BARBS BLOG
July 22,2010
_____________________________ July 02,2010Wishing all of you here at home a safe and Happy 4th of July and THANKING ALL OF YOU THAT ARE DEFENDING OUR RIGHT TO HAVE THAT SAFE AND HAPPY 4TH. _____________________________ June 24, 2010Just to let everyone know we are working on another fundraiser for August 14, 2010 it will bew a fun one with food, entertainment and dancing located in Sauk Centre, MN will keep you informed._____________________________ June 18, 2010Operation Happy Note would like to thank Operation Round UP an organization formed by the Runestone Electric Association for a grant in the amount of $750.00.Thank you it is much appreciated.Pictured below is myself with Board Members from Operation Round Up Carla Beem, Jerome Hagen and Tim Philbrick.
______________________________ June 17, 2010I need to aplogize to all for the large gap between my last blog and now. I could give you all kinds of valid reasons, but lets just say "I'm Back".On April 19th thru the 23rd the high school band members from The William Fremd High School in Palatine, IL held a fundraiser for Operation Happy Note of which they made $405.00 to help with shipping instruments.THANK YOU !!Below are pictures of some of the students.
__________________________________ March 17, 2010What a great turn out we had for our fundraisers, "A BIG THANK YOU" to all who helped put these on and to all who attended. Below is a picture of Steve and myself with military in dress uniform the local recuriting office. They volunteered as ushers at the Threatre for the show. And what a great show it was thanks Mikko and friends.
___________________________ March 9,2010HI folks, I know I haven't been on my Blog for awhile but we have been getting ready for a couple of big events. On Thursday March 11th of this week there is a Pancake and Sausage Feed in Parkers Prairie, MN at the Cozy Cup Cafe from 7:00am to 6:00pm. A silent auction has also been set up and run from right now through Thursday. Some wonderful items for you to bid on.Don't forget Saturday night at the AAAA Theatre in Alexandria, MN where Mikki Cowdery has teamed up with OHN. It's going to be a wonderful show. SEE YOU THERE!
Operation Happy Note
Featuring Mikko Cowdery & Friends
March 13 - 7:30 pm at the AAAA Theatre in Alexandria, MN.
Join Mikko & Friends for a rousing night of Irish music and fun, with proceeds to benefit Operation Happy Note. Operation Happy Note is a volunteer effort to send musical instruments to deployed servicemen and women throughout the world.
______________________________________________________Jan. 06, 2010 Operation Happy Note would like to thank our local Wal-Mart for putting our name in for a $1000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation which we received. The check was presented to Steve by store manager Tim Bosworth.
__________________________________________Jan. 01, 2010 Okay this is the first time I have written 2010, took me a minute to figure it out :) We will be busy this week catching up on some paper work and doing inventory, then we will be shipping out instruments again THANKS to all of you that gave generous donations in support of our deployed troops.____________________________________________
Dec. 22, 2009 There are so many of our families separated at Christmas time due to deployments and Operation Happy Note, Steve and myself want to Wish each and everyone a Blessed Christmas.Our prayer for you is to stay safe and to soon be reunited with your families.We thank you for your service's and sacrifice's to us and our country___________________________ Nov.23,2009Now home from the Minnessota Bluegrass Harvest Jam in Minneapolis. Had a wonderful time. Great folks!Also want to tell you about the visit we recieved From Mike Conover and Mike Diesing from Arlington Heights, Il. They have a Band called The 208's named after the American Legion Post 208 in Arlington. Also a member of their band is Ray Herr a former member of the band Ides of March. This group held their second concert for OHN and raised a total of $3,407.00 to help OHN out with the cost of shipping instruments to our troops. We will be packing and shipping again. Thank you guys!
