Archive for March, 2011

Available NOW! 25 Words/25 Bucks – an automated calendar submission system!

Calendar time is always an exciting time at Inspire(d) Headquarters. “Just how much can we fit on there this month?!?” Up to this point, what we’ve chosen for these lovely pages has been entirely editorial and subjective. We figure, hey, you like our magazine, so you’ll probably like the fun stuff to do that we pick out from around our region. But we’re running out of space and want you, our lovely readers, friends, and fellow event-planners, to be able to tell us a little more about your fun.

Thus we’ve implemented a simple, expandable list of events for the pages following our regular calendars. Those who are planning “fun stuff to do” get a guaranteed spot on the calendar and in the event listing by purchasing “25 Words/$25 Bucks.” We know it’s a tough racket to put on live music, activities, and special events, so we want to give you a chance to get the word out without breaking the bank.

See – we told you about our amazing fictional party in just 25 words! On the visual calendar (like the one at left), your event will be listed along with a number that corresponds. People can just scan on over to the following pages to get the details!

First things first: 25 Words/$25 Bucks is available for only events. Sorry, folks: no exceptions.

Here’s how you submit your event:

1. Click this link. It will open a form in a new window.

CLICK HERE FOR FORM

2. Enter your information – I suggest you submit it like this:

       Choose the appropriate start date (ongoing dates, write “through [insert date]” first in the form).

       In the form, write: Event name! Fun extra details, location, price, website.

Then follow the link (it appears after you type more than six words) to Pay Pal to settle up.

Thanks! We can’t wait to hear more about the fun stuff you’re planning!

Having trouble? Here are a few more submission tips/information:

Type or paste in your words in the form. Once you get past six words the “pay now” button shows up (so people don’t accidentally pay before they start typing), but if you go over 25 words, the “pay now” button will disappear (so people don’t go over the word limit).

After you’ve entered your words, you’ll hit the pay now button and be directed to our PayPal page.

You can either sign in to your PayPal account or click the line that says “Don’t have a PayPal account?” This will take you to a page where you can enter your credit card info and submit!

Inspire(d) Magazine 25W/$25B Schedule:

Summer – June, July, August. 25W/$25B deadline April 25, 2012.

Fall – September, October, November. 25W/$25B deadline July 6, 2012.

Winter – December, January (2013), February (2013). 25W/$25B deadline October 26, 2012.

Spring 2013 – March, April, May. 25W/$25B deadline January 25, 2013

Any questions email aryn@theinspiredmedia.com

Catch Cantus in live in concert March 11, 7:30 at the Center for Faith and Life. For ticket pricing and information contact the Luther College Ticket Box office at 563-387-1536.

By Susie Clark

“It all started at St. Olaf College,” says tenor (and ‘99 Luther graduate) Eric (Hopkins) Ellingsen. “In lieu of flipping burgers or mowing lawns, the founding members of Cantus spent their college summers traveling cross-country, giving concerts for free-will offerings.” After graduation, the group thought it was a gig too good to retire, and so Cantus was made in to a professional non-profit ensemble. 2011 marks their eleventh season.

Cantus is now celebrated as the premiere all-male vocal ensemble in the country. Based out of Minneapolis/St. Paul, the nine-member group performs nationally – nearly 80 concerts and 40 education outreach seminars every season. Through the Luther College Center Stage Series, Cantus will present “Before Us”. a musical exploration of American composers and choral tradition.

If the group’s name, Cantus, is pronounced correctly, it’s Latin for melody or song. But for some reason, it’s stumbled over by many.

“It’s really quite amusing,” says Ellingsen. “We’ve had people announce our name (Cantus) as ‘sanctus,’’”conscience,’ and even ‘cactus!’”

Believe it or not, Cantus’ artistic work is NOT inspired by a spiky desert plant; their goal is simple: Instill in its audiences a love for choral music.

Through their position as Artists in Residence for Classical Minnesota Public Radio, Cantus will be doing just that.

In its second year of existence, Classical MPR’s Artist in Residence Program is a one-year contract bringing some of the world’s greatest classical musicians to Minnesota. The residency includes performances across the state of Minnesota, as well as an educational component- sharing their musical knowledge and expertise with high school and college students.

“We kind of act like ‘musical ambassadors,’” says Ellingsen. “Our job will be to give concerts to out-of-state communities that would otherwise not have access to a live performance of Cantus,” he explains. The ensemble will also be featured through on-air performances, and programs such as “Performance Today,” a showcasing of some of the world’s greatest classical musicians.

One would think there would be room for plenty of ego, but ever-living up to the “Minnesota Nice” reputation, it’s not the case with Cantus. (There’s even a member named Aaron Humble.) The group relies on its members for direction – a kind of musical democracy when it comes to performance and interpretation.

“Each member of Cantus has an equal responsibility and investment in the artistic product,” Ellingsen says. “We get together and choose the theme and the music of our concerts. After that, each song is assigned a ‘producer,’ who then acts as the director for the individual piece.” Through individual artistic leadership, Cantus achieves a different blend and feel for each song, treating audiences to a one-of-a-kind choral experience.

