Tragic Senseless Killings Must Stop

Remembering the 20 children and 6 staff members
that were killed in Newtown Conneticut by a mentally challenged gunman

 

Charlotte Bacon, 6; Daniel Barden, 7; Rachel Davino, 29; Olivia Engel, 6; Josephine Gay, 7; Ana M Marquez-Greene, 6; Dylan Hockley, 6; Dawn Hocksprung, 47; Madeline F. Hsu, 6; Catherine V. Hubbard, 6; Chase Kowalski, 7; Jesse Lewis, 6; James Mattioli, 6; Grace McDonnell, 7; Anne Marie Murphy, 52; Emilie Parker, 6; Jack Pinto, 6; Noah Pozner, 6; Caroline Previdi, 6; Jessica Rekos, 6; Avielle Richman, 6; Lauren Russeau, 30; Mary Sherlach, 56; Victoria Soto, 27; Benjamin Wheeler, 6; Allison N Wyatt, 6.

 

Our hearts are breaking for the children and staff members that were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to them and their families.
 
It's time for everyone in the USA to take a stand against gun violence.
 

Sincerely, 

Guitars Not Guns
 

 

 

Guitars Not Guns Ebay Auctions!

100% of the proceeds will benefit
Guitars Not Guns non-profit music program for deserving kids

a federally exempt 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization
items to be listed beginning for this 10 day auction
Wednesday, November 28, 2012

music track courtesy of The Breedloves 

 

PRESS RELEASE FROM SAMMY HAGAR:

 

https://plus.google.com/+SammyHagar/posts/Z86orDDjurk#+SammyHagar/posts/Z86orDDjurk

 

NOTICE:
End of Auction Extended to:
December 8, 2012
for Autographed Guitars

Items will include
autographed guitars by:

Sammy Hagar

Montrose, Sammy Hagar, Van Halen,

Chickenfoot, Sammy and the Wabos
Ed Roland & Kevin Griffin

Collective Soul, Better than Ezra,

Southern Gentlemen, The Sweet Tea Project

Steve Vai

Frank Zappa, Public Image Ltd., Alcatrazz,

David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, Steve Vai

autographed pick guards & memorabilia by:

Alice Cooper, Chuck Garric, Colbie Caillat, Duane Eddy, Eric Johnson,

Joe Bonamassa, Joe Satriani, John Sebastian,

Kenny Loggins, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Michael Anthony, Orianthi,

Pat Travers, Phil Everly, Steve Vai, Vivian Campbell

vintage & unique guitars:

1982-1985 Fender USA Telecaster, 1987 Guild USA JF50R-NT

Jumbo Acoustic, 1988 Guild USA Pilot Bass,

1992 Hamer USA Artist Korina Electric, 1996 Hamer USA Artist Electric,

Burns Steer Electric

and more items to be added!
Photo Gallery here:
Google Picasa Album

Preview Auctions:

https://sites.google.com/site/guitarsnotguns501c3

Ebay Listings (listings to begin November 28, 2012):

guitarsnotguns_501c3_4kids

Your winning bid will support a great non-profit
Music Program for Deserving Kids!

Please print out this pdf flyer and
help promote these auctions for a great cause!
Thank You!

STAY TUNED!! Lots of excting news! Classes, Graduations, Auctions, Events!

New sessions underway in Martinez and Concord!  What a great way to end out the year!  :-) 

 

Coming in 2013

Save the date:  FEBRUARY 17, 2013!!!   Planning underway for another awesome fundraiser! 

September 22 and 23, 2012 The 75th Anniversary of the Walnut Festival Rocked!

SEPTEMBER 22, AND 23, 2012 WAS AMAZING

THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WALNUT FESTIVAL!

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR AMAZING SPONSORS AND SUPPORT AND ESPECIALLY TO  lAURA FIELDING AND LOUIE GREEN OF MAGIK WAND PRODUCTIONS!

ALSO:  A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE GONZALEZ AIR BRUSH FOR THE BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM PAINT JOB ON THE GUITAR WE RAFFLED! 

Check out photos HERE!

 



DELTA BLUES FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

COME AND VISIT THE GUITARS NOT GUNS BOOTH!  TRY YOU CHANCE TO WIN AN AUTOGRAPHED GUITAR,. SIGNED BY THE PERFORMING BANDS!!!

 

 

 

Check the Line up!

AUGUST 18, 2012 - MUDDY JUAREZ PRESENTS, GUITAR SLINGERS AND BLUES SINGERS: A BLUES REVIEW COME VISIT THE GUITARS NOT GUNS BOOTH

FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION GO HERE

Another successful Guitars Not Guns Graduation! August 6, 2012 Antioch, CA

Another successful Guitars Not Guns Graduation!   August 6, 2012 Antioch, CA

STAND Against Domestic Violence!

