welsh Society. The participants were introduced to their teachers, including lead teacher Mark Stonelake from Abertawe, a veteran of previous cyrsiau and lead teacher for the second year running. Also from Wales were Siân Thomas and Robin Campbell. Familiar teachers from North America were Meredith Roberts, Kara Lewis, Kevin Rottet, and Hefina Phillips.

Welsh classes were held every morning Monday through Saturday, followed by an afternoon session, except on Wednesday, when participants were taking in the sights, fresh air, and sunshine of Ottawa, and on Saturday, when last minute plans for the noson lawen were foremost in the mind.

It was busy enough during the week with language classes and preparations, but there was still more! Before afternoon classes, we had a treat , with four interesting and informative lectures given by local experts, invited as guest speakers: Mark Abley on the battle to save minority languages, David Roberts on his job as an interpreter for the Canadian parliament, Pawl Birt on saints of Wales, and Charles Fisher on growing up with Dylan Thomas in Swansea. These plenary sessions stimulated lively discussions about language, Wales, and politics. The excellent speakers brought a broader focus to our week, reminding us that language and culture are inseparable.

At the end of the afternoons, students had their pick of workshops: Welsh literature, Welsh folk songs, Welsh folktales, two levels of reading groups (beginner and advanced), and the always entertaining course paper, which was distributed on Saturday much to everyone’s delight. The teachers not only motivated and encouraged the participants in learning Welsh, but taught these workshops, held nightly study hall, and attended all the evening events. Rather than fading into the sunset after such a busy day, they were often the most spirited at the singalongs, where teacher Meredith’s song-leading and ever-present smile kept us all going.

Evening activities gave everyone an opportunity to get away from his or her studies and enjoy a variety of events: dancing at the twmpath dawns led by Robin Campbell; a quiz led by Quizmaster Siân Thomas with Welsh prizes; a Welsh movie (subtitled).A special movie, Dal: Yma/Nawr, was also shown, highlighting the centuries of Welsh poetry read by well-known Welsh personalities, including Ioan Gruffudd at the beach in Los Angeles and some of the poets themselves. The poetry was juxtaposed with scenes of the Eisteddfod in Ty Ddewi (St. David’s), and for poetry lovers, the words were beautiful. Of course, no evening activity was ever complete until after the singing of Welsh songs and hymns!

A Friday evening eisteddfod celebrated the achievements of beginning, intermediate and advanced Welsh learners, with Sarah Stevenson winning the chair for her short story on the subject “Cymdogion” (neighbors), entitled “Chwedl Ddau Gymydog” (A Tale of Two Neighbors). Sarah will keep the beautifully carved and engraved wooden chair with her until next year, when it will be given to a new winner.

A wonderful banquet complete with Penillion singers, a local Ottawa group called Cantorion Cerdd Dant, preceded our last evening of skits, jokes, music and laughter, the noson lawen. It is always amazing how creative the groups can be . . . and the laughs never quit. There were a number of requests for the words to the “Sound of Cymraeg” song, which will teach us once and for all how to say YES and NO! The final event of the noson lawen was the heavenly sound of the cwrs choir.

Of special note were the participants who were helped by scholarship support to attend Cwrs Cymraeg 2004. In all, fifteen students of Welsh received full or partial scholarships to Cwrs y Ddeilen Goch. Generous grants from the National Welsh American Foundation (NWAF) and the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association (WNGGA) funded many of those scholarships, and others were endowed by local Welsh societies—the Ottawa Welsh Society, the Welsh American Society of Northern California, and the Saint David’s Welsh Society of Georgia. Cymdeithas Madog’s own Scholarship Endowment Fund, contributions from other Welsh societies such as the Saint David’s Society of Racine and Vicinity, and individual contributors supplemented the financial aid. By bringing to Ottawa many bright students who otherwise might not have been able to attend the course, the generosity of those Welsh organizations and individuals enriched the course for everyone who was there, and they earn the warm thanks of all. Diolch o galon!

It was a great week: beautiful city, pleasant campus, wonderful weather, dedicated teachers, informative lectures, entertainment, and a celebration of “all things Welsh.” Our deepest thanks to all who helped make it possible.