_________________________ This is a copy of an email we received from a soldier today, it sure did bring tears to my eyes. Thank you!Thank you so much for what you do. I have taken the pleasure of sending your website to my freinds and family in hopes that they no someone that might want to donate an instrument. I think that a lot of information gets passed around daily by word of mouth and with all the bull that gets passed around on the internet, so I thought that I would take the opportunity to pass around some good information. I hope that you don't mind. I was just thinking of something and I hope that you like. I think that maybe the lord just wanted to say what you are doing is awesome, and He wants me to let you know. Sittin in a tent in the desert, praying that someone cared
I recieved in the mail today a guitar that someone shared
I didnt know where it came from, or how it got to me
but I played as best I could, for everyone to see
Some of the soldiers were crying, some were singing along
for they knew you were thinking of us, even this far from home
I began to shake as the crowd began to grow
the tempo started fast, and then began to slow
tears rolled down my face, as I saw them all around
so that night when I prayed and on my knees fell to the ground
I thanked our Lord on high, for this simple gift of love
that seemed to come from nowhere but fell straight from above
you have touched so many, and with your open heart you share
Now we can all see that you are an angel and you really really care.
This just came to me, and I hope that you like it. I am so amazed at what you are doing for the military. To see this, is really something to me. I don't even no you guys, but I would love nothing more than to meet you and give both a really big hug. God Bless you,
Joshua _____________________________ Nov. 12, 2009Come join us at the Mbotma's HARVEST JAM Nov. 20 -22 2009 at the Marriott Minneapolis West Hotel. We had so much fun at the last event they held that we are going to have another booth at this event.Looking forward to seeing you there!
______________________________ Nov. 12, 2009Steve and I had a great day yesterday, the live radio broadcast was lots of fun. Then we went over to the local VFW had had lunch with several hundred veterans of which Steve is one. We then stopped by the Veteran's Memorial Park where they have the Walk of Flags. There is no way you can get them all in one picture but want to show you some of them. The picture below is Steve with the guitar gifted to him from The 3rd Infantry, it's his prize possession! 
__________________________ Nov.11, 2009 OHN Steve and myself want to wish all our Veterans a Happy Veterans Day! OHN just finished a live radio broadcast (fundraiser for postage) with special guests. Dave Stoddard award songwriter and musician acted as guest host and Allison Balson also known as "Nasty Nancy from Little House on the Prairie" and is OHN's celebrity spokes person. Folks have been stopping by with donations. Thank you!__________________________ Sept. 21, 2009Operation Happy Note needs to say good-by to one of our hero's. "Sonny" William Hinchman 42, died Friday morning July 17, 2009 near Baghdad, Iraq in a helicopter crash. Sonny served 25 years as a helicopter pilot. Sonny recieved a guitar from OHN in Oct. of 2007, we have been told by family how much he enjoyed that guitar. We are so honored to have been able to make Sonny's life a little better during his deployment. Good-by Sonny God Bless your family!
__________________________ Sept. 14, 2009I need to apologize for not updating my blog, PC problems yuk! Still not the best but at least I can get on again. So before I lose it again I want to let you know of a few things coming up.It's the second Annual "Fergus Fest" & Moonstar Showcase 2009. They are supporters of OHN and a portion of the proceeds are donated to OHN.Doors open at 4PM - Music from 6PM to midnight - $5 all ages - Location: The Point (Elks) at Wall Lake - MUSIC - FOOD - DRINKSFeaturing Local Artist BLIND JOE as well as other Bands & Solo Acts
On Saturday Oct. 10th there will be a benefit for OHN at The American Legion Post #208 in Arlington Heights, Illinois. All proceeds will go towards sending music instruments to our deployed troops.Starts at 6pm to midnight - $10 per person - Food & Cash Bar available - music provided by The 208"s, with Special Musical guests.
________________________ Ausgust 13, 2009Operation Happy Note will be at the Douglas County Fair next week starting on Thursday Aug. 20th thru Sunday Aug. 23rd in Alexandria, MN. So if you are in the area stop by and take some time to visit with us._________________________ Ausgust 12,2009JAM FOR THE TROOPS !If your looking for a fun night of music and want to help support our TROOPS join us on Sat. August 22, 2009 at Cactus Jack's Bar & Grill HWY 212 Stewart, MN
____________________________________August 11, 2009 We were at the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival at EL Rancho Manana Campgrond August 6-9, 2009 Richmond, MN. OHN was very honored to have a booth at the festival this year and be among all these great musicians. It was so much fun and made some really great new friends. A big thank you to Monica and Brian for all the help, I would probably still be trying to get the tent up without him.