Graduation 8-6-12 Antioch

Thank to to our Sponsors!

GUITARS NOT GUNS GRADUATION CEREMONY

AUGUST 6, 2012

7:00 P.M.

SOME OF OUR AMAZING SPONSORS!

Thank you for the support! 

STAY TUNED!

STAY TUNED FOR ANOTHER GUITARS NOT GUNS GRADUATION CEREMONY

Antioch, CA

AUGUST 6, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

SPECIAL GUEST APPEARENCES AND THIS WILL BE AN AMAZING EVENING!

 Digital Literary Arts, Inc. June 22, 2012

"People's Choice Award" presented to Barbara Anne Gorin

Presents the 2012 Sound Investments in Youth Awards Gala

What a wonderful evening, full of fun, networking and amazing talent all around! 

Thank you DLA!

Digital Literary Arts, Inc.

Facebook Page

Come check out the new Contra Costa County page on Facebook for new information and announcements! Send us a shout out, ask a question, all on our new interactive page. Thanks for the support!

Guitars Not Guns Contra Costa County Facebook Page

For Immediate Release

Digital Literary Arts, Inc.

Presents the 2012 Sound Investments in Youth Awards Gala

Date:                           June 22, 2012

 

Place:                          The RallyPad

                                    144 2^nd Street
                                    San Francisco, CA
Contact:                     Robyn King    925.374.1441 x1

Time:                           7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7:00 p.m.)

Cost:                            Tickets must be purchased at: www.bit.ly/DLA_Gala

Digital Literary Arts, Inc., (DLA) will host the 2012 “Sound Investments In Youth” Awards Gala on Friday, June 22^nd, 2012.  DLA, also known as DLA Studios, is partnering with Rally, a fast-growing social and online fundraising corporation to bring this first fundraising event to life at the RallyPad in San Francisco. The celebration of "service and sounds" will launch DLA’s mission to provide our youth with tools for positive self-expression through digital music arts education, training, and performance experience. The evening will feature award presentations to local champions committed to improving upon the communities, quality of life, and futures of young people in the San Francisco Bay Area and will also include live and musical and spoken word performances.  The six 2012 DLA Honorees and award categories are listed below:

Community Education and Awareness – Alexandria Monroe, Vuitton Meals Youth Development Center

Education Enrichment – Reginald Figgs, West Contra Costa Unified School District

Enrichment Through Athletics – Marzel Price, East County Midnight Basketball League

Healing Through Music Arts – Tomas Alvarez III, Beats, Rhymes and Life

Healthy Youth Expression – Hodari B. Davis, Youth Speaks

People’s Choice – Barbara Anne Gorin, Guitars Not Guns

DLA’s most prestigious award, the People’s Choice honor, is being presented to Barbara Anne Gorin, VP of Fundraising for Guitars Not Guns (GNG). Recommendations were submitted to DLA from the community based on nominees’ commitment to working with and for the needs of youth. Gorin was nominated for her volunteer work with GNG by her colleague Darius Bruner as part of DLA’s Facebook nomination campaign.  In addition, the evening will feature a live acoustic performance by Gorin as one-half of the "The Breedloves," along with fellow artist Jay Kirkland.

DLA is committed to connecting youth to music arts, focusing on spoken word, lyric writing, and digital recording and production as creative outlets for expression and pro-social development. Founder and CEO Robyn King explains that “our youth are our communities’ greatest assets when their voices are heard and empowered, and their talents are valued. DLA will be that safe space for young people to gain the foundation to become successful in both their musical crafts and their communities.” Experience DLA’s mission first-hand on Friday June 22^nd and enjoy an evening of food, raffles, a no-host bar, and youthful performances for a worthwhile cause. Tickets must be purchased! Visit http://bit.ly/DLA_Gala or www.dlastudios.org

Digital Literary Arts, Inc. is a 501(c) non-profit organization that serves as a training ground for youth mastery of modern music recording with emphasis on Digital Arts Technology.  DLA was founded to provide opportunity for youth whose talents are often left undeveloped, overlooked or misunderstood. 

For current information on the 2012 honorees and event performers, please go to http://www.facebook.com/events/241882702579762/ . To find out more about Digital Literary Arts, Inc., please visit  www.dlastudios.org/ or Facebook at www.facebook.com/dmariosmyangel.

To Find out more about Guitars Not Guns, please visit www.guitarsnotguns.org

TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE DIGITAL LITERARY ARTS 2012 SOUND INVESTMENTS IN YOUTH AWARDS. BARBARA GORIN IS ONE OF THE HONOREES FOR HER VOLUNTEER WORK WITH GUITARS NOT GUNS!