Next year’s Cwrs Cymraeg is planned for July 17­-24 in Rio Grande, Ohio, at the University of Rio Grande and the Madog Center for Welsh Studies.

Cwrs Cymraeg Y Llynnoedd Mawr, 2003

Sponsored by Cymdeithas Madog, the 2003 week-long Cwrs Cymraeg (Welsh course) was primarily a time for all the participants to learn the Welsh language, but we had plenty of cultural instruction as well as community fun. This year’s course, Cwrs Y Llynnoedd Mawr (The Great Lakes Course), at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was organized, coordinated, and guided to a great success primarily by one lone Wisconsin ranger, Dick Myers. With help from Leigha Schatzman, Dick planned an exceptionally fine week with perfect weather and extraordinary views of the Great Lake Michigan. For his hospitality, apparent imperturbability, and energetic warmth, we all thank Dick, and Leigha for her behind-the-scenes role!

The course had an unusually early start on Sunday, July 20, with a grand celebration of Welsh music. At Carthage College’s Chapel, a lovely carillon concert of Welsh hymns was followed by a Gymanfa Ganu (a Welsh singing festival) in conjunction with the Welsh Gymanfa Ganu Association of Wisconsin. The carilloneur and organist for the Gymanfa was Steve Jensen of Milwaukee, Rev. Joseph Corbin of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, directed the Gymanfa, and Mary Jane Jones Smyth was the soloist. Joe Corbin, Mary Jane Jones Smyth, and Mary Davis, president of the Wisconsin GGA, were all students on the course. Many other course participants arrived early to join in the singing and welcome from the Wisconsin group.

Another unusual aspect of the course was the course t-shirt design. The t-shirt is a course tradition, and returning participants bring their shirts from past courses, wearing them with pride during the week. Naturally, each design is special, but Leigha Schatzman was instrumental in having an associate of Harley-Davidson design the shirt. The flare of Y Ddraig Goch (Red Dragon) was dramatically rendered for the course held in Harley-Davidson land!

Who were we, the people who gathered to spend a week living in college dormitories and eating cafeteria fare? North Americans of all sorts, old and young, family groups, from every region of the United States and Canada as well, beginning learners to fluent speakers, newcomers and returnees happy to greet old friends, but all sharing a fascination with all (or most) things Welsh.

Participants arrived at Carthage College passing by fields of both cabbage and corn rather than the more numerous cornfields of last year’s Iowa venue. But once at the school, we could walk along the shores of Lake Michigan. On the first evening, after the chapel music and dinner, we gathered for a welcoming reception hosted by the Saint David’s Society of Racine and Vicinity. As we mingled and greeted one another, the lead tutor, Mark Stonelake, introduced all the tutors, and Ada Mae Lewis, president of the Cymdeithas Madog Board, introduced the board members. The evening ended with a natural Welsh event, communal singing led by tutor Meredith Roberts.

Several participants received full or partial scholarships thanks to the generosity of organizations such as the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association (WNGGA), the National Welsh American Foundation (NWAF), and a number of local Saint David’s Societies (the Racine Society provided scholarships for six students this year). Cymdeithas Madog also awards scholarships from its Endowment Fund, and private individuals provide support as well; for example, this year Canadian student Stephan Charbonneau received the Ysgoloriaeth Y Ddeilen Goch (the Red Leaf) scholarship, which was offered by Pawl Birt, former President of Cymdeithas Madog and Professor of Celtic Studies at the University of Ottawa, Canada.

During the week, the main task for all of us was to learn to pronounce, speak, and read as much Welsh as possible. Classes ranged from two Level 1 groups for the beginners to advanced and fluent Welsh speakers at Level 6. The integrated curriculum allows for an orderly progression from the basics of Welsh to more complex constructions and idioms of a living language. Our most excellent tutors–three from Wales: lead tutor Mark Stonelake, Eleri Hughes, and Robin Campbell, and five from North America: Meredith Roberts, Hefina Phillips, Marta Diaz, Kara Lewis, and Kevin Rottet—jumped into the fray with enormous enthusiasm and energy. Each tutor not only taught morning and early afternoon classes; they also led workshops and attended evening events.