_________________________________________ Ausgust 1, 2009
Are you a horse lover and like Trail Riding? I am and have gone trail riding for years. Well Jon and Sheilia Jackson of J&S Ranch in Erhard, MN. is hosting the Pony Express Trail Ride once again this year. Each year they give the proceeds of these rides to a charity, and this year the proceeds of the ride is going to OHN. What a great time it will be!
_____________________________ July 30,2009 Last week Camp Fire USA Kids held a bake sale for Operation Happy Note and raised over $500. The proceeds were used to ship more instruments to our deployed soldiers. Thank you !
_____________________________ July 10, 2009Minnesota has a deployment leaving this morning from "The Red Bulls" some of these soldiers are on their 3rd - 4th - 5th deployment. We here at OHN want to THANK YOU for your service. _____________________________ June 27, 2009,THE MITZVAH IS IN THE MUSIC!!
I have a wonderful story to tell of Julia and Kyle whom are cousins. I'm not really sure how they heard of OHN but they did and because of their love for music and our country came up with a great idea. Julia was to become a Bat Mitzvah and Kyle a Bar Mitzvah on the same day, so they sent out a letter to their families and friends asking them to support OHN with instruments and donations as a way to celebrate this great event.
Each of these young people raised several hundreds of dollars along with many instruments for our deployed heros to enjoy. Bless you!!!
May 22,2009
MEMORIAL DAY NOT JUST AN EXTRA DAY OFF !I hope General Hoffman doesn't mind me using his article on my blog, it could not be said better.Commentary by Gen. Donald Hoffman
Commander, Air Force Materiel Command
5/19/2009 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- More than 1.3 million Americans have fought and died on behalf of our country during the past 233 years. Except for Afghanistan and Iraq, those wars and conflicts have receded into the pages of history books. But our country was not built on history books. It was built on the backs of men and women who believed in the fundamental principles of freedom, principles for which they were willing to put their lives on the line.
I was recently TDY in Europe and had the opportunity to visit the American Cemetery at St. Mihiel, France. Buried there are 4,153 Americans who gave their lives defending the freedom of others. It is just one of many cemeteries around the world where we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
On Memorial Day, we owe these people more than a day off of work, a backyard barbecue or a day at the water park. I plan to stop wherever I am and whatever I'm doing on Memorial Day at 3 p.m. for the National Moment of Remembrance. I hope you will too. Take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made and the lives lost in the name of freedom.
Our history is full of stories of ordinary people who displayed extraordinary heroism. No doubt our future holds more amazing stories of heartache and heroism. Some of those stories are playing out now in current conflicts around the world. These are stories that bind us together, as one, under the Stars and Stripes of the United States of America. They're the stories of real people whose loved ones suffered and mourned. Let us never forget to honor them all ____________________________May 8, 2009 I want to say Happy Mothers Day and Thank You to all the wonderful women out there who have sons serving our country, and to you mom's taking care of the children while your husband is serving. Especially to you moms serving away from home and family. God Bless you all!____________________________ April 27, 2009I want to say a big Thank You to HFMS or better known as The Houston Folklore and Music Society. We received a shipment of wonderful instruments that they collected for OHN.It's groups such as these that enables OHN to keep sending instruments to our deployed service men and women. God Bless!____________________________ April 5, 2009We here at Operation Happy Note wants to wish everyone a VERY BLESSED AND HAPPY EASTER!I also want to thank the Memorial High School Orchestra of Houston, TX for their efforts in raising over $2500.00 for OHN. We will be shipping out more instruments next week because of them.THANK YOU !____________________________ March 10, 2009Got this email and really cool picture of a soldier that got his OHN guitar autographed by Kid Rock.Dear Barb and Steve,
I am with the 101st Airborne Division and
recently returned from a tour of Afghanistan. In May of last year you and
your donors were kind enough to provide me with a guitar, harmonica, and
accessories. I would again like to thank you very much for that, as I spent
many hours playing and singing with it. Last November when Kid Rock came to
Kandahar on a USO tour and I was fortunate enough to be able to meet him. I
had visited his website and noticed that he had posted an announcement
encouraging people to support Operation Happy Note, so when I met him I
brought along the guitar and told him how I had gotten it via OHN. He was
more than happy to sign it and even added a personal note...if you look
closely at the attached pic, you'll see it says "Happy Note Kicks Ass"! I
told him i would send a copy of the pic to you all and he encouraged me to
ask you to forward it to his website. Please feel free to do so, my only
request is that you only use my first name (Mark) when doing so. Thanks.