Get your tickets now!!

http://dlastudios-es1.eventbrite.com/?srnk=1

Barbara Gorin, VP Fundraising and PR to receive honor from Digital Literary Arts, Inc. for volunteer work with Guitars Not Guns.

From DLA

ED ROLAND of COLLECTIVE SOUL and KEVIN GRIFFIN of BETTER THAN EZRA DONATE AUTOGRAPHED GUITAR!

SOON TO BE UP FOR AUCTION!!! AN AUTOGRAPHED GUITAR FROM ED ROLAND OF COLLECTIVE SOUL AND KEVIN GRIFFIN OF BETTER THAN EZRA, THEY TOURED AS "SOUTHERN GENTLEMEN" AND SENT US THE GUITAR THEY TOURED WITH TO HELP US RAISE MONEY! THANK YOU GUYS! YOU ARE THE BEST!

DATE OF AUCTION TO BE POSTED SOON!

MARCH 11, 2012 GUITARS NOT GUNS BENEFIT CONCERT A SUCCESS!

Thanks to all of our sponsors and volunteers, the event was a success! We look foward to more event in the very near future!!!

STAY TUNED!!

MARCH 11, 2012 GUITARS NOT GUNS BENEFIT CONCERT - ALL AGES!

MARCH 11, 2012 - GUITARS NOT GUNS BENEFIT CONCERT ALL AGES!

MARCH 11, 2012 THE BUTLERS CONFIRMED!

Stay tuned to updates about this awesome event! You don't want to miss it!

MARCH 11, 2012 BENEFIT CONCERT

For Immediate Release
February 18, 2012

ON SUNDAY, March 11, 2012

BENEFIT CONCERT FOR GUITARS NOT GUNS

All Proceeds will Benefit Guitars
Not Guns, a 501 (c) 3 Children’s Music Charity


Date: March 11, 2012
Place: BASES LOADED
400 G Street
ANTIOCH, CA
Time: 3pm – 10pm
Cost: $10.00 Adults - $5.00 children under 18 ALL AGES WELCOME

On Sunday, March 11, 2012, we are having a benefit concert for Guitars Not Guns. The bands to perform are our favorite Locals BLUE MOONSHINE and SQUARE ONE! There will be a special appearance by HAUNTED BY HEROES – 11 year old boys who are nationally known as the youngest rock band in America! In addition, The Breedloves, with Barbara Gorin and Jay Kirkland on lead guitar will rock a few original tunes and a few fun covers tunes, with special guests Brooks Lundy on bass and Adam Briere on drums! Then, Al Smith will also rock the house! There will also be a few surprise special guest appearances!

There will be food and drink specials and a raffle for a guitar autographed by the bands, as well as some other cool stuff, with proceeds to Guitars Not Guns. You can have a chance to take home a special guitar, in support of Guitars Not Guns!

Guitars Not Guns, Inc, a federally exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, provides
free guitars and lessons to foster kids, at risk youth and other deserving children, ages 8 to 18, in a classroom setting with qualified teachers. No child is turned away for lack of funds. We are not anti-gun; we are anti-gun violence, especially in schools. Help us support a good cause by spreading the word of this awesome benefit show! THIS IS AN ALL AGES EVENT!

For more information on this event contact:
Barbara Gorin
VP, Fundraising, Guitarsnotguns.org
Cell: 925-785-8342
guitarsnotgunsbarbara@gmail.com


To find out more about Guitars Not Guns, please visit: http://guitarsnotguns.blogspot.com/ for details and http://www.guitarsnotguns.org/

Guitars Not Guns is a federally exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

BAM! Magazine Article - NAMM and Guitars Not Guns

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

Check out the latest article in BAM MAGAZINE!

http://bammagazine.com/index.php/blogs/50-kat-stevenson/203-bam-gets-namm-ered-2012

SAVE THE DATE!!! MARCH 11, 2012 BENEFIT!

March 11, 2012 Fundraiser for Guitars Not Guns - Bases Loaded, Antioch, California

Special Guests to be announced STAY TUNED!!!!

This show is going to Rock!

The Herald Of Monterey County Touts Guitars Not Guns

Herald Correspondent Fred Hernandez wrote this article that appeared on January 28, 2012:


Better lives via music: Guitars Not Guns a fun, positive outlet for kids

By FRED HERNANDEZ
Herald Correspondent

Posted: 01/28/2012 05:10:27 PM PST

Updated: 01/28/2012 05:58:25 PM PST

Click photo to enlarge

(DAVID ROYAL/The Herald)

• 1
• 2
• »

Steve Vagnini has a vision for helping stem youth violence in Monterey County. It starts with music.

