S2 My 25 Favorite Welsh-Americans: Miners, Explorers, Entrepreneurs and Farmers with Gethin Matthews ~ Seminar speaker This entertaining talk draws upon Gethin Matthews’ researches into various aspects of the history of the Welsh on the North American continent. He has uncovered a number of stories of adventure and endeavour, which go to show how enterprising the Welsh were in previous generations. Some of the stories are representative, showing how Welsh pioneers led the way in establishing communities on the American frontier; others are exceptional stories of courage and commitment.  Sponsored by the Great Plains Welsh Heritage Project.

S3  Welsh Voices of the Great War Online with Gethin Matthews ~ Seminar speaker The Great War, 1914-1918, was one of the most momentous events in modern Welsh history. Many historians would argue that this war’s impact upon Wales has not been given the thorough analysis it deserves. While there is great interest among the present-day Welsh in the experiences of their forebears in the Great War, there is a paucity of resources available to researchers. The principal aim of the Welsh Voices of the Great War Online project is to gather and to make available the wealth of material regarding Welsh participation in the War that is in private hands—photographs, letters and other memorabilia—that was sent home by Welsh servicemen and has since been kept safe by their families for generations.  This talk will introduce the project and will outline its progress so far. A particular focus will be put on stories of North American Welsh caught up in the events, persons like Major Ben Williams of Llansawel and Saskatchewan who won the Military Medal for his actions with the Canadian forces at Vimy Ridge in 1917. This is your opportunity to make contact with a researcher who will value the memorabilia and memories you’ve collected relating to Welsh-American soldiers who served in World War I.  Sponsored by the Great Plains Welsh Heritage Project.

S4 The Welshman and the Meteorite with Dick Pugh ~ Speaker and Friday tour guide In 1902 a Welsh immigrant, Ellis Hughes, along with Bill Dale, discovered the Willamette Meteorite, the largest in the United States and sixth largest in the world. In this pre-tour seminar, Dick Pugh will relate the exciting saga of the meteorite’s discovery and its laborious extraction and removal from the site.  He has many photographs of the meteorite in all stages of its moving as well as pieces of the meteorite to show.  You’ll be surprised to learn where this meteorite is now displayed, far from Oregon.  The seminar is recommended as an introduction to the “Knick Knacks” tour, (see tour descriptions), however, those who do not plan to go on the tour may consider the seminar an “armchair tour.”   (the tour, which follows the seminar, requires separate registration) Sponsored by  Welsh Society

S5 Readings by Rhys Bowen   Rhys Bowen ~ Novelist Kicking off her 2010 Fall book tour, multi award-winning mystery author Rhys Bowen will read and discuss her three very different mystery series.  Rhys made her name with the Constable Evans mysteries, set in the mountains of Snowdonia in a village remarkably like the one where she spent holidays with her aunt. One of the books, Evan's Gate, was a nominee for the prestigious Edgar Award.  More recently she has added the Molly Murphy mysteries, about an Irish immigrant in turn-of-the-century New York and the bestselling Royal Spyness series, featuring a minor royal in 1930s London. A recipient of both Agatha and Anthony awards, Rhys's books range from the chilling to the touching to the sidesplitting, so there is something here for everyone. Visit her website  at www.rhysbowen.com.

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S6 Welsh Language Class with Hefina Phillips ~ Cymdeithas Madog Come and learn a few rudiments and phrases of your mother tongue, one of Europe's most ancient languages, and the vehicle of an awesome literary heritage nearly two thousand years old.      Welsh Language Class -Second Steps with Hefina Phillips ~ Cymdeithas Madog After you have master a few rudiments and phrases of your mother tongue, you maybe ready to adavnce to the next level. For those who are interested in receiving advanced language instruction or in participating in chat sessions please contact the Cymdeithas Madog directly or attend a Cwrs Cymraeg. We are grateful to Cymdeithas Madog for sponsoring Welsh language classes at NAFOW again this year. For many years, each July, Cymdeithas Madog has held a week-long intensive Welsh course, most recently in Cardiff, Wales.

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S7 Ysogl Gân: Learn to Sing with Rhiannon Evans Acree ~ Ysgol Gân Instructor and Dianne McCarty, Accompanist Come prepare for the hallmark event of our weekend, the National Gymanfa Ganu. Learn how to sing your part with others in your section or just come to listen to beautiful Welsh music. Sponsored by Betty Pierce

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S8 Welsh Folk Dance with  Sian Frick ~Dance leader and Beltaine ~Folk Band  The history of Welsh folk dancing is a sad one. With the advent of the Non-conformist sects in the 18th and 19th centuries, the chapels saw the Welsh folk arts and customs as sinful and not in keeping with chapel teaching. They did their utmost to stamp out all sorts of "sinful" folk entertainment except, of course, hymn singing and music in the chapels.  Some saw the damage that was being done to the culture and managed to record the dances on paper. Like most music of that period, there was a lot of exchange and borrowing between Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland and Europe and a number of Welsh dances went into British/English collections, and tended to retain the original Welsh names in translation to English.  In the 1940s, Lois Blake and Gwyn Williams led the way in reviving the Welsh dancing tradition and in 1949 the Welsh Folk Dance Society was formed, with the aim of promoting and resurrecting the old dances.  Today, there are over twenty adult teams and hundreds of teams in schools and clubs across Wales.  This program is for all ages and you will take part in a real Welsh Twmpath, or barn dance. If you can walk, you can do these dances! We are fortunate to have a live band this year, the Portland band Beltaine. The dances will be called by Siân Frick, a well-known and  experienced instructor, and possibly other dancers. Portland has a vibrant folk dance community and we hope to interest the local dance community in learning the dances of Wales.  Come, enjoy a good time! Sponsored by the Vancouver Cymdeithas Welsh Society.

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S9 Corgis Galore  Blue, Red and White Corgis will abound at Corgis Galore. Several examples of both Cardigan Welsh Corgis and Pembroke Welsh Corgis will entertain you, thanks to the generosity of several Portland-area breeders. Come for information, come for fun, and find out how a Cardigan is like a cat.  Sponsored by the Cambrian Heritage Society of Wisconsin .

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S10 with David Allen WNGGA Treasurer If you own stocks, bonds or mutual funds, this informative seminar will explain the advantages for you in donating investments rather than cash to the charity of your choice. Find out how easy it is to donate securities rather than cash. Such donations are essential to the survival of non-profit organizations such as the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association, sponsor of the North American Festival of Wales. There will be ample opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have. Sponsored by the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association.