Again, thank you for all you do and have done in support ofthe troops and
our mission. You are truly great Americans and we are indebted to you.
Sincerely,
Mark
____________________________ March 6, 2009 Exciting news - First KSTP did a soty on Operation Happy Note and aired it on March 4th and 5th. If your interested in seeing it check click on this link. http://kstp.com/news/stories/S816792.shtml?cat=206 My kids now call me the "Kazoo Queen".I was also at our State Capital yeterday to testify before committe, there is a bill authored by our local Senator Ingebrigtsen to get OHN a $25,000 matching grant. Lets hope this goes through as we have soooooooooo many service men and women waiting for instruments.____________________________ March 4, 2009I am so sorry that I haven't updated my blog for so long (some health issues). On Saturday we were invited to a Welcome Home Party for one of our young soldiers named Jenna Wittner. What a wonderful opportunity it was for us to meet a soldier that received a guitar from OHN. Jenna and her family were fantastic people and made us feel so welcome. It just happened that KSTP was doing a story on OHN and interviewed Jenna for the story which is to air on March 5th, KSTP Channel 5 news. We wnat to give a BIG THANK YOU to Jenna and her family.
__________________________________ January 28,2009 Operation Happy Note sent out 53 boxes of instruments last week with the help of SGT Rob Starzl, MN National Guard out of the Fergus Falls, MN Armory. It was a bitterly cold MN day but that sure did not deter SGT Starzl from help OHN get music instruments to his fellow service men and women.
___________________________________ December 28, 2008THANK YOU! THANK YOU! For all the generous donations received by OHN. Just know that those of you who sent these generous gifts will make the lives of our brave warriors so much better and bring to them a touch of home. They tell us that that even if they do not get an instrument just the knowledge that we are here and have not forgotten them is so important to them. Please take a moment and read the last couple of letters about instruments arriving on Christmas eve and Christmas day. This is what keeps OHN going strong. God Bless you all!Now I want to tell you a wonderful story about the Christmas Guitar, it's about a eight year old boy that requested a guitar for his daddy for Christmas. Here is the request.___________________________________>> Hello,
> My name is C.J. and I am eight. My Dad has missed 4 Christmas mornings
> with me and that is half my life. He always makes sure I have presents
> under the tree even though he can't be here. Can you please help me send a
> guitar to him for his tree. He plays at church and at home and I would
> like him to play in the dessert too. Thnank You sir,
___________________________________>
> C.J.Here is the Results:I just learned of your website and what you do and what you have been doing. You are truly working for the Lord and will be rewarded for the efforts you have brought forth in all your hard work.
I would like to thank-you from the bottom of my heart for the guitar that my son received on Christmas day. I have learned that my grandson has sent an email requesting one for his dad and hadn't told no one because he din't want to get his dads hopes up. You truly blessed my family this holiday season. My family has all stayed in touch this Christmas by way of emails and sharing of pics. The emails I received this morning in my inbox telling me about the guitar and how he got it melted my heart so that I had to contact you personnaly and thank-you for your genorosity. I know my son and if he could he would send a pic but where he is at cameras are not allowed. For a family that has been seperated most every holiday season you brought more joy than words could ever begin to describe. Gods helping hands and yours has made this one of the best Christmas ever for a family that couldn't be together. Thank-you ___________________________________ Deceember 21,2008Operation Happy Note, Steve and myself want to wish you all a BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS! God has blessed us this past year with so many new friends through OHN. One of whom is Allison Balson. Allison has stepped up for OHN once again. She has dedicated the song "STAND" from the Allison & Stone CD "first" to OHN as there theme song. The plan is to include it with the instruments going oversea's as well as a promotional incentive. Captain D's (a seafood restaurant) has also come on board in supporting this effort.