Here are the emails that we have sent out announcing changes or new information about the O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat, in order of most recent.
October 18 Update
Hello All,
Finally, the retreat is here – days away – and we’re ready for you! Many of you know the drill, but here are the last reminders and news:
Newcomers
If you just signed up, you might want to check out the updates we have sent out previously. Go to UPDATES and you will see our archive of emails displayed in order of most recent.
Check In First
The first thing you should do when you arrive is to check in unless the Retreat Office is not open. On Thursday, the office will be open 5-9 p.m. Friday morning the office opens at 8 a.m. We have packets for you containing your badge, a new retreat CD (filled with great tunes), site map, class schedule and your account statement. If you owe us money, please pay us at that time. If we owe you money, we will provide you a refund check. All of our merchandise may be purchased at our booth beginning Friday morning.
Retreat Office and Booth Scheduled Hours
Thursday
Retreat Office: 5-9 p.m.
Friday
Retreat Office: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Booth/Store (tents next to Retreat Office): 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday
Booth/Store (tents next to Trading Post): 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday
Booth/Store (tents next to Trading Post): 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Retreat Office: 3-5 p.m.
Monday
All final business of the retreat will be conducted at the dining hall during 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Arriving Camp Late on Thursday?
If you are not going to arrive to the retreat until after 9 p.m. and you are staying at one of our motel rooms or cottages, contact Louvain Guiomard at lguiomard@yahoo.com or call our office at (972) 238-7890 and discuss how you will get your keys.
BBQ “Meet & Greet” Planned for 7 p.m., Thursday
For those that pre-paid for Thursday night dinner, a BBQ will begin at 7 p.m. at the dining hall. Because of the expected cool temperatures, we decided to move the event indoors. Come meet our teaching staff, other students and enjoy the start of something special! If you don’t plan to eat, still come and visit. Sessions will follow.
Family Play Time
One of our volunteers has organized a family play time during the retreat for children who are not able to attend our classes. We have arranged a meeting area at the Crafts Building (see site map) which is right across the street from the Chapel. When you check in, look for a posted schedule of activities or see Maris Russell.
Non-Denominational Praise Service Sunday Morning
A student-led praise service will be held in the Compton Hall on Sunday morning at 8-8:30 a.m. Several of our musical families will be performing praise music and a brief message will be delivered by Brian Russell.
Weather Looking Good
In checking Weather.com, it looks like we’ll be having sunny weather (mid 70s) Thursday through Sunday, but remember, Texas weather is unpredictable. It will be cooling down to the upper-40s to mid-50s each night and early morning so be prepared.
Shuttle Pickup
If you are listed for pickup on our shuttle run to the airports, STAY BY YOUR BAGGAGE CLAIM AREA and our shuttle drivers will look for you there. If you are stranded because your flight arrived late or some other reason, call our shuttle drivers Bob Moore at (214) 850-8771 or Brian Russell at (405) 563-0877. They will have your numbers as well in case they have to reach you. If needed, call us at the retreat at (972) 798-7890.
Directions – Here is our DIRECTIONS page. Look for signs on the road after you get on FM663. Get lost, call us at (972) 798-7890. The site MAP shows the entire camp and its facilities.
New Class Schedules Online
We have made some minor changes to our class schedule, so if you want to view the latest version, go to CLASSES and download the PDF or Excel version. We will have the new schedule in your packets.
Bedding or No?
If you are lodging in cottages or the hotel rooms, you do not need to bring towels, bed sheets or pillows. For those staying in the dorms, you must bring bed sheets (twin size) or sleeping bags, pillows and towels. And everyone should bring their own toiletries.
Horse Rides Anyone?