To help the learners along, the course also invites a bookseller to attend and sell Welsh dictionaries, learners’ kits, literature, accessories, etc. This year, David Lloyd and his wife of Y Ddraig Goch came from Sacramento, California to provide these services for the participants.

So what did we do when we weren’t absorbed with learning the language? Lots of things. One is never bored at Cwrs Cymraeg! During the post- lunch Dosbarthiadau ar y Cyd, or Plenary Sessions, we gathered to hear lectures on tracing Welsh ancestry by Charlotte Olsen from the Mormon family history library; the genius of architect Frank Lloyd Wright with Craig Jacobsen from Taliesin; medieval architecture in Wales with Barbara Stinson; and the work of the great Welsh-American composer, Dr. Joseph Parry, with Welsh scholar, Dr. Dulais Rhys. All interesting topics to enrich our understanding of the contributions of the Welsh and Welsh culture.

The late afternoon workshops followed the afternoon classes and offered a change from the classroom attention. We could choose Robin Campbell’s folk singing group, reading sessions for beginners and more advanced students, or even linguistics lessons with Marta Diaz. Meredith Roberts orchestrated the music program, directing the course choir (with devoted members and wonderful singers), leading evening sing-alongs, and rousing our early morning spirits with a few old favorites. Mark Stonelake presided over the course paper, always an eagerly anticipated publication. This year’s course paper, Llais Y Llyn (The Voice of the Lake), was another afternoon (and evening and late night) activity.

For Wednesday afternoon’s traditional field trip, we toured the famous and stunning Johnson Wax Headquarters designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Afterwards, we spent time visiting the museums, cat walk (oddly and colorfully imagined statues of cats throughout downtown), and bookstores in Racine. Finally, we picnicked on the grassy Racine harbor and watched the sailboats tacking right and left and busy birds swooping about looking for their dinner. A few of the Welsh tutors even joined in a rather bizarre form of American football/rugby.

Another change of activities, but not the pace, marked our evening events. The traditional Monday Twmpath Dawns, Welsh folk-dancing, is always a rollicking ice breaker. The Quiz night is another popular attraction. This year we also saw the fascinating BBC production of “The Story of Welsh” as well as a poignantly imagistic and sad Welsh film, Un Nos Ola Leuad (One Moonlit Night). Finally we enjoyed the traditional banquet, entered the Course Eisteddfod, and engaged in the uproarious antics and superb music and storytelling of the final night’s Noson Lawen or “Merry Evening.”

The Course Eisteddfod is a very special event for Cwrs Cymraeg. It is a peculiarly Welsh celebration of literature and culture in which competitors submit their writing in Welsh. For our Eisteddfod, three competitions are held, one for the lower levels (a postcard), one for middle level learners (a journal), and one for the more advanced students. This year, the theme for the highest level competitors was shipwrecks–an appropriate topic given the many famous shipwrecks that have occurred off the coasts of Wales and on the Great Lakes. The tutors played the solemn role of the Druidic adjudicators and announced the winners: Betty Cullingworth, Bill Roberts, and Kathleen Whitt who was chaired as she received the druidic blessing and the small-scale, hand carved Eisteddfod chair to keep until next year’s competition. Congratulations to all the Eisteddfod winners, and cheers for the many entrants!

We had even more hwyl (fun) at Saturday night’s Noson Lawen, which was a wonderful evening of entertainment to round out the week of learning and fun. Punctuated by some very bad jokes from emcee Mark Stonelake, the audience was treated to skits by fellow classmates, an Arthurian folk story, a conceptual lesson on the distance between the solar system’s planets (in English and Welsh), a crazy Cinderella story by bookshop keeper, David Lloyd, lovely musical interludes, folk songs, and the performance of two songs by the course choir.

During the week, the Board of Directors found time (during meals) to meet daily for their annual general meeting. During board elections, Norah Hogoboom, Sam Little, and Sarah Campbell were re-elected for three-year terms. We welcome our new board member, Kara Lewis, who also taught the Level 6 class. Our congratulations to our newly elected officers: Jenny Hubbard Young, president; Sam Little, vice president; Ginny Grove, secretary; and Wayne Morrissey, treasurer. We especially want to thank retiring president, Ada Mae Lewis, for all her hard work for and dedication to Cymdeithas Madog.

