Welcome

The East European Folklife Center (EEFC) was established in 1982 through the love and dedication of a core group of musician and dancers. Today, this ever-growing and expanding organization brings together an inclusive, celebratory, and welcoming global community of passionate amateurs and professionals, to respectfully share the richness and complexity of Balkan music, dance, and cultures.

Learn more…

Find out all about our annual East and West Coast Balkan Music & Dance Workshops, affectionately known as Balkan Camp. Learn about the EEFC: how we are structured, how to become a member and where you might apply your expertise as a volunteer.

EEFC News & Notes

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Summary: Spring 2018 Board Meeting

October 31st, 2018

Notes from the EEFC Spring Board Meeting: May 12-13, 2018, in Oakland, CA Abridged from meeting minutes. Present: Barbara Uhlemann, Craig Kurumada, Melinda Russial, Noel Kropf, Rachel MacFarlane By Phone: … Read More

Tips & Tricks: Financing Your Trip to Balkan Camp

September 24th, 2018

I won’t lie, getting to Balkan Camp can be a financial challenge. My own decades-long journey with camp is a testament to that. I’ve paid full-ride, been rejected for scholarships, … Read More

Growing Live Music

May 25th, 2018

Musical Mix in a Different Way In the town of Arcata, California, population 17,000, we have extraordinary good fortune in the availability of live music for our dance community. Yes, … Read More

Volunteer Spotlight: Camille Holmes

April 26th, 2018

Many of you know Camille Holmes, but for those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of making her acquaintance, we’re excited to introduce this friendliest of west coast campers. … Read More

FY2017 Financials – Income & Expenses

March 20th, 2018

The EEFC fiscal 2017 year ended in September. These charts summarize the EEFC’s FY17 operating income and expenses.  Scholarship donations and other restricted income are not included.     Summary: EEFC had an operating deficit of … Read More

Post Balkan Camp Disorder (PBCD)

February 16th, 2018

Symptoms include dry mouth caused by strained vocal chords and slivo shots, increased appetite for garlic-infused anything, and palpitations in ⅞ time. If left untreated, withdrawal symptoms may only last … Read More

Running Sound at Balkan Camp: Tips and Tricks

January 25th, 2018

It’s evening time at Balkan Camp. I’ve spent all day learning mind-bending new folk melodies and rhythms, socializing and meeting new people, and eating way too many olives and stuffed … Read More

Jamming at Camp – Your Opinions Wanted!

May 8th, 2017

We often hear from you that “there’s not enough time at camp to do everything!” We offer more classes and feature more teachers than other camps—which means sometimes people can’t … Read More

EEFC 2017 Spring Board Meeting Message from the President

May 7th, 2017

Greetings Friends, The EEFC Board just held its Spring meeting, and at the meeting I told the Board I would like to step down from my role as President. They … Read More

FY2016 Financials – Income & Expenses

March 4th, 2017

The EEFC closed our 2016 fiscal year in September. These charts summarize the EEFC’s FY16 operating income and expenses.  Scholarship donations and other restricted income are not included.   Summary: Our FY16 operating surplus was $4,571. We ended … Read More

Spread the Word

February 4th, 2017

Our community is one of the BEST resources for spreading the word about camp. Besides using those golden opportunities to tell someone face to face how great camp is, sharing … Read More

EEFC 2016 Fall Board Meeting Report

February 4th, 2017

  The board met Oct 21 and 22, 2016 in New York City. Corinna, Barbara, Noel, Amy, and Rachel in the room were joined by Elena and new board member … Read More

Macedonian Čalgija Musicians at Mendocino

June 4th, 2016

We have a special treat in store for you this summer at our West Coast workshop. Because of the generosity of an anonymous benefactor, we are bringing over two venerable musicians … Read More

Get the Official Registration Badge

June 4th, 2016

Have you registered? Grab this registration badge graphic and post to your Facebook page. If you haven’t registered you can do it now for Mendocino or  Iroquois Springs. Need help … Read More

Social Media 101: Youth to the Rescue or How to Promote the EEFC on Facebook

June 4th, 2016

  Hello friends!   My name is Jennifer Shearer (although some of you may know me as Jenna Shear), and I’m one of those “Camp Kids” who’s been lucky enough … Read More

The Health Benefits Of Dancing Go Beyond Exercise And Stress Reducer

June 4th, 2016

A report from NPR begins with th question: What are the health implications of dancing? New social science research shows that dancing in synchrony with others increases people’s threshold for dealing with … Read More

A Good Year for Giving!

April 26th, 2016

It’s been a busy but sunny spring for the development team. We are happy to have an active committee of fundraisers who are determined to see the EEFC move forward on … Read More

FY2015 Financials – Income & Expenses

March 23rd, 2016

The EEFC closed our 2015 fiscal year in September. These charts summarize the EEFC’s FY15 operating income and expenses.  Scholarship donations and other restricted income are not included. Click on either graphic to see it full size. … Read More

Just What Does the EEFC Board Do?