It’s not too late to arrange a trail ride! Just sign up at check-in. The cost for an hour on horseback will be just $17 per rider ages 8 and older. The ride lasts from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on Sunday with a maximum of 15 riders eligible. You can bring your $17 to the camp wrangler when you arrive to ride. Riders should meet at the horse stables ten minutes before the start time. This could be a nice outing for families who are at the retreat. There’s a 250 pound limit for riders. Please wear jeans/slacks and closed-toed shoes. You will be required to sign a waiver.
Final Payment
If you owe us money, please bring a check, cash or credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) and pay at check in. Thank you!
WiFi Offered
Yes there is WiFi. Ask us for the logon key at check-in. There are also computers in the retreat office if you need to get email.
Problems, Questions – Call us at (972) 798-7890 before, during and after the retreat. On Thursday when we set up our office at Camp Hoblitzelle, we will forward that number to one of our manager’s cell phones. Our retreat office number at the camp when our retreat office is open is (972) 723-2387 ext. 117.
No Liquor, No Drugs, No Pets
Sorry but this is a Salvation Army Camp and they do not permit alcohol or illegal drugs to be brought into camp. Also, pets are not permitted.
Here is the BRING list:
PHONE NUMBERS:
For last minute enrollment questions, contact Rick Roberts at enroll@oflahertyretreat.org.
For lodging questions, contact Louvain Guiomard at lodging@oflahertyretreat.org.
For everything else, call or email me below.
Sorry for the length of this, but there was a lot to be said. If anything else comes up, I’ll send a final update. We can’t wait for everyone to get here! Let the music begin!
October 14 Update
Hello All,
It’s down to less than a week. We’re going to be ready, and we hope you are too. Here are a few updates:
Our student count is now 238. There still room for more, so help your musical friends get off the fence. Time’s a wasting. We’ll keep online enrollment up through the weekend, and then people will have to contact us to get instructions on how to enroll.
Weather Looking Good
The weather forecast is looking great. Daytime temperatures in the 70s and evenings down to the 50s. Very nice! Right now, there is no rain in the forecast.
To Ride or Not to Ride, That Is the Question
We need to know by Sunday night if you want to reserve a spot on the trailrides offered by Camp Hobltizelle. The cost for a lovely trail ride on horseback will be just $17 per rider ages 8 and older. The ride lasts an hour which includes 10 minutes of instruction and will be held at 12 noon and 1 p.m. on Sunday with a maximum of 15 riders per hour. You can bring your $17 to the camp wrangler when you arrive to ride. Riders should meet at the horse stables ten minutes before the start time. This could be a nice outing for families who are at the retreat. There’s a 250 pound limit for riders. Please wear jeans/slacks and closed-toed shoes. You will be required to sign a waiver.
Arriving Camp Late on Thursday?
If you are not going to arrive to the retreat until after 9 p.m. and you are staying at one of our motel rooms or cottages, contact Louvain Guiomard at lguiomard@yahoo.com and discuss how you will get your keys. Louvain’s cell does not work well at the camp, so please contact her before Tuesday at (214) 405-4059 to discuss your late arrivals. Our phone number (972-798-7890) will be forwarded to our Operations Manager Rick Holt on Thursday afternoon and he can answer calls throughout the evening if you need any help.
Review Your Account Report TODAY for Errors and Omissions!
We are about ready to lock down everything related to your enrollment so we can print your account statements for your packets. Now is the time log into your account and click on the tab “My Report” and review it carefully. Check and make sure that all of the charges are valid, all of your meals are displayed, and all of your class choices are correct. Sometimes our students make selections but don’t save them and their choices are not entered. We don’t want you to miss a meal, a bed or a class, so check your report thoroughly. If you have questions, contact our registrar Rick Roberts at enroll@oflahertyretreat.org.
Please Pay Before Retreat Begins!
If you owe us money, please log onto your account and go to the “Payment” tab and pay us with PayPal before the event. We will not be able to process checks that we receive after Tuesday and we prefer to handle your payments in advance. If we owe you money, you will receive a check in your packets unless we were able to get your checks in the mail beforehand.
