Clay Aiken Practices Golf Swing

PREPARING FOR THE GREENS -- Clay Aiken practices his golf stance in preparation for the 2010 Golfing for Inclusion event. Graphic by AmazingCA.

'Retro 3' Montage On a Roll

NIP Sets Golfing for Inclusion

Clay Aiken and his fans are brushing up their golf swings in preparation for the 3rd Annual Golfing for Inclusion hosted by the singer and PGA professional Wayne Player.

Some supporters even admit to taking a few lessons prior to the fundraiser slated for Monday, Feb 1, on the greens at Mirasol Country Club, Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The event will benefit the National Inclusion Project, which provides opportunities for all children

Clay Aiken and Wayne Player, GFI co-hosts.

Golfing for Inclusion 2010 will feature a clinic by Player; hole-in-one contests and a golf tournament (shotgun start/scramble format) with prizes for individual/team winners; live/silent auction, extraordinary cuisine, and a special performance by Clay Aiken, co-founder of the charity.

Online registration for GFI provides several avenues of participation, as well as well as a variety of sponsorship or underwriting opportunities. Online auction items can be viewed here.

Forget the hole in one -- fans are hoping Clay's performance will include new song premieres from his upcoming album with Decca Records!

PHOTO INTERLUDE: Below are clickable graphics and a photo from previous GFI events, including AmazingCA, 1; photo by Katy4Clay, edited by Sally, 2; and Clayquebec1, 3.

Youth Slate Inclusion Campaign

Twenty young people from across the country will gather at Imagination State in Bethesda, MD, Jan. 8-10, for the National Youth Inclusion Summit to develop an advocacy campaign that builds awareness and support for the full social and educational inclusion of people with disabilities.

Diverse in their backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, the youth leaders are united in their vision of a world where people of all abilities have the same opportunities.

The National Youth Inclusion Summit is organized by the Including Samuel Project, a program of University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability, along with Imagination Stage, the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, and the National Inclusion Project.

Partners in the effort include the Boys amd Girls Clubs of America, Kids Included Together, Girl Scouts of the USA, Victor Pineda Foundation, and VSA arts.

TAKING FLIGHT -- Samuel Habib sits on his father's lap behind
the controls of his grandfather's sea plane, as the two
prepare for a flight. Photo by Dan Habib.

Every participating teen has already played a role in advocating for inclusion in his/her school or community. Most recently, they have each facilitated discussion among their peers by coordinating a screening of Including Samuel, a documentary broadcast nationwide on PBS stations in the fall of 2009 that looks at five families’ stories of inclusion.

"By hosting screenings, such as the one for the film Including Samuel, which is a powerful documentary, we bring awareness to this issue," stated Liane, a sophomore at Yale and a Summit participant.

At the Summit, participants will share their personal experiences, hear from advocacy experts and work together to build a coordinated viral campaign on inclusion that engages youth nationally.

Sarah, an 11th grader from Iowa and a Summit participant, says about the Summit, “I believe that it is critical for teens to stand up and speak out about the importance of social inclusion for students with disabilities. I feel that awareness and education are powerful tools and can really change the way we think about inclusion.”

“Including Samuel is resonating with this young audience and I hope it can be a catalyst for their generation,” added filmmaker Dan Habib, creator of Including Samuel. “Without them, we cannot achieve the film’s vision of inclusion in our schools and communities.”

Tia, a Girl Scout in 7th grade from North Carolina, adds, “Disabilities should make our bonds with society and people in our community stronger, not weaker.”

Tia and the other nineteen participants will work toward this goal at the Summit.

'Retro 3' Spotlights Appearances

For anyone who has spent the past few days on the moon, SueReu's third Retrospective montage features an overview of Clay's 2003-09 special appearances.

In addition to YouTube, the video has found its way to countless Facebook walls, Twitter tweets, and message board posts.

Clay Aiken - A Retrosepctive, Part 3, A Special Guest
Montage by SueReu

Among the highlights are several national anthem performances, Christmas specials, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Capital One Holiday on Ice, Ed ("This Magic Moment" and "Ebay gold"), Scrubs ("Isn't She Lovely?"), Days of Our Lives, A Capital 4th on PBS, Saturday Night Live and the "Aiken wink," 30 Rock, and "Solitaire" from American Idol 3 and the 2007 Neil Sedaka Tribute.

