Tributes
and
​Thank You's!

The Great Minnesota Uke Gathering is Dedicated to Jim Whitney

From the beginning, Jim was a great supporter of GMUG, both from a planning and financial standpoint. Being modest, Jim insisted that he not be given the public credit he deserved, so most had no idea he was involved. When I needed some ideas about what we should do at GMUG or what he thought was a good idea and would work, I called or emailed Jim. He was my "behind the scenes" advisor.

 And, Jim was the one who funded a great deal of what we did. We had kind of an informal agreement that I would let him know what our financial needs were. Without any credit, he often came up with the money that made GMUG happen. Without Jim’s generosity and support of the ukulele community, GMUG would not have happened. Jim passed away shortly after Thanksgiving in 2017. It is way overdue to publicly say, "thanks Jim! We miss you!" - Tony Anthonisen

Remembering Don Venne

Don was the one who got me into playing ukulele? After I fell and tore both Rotator Cuffs, I couldn’t play my guitar without much pain. Don suggested the ukulele. I knew nothing about ukuleles, so I asked Don. He strongly recommended a Flea brand uke. I bought one, loved it, still play a Flea, and haven’t looked back.

Don at Sebastian Joe's after a TCUC jam

Don's "jumping flea" enthusiasm stimulated me to organize the Twin Cities Ukulele Club, which now has over 250 jams/events a year. Don and I attended a myriad of ukulele events together, including the Port Townsend Ukulele Festival, the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop (to study with James Hill), the Silver Creek International Ukulele Carnival and the Great Minnesota Uke Gathering. Don was front and center in the WCCO "Finding Minnesota" segment on the Twin Cities Ukulele Club.

Thank you Don! The Twin Cities Ukulele Club and I owe you big time! - Tony Anthonisen

Don's widow, Mary Rose Cossi, recently made a substantial donation to the Twin Cities Ukulele Club in Don's memory - Thanks MR!