Thursday Check-In at Lonestar Pavilion, Friday at the Retreat Office
Because we will have our “meet & greet” at the new Lonestar Pavilion at Camp Hoblitzelle, we have decided to have our Thursday check-in there beginning at 5 p.m. till about 9 p.m. You can locate the Pavilion on the site map at this link -- SITE MAP. Look for the black rectangle in the middle of the map. It is central to all of the facilities. You may drive there and park on the side of the road by the Pavilion long enough to pick up your packets and then go to a parking area to park. On Friday morning, we will be back in our retreat office for check in at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Classrooms Assigned Sunday
I will uploaded a new class schedule showing the room assignments for classes on Sunday. This spreadsheet will be included in your student packet along with the site map. Still, you might want to plan in advance, so take a look Sunday night. It will be on the class page at the top at CLASSES in PDF and Excel forms.
Tune Tussle Anyone?
Many of you are not familiar with our Texas Tune Tussle, so here’s a few words about it. Students can choose to participate in a fun performance where you are assigned to an ensemble of other fellow students. You have two official practices to prepare a 6 minute performance. Each group will have a coach instructor who will help prepare the group for a contest that is held Saturday night before the instructor concerts. Awards will be given and the top award will be given for "most entertaining." It’s great way to meet other players at the retreat, and perform for the entire camp! You must attend the two scheduled rehearsals (and others the group may plan) and perform with your group on Saturday evening. It’s easy to sign up. Go to your account online and add this to your class schedule. The time slot is 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. You don’t have to be professional players to participate. It’s all for fun and, in the past, it has produced some of the most entertaining moments at the retreat.
Last Email Coming Wednesday
Our final email with last minute details will be sent on Wednesday. Please look for it because it will contain the final updates.
Update Archive
If you want to view this and past updates that we have emailed out to our students, go to UPDATES.
I hope you are getting excited about what lies ahead. It’s going to be a grand retreat, and we’re so glad that you will be joining us this year!
October 10 Update
Hello All,
First of all, the website and our online registration are now up and running again. Sorry if there was any inconvenience to you. We still don’t know what happened, but hopefully, there won’t be any more interruptions. We’re down to less than two weeks, and all of us who organize the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat are more than ready for it to begin. Here are some bits of information to pass on:
Enrollment: We’re at 236 – our all-time high, and we still have room in most classes. It’s not too late for friends and family members to sign up.
Logging Onto Your Account
If you want to log onto your account to make changes or add selections, go to REGISTER. This will save you from having to go through the registration wizard each time.
Horse Ride Anyone?
It’s not too late to sign up for horse rides at Camp Hoblitzelle! The camp is offering afternoon horseback rides on Sunday at the retreat. The cost for a lovely trail ride on horseback will be just $17 per rider ages 8 and older. The ride lasts an hour which includes 10 minutes of instruction and will be held at 12 noon and 1 p.m. with a maximum of 15 riders per hour. If you’re interested, please reply immediately so I can add you to our list. You can bring your $17 to the camp wrangler when you arrive to ride. Riders should meet at the horse stables ten minutes before the start time. This could be a nice outing for families who are at the retreat. There’s a 250 pound limit for riders. Please wear jeans/slacks and closed-toed shoes. You will be required to sign a waiver.
Share Rental Car at Love Field
Cheryll Blevins is flying into Love Field before lunch on the Thursday, Oct. 20th, and is looking to share a rental car to drive to Camp Hoblitzelle. If someone is already renting a car from Love Field and she could share expenses, that could work too. If you’re interested, contact her at Spotblev@earthlink.net.
Pick Up from DFW Airport
One of our staff, Heather Gilmer, is flying into DFW Airport at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20th, and is needing a ride. Our shuttles aren’t available then so, if you can help her out, contact her at gilmer@alumni.utexas.net. Here is our shuttle schedule to and from DFW Airport:
PICKUP AT DFW AIRPORT, THURSDAY, OCT. 20
Between 1-2 p.m.