___________________________________ December 5, 2008We are well on our way to Christmas, and if your like me no idea what to get that hard to buy person."Well" I have the answer for you. You can make a donation to Operation Happy Note in that persons name and we will send them a letter stating such.All you need to do is go to the Contact Us page giving us the contact name and address, dollar amount (optional) and your name. We will then send them a letter about Operation Happy Note and how their gift from you will help send music instruments to our troops.You then go to Donate page on which you can send the donation through pay pal. We will then match up the names. We will also send you a tax receipt and letter to let you know it has been sent out.___________________________________ November 24, 2008OPERATION HAPPY NOTE WISHES YOU A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!I am rushing around today cooking, cleaning and looking forward to tomorrow with our children and grandchildren coming for Thanksgiving. I'm one of those old fashioned people that think everything has to be spotless and in place. Then I received an email from Amy Nelson who reminded me again what it's all about. I have so much to be thankful for. For one thing I am so fortunate to have my son home safe and sound, so to those of you who have loved ones far away I THANK YOU AND THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE TO US.Also check out this link send by Amy, I thank her and all of you who help us keep OHN going.http://fingerprint.typepad.com/jade_gurss_blog/2008/11/guest-blog-a-musical-christmas-charity-suggestion-from-amy-nelson.html#comments ___________________________________ November 20, 2008First I want to thank Allison for her support. It is so much fun speaking with her and she has now recorded a public service anouncement that is being aired on many stations across the country.We also have recieved notice that Kid Rock has put a link to his website for OHN "How Cool is that" www.kidrock.com/news.php check it out.Thank you for the support Kid Rock !_____________________________________November 9, 2008WOW ! It's hard to believe it is November already. As we all know Tuesday is VETERAN'S DAY. Operation Happy Note is honoring our veteran's by airing live from our headquarters in Fergus Falls. Our special guest will be Allison Balson who has just recently come on board as our spokesperson. Were broadcasting live from a local radio station (Lakes Radio - KBRF 1250) I wish all of you could tune in. Check out Allison's website at www.allisonandstone.com Thank you to all who have and are serving, God Bless youBarb and Steve_____________________________________ October 16, 2008CHRISTMAS IS COMING !!!I have been receiving emails from some of our soldiers that have now been waiting for a music instrument, some of been waiting for six months now.Sad to say our funding for postage is really down at this time. I am working at trying to find some foundations that will qualify us for grants, but this does take time and this is a new venture for me.We have hundreds of instruments on hand but no funding for postage at this time.So I'm asking for your help once more. CHRISTMAS is coming!!! So lets get these instruments to our gals and guys who are serving our country.Thank you for your help!_____________________________________ Sept 23,2008Award Nominated Actress/ Published Singer/Songwriter; Allison Balson; best recognized for her portrayal of the adopted “nasty” Nancy Oleson on the television series Little House on the Prairie, began her artistic career when she was five, has come on board as a spokesperson for Operation Happy Note.Allison Balson is thrilled to support the mission of “Operation Happy Note” because Allison believes “Musical instruments are an important part of my life and the lives of so many. An instrument is a tool for emotional release and expression. A song and strums of a guitar can unite hearts and heal minds. It is my hope in donating 15% of each Allison and Stone “first” CD sale to “Operation Happy Note”, that their goal of providing musical instruments to our men and women in uniform continues to be possible and achieved well in to the future.” Please check out her Bio and links under supporters page.Thank you Allison!
