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PMN's 2026 Winter Gathering was a wonderful experience!

We would like to thank everyone who made this possible!  Unfortunately, time constraints prevented us from offering our thanks during the Gathering itself.  We've been organizing our thoughts and information during the past 10 days.

First and foremost, we want to thank everyone who attended the gathering!  You participated both in-person and virtually despite the fact that we had to shorten the in-person time due to the storm that arrived on Sunday.  From what we have been told, everyone got home safe and we are very thankful for that.

Videos and pictures from the Winter Gathering will be posted very soon.  If you have any images, videos or audio files that you would like to share with your fellow PMN members and they are too large to send via email, please send an email to membership-comm@peoplesmusic.org.

We want to express our gratitude to the Gathering's host school, Central Park East II.  CPE2, led by Principal Naomi Smith, has hosted PMN in previous years.  Principal Smith put all the on-site operational pieces together and personally managed the site.  The school staff members were all wonderful --  custodial and security staff and technical staff (Chris) -- as was the Parents' Association (we loved that coffee and hot chocolate!)  

We are thankful for City Beet Kitchens, who provided the good food and were incredibly gracious with us (as first-time customers).  Their service was top-notch and we look forward to working with them again.

PMN values supportive relationships with partners and neighbors.  CPE2 was interested in exposing its students to music and storytelling, and we are grateful to two of PMN's members, Jason Baker and Merry Trudeau, who provided workshops for students during the school day on Friday.


PMN has no paid staff at this time, even for events like this one.  Many PMN members volunteered their time to ensure that our members had a fulfilling experience and we thank them all:

  • The planning team for the weekend included Joanie Calem, Joanne Tuller, Erland Zygmuntowicz, Rebecca Pomerantz, Gary Allard, Chris Owens, Louise Hetzler and Jason Baker.
  • Programming matters for the weekend were handled by Joanie Calem and Ruben Gonzalez.
  • Volunteers were coordinated by Sarah Underhill.
  • Advance registration and on-site registration were handled by Joanne Tuller and Gary Allard.
  • Our technical empowerment team was led on-site by joEL McGlynn, Carrie Klein, and John Breitbart with assistance from Oberlin student Ben Rosielle.  Hybrid and Zoom coordination and facilitation was handled by Marcie Boyd, John Closs, Steve Deasy, Louise Hertzler, Eric Law and Sarah Pirtle.
  • Housing for those who needed a place to stay was coordinated by Erland Zygmuntowicz and Joanne Tuller.


  • Our invaluable on-site "Whatever Is Needed" volunteer team included Ellen Weinstat, Sally Campbell, Linda Pollack-Johnson, Marilyn Suffet, Carol Vinick, Barbara Wright, Carol Spring, Rebecca Pomerantz, Sarah Underhill, and others who sneaked in and helped when we weren't looking!
  • Safety team members were Sally Campbell, Sandy Pliskin and Lindsey Wilson.
  • Our programming was executed by members as well.
  • Our Friday night welcome session was planned by Erland Zygmuntowicz and Rebecca Pomerantz. Shabbat celebrations were led by Tobie Hoffman onsite and by Louise Hetzler and Eric Law online . Nikki Nesbary and David Tarlo conducted the PMN Pick-Up Choir.
  • The Saturday welcome session involved Gary Allard, Tobie Hoffman, Jenny Heitler-Klevans, David Heitler-Klevans, Joanie Calem and Joanne Tuller.
  • The Membership Meeting was facilitated by Joanie Calem with technical assistance by Joanne Tuller.
  • The Saturday Community Inspiration session was organized by Erland Zygmuntowicz and moderated by Lindsey Wilson.  The event featured special guests Arthur Schwartz, Esq., Arelis Figueroa, Bonnie Lockhart, Nikki Nesbary and Peter Burkholder.
  • The Friday and Saturday Round Robins were managed by Gary Allard, Ruben Gonzalez and Chris Owens.  Timekeeping was provided by Huayra Forster, Adele Rolider, and Ben Silver.  The MCs included Gary Allard, Lindsey Wilson and Erland Zygmuntowicz.
  • We are grateful to our workshop leaders: Adele Rolider, Barry Kornhauser, David Tarlo, Jenny Hurwitz, Jill Friedman, John Closs, Joanna Cazdan, Joanne Tuller, Judy Gorman, Lindsey Wilson, Louise Hetzler, Liz Taub, Marcie Boyd, Maria Bigay, Mario Cancel Bigay, Peter Burkholder, Rebecca Pomerantz, Ruben Gonzalez, Sandy Pliskin, Sarah Pirtle, Sharleen Leahey, Steve Deasy, Steve Suffet, and Zyak Valmont. 
  • We are also thankful to Eric Law and Chris Owens, who agreed to have their hybrid workshop postponed indefinitely due to the weather.


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