In 2001 we celebrated the 5th Anniversary of CAM and John Michael's 25th Anniversary in Ministry. Terry Talbot, Barry McGuire and Phil Keaggy each gave riveting testimonies about their lives, music and ministries.

The General Conference is the "Main Event" of CAM and takes place the third weekend in May at the Little Portion Retreat Center in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. We spend four days together attending meetings and seminars geared to Catholic music ministry, socializing with newcomers, reminiscing with established members and networking with newfound artists from our varied locations.

Each day is different but each begins with mass celebrated in the chapel built with a glass wall that overlooks the majesty of the Ozark Mountains. From there it is on to a hearty breakfast prepared from scratch by the Brothers and Sisters of Charity who volunteer their time to provide all our meals. If there was nothing else here but the food prepared by this dedicated community, it would be worth the trip!

Talks include liturgical music planning, focusing on spirituality in performance, retail and marketing advice, recording techniques, booking your ministry, songwriting evaluation, music publishing, the internet revolution, to name just a few. In 1999, Keynote Presenter, Billy Ray Hearn, founder of Sparrow Records, gave a first hand history of the Christian music industry. At the 2000 meeting, Tom Jackson, noted performance specialist from the Gospel Music Association offers techniques to improve presentation in live performance on the concert level.

John Michael Talbot always prepares a spirituality teaching for us. In 1999, we learned about God’s numerous instructions in the Old Testament concerning ministering through music. John Michael's teachings are second to none and reinforce most positively what we’re really about as music ministries. You will come away from his session uplifted, on fire and raring to go!

One of our afternoons is spent at The Hermitage, in Berryville, where the Brothers and Sisters hold an outdoor barbecue complete with all the trimmings. Sr.Carolyn conducts tours of the grounds; volleyball tournaments take place, horseshoes are tossed.  Fun in the sun or the shade trees with gallons of homemade lemonade. Sooner or later the guitars all appear and even the occasional banjo and the CAMjam begins. Since nearly everyone present is a singer, truly a joyful noise to the Lord is lifted. As darkness descends, the bullfrogs in the ponds begin their own joyful noise and we head back to the Retreat Center.

CAM artists always look forward to performing in the free concerts on Friday and Saturday nights at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Eureka Springs. These always draw a local crowd, though the main reason for doing them is so that we can all see and learn from each other. These events are professionally set up, rehearsed and engineered by JMT’s road manager, Roland Guerrero. If we’re really lucky, Roland jams on the drums, too. After the concerts, tradition has it that we all (or as many who dare to go) venture to the local Pizza Hut for more singing and jamming.   So far, no one has ever been arrested.

It would be impossible to effectively describe the blessings bestowed on all during this joyful gathering of kindred spirits - you really have to be there!!!