The week flies by, and, too soon, we say farewell until next year. Kenosha was a gracious host city and even published a fine article by Jessica Hansen about our activities in The Kenosha News.

As for next year, planning has already begun for the course to be held in the lovely city of Ottawa, Ontario. Please join us there for another rich and exhilarating adventure of Wales in North America.

Thanks to Wayne Morrissey, Dick Myers, Sarah Stevenson, Andrew Welsh, and Jenny Hubbard Young for their reviews of this story.

Y Cwrs Ar Y Paith, 2002

As participants of Y Cwrs ar y Paith (The Course on the Prairie) arrived from all over the United States–and one from Canada–on a steamy July day, the course organizers, Pat McCaughey, Ruth Ann Hall, and Merrill Rees, gave us a warm Iowan welcome in a much cooler student center. This was Ruth’s third time as an organizer, and she was busy rushing about, meeting everyone’s needs all week. Many thanks to all the organizers and the Iowa Welsh Society for a superb Cwrs ar y Paith!

The 2002 week-long Cwrs Cymraeg (Welsh course), a time for intensive Welsh language and culture instruction as well as great community fun, began on Sunday, July 21. We stayed on the beautifully landscaped campus of Simpson College, a small liberal arts school set in Indianola, Iowa, just south of Des Moines. Several family groups attended the course this year, proving that learning Welsh can be a relatively happy affair. Roughly one-third of the group were first-timers who soon discovered what experienced cwrs attendees already knew: This was not going to be a relaxing vacation! But as our special veteran, Tom Reilly, put it: “This is my 25th year at Cwrs Cymraeg. Thank you for years of fun and learning among friends.”

During the week, the main task for all was to learn to speak (and read) as much Welsh as possible. Classes ranged from the beginners’ Level One to advanced, fluent Welsh speakers at Level 6. The integrated curriculum, developed recently by Emyr Davies of the Welsh Language Board, allows for an orderly progression from the basics of Welsh to more complex constructions and idioms of a living language. An additional Level 5+ provided a place for near Level-Sixers to stretch their language skills. The tutors–three from Wales, lead teacher Steve Morris, Eleri Hughes, and Marc Stonelake—and four from North America, Pawl Birt, Meredith Roberts, Hefina Phillips, and Kevin Rottet—jumped into the fray with enormous enthusiasm and energy. Each tutor not only taught morning and early afternoon classes; they also led workshops and attended evening events.

The late afternoon workshops covered a range of activities, from Eleri’s folk dance lessons to reading sessions covering children’s books for beginners and to current newspaper articles on Welsh topics (mostly tragic) and exquisite Welsh poetry (typically sorrowful) for more advanced students. Meredith orchestrated the music program, from directing the course choir to leading evening sing-alongs and rousing our early morning spirits with a few old favorites. Steve Morris presided over the course paper, always an anxiously awaited publication. This year’s Papur Y Paith was the most technologically advanced version, filled with pictures but still containing the same interesting news stories, important messages, merry jokes, and amusing activities.

The post-lunch Dosbarthiadau ar y Cyd, or Plenary Sessions, were just as absorbing as lessons and workshops. We were treated to entertaining and informative lectures on topics of interest to Welsh learners: Ancient Celtic Religions, the Welsh Language in Patagonia, the Oral History of the Iowa Welsh, and Hearst’s Other Castle (St. Donat’s in Glamorgan). The lectures were both well-attended and well-received.

A change of activities, but not the pace, marked our evening events. The traditional Monday Twmpath Dawns, Welsh folk-dancing, is always a rollicking ice breaker. The pub night (more family-oriented than in the past), Welsh film, banquet, Course Eisteddfod, and Noson Lawen kept all of us busy.

This year’s film was especially captivating. Eldra is the story based on the early life of Eldra Jarman, the last of the Welsh Gypsy harpists. In her later life, Eldra taught much of the Gypsy music to Welsh harpist, Robin Huw Bowen. Robin has just won the BAFTA award (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) for his music in the film.