To download the RETRO-guest montage, use this Sendspace link. I understand #4 is already in the works!

Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!

Caro

Montage Characterizes Clay Aiken

HUMANITARIAN IN ACTION - 'Grace' montage by LovesClaysVoice.

Memorable Scenes, Music

'Grace' Captures Charitable Clay

During all my years in -- or on the outskirts of -- journalism, I have never been accused of writing too few words. This may be the day!

No doubt my former editors -- with nods to the appropriate desks in the Wilmington Star-News, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, and The Odessa American newsrooms -- would also appreciate the added irony of neutral newspaper hues.

Clay Aiken fans know they are blessed with a very talented brigade of photographers, videographers, and graphic artists, affectionately known as "clack goddesses," who have brilliantly documented the singer's performances, appearances, and humanitarian endeavors with the National Inclusion Project and UNICEF since 2003.

On another plane are the skilled artisans who creatively select from the vast array of images, videos, and music to produce extraordinary and varied memorable montages.

Clay Aiken in opening frame of video.

Featured in this entry is the montage Grace by LovesClaysVoice, which portrays the compassionate, sensitive, caring man Clay Aiken is. Accompanied by pianist-composer William Joseph, the montage can be viewed in the above player or via the Yahoo video link. You can download the montage with this Sendspace file.

William Joseph was the opening act for Clay's 2005 Joyful Noise Tour, which covered 36 cities in the US and Canada during November and December. In 2004, he opened for Josh Groban's Closer Tour. "Grace" is the final track from his 2004 album, Within.

Clay Nation Recalls Spamalot Finale

January 4, 2009, is a date Clay Aiken fans will not soon forget. The Clay Aiken Kids site recaps the week's events leading to the singer's farewell as Sir Robin in Spamalot.

For a walk down memory lane, see Broadway Events and the double-clickable wallpapers by Fountaindawg commemorating the finale week.

Similar to the final performance night in May, Shubert Alley was crowded with fans. Once again, Clay saluted from the ledge above the theater. This time, it was final. There would be no future return to the role for Clay as the play itself would close a week later. -- from Clay Aiken Kids site.

Have a wonderful opening week of 2010, Clay Nation!

Caro

Aiken Fans Embrace Decca Decade

2010: It's CLAY TIME! - Graphic by Cotton

'Small Screen Fun' in Retrospect

Clay Nation Celebrates 2010

With the final strains of "Auld Lang Syne" still fading, Clay Aiken fans everywhere are celebrating the arrival of 2010 and the much-anticipated Decca Decade.

Ten-year welcome mats in place, Clay Nation residents replay past tours and performances at the drop of a hat. All week SueReu has been making this activity special with a series of retrospective montages. The first -- "The Music" -- was featured in the previous blog. She unveiled the second at an online New Year's Eve party.

Highlights from Clay's talk show appearances -- Small Screen Fun -- are featured in the second Retrospective montage, which even boasts a surprise ending.

You can view the montage in the player below or via the YouTube link. Downloads for "Retrospective, Part 2" are available in both Sendspace and MEGAUPLOAD files.

Clay Aiken, A Retrospective - Part 2, Small Screen Fun
Montage by SueReu

The third Retrospective montage is scheduled for completion on Saturday.

Vintage Cards Popular Collectibles

A few years ago, I read a blog about vintage postcards the writer had discovered among her family's keepsakes; and I became intrigued with this creative mode of communication. Today's designs are in step with the latest technology and are available for use in emails and online networking.

In the beginning, homemade, hand-delivered greeting cards were mostly used by the wealthy because they were too expensive for common people.

In the 1400's, Germany began producing "woodcut" New Year's greetings and Christmas cards. Originally intended for decoration, these crudely made cards were also traded among friends and family.

In the mid 1800's, Germany again led the way when artisans began mass producing greeting cards with the new printing methods. This new and improved technology, combined with more modern postal systems, created a new industry. Greeting cards were now more affordable and practical to send to loved ones.

Clickable vintage cards

The postcard was even cheaper to send and became wildly popular during the late 1890's to the 1920's.

