February is Membership Month for the International Society of Bassists! Our 2011 membership drive honorary co-chairs John Clayton and Paul Ellison invite you and your colleagues and students to become part of the ISB family, plus we have some special gifts for new and renewing members.

Beginning now and through the end of February, when you go to www.isbworldoffice.com/join_isb/join.html and join, renew or extend your membership online or by downloading an application and mailing it in postmarked by February 28th, you can choose one of these great CDs for your library:

Paul Beaudry’s critically acclaimed 2010 release, “Paul Beaudry and Pathways”

Jeremy Kurtz, “Sonatas & Meditations” featuring compositions by David Anderson, Luis Prado, Joseph Bodin de Boismortier

Lynn Seaton, “Lynn Seaton Live” recorded at the 2003 ISB convention and featuring Bill Mays, piano, and Tim Froncek, drums

Ovidiu Badila in recital, a double live CD recorded at the University of Washington just months before his untimely passing

Once you’ve joined, renewed or extended your membership either online or via regular mail, then all you have to do to claim your gift CD is send an email with your name, mailing address, and the first and second choices of the CD you’d like to have. Quantities are limited, so don’t wait long!

ISB Testimonials from 2011 Membership Drive Co-Chairs

John Clayton

“As a teenager, I was lucky enough to learn that bassists have a unique and supportive bond with each other that is not shared by players of any other instrument. The ISB is the lead organization we have that keeps this family connected throughout the world.” – John Clayton

Paul Ellison

“Maybe we should call it the ISBF, for Family? Where else are bassists of all stripes not only welcomed, but also valued, and for all the right reasons? There was no ISB for me as a student or young professional. Imagine when all the knowledge, awareness and shared musical experiences became readily available. I never have, nor would I miss an event, from Cincinnati, Chicago, Austin, LA, NYC, Bloomington, Houston, Iowa City and Kalamazoo, to Oklahoma City, State College, PA, and on to San Francisco in 2011. The truth is, there’s so much that goes on it’s impossible to take it all in. So okay, you catch up at the next convention! The ISB is our life’s blood. One principal of a major orchestra confided to me at his first ISB event, ‘I just had no idea! How could I have missed all this for so long? I’ll never miss another.'” – Paul Ellison

Membership is the life blood of any organization. If you’re a current member of the ISB, thank you! We are grateful to you for your continuing support – and we need your help! We challenge you to sign up a fellow bassist during our February membership drive. Members receive Bass World magazine and monthly e-newsletters, and are among the first to hear of double bass events and competitions. Ask a friend, colleague or student to go to www.isbworldoffice.com/join_isb/join.html and join online or download a membership application and mail it in.

Please forward mail a link to this post to all the bassists you know – and tell them John Clayton and Paul Ellison say, “What are you waiting for?”

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