Pam was deeply touched and honored to receive the Illinois Country Music Association's "Pioneer Award" at their annual Award Show on June 24.  Recognized for her career as one of Illinois' most entertaining country music stars, Pam joins such names as Patsy Montana, Billy Grammer, "Uncle" Johnny Barton, and her own father, Chet Gilbert, as a Hall of Fame personality.  We'll get pictures up soon.

Having already booked a gospel concert the same evening as the afternoon awards presentation, Mark had to keep the secret while convincing Pam that it wouldn't be out of the way to attend the ceremony!

JANUARY 2007

OK, let's get caught up!

Pam (and everyone else) is so excited!  Our son-in-law Don accepted a position with Caterpillar in Peoria and they will be moving back to Illinois.  Please pray for the move, with all its stress -- packing, selling their house, finding a new one, getting the kids settled in new schools, etc.

Martin Luther King day provides a three-day weekend that is the perfect opportunity for a quick getaway to unwind after the busy Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Year holiday season.  This year we got a bonus by leaving a day early and beating the freezing rain and cold weather.  We enjoyed temperatures in the high 60's.  We visited Trinity Music City, shopped, ate, shopped, the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman, Cowboy Church, the Hermitage, shopped, and attended a Booth Brothers concert in Murfreesboro.

Work has been fairly busy, as always, as we are nearing completion of a new bank building in Champaign, slated for opening in mid-February.

2006 IN REVIEW

2006 had to the "fastest" year yet -- I guess that happens as we get older.  The highlight of the year was Curtis' high school commencement and enlistment in the Navy.  We attended his graduation at Great Lakes in late August, and he will remain there for advanced training ("A-school") through early 2007.  After that, he will attend specialized training ("C-school") before being deployed somewhere in the world.  Please pray that his assignment will be satisfying and safe as he serves his country.

We took two notable trips -- the first being an extended vacation tagged on behind Curtis' Navy graduation.  We drove up through Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan to Mackinac City and spent three days and two nights on Mackinac Island.  (Being from central Illinois, I keep having a problem spelling "Mackinac" correctly -- I'm sure the folks who live in Mackinaw, Illinois do too!)  We stopped at Joy & Don's a couple of days to visit, then wound our way back to DeLand for the DeLand Homecoming.  We got a special treat was we watched Gina and Robin each perform with the McLean County Country Opry.  They've both become good performers and we're very proud of them.

The second trip was another visit to the National Quartet Convention in Louisville in mid-September.  If you're a fan of Southern Gospel music, you owe it to yourself to go at least once.  If you're interested in just listening, evening concerts last from 6 pm to midnight Sunday through Saturday and feature 15-20 groups and artists each night.  Thursday night includes the Singing News Fan Awards.

There are plenty of daytime activities available as well, including music company showcases for regional artists, spotlight events such as the "Vintage Quartet showcase", "Bluegrass Pickin' Jamboree", and comedy, soloist, and regional artist showcases.  A fan favorite is the Celebrity Softball game on Friday morning.

Of course, the artists, music companies, bus companies, sound contractors, magazine publishers -- everyone in the industry -- all have booth space in the convention hall.  You can meet and talk with everyone, take pictures, buy CD's, and walk for miles!