A flurry of competition evolved as artists and publisher's flooded the market with colorful postcard designs. Landscapes, historic events, exhibitions, advertising, souvenirs, famous people were among the topics of postcards in the early 1900's.

Postcard albums became very popular as people wanted a place to display their collections. For additional history and samples, see vintage greeting cards.

Look around your attic. You just may discover vintage card treasures from previous generations.

Below are clickables graphics by cindilu2 (1 and 3) and Cotton (2). Widescreen and no-date versions of the January 2010 calendar are available at the artist's Yuku page.

Happy New Year, all! Here's to the Decca Decade -- the Best is Yet To Come!!!

Caro

Aiken Fans on Decade Countdown

New Year graphic by AmazingCA ushers in a season that holds much promise for Clay Aiken, his new label, and his fans.

Fans Celebrate Decca Decade

Clay Nation Greets New Year

As the hours and minutes of 2009 wind down, Clay Aiken fans are at once in a retrospective mode, as well as greatly anticipating the singer's new label and a new 10 years already tagged the Decca Decade!

New Year's Eve gatherings are planned throughout the many niches of Clay Cyberspace. Some are elaborate with "engraved" invitites, while others will consist of informal gatherings. All will include sharing favorite music, photos, and performances by Singer Man.

A New Year Celebration is scheduled for 9 p.m. EST Thursday in the public thread at Chexxxy's Place, and all fans are welcome. As the invitation states, a 2003-09 rewind of Clay's albums, songs, interviews, TV/radio appearances is planned.

Graphic by fivegoldens, photo by zippy888

Participants should be prepared to share photos, blends, montages, and videos from the past six years. An example of this New Year's Eve shindig can be viewed in SueReu's montage Clay Aiken - A Retrospective - Part 1, The Music in the player below.

This is just the beginning, as she is preparing three more segments and plans to premiere the second, Clay Aiken - A Retrospective - Part 2, TV Appearances, at the New Year's gathering. To download Retrospective Part 1, here is the Sendspace link.

Clay Aiken - A Retrospective - Part 1,The Music
Montage by SueReu

Clay Cyberspace will be hopping on New Year's Eve. I hope to add information about other site parties planned for members and non-members, so do check back.

Still celebrating Clay's debut blog from Wednesday's Huffington Post, CA fandom sleuths have noted that the UNICEF Ambassador's initial post -- Progress in Somalia Despite Difficult Circumstances -- still leads the Impact section and is listed under various headings, including "Don't Miss HuffPost Bloggers."

Clay in Somalia
Clickable by Fountaindawg

Clay's blog about Somalia is also posted at the UNICEF Fieldnotes site.

Below are clickables by Cotton and AmazingCA celebrating the season, the end of one era and the bright beginning of another:

Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!

Greeting by A Beautiful Mind

Clay Aiken Montage Rewinds 2009

Memories of 2009 - Montage by LovesClaysVoice

Fans Anticipate 2010, Decca Decade

Montage Bids 2009 Farewell

The old year is winding down; and, like everyone the world over, Clay Aiken fans are recalling highlights of 2009. Even more pronounced, however, is the immeasurable anticipation of 2010!

"Memories of 2009" by LovesClaysVoice replays the departing year with a parade of events including Clay's final performance of "Spamalot"; Golfing for Inclusion fundraiser of the National Inclusion Project; GLAAD presentation; judging stint on "America's Next Top Model" with Tyra Banks; Family Equality Council Award; guest performer with "David Foster & Friends" Concert; "30 Rock"; Capital Awards; Champions for Change Gala; and a second surprise appearance at another DF&F Concert.

BULLETIN: In his capacity as UNICEF Ambassador, Clay posted an excellent essay at 6:23 a.m. 12/29/09 on The Huffington Post: Progress in Somalia Despite Difficult Circumstances. Readers who click on Clay's byline are taken to his UNICEF bio.

The 2009 montage plays to the beautiful song "Shine," performed by William Joseph, pianist-composer. LCV has provided a Sendspace link for those who would like to download the video. Memories of 2009 can also be viewed at YouTube.

William Joseph was the opening act for Clay's 2005 Joyful Noise Tour, covering 36 cities in the US and Canada during November and December. His latest album, Beyond, is in stores now.

