The Manzanilla Flamenca dance group amazed the audience with their colorful and lively dancing.  Manzanilla Flamenca is a local Dallas group that are affiliated with the Office of Cultural Affairs.  The company consists of several members who are musicians as well as singers and dancers.

Flamenco is a dance that is a form of Spanish folk art.  It has origins in Andalusia, but other areas of Spain also contributed to several other forms.  The dance is characterized by rapid movements and audible footwork accompanied by guitar, percussions and song.  The exact origins of the term “flamenco” are unclear, though some have linked it to the Flemish, or Gypsies, newcomers wishing to avoid persecution.  The word Flamenco, in terms of the song, the dance and the guitar, did not come into use until the 19th century.  While there are several different types of Flamenco today, some with castanets, shawls, fans and other props, the dance is still lively, entertaining, and fun to watch!

http://www.manzanillaflamenca.org/home.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=E8JNdmfvKCw

Patrick and Jennifer Guzik, avid travelers and knowledgeablee consumers, brought an enlightening presentation on how to be your own travel agent.   The first thing to decide is where you want to go and when.  This will decide how much you will pay for fares, depending if you decide to go during peak season.  Travelling off-peak will save money on fares, hotels and will help you avoid large tourist crowds.  Once you decide on a date and destination, research the prices.   Sites such as Hotwire.com, Expedia.com and Priceline.com can help save money if you want to compare fares before booking.  Don’t forget to compare fares of the actual airlines themselves – sometimes they may be the cheapest.  After you have booked your trip, it’s time to decide what you want to do once you get there.  Use your local library as a source for planning.  Many libraries have Fodor’s or Frommer’s travel guides as well as others for traveling on a budget.  Also use the Internet as a source: online local newspapers, travel blogs, restaurant reviews, and various other sources.  But most of all – plan to have fun!!!

Dr. Cordell Adams, ophthalmologist and author, delighted the audience with dramatic readings from his debut novel, Light Bread.  Light Bread is a delightful tale of a grandmother in a small town who can’t resist becoming involved in everyone else’s business.  Dr. Adams’ characters appeal to everyone across the board.   Grandmother, Veola Cook, has traits that remind us all of our own grandmother, or at least, grandmother’s neighbor.  Dr. Adams talked of his first adventure in writing and about how writing of his own grandmother gave closure to a difficult time in his life.  He discussed writing down all the memories he had of his grandmother and weaving them into a tale sure to touch anyone who has fond childhood memories of grandparents and anyone who reads his book.

http://www.sweettaterpiepublishing.com/

Dr. Jayne Gardner, founder of the Gardner Institute, an executive coaching and coach training company, shared how to rewire your thoughts in order to achieve your goals and success in your life.  Dr. Gardner, a licensed psychologist, has written several books and professional articles, as well as conducted many seminars on her particular methods for removing limitations and achieving success.  She believes that we must “rewire” ourselves to think positively and reach our goal.

Dr. Gardner says that there are 3 major steps to rewiring yourself to achieve success:

1)  acknowledge your fear and face it

2)  reclaim your power

3)  change your limiting belief

She also says that along with these, the most powerful mindset is one of appreciation and gratitude.

 

http://www.gardnerinstitute.com/

Economist and former banker, David Smith, gave valuable insight on the TARP stimulus package and what it means to the average citizen.  Smith, president and founder of Dynamic Solutions, first compared this financial crisis to the one on the 1990s.  He detailed the mistakes that lead to the current crisis, such as bad mortgage loans, banks buying bad debt , and no government oversight on large financial institutions.  Smith shared the programs in the TARP that are geared toward helping the government, both nationally and locally, to pull out of the current troubled situation.  He also discussed the different grants that have been put in place to help people own businesses and find jobs.

Author and former Librarian for Dallas Public Library regaled the audience with her talk on the “Bad Girls of Texas.”  Shelton chronicled the lives of Pamela Mann, Belle Star, Sally Skull and Lottie Deno.  We learned about the encounters between Pamela Mann and Sam Houston, her “business” dealings in Houston, and her troubles with the law.  Shelton talked about the colorful and dangerous life of the pistol-packin’ Sally Skull.  We also heard tales of Lottie Deno’s life of gambling, love, and frontier living in “The Flat.”