Fabric of Floyd - Letter from the Community

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Published on Monday, 03 June 2013 12:41

“Fabric of Floyd”: Well Done, Weavers

by Randall A. Wells

TEDxFloyd made its first appearance on Saturday, April 27. It was a tribute not only to the diverse texture of Floyd County but to the skill of those who wove the event together.

It was also an inspiration as to how much can be created in Floyd County when groups interlace at right angles, weft by warp.

TED, the parent organization, shares “ideas worth spreading.” (See TED.com for its many talks recorded on video.) TEDx, by contrast, stands for an independently organized TED event, the first one being limited to 100 people. Saturday’s endeavor traced threads of the area’s cloth that were chosen by students: creativity, community, environment, and economy.

“Fabric of Floyd” was inspired by Hari Berzins, who saw it as a way of teaching Social Studies collaboratively with and among her students at Blue Mountain School.  Her idea gained enthusiastic approval from Shelly Emmett, Director of BMS (www.bluemountainschool.net).

Collaboration built when Jack Wall and Kamala Bauers, who are members of the BMS board of directors, generously allowed the event to take place in the EcoVillage off Franklin Pike. Its particular venue was the Village Center, which comprises Celebration Hall with its lobby and food service areas (www.floydecovillage.com). So an institution founded in 1981 set up its community loom in a brand-new institution. By the way, this was the third major event that the Village Center had hosted within ten days, the others being Earth Day and a fund-raising concert for Virginia’s Blue Ridge Music Festival Floyd. Look for the EcoVillage to become prominent in the design of the county.

The four overlapping threads were addressed by no fewer than fifteen local adults, who gave polished and stimulating talks enhanced with slide projections. Interspersed with these were four international TED videos, also chosen by students, a half-dozen of whom also gave brief talks and shared their endearing personalities. Serving as MC was the poised Ms. Berzins. 

An attractive, glossy program included 36 color photos of participants with accompanying bios, and it gave credit to business sponsors, volunteers and the production crew.

Perhaps the idea of collaboration can be expanded even further—into the past—because Floyd artisans and products had created Celebration Hall itself. “The timber frame in this building came from our work,” declared David E. “Jason” Rutledge, who logs with horses. Jack Wall later explained privately that the eight timber trusses, made from pine logs, were milled at Streamline Timberworks by Steve Arthur; Swede Mc Broom of Natural Woodworking fashioned the trim from ash and oak; and Sam Hancock installed the stage, which is made from lumber milled from local oak.

A reminder of the area’s sometimes challenging diversity came when one speaker, Lydeana Martin, gave a heartfelt and hard-earned testimony about grace. She doubted the power of human beings to accomplish anything, however desirable ethically, socially or ecologically, without divine help. During another talk, the very “fabric” metaphor itself was called into question. The speaker, who was arguing that Art should be broadened to include all artistry, extended it to include that of elected officials--when from one small part of the hall came an audible if figurative rip.

Yet citizens and organizations of Floyd County should make the most of its somewhat limited resources by cooperating with one another. A prominent example is Virginia's Blue Ridge Music Festival, to be held May 30-June 9. This community effort depends on  board members, other volunteers, businesses, schools, sponsors, donors—and not to forget hosts, who will provide lodging for the fellows and mentors.

Alliens Final Show to Benefit BMS

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Published on Saturday, 29 September 2012 20:14

From Alliens:

The final throw down is upon us. We ask that on October 5th, everyone (that can) share this evening with us! Drive out to Floyd, VA, and enjoy the beauty of the Sun Music Hall and Dogtown Roadhouse. This is an evening of celebration, and we surely need help to make it the night we hope it to be!

We will be donating 25% of the ticket sales to Blue Mountain School. The children of today are the founders, dreamers, and creators of our future as a people, therefore, their teachers and mentors are the ones who help mold the future. Help us help them keep a wonderful school up and running.

From Blue Mountain School:

Alliens are having their final show on Friday, October 5, and are donating 25% of the ticket sales to Blue Mountain School. This is extraordinarily generous of them, so let's help them fill Dogtown and have the best farewell any band could hope for.

There are two things you can do to help:

1. Invite as many friends as you can to the event, and be sure to come along yourself; and
2. Volunteer to help out on the door by sending email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . In exchange for their donation, Alliens would like us to provide the door people for the night. This is a pretty easy job that just requires some attentiveness and trustworthiness. If there are enough of us, we shouldn't have to work for more than a couple of hours each.

Circus Camper to Perform

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Published on Thursday, 13 September 2012 12:36

Mr. Sol Atkins, who began his juggling career at the BMS Circus Camp this summer, will be performing at the Floyd High School talent show. The show is this Saturday, September 16, at 3:00 pm in the high school auditorium. Please come out and support our Circus Star!