Vagnini, a longtime music manager and the county's tax assessor, is president of the Monterey County chapter of Guitars Not Guns, a national nonprofit organization that gives young people free guitars and lessons to encourage their creativity and help divert them from the negative influences of drugs, alcohol and gangs.
Vagnini first heard about the group several years ago and was so impressed that he formed the local chapter.

"We bring in kids 8 to 18 years old, teach them to play guitars in eight one-hour classes," Vagnini said, "then we give them the guitars to boot."

And it's all free.

"All the instructors are volunteers, and there's virtually no overhead," he said. "Our only expenses are buying guitars and maybe the cost of a pizza party at the end of the class."

Vagnini said five classes are now in session: one at the Seaside Boys and Girls Club, two at Rancho Cielo Youth Campus in Salinas, one at Harden Middle School in Salinas and one in Marina.
He said the group's greatest need is volunteer instructors.

"They don't have to be great pickers, but they must be patient with their students and be willing to show up for one hour once a week," he said.

Classes have two instructors for 10 students.

Vagnini's long-term goals are to establish classes in the Salinas Valley and perhaps at the county's juvenile detention center.


"Those kids especially could use more self-respect. But those instructors will have to be experienced," he said. "Guitars Not Guns has tremendous potential."

Todd Kruper, a city councilman and sculptor in Sand City, is vice president of the Monterey chapter.

"This program gives the kids social support and dignity. Some of them have never even picked up a guitar before. And let's face it, they're not going to be Jimi Hendrix in eight weeks," he said, "but if they sense more creativity within themselves, they can practice at home, maybe come for the next set of classes, maybe share their newfound skills with a sibling, with a friend."

He added, "They have found a new connection to their community — and what's better than music?"

A recent visit to the Seaside Boys and Girls Club found instructor Joe Braun leading a class of seven 8- to 10-year olds. With the other teacher absent, Braun had to be patient.

First step: tuning each of their guitars, challenging the students to call out the strings as he went along. When everyone was in tune, he set up a rhythm for C and G chords. Some of the students put chord charts on the floor for reference.
When the group became ungainly, he split it up, asking an advanced student to teach part of the group to play "Happy Birthday." Braun took the other students through the chords.

"This is hard!" one student complained.

Braun chuckled. "This isn't hard," he said. "Walking is hard. Do you remember how many times you fell?"

The group reunited to play "Jambalaya." Then it was time for class to end.

"I like to start them with tunes they already know, like 'Happy Birthday.' That reinforces the familiar," Braun said. "Some of these kids play in school orchestras, some play other instruments, and they like the challenge of a new instrument."
About 60 students have passed through the local Guitars Not Guns since it was founded two years ago. Vagnini said he has bought about 100 guitars in that time.

Though musicians sometimes donate used guitars, it becomes a problem, he said. It's important that all students have identical guitars and cases.

So he uses the donated guitars in fundraisers, asking well-known guitarists to autograph the instruments and then raffling them off. So far, signers include Los Lobos, Chris Cain and Jackie Greene, and he hopes to get the signature of Rusty Anderson, who played lead guitar for Paul McCartney. (Vagnini's biggest autograph goal is rocker Ted Nugent, who sits on the board of directors of the National Rifle Association: "We have several mutual friends.") On the national level, perhaps the most notable guitar was signed by Slash, of Guns N' Roses.

Vagnini said he gets funds from the Arts Council for Monterey County and the West End Celebration, an annual event in Sand City that helps support Guitars Not Guns. He also gets grants periodically and is hoping to have a grant writer soon.
"But I can't stress enough how much we need instructors. Every two new instructors means another class can open up," he said.

Guitars Not Guns operates in 17 states and in Canada, Latin America and Great Britain.

Kids, Get A $5 Discount On Tickets To The Feb. 11 Delta Blues Benefit Concert

Frank Giovanni, a giant supporter of Guitars Not Guns,  is graciously offering kids a $5 off discount to attend the Antioch Delta Blues Benefit Concert which provides funding for the annual free. family friendly. summer Antioch Delta Blues Festival  Amazing guitarists and talent will be there - Candye Kane, Laura Chavez, Ricky Earl and Cherise, BigCat Tolefree, Kathy Tejcka and Frankie G. Reserved seating tickets SOLD HERE!  Kids, use GNGDBF as your discount code to get $5 off. You won't want to miss this one!

NAMM 2012 Anaheim !!!

2012 is starting off fantastic, our Guitars Not Guns Street Team is gearing up for NAMM and looking forward to sharing a recap of the last year with our wonderful sponsors! We have several new sessions about to begin, and an upcoming auction of an awesome acoustic electric guitar SAMMY HAGAR autographed! Stay tuned!!!