The song "Shine" is from the multi-artist album EFY 2009 - Be Thou an Example. Originally produced for Especially for Youth participants, the CD was released to the public at the end of the summer. Individual songs can be downloaded at the site link.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: In honor of 2009's "Very Best of Clay Aiken" compilation, the clickable overview begins with the artistic cover and features graphics by cindilu2, 1; Fountiandawg, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10; AmazingCA, 3, 5, 7, 11; and Ashes, 9. Photographers include Katy4Clay, 5, and BigAppleforClay, 10.

New Decca Chapter Blasts Off

During down time, Singer Man's fans reminisce about past performances, stream, vote, chat, share favorite videos, photos, graphics, even recipes.

All the while, alert sentries maintain Internet vigils via Google, Twitter, and other news/social networking sites for any hint the tide might be turning. In the late afternoon of Aug. 27, a simple tweet -- Just met Clay Aiken! -- sounded the alarm throughout Cyberspace.

Within minutes, message board sleuths knew the twitterer's name, rank, and serial number: Drew Farrar, music publicist for Decca Records in New York City. Ten minutes later Clay's new label posted a photo via TwitPic of the singer with David Novik, head of A&R for @deccalabelgroup.

DECCA JOURNEY BEGINS - Clay met with Decca vice president David Novik in late August. - Photo from TwitPic.

Global Fan Response Surprises Decca

Views at the TwitPic site, which hit 10,000 by midnight, are closing in on 32k. Fans discovered YouTube video blogs in which Novik was interviewed about the music business. Twitter and TwitPic were flooded with excited comments from fans from around the globe.

Faithful Japanese fans chimed in at TwitPic: All the Clay fans from Japan are looking forward to his new music. Please get him to come over to Japan!

Apparently surprised with the outpouring of excitement from CA fans worldwide, Decca at Twitter responded with this tweet:

With apologies to VP Novik, visual artists immediately converted Clay's portion of the pixels into graphics, banners, avatars, and other designs. The clickables are by AmazingCA, Fountiandawg, and cindilu2.

The Clay Nation bids 2009 a fond farewell and knows the best is yet to come! Bring on 2010!

Caro

Clay Aiken Sings of Christmas Joy

Graphic by Cotton

Wishing all a joyous Christmas!
Recommended Playlist: 'Merry Christmas With Love' by Clay Aiken

Merry Christmas to all who may dwell here
Merry Christmas if even just one
May the joy of the season surround you
Merry Christmas with love!

Graphic by AmazingCA

If "Merry Christmas With Love" is not filling your holiday airwaves, the solution is a click away with mp3 downloads at Amazon or other online outlets.

MCWL Playlist

Merry Christmas With Love
Mary, Did You Know
Hark the Herald Angels Sing/O Come All Ye Faithful
O, Holy Night
Don't Save It All for Christmas Day
Joy to the World
Sleigh Ride
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Silent Night
The Christmas Song
Winter Wonderland
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

Clay's 12/21/04 performance of "Mary, Did You Know" from MCWL is among the Christmas Day videos featured on the MSN website.

The clickable graphics below are by Lindylo, AmazingCA, and Cotton. Photographer of the first photo is zippy888.

Special thnx to the faithful who visit the Carolina blog throughout the year. Wishing you and yours peace, love, and all of the wonder of the season!

Clay Nation Loses Special Friend

Tribute to Ashes-Claysmelody - Montage by Aspiegirl
'Because You Loved Me' sung by Clay Aiken

Because She Loved Us

Fans Recall Memories of Joan

Joan Martin lived life with her arms wide open for family, friends, and Clay Aiken, whom she loved as much for his glorious voice as for his huge, charitable heart. Expressions of her love for the talented singer adorn her blog in the handsome graphics and montages she created and shared with others.

The Tribute to Ashes-Claysmelody montage by Aspiegirl features many of Joan's graphics accompanied by Clay singing "Because You Loved Me." To view the montage on YouTube, click on the link. To download the montage, here is a Sendspace file.