Between 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Between 6:30-7:30 p.m.
DEPART RETREAT FOR DFW AIRPORT, MONDAY, Oct. 24 (45 minute trip)
Leave 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m.
The fee is $15 each way. To get on the pick up or drop off list, contact Louvain Guiomard at lguiomard@yahoo.com.
Meal Selection Deadline Extended to Wednesday, Oct. 12
We have to submit our meal count for the retreat so please take one last look at your selections in your account and make any final changes, otherwise, if you don’t have particular meals selected, you may miss out, or if you selected some that you don’t want, you still must pay for them. We are now required by the camp to post checkers when you enter the lines at the dining hall to verify your meal selections. If you have trouble getting into your account, contact our registrar Rick Roberts at enroll@oflahertyretreat.org.
Registration Deadline Friday, October 14th
Our online registration ends this Friday, Oct. 14th. After that, people will need to contact our registrar Rick Roberts at enroll@oflahertyretreat.org to enroll or make any changes.
Update Archive
If you want to view this and past updates that we have emailed out to our students, go to UPDATES.
The next couple of emails will be very important because it will contain any last minute changes as well as information you will need to get started on the right foot when you arrive. I hope you are getting excited about what lies ahead. It’s going to be a grand retreat, and we’re so glad that you will be joining us this year!
October 1 Update
Hello All,
It’s hard to believe that we are less than three weeks until the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat. We are up to 232 students enrolled and there are still openings in most of our classes. Here is the latest:
Final Payments Are Due
Our deadline for sending us your final payments was yesterday, but since our registrar Rick Roberts has been away on vacation, we will extend it until this Sunday night when he gets back. Because we have waiting lists for some of our classes, we may have to release those who have not yet paid and haven’t replied to our emails. If you have a good reason why you can’t pay right now, just contact Rick at enroll@oflahertyretreat.org and we’ll work out an arrangement with you. We don’t want anyone to be removed from our rosters because of financial issues. Of course, those that enroll between now and the retreat, should pay in full when they register.
Other Important Deadlines
Meal Order deadline: You can subtract or add meals until Monday, Oct. 10th.
Tuition Refund: Full refund if cancelled by Friday, October 14th.
Registration: Online registration will end Friday, October 14th. Call the office for instructions how to enroll after then.
Family Area Planned
Because we are not offering a “kids camp” this year, we do want to provide an area where families with young children can gather and have fun with their kids. We have added a building for that purpose which will be directly across from the chapel. It is normally used for arts and crafts so it should be perfect for young children. There is no charge and Maris Russell and some volunteer moms are organizing the times. More info will be sent or available at check-in.
Tune & Song Tussle
Don’t forget that there is one very fun and entertaining activity at the retreat that you should consider signing up for – the Texas Tune & Song Tussle. This is an exciting way to perform with an ensemble at the retreat. Those who register will be assigned to one of several groups. Each group will have a coach instructor who will help prepare the group for a contest to be held Saturday night. Awards will be given and the top award will be given for "most entertaining." A great way to meet other players at the retreat, and perform for the entire camp! You must attend the two scheduled rehearsals (and others the group may plan) and perform with your group on Saturday evening. All levels welcomed and everyone gets to contribute. The Tune & Song Tussle is one of our favorite shows of the weekend, so log onto your account and add it to your schedule.
Basic Fiddle Classes Still Open
Due to an error on my part, we capped the basic fiddle classes too low. Since we have two teachers assigned to each this class, there are openings. Please tell your fiddling friends if they would like to enroll.
Other Class Openings
Currently, the following classes are closed: bodhran, flute, and dropped-D guitar. Because we added Randal Bays to teach int./adv. fiddle, there are some openings in the other fiddle classes. Many of the other classes are approaching full while some have just a handful of students. In other words, it’s not too late for your Irish music loving friends and family members to sign up. Please pass on the word!
