Note:  Pictures of this organ rally, along with some pictures of the
Boston AMICA convention, can be found at:

   http://mmd.foxtail.com/Exchange/pictures.htm

The Heart of America chapter hosted an organ rally September 10-12 in
conjunction with the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.  The rally,
coordinated by Leonard and Billie Railsback, and Tom McAuley, kicked
off with a dinner at the Railsback's home on Friday evening.  The
threat of rain failed to "dampen the spirits" of members who enjoyed
the Railsback's hospitality.

After dinner, the HOA chapter went to Dr. Dean Burnett's home in
Halstead for an organ concert.  Dr. Burnett's Kimball organ was
formerly in a theater in Kansas City.  It underwent years of
restoration and has had a solid state component added.  The organist
for this occasion was Brett Valliant, a freshman at Wichita State
University.  Mr. Valliant demonstrated tremendous skill with the
instrument and proved that age is no barrier to talent.

By Saturday morning, good weather prevailed and fair-goers were treated
to the music of the various organs at the rally.  Participants came
from as far away as Ohio, Minnesota, and California to attend the
rally.  Organs ranged in size and design from the small busker organs,
to the larger street organs, to the still larger band organs.  The
oldest one was an 1880's barrel organ owned by Bob Bullock and Dan
Hoadley of St. Louis.

A few of us slipped away from the fair for awhile to visit the Kansas
Cosmosphere, which is also in Hutchinson.  The Cosmosphere has one of
the finest collections of items from the history of space travel and
rocketry.  Some of the more popular items include the Apollo 13 module
(the _real_ one, not the movie set), and Gus Grissom's Liberty Bell
capsule which was recently recovered and is now being restored at the
Cosmosphere.

After a full day of producing organ music, members gathered for dinner
on the fairgrounds.  After dinner, the business meeting was held,
followed by a slide presentation by Ron Bopp on the tour of German
organ factories and festival in Waldkirch this past summer.  Following
the presentation, organ pipe whistles specially designed Tom Griffith
and Bob Cole and constructed by Griffith were given to the members
present.  (Thanks Tom!)   After the business meeting was adjourned, the
planning committee for the 2002 AMICA Convention in Springdale met to
discuss preparations.

Later that evening, thunderstorms rolled over the prairie leaving
copious amounts of rain in their paths.  Chapter members returned to a
very muddy fairground the next morning to resume their music making.
One member discovered that his band organ had sunk into the soggy
ground and would need to be pulled out by a tractor.  Good thing we
have plenty of those in Kansas!

We can never fully express our appreciation to Len Railsback and Tom
McAuley for all their hard work in coordinating this rally, and also to
the unsung hero, Billie Railsback for her efforts.  And thanks to all
those who attended the rally and made it a success.

Joyce Brite
Player Piano and Mechanical Music Exchange
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Exchange/