The Southern Skies Chapter of AMICA and the Southeast Chapter of MBSI
met jointly in Savannah, Georgia, during the annual Tom Turpin Ragtime
Festival.  Over 45 members and guests attended.

David Oppenheim worked hard, for many months, to schedule AMICA and
MBSI business meetings, joint technical sessions, house tours, and
reserved attendance for several Ragtime Festival events.

On Friday, October 30th, we began with registration of members at the
Master's Suites Hotel and, following dinner, we enjoyed the spectacular
Masters Concert at the Savannah Theater.  This concert featured inter-
nationally renown ragtime artists Terry Parrish, Richard Zimmerman,
and John Arpin.  We were also delighted with a cameo appearance by Max
Morath.

Saturday began at the Savannah Technical Institute auditorium with the
MBSI business meeting led by chapter chairman, Richard Poppe.  Follow-
ing the meeting, Richard Bair presented a technical explaining MIDI
basics.  Ragtime piano virtuoso Richard Zimmerman was next with an
entertaining and informative demonstration of "Ragtime Piano Artists
and their Roll Performances".  Our morning ended with lively discussion
and great bargains at the "mart".

Saturday afternoon brought free time to explore the historic Savannah
waterfront.  The sites were easily taken in on foot or by enjoying the
many trolley tours.  At 6:00 p.m.  members met for dinner at Skyler's
Restaurant in historic downtown Savannah.  We then embarked, by trol-
ley, to Laurel Grove Cemetery for a 2 hour, candlelit, walking tour
presented by the Society for the Preservation of Laurel Grove.  Society
members, in full period costume, represented the "ghost" at his/her
grave and told of their life and death in Savannah.  This was a truly
unique living (or dead!) history lesson.

On Sunday morning AMICA held its business meeting at the hotel.  The
meeting was led by acting chapter president, Debra Legg.  We then pro-
ceded to David Oppenheim's Open House from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and met
again at 2 p.m. in Brunswick, GA, at Phyllis Tollison's home.

While in Savannah we had many opportunities to enjoy other Ragtime
Festival events including the Ragtime Halloween Dance and Max Morath
 -- "the Ragtime Man" -- in concert at the Weiss Theater.  Everyone
that attended thoroughly enjoyed Savannah and many thanks go to our
hosts.

Debbie Legg
Dunedin, FL

P.S. A personal note:  Often when playing "arranged" piano rolls
the comment is made that no _one_ person could play all those notes.
After Saturday morning's presentation, I now must say that I know of
at least one person who can:  Richard Zimmerman!