By GRETCHEN AMMERMAN/Oregon Coast TODAY
WALDPORT — As an organic gardener, I have a deep and abiding dislike of slugs. Then earlier this year, I met some slugs of a different type, and I couldn’t find them more charming.
The Seashore Literacy Ukulele Group Singers, or the SLUGS, are a come as you are, play when you can group that make playing “Jambalaya (On The Bayou)” look like the most fun thing you can do while sitting.
Armed with instruments of all shapes, sizes and designs, group members play for seniors in senior centers, shoppers at farmers markets and at all types of other venues, all in the name of Seashore Family Literacy.
Started by Senitila McKinley, Seashore Family Literacy is supported in part by the SLUGS and the Waldport-based Green Bikes program. Focused on helping kids and adults improve reading, writing, math, computer and communication skills, Seashore also includes a gardening and free meal program.
“Every dime we make goes to Seashore Family Literacy,” SLUGS member Michell Alford said. “They let us print things on the copy machine and use their facility, so we are happy to be able to contribute back.”
Margot and Richard Fetrow are longtime members of the group, which now numbers roughly 30 players.
“It was about 15 years ago when we joined and it was growing slowly,” Richard said. “There was not a vision in sight for it to be like this. Four or five years ago it really grew. Before that it was more or less just a few people that enjoyed playing together.”
At the weekly group practices, members bring binders filled with songs usually represented in the easy-to-follow TAB system. A few extra binders are sometimes available for those who sit in. If not, SLUGS are quite generous about sharing theirs, contributing to the very welcoming glow that practically emanates from the group.
“The more the merrier,” said Judy Wooten, who joined the group with husband Dave. “Margot sometimes just grabs people off the street.”
Judy gives free weekly lessons to adults and she and Dave help “raise young SLUGS” at the Seashore Family Literacy summer camps.
“The beauty of the ukulele is that they are easy to take with you and they are easy to learn,” she said. “You can take it as far as you want.”
Being part of the SLUGS has even helped some recent transplants to Waldport feel at home.
“When I started playing, it almost felt like you needed to be a ukulele player to be a part of this community,” member Tim Beyer said. “Senitila would sometimes just hand out ukuleles to people.”
Having more players helps create a fuller sound and ensure that there are no missed performances on the very busy SLUGS schedule, which includes a regular stop at an assisted living facility.
“One of our best gigs is at Sea Aire in Yachats,” Judy said. “We love playing for them and they love us. We get as much from it as they do. When they say ‘Thank you for coming,’ it really has meaning.”
As a founding member, McKinley is occasionally present at practice but, when her busy schedule pulls her away, she leaves the group with full confidence that they can carry on without her.
“They are wonderful,” she said. “It has a life of its own now, it just kind of took off and it’s fun to see the difference from when it started. What I see now is people finding a life of service to their community and there is no expectation, it’s just pure joy.”
Being an extremely talented uke player myself, with a chord memory that includes almost three notes, I sat in with the group one Monday during a practice session.
A few tunes were simple enough for me to hang in. Others were a bit more complicated, so I would just sit back and soak in the music rather than ruining things for those sitting near me. But it wasn’t until close to the end of practice that the final song made me feel truly welcome.
“The SLUGS Song,” written by Buzz Chernof, is a fun and accessible tune I was able to mostly make it through. When it was done, a member turned to me and said, “You are officially now a slug.”
I’ve rarely been as proud.
Ready to see, or play with, the group? The SLUGS practice at 1 p.m. Mondays and lessons are offered at 6 p.m. Tuesdays at the DeNoble House, 125 Spruce St. in downtown Waldport.
Wednesdays, the group can be found performing from noon to 1 p.m. at the Waldport Wednesday Market through the end of the season.
For more information, go to the Seashore Literacy Ukulele Group Singers, “slugs,” page on Facebook.
-
For more arts and entertainment news go to Oregon Coast TODAY
