Welcome to the home page of the Handbell Musicians of America, Area 2 ("The Guild, Area 2",) website! We have a lot of information for you and hope that you will enjoy your stay. If you have any questions or find that links or resources are not performing as you anticipate, please let us know so that corrections can be made.

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Area 2
2012 Vibration Vacation Registration Now Open!

Liberty Corner [Basking Ridge], NJ - July 30-31, 2012

Dewitt [Syracuse], NY - August 02-03, 2012

The Area 2 2012 Vibration Vacation Events packets and FAQ documents are now available!

Open and download your 2012 Area 2 Vibration Vacation Events Registration Packet here.

Open the new 2012 Area 2 Vibration Vacation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document here.

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Have you checked the calendar Lately?

The Area 2 Calendar has been gathering lots of events for you to consider in the upcoming months. If you are having an event that you want to publish, let us know. In the meantime, the calendar has over 28 dates up for 2012 events and 9 dates already up for 2013! Check them out by clicking on the calendar image above or by clicking here.

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05/14/2012 - Notice regarding a recent Survey request by the national Guild office

We have received a concern regarding the “confidentiality” of an invitation to participate in a Guild Member Survey
dated May 2, 2012 and emailed out by the national Guild on May 11, 2012. Details of the issue and findings are available here.

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Do We Make a Difference? You Bet We Do!

Sometime, after spending so much of our personal time, effort and yes – money, we wonder whether the work we have done has had any impact at all. Certainly, that is one factor that causes each of us to hesitate when asked to contribute to Area 2 Board positions and activities. But if you think that way, that there is little return for the effort, that no one really cares, then we challenge you to think again. For the past six years, Area 2 has been sponsoring efforts to make use of handchimes in Romania.

Now, we want to share with you another endeavor that is also taking place in Area 2 and having positive effects both at home and abroad. We present the THE SOUTHMINSTER RINGERS, what they are doing directly for others, and what they are doing for themselves. The Southminster Ringers are a "team" of High Schoolers who annually crank up the program once again even though every year they have lost their leaders to graduation. They are blessed with a caring congregation, but more than that, they have learned to work diligently to fund the program that they have developed, wish to retain, and pass on to those that follow. As a measure of pride, youth bell ringers often want to look distinctive. A classy look binds them together and gives them something to defend through personal responsibility. We, as adults, so often forget that building young persons requires us to give up authority and grant them accountablility. So as this group has fun together, they work, and work hard, to make sure that the fun is rightfully earned. Thirty six years ago. the Southminster Ringers proudly adopted the Royal Candian Air Force Tartan kilt as their uniform, accenting the Scottish Heritage of the Presbyterian Church. Look into the eyes of these ringers, and you will see pride in how they carry and comport themselves with others of all ages.

Ha! We got it connected to the Brinks Truck! Pull hard!

But the distinctive outfit is only one item that sets this group apart. Locally, the ringers are active in the Pittsburgh area. The ringers begin each year with fun together at the Ligonier Highland Games (and the annual tug-of-war, generally, won by the girls, with the assistance of some local competitors – see photo). Then they get to work. The heritage the carry is one of sharing. The repertoire is varied and challenging. As a result of their musical product, many original compositions have been written for them. Like most of our bell choirs, they play at all kinds of venues, both inside and outside, and they travel extensively and love to share their music and their enthusiasm with everyone they meet!

Ligonier Games Benefit Concert

Quality is what they are after. By Christmas time, they are ready and are fairly busy with demand for concerts. Nevertheless, one special venue stands out each December: the Allegheny County Jail. Have you and your choirs moved beyond the safe havens of the church and visited hospitals and jails? The ringers look forward to this event each year and they rarely play for a more appreciative audience. They see, they hear, they learn and they care. Then its back to more work for the real fun is yet to be had.

The Southminster Ringers will be leaving for The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania in a few weeks as they begin their 23rd International Tour. Over the years they have taken handbells to ringers these countries and have regularly returned to re-visit those ensembles to help them in their ringing journeys. Last summer, five Southminster Alumni took a 4˝ octave set of bells to the Czech Republic and spent a week teaching handbells and English to 20 eager young students. When Southminster arrives in Europe this summer, they will begin their tour this year working with those same ringers and helping them progress even further in their ringing knowledge.

As the movie "field of Dreams" so aptly put it, if you build it, they will come! So the next time you have an opportunity to work with young ringers, think about this story and say "Yes”. Believe us, the experience is worth more than double the energy!

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