Wednesday afternoon is traditionally reserved for a special field trip, and this year’s gave us a particularly vivid sense of American/Welsh history. We piled into the bus and whizzed south past cornfields and rows of soybeans until we arrived at the tiny town of Lucas, Iowa (pop. 250). There, near the railroad tracks where trains still carry mounds of coal, is the remarkable museum dedicated to the great 20th century labor leader, John Llewellyn Lewis. Lewis was born in Lucas, a coal mining town that attracted many Welsh immigrants. We were treated to a fascinating talk by Ron Roberts, Ph.D., University of Northern Iowa, who was also born in Lucas. According to Professor Roberts, Lewis was a complicated man who was both loved and hated during his time, but he spent his life working for the rights and needs of oppressed workers. After we enjoyed the museum and talk, we explored the main street of Lucas and finally were refreshed with a most satisfying down-home dinner, hosted by the local members of the John L. Lewis Commission.

During the week, the board of directors met daily for their annual general meeting. During board elections, Ada Mae Lewis, Karen Evans, and Ginny Grove were re-elected for another three-year term. New board members are Sarah Stevenson and Andrew Welsh. Ada Mae Lewis will continue as president, and Jenny Hubbard Young was elected to the position of vice president. Karen Evans remains as treasurer and Norah Hogoboom as secretary.

Friday evening’s banquet turned out to be a particularly special occasion; besides the socializing and good eating, as a group we celebrated course veteran Tom Reilly’s 25th Cwrs Cymraeg. On behalf of Cymdeithas Madog, Jenny Hubbard Young presented Tom an elegant commemorative slate plaque and a memory book of photos and letters, as well as heartfelt congratulations. Our guest speaker at the banquet was Ellis Jones (a former Cwrs Cymraeg participant), Executive Director of the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association (WNGGA), an association that has long supported the efforts of Cymdeithas Madog.

At the banquet, Scholarship Chair Wayne Morrissey also announced the thirteen recipients of scholarships for the course—more than ever before. This year, a special award made possible by Hefina Phillips, Cwrs Cymraeg tutor and supporter, when she endowed the Welsh Heritage Scholarship in honor of her grandchildren. All of these scholarships could not be realized without the continued generosity of the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association (WNGGA), the Welsh National American Foundation (WNAF), and Cymdeithas Madog itself. We thank them all!

After the banquet was the Eisteddfod, where the tutors awarded prizes for three different levels of written competition. The winner of the advanced-level competition, Cheryl Mitchell, received the small-scale hand-carved Eisteddfod chair to keep for the year. It was truly a night of celebration and hwyl.

We had even more hwyl at Saturday night’s Noson Lawen, which was a wonderful evening of entertainment to round out the week of learning and fun. Punctuated by jokes from emcee Steve Morris, the audience was treated to skits by fellow classmates, a folk dance act, musical interludes, and a special song written and performed by first-time course attendee Luke Smith. A performance of two songs by the course choir brought the memorable evening to a close.

And when did we find time to do our homework?! Never mind–inspired once again by spending time with so many lovers of the Welsh language, we said our goodbyes until the next course.

Cwrs Cymraeg Arian, 2001

Y Cwrs Arian, the twenty-fifth anniversary of Cwrs Cymraeg, was held on the sprawling lovely campus of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, the week of July 22-29, 2001. With approximately 70 students from all over North America arriving at the Woodruff Residence Hall, anxious and ready to spend an intensive week learning the ancient Welsh language, the Atlanta organizers greeted everyone with the necessities, a big Southern smile; an elegant black Cwrs Arian t-shirt (if ordered); and a treasure bag of information and local gifts of water bottles, frisbees, and key-chains-all useful in the Southern clime.

The welcoming reception, graciously hosted by the local St. David’s Society and Glyn Davies, was a fine time to see old friends and meet new people, enjoy the refreshments, and hear that Roy Barnes, the Governor of Georgia, had designated July 22-29 Welsh Language Week in Georgia. This event was the first taste of how the hard work the Atlanta organizers paid off throughout the entire week. Thanks go to the committee, which consisted of Jenny Hubbard Young and Karl Welsher, who took the lead, Glyn Davies, Ellen Furney and Bobbie Johns, with ad hoc assistance from family, Society members and friends.

