Rocky Top to Revive Christmas Tradition

By: Virginia Grantier

Local band Rocky Top's annual Christmas concert for charity brought in

fans from about a 100-mile radius and toward the end brought in about

$40,000 net a year. And then it ended after 12 years.

The band was tired after 12 years, needed a break, and one day before the

concert scheduled to be its last, a band member, Alice Baer, died suddenly.

But that was 2002.

The tradition, and band, is back.

And the intent is to keep the retooled tradition going for the

foreseeable future. The group has booked a date at the Civic Center for

the next three years, said Carrol Meyers, executive director for Charles

Hall Youth Services, who will help organize it.

"I guess we didn't realize people would miss it as much as they have,"

said Duane Voegele, Baer's brother, and the band's founder.

This year's concert is set for Dec. 5. A third of the funds will go to

establishing a yet-to-be-formed foundation named in honor of Baer. Funds

will be used to help disadvantaged children pursue music by doing such

things as helping to buy instruments and lessons for those who can't

afford them. The other two-thirds of the concert profits will go to the Abused Adult Resource Center and to Charles Hall Youth Services, which has group foster homes in Bismarck. Bismarck's homeless shelter, Ruth Meiers Hospitality House, used to be the sole beneficiary of the concerts' profits, but Voegele said it was time for a change.

"They should be able to sustain on their own. It's time to help others,"

he said.

Susan Martin, executive director of Ruth Meiers, said her organization

has other fund-raising events now. "We wish them (Rocky Top) well," she said.

(Reach reporter Virginia Grantier at 250-8254 or at vgrantier@ndonline.

com.)