When Joan, whose screen names were Ashes and Claysmelody, died late last week, the Clay Nation lost a very special friend. Countless fans could describe her vibrant, uplifting, cheerful emails (to be read with the day's first "cuppa"); the online assistance she freely gave others not as computer savvy as she; the thoughtfulness exemplified in the notes, CDs, and DVDs she frequently mailed to online friends.

Ashes Never a Fan of Textism

When Clayonline converted from HTML to textism lingo in the blogs, Joan scrambled with me to locate codes that would generate journal entries similar to the previous system. Truthfully, I must add that she cussed the whole way, wishing daily for a reprieve and return to HTML.

I have not only lost a very good friend, but my grandchildren lost a very special great-auntie who delighted in surprising our family with graphics and montages of Kai and Lia.

The loss of Joan has sent ripples through the Clay Aiken fandom. Threads at the Clayboard and the Clayonline message board -- OFC Member Ashes Passes -- are filled with thouhgtful tributes.

We learned of Joan's death Monday night because her son Perry replied to one of the many emails on his mother's computer inquiring about her absence. Joan, who loved walking in the town of Red Deer, contracted a lung infection early last week and grumbled that she must really be sick to take a cab three blocks to her doctor's office on Tuesday.

She received medication, and her doctor assured her all would be well. In a matter of days, she took a sudden downward spiral and was gone.

Joan/Ashes/Claysmelody

Friends Plan Memorial Donations

Friends can make an online donation to the National Inclusion Project in memory of Joan Martin by completing the form at this link. Aron Hall knows that some remembrances may be in honor of Ashes or Claysmelody. Friends may also print the form and mail a donation to the Raleigh office. There is no need to complete the "notification" part of the form.

For months, Joan has been urging me to join Facebook. For some reason, Monday I did. The opening post is about Joan's death and contains many messages of grief from her friends. The post also includes a link to her beloved Clay-The Man blog where faithful readers are expressing their feelings in comments.

One of the most endearing remarks came from Claycolombia, who frequently apologizes for her English skills. At the Facebook link, she could not have expressed the thoughts of many more eloquently:

This is sad news that shakes the soul to me. Joan was a wonderful woman; we were always in contact. My dear Joan, all clay Aiken fans will miss you.

Following a clickable interlude of graphics by Ashes/Claysmelody, some of the expressions of loss will be shared here. Photographer of the first graphic is gerwishp.

Clay Friends Share Sadness

Below are some of the many lovely expressions posted by Joan's friends. Please share your thoughts in the comments so that her two sons can read them online.

Rest in peace, Ashes. You brought so much to the Clay Aiken fandom, and you will be missed. You gave us so much beauty with your blogs. - katymom

I'll miss you and your beautiful blogs, Ashes. Thank you so much for everything. Rest in peace, my friend. - Nelia

Your blogs were beautiful and your montages could not be more dedicated and amazing in expressing Clay Aiken. You were a great friend and I thank you. I will miss your posts that came so regularly and you always sounded so lively and open. I really will miss you. - Camille4488

Joan was my first Clay buddy back in 2003. In December 2005, she flew from Calgary to Arizona to stay with me for two weeks and to attend her first live Clay Aiken concert. We had great 5th row center seats, and she was mesmerized. I am so glad that I shared that joyful evening with her.

Rest in peace, dear Joan. May you hear the music and see the man from wherever you dwell. - skybar22

When she told me she wasn't feeling well, I asked Ashes if there was anything I could do for her, and the response was "What can you do? Pray I will get to the next concert tour!" - Cathie Sato

I am so sad and shocked to hear this. Her graphics and montages were done so lovingly and her blogs were so nice to read. She will be terribly missed. - gerwhisp

Joan will be so missed. She loved Clay completely and unconditionally; that was so evident in the beautiful blogs she took so much care over. We have lost a good friend, but heaven has another angel now. - LosAngelesDawn

I know that there are no lonely people where she is now because she will be there loving them just as much as she loved all of us. - Aspiegirl

I am so filled with emotion right now on hearing this news. I saw the subject line and it just wouldn't register. Joan was one of Clay's biggest fans, and her loss will be felt across the nation. - Sandy Hall

Below is a double-clickable of the opening graphic from the montage:

May Joan rest in the peace, love, and joy that she gave to so many others. - hosaa

Caro