O’Flaherty Retreat Moving in 2012
It is with some sadness that we report that the retreat will be moving to a new location next year and leaving Camp Hoblitzelle after seven years. The primary reasons for moving are lodging and class spaces. Within a few hours of registration beginning this year, we had booked all of our rooms and cottages. We have also maxed out the classroom space. Our new location is called Lakeview Camp & Conference Center and is located just south of Waxahachie. In a coming email, we will give you more information about Lakeview and our plans for it in 2012. We’ll miss Hoblitzelle, its staff, its wonderful atmosphere and scenic area. And we look forward to our new site that has a lot of wonderful attributes that we’ll share with you soon.
September 5 Update
Hello All,
Finally, some cooler temperatures have come to Texas. When that happens, I start counting the days (47) to next O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat. We now have 209 students enrolled and everything is going smoothly so far. Here is the latest:
Fiddle Classes Close – Randal Bays Added
A few weeks ago, all of our int./adv. fiddle classes were full. So, we were fortunate that Randal Bays accepted our invitation to teach another class. Randal is one of America’s best players of Irish traditional music and a very gifted teacher. He has taught at our 2006 retreat and more recently a few years ago as our master instructor at the youth camp. Here is his bio -- http://oflahertyretreat.org/Instructors/randalbays.html. This now frees up registration for our intermediate/advanced fiddle classes. There may or may not be any movement to and from the other classes with Liz Carroll, Martin Hayes and Rose Conway Flanagan, but the only way to know is to try changing classes if that’s what you want to do.
Tune & Song Tussle
Don’t forget that there is one very fun and entertaining activity at the retreat that you should consider signing up for – the Texas Tune & Song Tussle. This is an exciting way to perform with an ensemble at the retreat. Those who register will be assigned to one of several groups. Each group will have a coach instructor who will help prepare the group for a contest to be held Saturday night. Awards will be given and the top award will be given for "most entertaining." A great way to meet other players at the retreat, and perform for the entire camp! You must attend the two scheduled rehearsals (and others the group may plan) and perform with your group on Saturday evening. All levels welcomed and everyone gets to contribute. The Tune & Song Tussle is one of our favorite shows of the weekend, so log onto your account and add it to your schedule.
Basic Sound System Operation Class Opens
Sorry, we made a mistake and capped this class. It is now uncapped and open for more enrollments.
Lodging Limited to Dorm Beds, Camping and RV Spaces
All of our motel rooms and cottages have been reserved for months, but we still have dorm beds (men and women dorms provided), camping under the stars and RV spaces. It’s worth the extra dollars to stay on campus because of the musical happenings in the evenings. There are motels in Midlothian and Waxahachie if you want private rooms. Got to our lodging page at http://oflahertyretreat.org/hotels.html.
Please Note These Deadlines
We have modified the deadlines on the website due to changes made by Camp Hoblitzelle. Please keep these in mind as the retreat approaches:
Final Payment Due: Friday, September 30th unless enrolled after that date.
Lodging Refund: Full refund if cancelled by Friday, September 16th. After that, refund less 10% ONLY IF, lodging is re-rented.
Meals Refund: Full refund if cancelled by Friday, September 30th.
Tuition Refund: Full refund if cancelled by Friday, October 14th.
Registration: Online registration will end Friday, October 14th. Call the office for instructions how to enroll after then.
Retreat Benefit Saturday, September 24th
If you’re in the Dallas area, we are holding our annual benefit for the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat on Saturday, September 24th at Trinity Hall Pub in Dallas beginning at 6 p.m. till closing. We hope you will join us for some great Irish music by some great bands. Admission is free and there will drawings throughout the night. Also, please dine at the pub and 50% of the receipts will be donated in support of the retreat. If you have any items that you would like to donate for the drawings, please contact Paul Dryer at booth@oflahertyretreat.org .