Every detail of the week’s activities had been thoughtfully designed to make the group’s time fulfilling. The board too worked during the lunch break throughout the week, hearing reports and making plans for improving the course in the future. Wayne Harbert retired from the presidency and the board, and everyone thanked him for his dedication. Ada Mae Lewis from Ames, Iowa, was elected as the new president. Two new board members were also elected: Wayne Morrissey from Washington, D.C., for a three-year term, and Sarah Campbell from Somerville, Massachusetts, for a two-year term.>

The Classes

There were seven levels of instruction: Level 5+ was a new addition meant to provide those advanced learners a fresh set of course material instead of simply repeating from the year before. The curriculum was a revised version of Dr. Emyr Davies’s newly developed program, offering a more coherent and challenging course of study for everyone. Classes each morning and most afternoons kept students immersed in learning to speak and understand the Welsh language. On the last day of the course this year, all the students received a handsome certificate signed by their tutor describing in Welsh their academic accomplishments for the term.

The Tutors

All the tutors were, as usual, patient and enthusiastic. With his wry humor and disarming wit, lead tutor Emyr Davies kept everyone duly informed of events and schedules (a word, by the way, that he consistently mispronounced) during the plenary sessions. Three tutors made the trip from Wales, Emyr (the lead tutor), and veterans Steve Morris and Eleri Hughes. One of their highlights was experiencing the ferocity of an All-American thunderstorm, cracking clouds and blistering lightning during banquet speeches. The rest of the team came from North America, Hefina Phillips brought her undying enthusiasm, Meredith Roberts, Kara Lewis, and Marta Diaz. Marta actually began learning Welsh at an early Cwrs Cymraeg in Minnesota, and this year she returned as teacher!

Other Activities

Once again, the variety of afternoon workshops gave each student an opportunity to explore different aspects of the Welsh language and culture while the evening activities offered somewhat more relaxation than learning. The Wednesday trip to Stone Mountain gave visitors a view of scenic Georgia and patriotic Georgia with the evening laser show. The Cwrs Eisteddfodd was especially fine, opening with bagpipes and closing with the Cwrs Cor directed by Emyr Davies. Class skits were all skillfully rendered or, at least, highly amusing. The individual performers shared their gifts-Ginny Grove’s story of the youthful bard Geraint on his quest to play in the first Eisteddfod was a wonderful riddle. The winners of the Eisteddfod competition this year were for levels 1-2, a first-timer at Cwrs Cymraeg, Angela Evans; Atlanta’s own Karl Welsher, levels 3-4; won for his diary on the topic of “Gone with the Wind.” Both Angela and Karl are member’s of The Saint David’s Society of Georgia. The grand winner of the chair this year was Cheryl Mitchell who wrote on the topic of Rhyddid, Freedom.. Llongyfarchiadau to all of them!

The Facilities

We all stayed at the Woodruff Residence Hall where the rooms were comfortable (air-conditioned), and the conference elves very helpful. It was a bit of a hike to the dining area, Dobbs University Center, affectionately known as the DUC[K], but once the shuttle schedule was sorted out, those who preferred to ride could. The food was varied and sufficient with a touch of Southern cooking–morning grits and, one special day to the delight of many, biscuits with sausage and onion gravy!

Remembering Twenty-Five Years of Cwrs Cymraeg

Y Cwrs Arian, the Silver Course, celebrated twenty-five years of Welsh Language in North America. Wayne Harbert, with much help from Ruth and John Kudlaty, set up an exhibit to bring back memories of times past. With plenty of pictures (of John Otley when he had a full head of hair, for example, and groups coracling on the Charles River in Boston), a (nearly) complete set of course t-shirts, and two wooden chairs from earlier eisteddfodau. From Y Canolbarth in Pella, Iowa, to Y Mynydd Glas in Poultney, Vermont, and Cwrs Y Mileniwm last year in Carmarthen (in Hen Wlad), the course has evolved while remaining true to its mission. May the next twenty-five years inspire even more people to learn and love the language of heaven!

Nodir/Note: This article appeared in a slightly different form in the September 2001 issue of Y Drych.