January 10th, 2016

Carol Friedman sums it up beautifully in her recent blog post: Just Showing Up Isn’t Enough: Defining Your Board’s Job, and has been kind enough to share it with us … Read More

Supporting the Čoček Nation Youth Scholarship

December 30th, 2015

EEFC and DROM present the 6th Annual GOLDEN FESTIVAL AFTERPARTY January 17, 2016 at 5:00 pm Come dance to great bands and support the youth of the Balkan Music and … Read More

FY2014 Financials – Income & Expenses

December 15th, 2015

The EEFC completed our 2015 fiscal year in September.  Our financial results for 2015 are not yet ready for publication. We will work to post them soon, hopefully within the next few months. … Read More

Fall 2015 Board Meeting Summary Letter

December 13th, 2015

by Corinna Snyder, EEFC Board President It was a productive and fun fall meeting that brought together three new board members, four continuing members, and one long-standing team member in … Read More

EEFC 2015 Fall Board Meeting Report

December 13th, 2015

The Board of Directors met in New York City on October 16 & 17, 2015. Election of Officers, Committee Chairs, and Task Force Leaders By consensus: President – Corinna Snyder … Read More

A Few Changes to Membership

December 13th, 2015

If you’re a detail-oriented person (as many of us are!), you have already noticed a few changes in our membership program this year. We want to keep you in the … Read More

2015-2016 Fundraising Appeal

November 29th, 2015

  “Camp community is year-round and lifelong.” “When my life is stressful, I actually dream about being at Balkan Camp, and wake up feeling more at peace.” “I hope that … Read More

Bay Area EEFC Scholarship Created

July 17th, 2015

Longtime Mendocino Kids’ Band teacher Greg Masaki Jenkins reports: Balkan Evenings is a series every Sunday night at Cafe Revolution (22nd & Bartlett in San Francisco, from 8:30-11:30) organized by … Read More

EEFC Donation Stores

June 24th, 2015

Donation Stores on Both Coasts The West Coast Donation Store at Mendocino Camp sells a variety of items, and the East Coast Camp has a Jewelry Donation Store. If you’re … Read More

Party on at Balkan Camp in Mendocino!

June 22nd, 2015

Fabulous evening dance parties, along with sing-alongs and folklore presentations! If you happen to be in the Northern California area during the time of the upcoming Balkan Music & Dance … Read More

So Many Great Reasons…

May 30th, 2015

We know if you’ve ever been to Balkan camp, you will likely agree that it is what has been called “the gold standard.” We also know that you have a … Read More

EEFC and the Great Ripple Effect

May 30th, 2015

When you experience a memorable evening of music and dancing, who gets the credit? Most of us tend to think of the great musicians playing and singing their hearts out, … Read More

A Banner Year for Scholarships

May 13th, 2015

By Amy Mills, EEFC Board Member Published May 13, 2015 Amidst the hellos and hugs on the first day at camp, one of my favorite moments is when the new … Read More

Kukeri in the Woodlands—Become a Magical Beast of the Forest

May 13th, 2015

Annie Hallatt and Brenna MacCrimmon present a project to create kukeri-inspired Carnival characters to populate our parade, feast and party in the Mendocino Woodlands. In Bulgarian folk culture, masked kukeri chase … Read More

The 2014 Iroquois Springs Photo DVD from Margaret Loomis

April 12th, 2015

Hello Iroquois Springs Campers & Friends of EEFC, Once again, Margaret Loomis offers her wonderful DVD of photos from 2014’s Iroquois Springs workshop. For the past 14 years, Margaret has … Read More

Meet Volunteer Jenna Shearer, Marketing & Communications Committee

April 10th, 2015

The Marketing and Communications Committee is fortunate to have Jenna Shearer on the team. Her decision to offer her skills in social media has provided the EEFC with better and more … Read More

Spring 2015 Board Meeting Summary Letter

April 10th, 2015

From board member Nancy Leeper Hi all, Thank you so much for our productive meeting! It is a joy to work with all of you, and I am continually impressed … Read More

EEFC 2015 Spring Board Meeting Report

April 2nd, 2015

March 13 – 14 Berkeley, CA Attending: Ann Norton Amy Mills Nancy Leeper Elena Erber Eva Primack Biz Hertzberg Rachel MacFarlane Traci Speed Corinna Snyder, Demetri Tashie, and Noel Kropf … Read More

Letters to the Community — from the Board of Directors and Rachel MacFarlane

March 19th, 2015

Dear EEFC Community, The Board of Directors has just ended its spring face-to-face meeting in Berkeley. Rachel and Traci were invited to participate in all our sessions, and were able … Read More

East Coast EEFC Community Forum in Boston

March 6th, 2015

The EEFC board and staff, are looking forward to continuing the conversations at our 5th community forum, happening in Boston Saturday, March 21. These forums are an opportunity for our … Read More

Message from Amy Mills on Behalf of the Board

March 5th, 2015

I know that it has been a stressful few years for the EEFC, as we work to weather financial stresses and organizational changes. As I see through my own work … Read More

Yes, you’re in the right place!