Update Archive
If you want to view this and future updates that we send out to our students, go to UPDATES.
August 7 Update
Hello All,
Hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to our retreat in October. You will be receiving regular updates as the retreat approaches, so I’ve decided to date them more clearly in the subject line so you’ll know which ones you’ve read or not. Here is the latest:
We are up to 190 students. This is our largest enrollment ever by this time of year. We’re already seeing closures in several classes as they have reached their limits, and a few more will close soon. If you know of others who have said they want to come, encourage them to enroll soon or they may miss out.
Deadlines
We have modified the deadlines on the website due to changes made by Camp Hoblitzelle. Please keep these in mind as the retreat approaches:
Final Payment Due: Friday, September 30th unless enrolled after that date.
Lodging Refund: Full refund if cancelled by Friday, September 16th. After that, refund less 10% ONLY IF, lodging is re-rented.
Meals Refund: Full refund if cancelled by Friday, September 30th.
Tuition Refund: Full refund if cancelled by Friday, October 14th.
Registration: Online registration will end Friday, October 14th. Call the office for instructions how to enroll after then.
Scholarships: Applications must be submitted by Friday, September 16th.
Need Room Numbers
If you have reserved rooms in the Alamo or Barn, please let Louvain know how many people will be housed in your room. That number will determine how many sets of linen your room receives, so please email her at lodging@oflahertyretreat.org or call her at (972) 230-2142 and provide her with the numbers. Each person in your room will receive a set of towels for each day you have rented a room. All of towels will be in your room on the first day. Louvain needs the number by Friday, September 16th.
Thursday Meet & Greet
Weather permitting, our Thursday night kick-off begins at 7 p.m. at the outdoor pavilion at Camp Hoblitzelle as we did last year. This will be a BBQ, so if you plan to eat, be sure that your meal selection is checked for that meal in your account. If you don’t want to eat, please come anyway as we will be “meeting and greeting” each other. Speaking of meals, please check your selections for the entire weekend. We will place our meal order a few weeks before the retreat and we want to be sure that your meal choices are accurate.
Print Your Account Report for Review
Our registration software has a nice feature that will allow you to print off an Account Report that details all of your expenses, lodging and meals choices, and your class selections for every participant under your account. Once you have completed registration, we highly recommend that you print this document and review it carefully. You may see something that needs to be changed or added. We want to avoid people making a lot of changes close to the event. In some cases, you may miss getting classes you want because the classes are closed due to our caps or you may not be able to add additional meals (deadline for meals is Sept. 30). Please do this soon and call us if you have questions.
New Phone Number for the Retreat Office
Since we do most of our business via the Internet, we have disconnected our land line in favor of “Magic Jack.” Our new phone number is 972-798-7890. The probability is that you will get our voicemail which then sends me an email message to my computer and iPhone with the audio attached. Pretty cool! So get rid of the old number (972-238-8724) and use the new one – 972-798-7890. By the way, when you call that number during the retreat, it will ring our operations manager’s phone at the retreat.
Retreat Benefit Saturday, September 24th
If you’re in the Dallas area, we are holding our annual benefit for the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat on Saturday, September 24th at Trinity Hall Pub in Dallas beginning at 6 p.m. till closing. We hope you will join us for some great Irish music by some great bands. Admission is free and there will drawings throughout the night. Also, please dine at the pub and 50% of the receipts will be donated in support of the retreat. If you have any items that you would like to donate for the drawings, please contact Paul Dryer at booth@oflahertyretreat.org .
Update Archive
If you want to view this and future updates that we send out to our students, go to UPDATES.
Support Needed
It will cost us about $300.00 per student to run the retreat this year. For us to breakeven according to our budget, we need to have 200 students enrolled each paying $200 tuition. We would then need to raise an additional $16,000.00 through donations and grants or add an additional 80 students or some combination of the two. So, please consider the following to help us:
That’s all for now. If you have any questions, please contact me. Thanks!