_____________________________________ Sept.11,2008I apologize for not keeping up on my Blog. We have been very busy trying to round up funding for postage. I want to thank all those who have responded. Operation Happy note sponsored an hour Radio program as a tribute to 911 this morning from our headquarters in Fergus Falls, MN. Then I had the privilage of speaking at the Alexandria Rotary Club in Alexandria, Mn. What great people they are. I love speaking to community service clubs.May we never forget our Brave Heros!___________________________________________________________________________ 
August 20,2008The lucky winner of the American Flag Guitar from Operation Happy Note was Joe Maier from Alexandria, MN. Joe registered for the flag guitar at the Operation Happy Note booth while attending the Douglas County Fair.Congradulations Joe! ________________________________________ August 18,2008Wow ! What a week that was! I spend four days at the Douglas County Fair in Alexandria, it is a wonderful "Fair". Operation Happy Note had a booth there, the weather was great and we got to meet so many wonderful people. It's really fun when folks stop by because they have heard of OHN. Hopefully someday we will be able to make it to the Minneota State Fair.We do have a winner of the American Flag Guitar and will give more details when we hear back from him.________________________________________August 07,2008Wow isn't the new up-dated website GREAT? It all came about when I signed up for a workshop at the Alexandria Technical College for Non-Profits called Today and Beyond. The event sponsors (listed below) selected three very lucky nonprofit organizations to receive a Nonprofit Marketing Makeover. OHN was fortunate to win one of the makeovers from EGGEN GROUP MARKETING of Fergus Falls, MN & KATZENJAMMER DESIGNS of Wadena, MN. What a wonderful job by both. Thank you again Becky and Monica for your time and efforts!Sponsers of the workshop were Tastefully Simple - United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties - Alexandria Technical College - Lakes County Service Cooperative -West Central Initiative and Bremer Banking_________________________________________ July 29, 2008We had a very nice surprise last week, Tim Little and his wife, members of the Michigan Bluegrass Association stopped by at Operation Happy Note headquarters. It happened to be Crazy Days in Fergus Falls that day so they found us out on the street with flyers and t-shirts. If you remember The Michigan Bluegrass Ass. held a very successful benefit for Operation Happy Note in May. We had a great visit and hated to see them leave._________________________________________ July 22.2008It's hard to believe we are almost through July already. I just want to let everyone know August is going to be a very busy month for Operation Happy Note. If you check the events page you will see we have been invited to MoonStar Showcase 2008 at Wall Lake, Fergus Falls, MN on Aug 2nd. Operation Happy note will have a booth at the Douglas Co. Fair Aug 14th - Aug 17th in Alexandria, MN then on to Jam For The Troops 2008 concert in St. Joseph, MN. Please come visit us at any of these events. Also note our Website is taking on a new look! Will tell you more about that when it is all done.__________________________________________ July 2, 2008Operation Happy Note is doing it's very best to support all our service men and women. we now have over 300 guitars and other instruments in stock waiting to be shipped BUT we do not have enough funding for postage at this time. We need to get these instruments to them. Please we need your help!!!!__________________________________________ June 28, 2008There are over 1300 service men and women on the waiting list and growing everyday! Remember all donations are tax deductible.__________________________________________ June 27, 2008I just received a new updated number on instruments sent to our deployed as of 6/27/08 has totalled 2432!! This number has been reached because of all of you that have donated to OHN! THANK YOU! I also was informed that the number of requests currently on the waiting list is 1179. But I know we can provide for them too with your help.__________________________________________ June 23, 2008Hello everyone I know I'm a little behind on the news. Saturday we were invited to a concert in Little Falls, MN called Dam Jam IV, put on by Goodnight Johnny Productions & Jamshack Studio. There were six bands, they were awesome, even if I have to admit I come from the Old Country music era, they had my feet stamping. Thanks John! These people donated a 5-string Samick Bass (autographed by all the musicians) which will go to one of our deployed military.__________________________________________ June 23, 2008We want to say thank you to Daisy Rock Guitars for the beautiful guitar they donated to OHN. It went to a (her mothers description) 5ft 4 blue eyed blond all muscle. She's a gunner, hope we get a picture to put on the website for you. OHN also wants to thank Mike Conover, Mike Diesing, Ray Herr and friends along with the American Legion Post 208 in Arlington Heights, Il and John Boy's Big Five O for the benefit held Saturday June 21st. What a great job guys. Thanks!!__________________________________________ May 20, 2008The Michigan Bluegrass Association also collected donations for OHN at their 2008 Stage Show on May 17th in Flint Michigan. A big thank you to those who supported all our deployed and from OHN.__________________________________________ We were presented a Certificate of Recognition by Representative Bud Nornes from the Office of Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota in support of our efforts. We were very honored.__________________________________________ October 30, 2007If you get the Guideposts magazine, check out page 70, in the November issue as they did a story about Steve and his experience in Vietnam, and how music motivates his passion for Operation Happy Note. There is also an article about Operation Happy Note in the Dec. issue of The Readers Digest. We have been most fortunate that these magazines are supporting us.
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