With the FHA Summer Session for 2014 just over a month away, things are at last coming into focus for our big get together.

Some updates of note would include:

* Larry Tuttle, String Planet Stickist and composer, will be our special guest on Thursday, August 14. He'll share some thoughts on composing for the Chapman Stick. Speaking of composing, Larry was the winner of the Pittsburgh Symphony's 2014 H. J. Heinz Company Audience of the Future Composition Contest, with his work CHORALE AND FIDDLE TUNE.

* Tony Levin will be our Emcee and Guest speaker on Sunday, August 17 - ending the program on a high note (or low note, whichever the case may be - it will be the right note).

* Alphonso Johnson has dropped out of the FHA program as an instructor. We wish him the best on his academic pursuits and appreciate all his contributions to the Stick Community.

* Michael Johnstone will be attending and working with Dan Chapman with filming the event. Lap Dawgs will be available for purchase.

* Robin Costin will be joining the FHA staff, providing guidance with the coordination of programming and private instruction. Brett Bottomley, who leads the Northeast Stick Seminars, had also been slated to join the team, but Brett has been busy with his new album and touring.

For those enrolled, we'll have some surveys going out in the next week to coordinate carpooling from LAX on Wednesday, August 13 as well as programming options for Thursday and Friday. For those wanting to enroll, we still have availability for 11 more attendees if you are interested and can work with you on payment plans if you require it.

All the best - your friends at the FHA

Gene, thanks for the update. Here's a question that someone posed to me recently: As we're staying in college on-campus housing, during a non-school time of year, are we going to need to bring bedsheets? Sorry if it sounds like a silly question, but there are events out there (charitable cross-state bike treks, etc) that offer college dorm housing for volunteers, and those volunteers are told to bring their own bedding.

You will not need to bring any linen. The AJU will provide linen, pillows, soap, shampoo, keys and a keycard for your building. Additional linens can be requested if you desire.

Short list might look like this

Gear
Stick
Stick case
Stick cable
Headphones (1/4" to 1/8" adapter?)
Headphone amp ($25 on Guitar Center or Musician's friend)

Clothes (for 5 days 4 nights)
6 pairs underwear (an extra pair couldn't hurt)
3 pairs socks
sneakers
sandals (probably wearing these mostly)
4 t-shirts
Hawaiian shirt (Stick Night is going to be Hawaiian themed)
Sweater (hoodie, whatev)
1 pair pants
1 pair of jeans
2 pairs shorts
Hat
Sunglasses
Fuzzy bunny slippers optional

Toiletries
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
If you have a brand of shampoo / conditioner you like, bring it. They provide soap and shampoo, but no conditioner
Shaving cream
Shaving razor
Aspirin / Tylenol / Advil (just in case)

I can hardly wait to see the comments on things I forgot.

You will not have any time to read or do any sightseeing without missing out on classes or after hours events (informal instruction, jams, beer tour, dance off, etc). You might have time to check in with loved ones, update a status or snap some pics. Last year, we were going pretty much from 8am to 6pm with scheduled events and then after hours events till 11pm.

Saturday is our big day; Emmett is on campus, State of the Stick and Stick Night. We'll be starting breakfast service at 8:30am on Sunday to give us a little extra time for fun.

Does that help?

Tony Levin is gonna be there....and I can't make it.

Still plenty of time to register Evan...

No one can make me wear shorts or sandals. Or short socks for that matter

It looks like a very nice stick event...wow...

I can't make it this year. My Stick adventure is bringing me to Canada with my girlfriend in 2 weeks...taking up the only vacation time I have at work....

A sturdy table to avoid a donut massacre. I don't want to see Don cry again...

Donut time at last year's FHA. One of my favorite moments was when the box with donuts fell over and Randy shouted "OH THE HUMANITY!".