March 3rd, 2015

We’ve launched our new website. It’s new, so there will still be some kinks to work out. The exciting part is that we pulled it together in time to open … Read More

Earl Galitz

February 25th, 2015

March 3, 1946 – February 22, 2015 On behalf of the EEFC community we extend our deepest sympathies to Earl’s family and friends. The board, staff, and membership are grateful … Read More

EEFC 2015 Community Forums

February 22nd, 2015

In the fall of 2014 the board set about to create occasions for us all to talk together about what camp means to us and what we think the future … Read More

Share Camp. Spread the Word.

February 4th, 2015

Download a flyer or request postcards. Post all around your town. At the local music shop, music school, dance centers. Bring them to events—Balkan and otherwise. Email them to your … Read More

Balkan Music and Dance Workshops 2015

February 1st, 2015

Once again the Program Committee is hard at work building a teaching staff for each workshop. While they continue to juggle schedules, travel plans, and more, they have put together … Read More

West Coast EEFC Community Forums Announced

January 3rd, 2015

The EEFC board and staff, are looking forward to continuing the conversations at our 3rd and 4th community forums, happening in Seattle (2/21) and Berkeley (3/14) respectively. These forums are … Read More

Richard Herbert “Dick” Forsyth

November 28th, 2014

March 10, 1929 – November 26, 2014 Richard Herbert “Dick” Forsyth of Newton, Mass., died on November 26, 2014, in Cambridge from several medical problems including influenza, pneumonia, and amyloidosis. He … Read More

Update from Executive Director Jay House

August 29th, 2014

It has been a busy summer, with two wonderful camps, and the June launch of Kef Times in its new, easy-to-share format, as well as its expansion to a thrice-yearly … Read More

Fall 2013 Board Meeting Summary

December 4th, 2013

by Corinna Snyder, EEFC Board President   The Board posts our Board meeting notes on the website — here is a link to them. We agreed it would be good … Read More

Six-Month Update from Executive Director, Jay House Samios

April 30th, 2013

Six wonderful months have passed since I began as executive director for the EEFC! What an amazing experience thus far, full of meetings with new people, putting faces to names … Read More

Meet & Greet Events in NYC, Bay Area, Seattle, Chicago & Boston

December 27th, 2012

Starting next week (Jan 1, 2013) Jay House Samios will be hosting a series of Meet & Greet events in a few cities in the US in the next few … Read More

Top 10 Misconceptions about Camp

December 4th, 2012

Misconception #1 – Tuition Covers Everything Needed to Bring You the Two Amazing Workshops You Have Come to Expect In order to host the workshops we know and love, the … Read More

ED Selection

September 13th, 2012

ED Selection We are close to completing the hiring process for the ED position. Here’s an update on the process and our progress. We put out a call for the … Read More

Comments on ED Role May 2012

May 24th, 2012

This entry is in response to Carol Silverman’s comment/question below: Hi friends, Re: executive director description: I was wondering why familiarity with the Balkan music was not mentioned. I’m not … Read More

Board & Program Committee Update Feb. 2012

February 25th, 2012

Our priorities at this time are to: maintain organizational stability ensure the production of the best workshops/camps possible open registrations earlier than ever While beginning to look for some office … Read More

EEFC Board Meeting Notes: 1994 —2014

January 1st, 2007

View the EEFC Board Meeting notes from 1994-2014 in these PDFs. Going forward from the Fall of 2014 meeting notes will be posted individually in this section of the EEFC … Read More

Summary: Spring 2018 Board Meeting

October 31st, 2018

Notes from the EEFC Spring Board Meeting: May 12-13, 2018, in Oakland, CA Abridged from meeting minutes. Present: Barbara Uhlemann, Craig Kurumada, Melinda Russial, Noel Kropf, Rachel MacFarlane By Phone: … Read More

Tips & Tricks: Financing Your Trip to Balkan Camp

September 24th, 2018

I won’t lie, getting to Balkan Camp can be a financial challenge. My own decades-long journey with camp is a testament to that. I’ve paid full-ride, been rejected for scholarships, … Read More

Growing Live Music

May 25th, 2018

Musical Mix in a Different Way In the town of Arcata, California, population 17,000, we have extraordinary good fortune in the availability of live music for our dance community. Yes, … Read More

Volunteer Spotlight: Camille Holmes

April 26th, 2018

Many of you know Camille Holmes, but for those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of making her acquaintance, we’re excited to introduce this friendliest of west coast campers. … Read More

FY2017 Financials – Income & Expenses

March 20th, 2018

The EEFC fiscal 2017 year ended in September. These charts summarize the EEFC’s FY17 operating income and expenses.  Scholarship donations and other restricted income are not included.     Summary: EEFC had an operating deficit of … Read More

Calendar

Here are upcoming events that we hope will be of interest to our community. Please submit your listings here.