"Stories...Grandpa told me stories. High on the mountain, I'd
sit on the floor at Grandpa's feet. The warmth of fire crackling in
the fireplace, the flickering shadows of the lamplight on the wall,
the swish of the wind on the tin roof...all this intertwined with the
sound of his voice as it echoed in the quiet of the room. He told
stories of stalking panthers, of front porch music, of people born and people dying. And all his stories brought real-life drama to a little girl searching for heroes...heroes she could just reach out and touch." —Amy Ammons Garza
Catch the Spirit of Appalachia is a group of dedicated Western North Carolina individuals who are holding local memory in place by saving,by sharing, by passing on the remnants of local memory and local human community by the ancient rule of neighborliness, by the love of precious family, by the passing down of family stories, and by thewish to have a sense of place...a sense of "home."
The Purpose
Established in 1989, incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1991, the purpose of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA) is to awaken people of all ages to their self-worth, to the wisdom of their ancestors, and the beauty of their natural environment and culture. Situated in Jackson County, North Carolina, our organization’s main thrust is to draw attention to the need to conserve, protect and save the natural and human heritage of the local mountain people in our region. Our mission is to accomplish our goals through environmental and cultural education in the primary grades and by involving the community in honoring and preserving the local heritage lifestyle.
The People
CSA Cofounders Amy Ammons Garza, Appalachian Storyteller, and Doreyl Ammons Cain, Visual Artist, a team known as The Ammons Sisters, are dedicated to reaching every child they can with the message that they are creative, can achieve success and have the heritage background that will sustain them throughout their lives. The sisters are actively promoting literacy and awareness of self-worth in all children and adults.
The CSA board of Directors is a group of local people who believein the mission of the organization and extend themselves, involving the goals of CSA into their private lives. Many members of the board have been with the organization since it's inception 18 years ago: Dr. Ray Menze, Elmer and Irene Hooper; followed closely by long time members Gail Stillwell Cooper, Cathy Stillwell Gibson, and Dr. David Teague. With more than two years involvement is Gail A. Nolen, Etheree Chancellor, Pam Dengler, Vera Holland Guise, and Terry Michelsen. Newer members are Carl Hooper, Mary Jo Hooper Cobb, Becky Nelson, Dot Conner, Judy Rhodes, and Victoria A. Casey McDonald.
Regional advisors to CSA have been Jenny Johnson, Director of the Swain County Center for the Arts; Leesa D. Sutton, a development office for the area's Division of Tourism, Film, and Sports Development; Denise Ballard, Manager of the Cherokee Youth Center Boysand Girls Club; and Davey Arch, Cherokee Storyteller and Crafter.
The Website
Within this website, you will find storytelling and bits of art hidden in the "hollers" of our heritage, the coves of workshops & residences, the ridges of community festivals and spread out in the dust of the performance road.
Now Scheduling Performances, Residencies & Workshops
For
the 2007-08 School Year
Mountain Storytelling with The Ammons Sisters: Doreyl Ammons Cain, visual
artist and Amy Ammons Garza, storyteller.
Some of the Catch the Spirit Board of Directors & Advisors,
Christmas
2005
2007 Officers of CSA's govering board. (l-r) Pam Dengler, Vice
President; Ray Menze, President; Amy Garza, Executive Secretary/Treasurer
This is a shot of the fun
being had by the CSA planning board in January, 2007.
For Storytelling Performances & Workshops
Contact: Doreyl Ammons Cain at (828) 293-2239
P.O. Box 339,
Tuckasegee, NC 28783 Click here to
email Doreyl
