I look forward to what Bubbles has to say about hashtags, Dusty. I've used them for worldwide Play Music on the Porch Day but that's about it. If the two of you talk and think it's a good idea to use a hashtag for International Appalachian Dulcimer Day, we can give it a go.
That's a nice description, Robin. It captures the spirit of the day perfectly.
And I'm not the right person to ask about hashtags. I can check with my teenage daughter, though.
Well, my belly shakes when I move like that dancing smiley!
On Facebook, I added this bit of text to accompany the picture of my little homemade sign:
A day to celebrate the Appalachian Dulcimer-- both its origins and its spread around the world! You choose how to mark the day and, please, feel free to share how you celebrate the day. Play music, write a poem, share a story related to the instrument, create an artwork-- the sky's the limit!
I'm wondering about us starting a hashtag? I don't actually know how they work so if y'all think it's a good idea, I'll add a hashtag.
Dusty, you are a mover and a shaker!
Hey friends, I created a new discussion entitled International Appalachian Dulcimer Day in the General Mountain Dulcimer Forum. Let's move our discussion (especially the posters!!) over there and leave this space for other positive news.
Thanks.
In the positive thread, FOTMD members came to a consensus that there ought to be a day dedicated to the celebration of our favorite instrument, and we arrived at the last Saturday in March as International Appalachian Dulcimer Day.
Let's use this space to share resources, outreach ideas, and photos, video, and text descriptions of celebrations of this new and special day.
Steve, I'll send you a private message through fotmd.
Strumelia, If you can send me an email address, I will send you a copy and you can edit as you wish. Any help is appreciated.
Great poster!!!. Absolutely love it, the old timer sorta reminds me of me😊....Robert.
I'm with Richard at thanking you for your original suggestion which got things rolling, @dusty-turtle! 
National Guitar is February 11.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thanks Dusty for your original post. Now when is national guitar day? Seems that drifted off with the wind in all our talk of an International Dulcimer Day.
Hey everyone, I just want to say how wonderful it is that an off-the-cuff comment I made on National Guitar Day has led to a consensus here about International Appalachian Dulcimer Day. When I get a chance (and recover from a long day at work) I'll create a new discussion somewhere else on FOTMD specific to IADD. We can share resources like Steve C's poster and, when the day arrives, share photos, videos, or just descriptions of what we do on that day. (IF someone wants to do that before I get a chance, please go ahead.)
This is a positive outcome of a discussion on the positive thread!
I can adjust the contrast for the white text areas by deepening the yellow and pale blue background colors just a little, if anyone needs me to. Then it would be nicely readable if printed out or copied in greyscale.
Great poster!
Note: the word "holding" at the bottom has a typo.
Also- many folks would be printing/copying this out in greyscale, and it'd be good to bump up the contrast between the lettering and the background colors so it's easy to read. ...making the background colors behind the white text just a bit darker. Here's how it prints out on a blk&white printer as it is now:
..and from Steve Carney...
Looks great, Robin!
P.S. Someone should copyright the name "grassroots celebration" before some corporation does.
In the way of many who have gone before us, I used what I had on-hand to make a little sign.
I'm wanting thoughts on going ahead and putting this picture on my Facebook page.
My apologies for the big photo-- I've tried to re-size it yet don't really know what I'm doing (obviously)!
I'm wanting thoughts on going ahead and putting this picture on my Facebook page.
Thank you so much for posting this. I was lucky to see Steeleye Span a couple of times "back in the day" when they were in their prime, when I lived in Boston, Massachusetts. Fantastic video.
We aren't an off-shoot of worldwide Play Music on the Porch Day. It's a totally different thing.
International Appalachian Dulcimer Day is its own thing-- just a day set aside to celebrate however you choose and in some small (or large) way, our favorite instrument. (I live in an old coal mine village and everything we do here is on a small scale. 
)
I'm fine with it (assuming we are celebrating indoors--it will be cold where I live). Good to have an easy to remember date!
Being that the date will change yearly it will make it possible for others to celebrate if not this year then next. It will not be a fixed day.
@marg I didn't check the date here or internationally. My thinking was it is not a day which would interfere with anything (unless one were on silent retreat or some similar event) yet, rather, a day to celebrate what many of us do every day-- play mountain dulcimer. 
That's fine, just checking if that date was good Internationally.
'Block or street gathering [party] day' for dulcimers on an annual basis.
@marg I was advocating for using "International" because the spread of the fretted dulcimer is across the globe and the membership here at FOTMD reflects this.
This is to be a grassroots celebration on only one day. (This is how I understand it. No committee with officers, a budget, etc. More like a flash mob, maybe? If I'm on the wrong track, somebody can jump in and point the way.) Even if a person just wished to post a special still photo for the day or make an elaborate video or a piece of artwork or anything in-between, assigning a day is a simple way to celebrate the boxes with strings we all love. 
(International - last Saturday in March)
Did anyone check if this date is ok for different countries - That their country doesn't have that as a special date? Did anyone discuss just (Appalachian Dulcimer Day)
@dan 
Or 'MD Day".
OK for me although 'Appalachian' sounds a bit 'puffed up'. Reason, I'm used to referring to it as a mountain dulcimer .
Baaaaaa
{No need for a poll.}
Sounds good to me for International Appalachian Dulcimer Day on the last Saturday in March.
Go for it.