Being host to some of the nation’s best choral groups and educators, Midwest standards for choral music are high. Cantus shares Minneapolis’ choral spotlight with other greats such the Dale Warland Singers and the National Lutheran Choir. “Having the rich, Lutheran college choral tradition here in the Midwest has a great deal with making our music scene unique from those of New York or elsewhere,” Ellingsen says. “Over half of the current members of Cantus come from the Midwestern choral tradition and were mentored by Weston Noble and Anton Armstrong.” Each member’s background gives the educational component of Cantus’ mission even more impact. Visiting over 50 schools and colleges every year, Cantus works with over 5,000 students, performing master classes, school concerts, and festivals.

“Choral music, and all other arts programs in schools, teaches so much more than just music. It teaches you math, reading, comprehension, confidence, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills,” says Ellingsen. “We in Cantus find it very important to advocate for arts education.”

Luckily, it’s not difficult for Cantus to find ways to inspire students. Midwestern winters, however, are less than inspiring. “On a tour to Aberdeen, South Dakota, we got stuck in a ditch,” Ellingsen says. But despite frigid temps, snow, and ice, these men are never without a sense of humor – and a pitch pipe. “While we were being pulled out, we all broke into song, singing a barber shop tag!” Proof that, for the nine members of Cantus, there is always something to sing about.

Inspire(d) Intern, Susie Clark, (most commonly known as “Suz”) is proudly writing for her fourth issue of Inspire(d) Magazine (Holler!). Her spare time this winter has been devoted to cross-country skiing, reading, and shoveling snow. As a native Minnesotan and devoted baseball fan, Suz is “amped” for the kick-off of Twins season.

Interview and foreword by Karen Kerndt

I met Mary Henry in 1988 when I started working with Winneshiek County Public Health. She has been a wonderful co-worker and friend ever since. At the time I met Mary she was working as a home care aide, taking care of clients who were younger than her! The funny thing about this was that Mary had to have a physical signed by an MD every year to make sure she was in good enough health to work. She retired when she was 77. Since that time Mary has been very busy helping family, friends and her neighbors where she lives. Mary is now 92, still active, drives daily, cooks daily, and makes Sunday dinner for several of her neighbors in her apartment complex – every Sunday!

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
My mother told me when I married Jim, “You can’t come back.” Mary laughs and told me she knew she had to stick with him.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A nurse

What did you do?
I was born on a farm near Jackson Junction and graduated from Waucoma high school in 1936. I married Jim Henry in 1938 and raised four children – two boys and two girls. I went back to school to be a nurse, a LPN in 1970, and worked at Aase Haugen and then Winneshiek Public Health until I retired in 1977. I still go out daily and to church three to four times per week. I enjoy helping others.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
My family picture (with her husband and her four children), my Rosary, and of course my medicine! (Spoken like a true nurse).

Try to describe yourself in one sentence:
“Old,” she laughs, “but I have a good attitude and I’m happy!”

If you could eat anything everyday for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Goulash

Name one thing that you could not live without?
Money

Tell us about your wedding day:
“I wore a blue dress, my Aunt was my maid of honor and she wore a pink dress. We had flowers in our hair. We were married at St. Mary’s in Waucoma at 9 am by Father Falin. My mom served a brunch for about 30 people – close family and friends. That night we had a wedding dance at Breezy Corners and lots of people attended. Our honeymoon was in a motel in Waukon, we wanted to go to La Crosse but we were too tired to drive so we stayed there. We did spend a week in Wisconsin, but came back to this little hotel in La Crosse every night.

What is your favorite memory:
“I have so many,” but she does tell me, “When we picked up our four children (Mary and Jim adopted their four kids). I can still remember how happy we were and how glad we were to have them. We were only supposed to go and see them, and I always took them home the same day.”

Gale Ludeking, 84, is an army veteran with a lot of great tales and a great memory to store them!

Interview and foreword by Ron Henning (Aryn’s dad)

I volunteer to drive the VA van to Iowa City and back on a fairly regular basis, and I meet and talk to a lot of wonderful veterans in the process. So when my daughter, Aryn, asked if I wanted to interview one of them for Inspire(d), I said, “Yes, I’d love to.” I was impressed with Gale – he has a very good memory and is interesting to talk to. He seems like a content guy, and has a lot of good life stories that he’ll talk to you about if you ask.

What the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Don’t run up big debts.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a good farmer/cattle man.

What did you do?
I was born in Waukon and was raised on a farm in the Frankville area until 1943, when I joined the army. I had basic training at Camp Dodge in Des Moines and after was sent to the Philippines. Later I was a part of the Occupational Forces of Japan. When I returned home in 1946, I became a buyer for Oscar Meyer Meat Packing in Viola, Wisconsin. They wanted me to move to Illinois, but my wife didn’t want to, so I began working for Fairbanks Morris building locomotives until 1954, when I bought a farm in Iowa. I raised tobacco and milked – after a fire in 1964, I switched to tobacco and sheep, then started also selling Mormon’s Feed, and finally I went full-time raising beef, hogs, and grain. I retired in 1992 and moved back to Waukon.

What meant the most to you as a veteran?
I helped save the country in a time of need, and am now a lifetime member of the VFW. We were welcomed home as heroes.

What was the worst thing about being a veteran?
Losing friends and seeing what you see.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
Water, food, and books.

Try to describe yourself in one sentence.
Happy and content with what I have.

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Good fish.

Name one thing you could not live without.
A warm house.

Tell us about…your wedding day.
We had been going together for quite awhile, so we decided to get married over a long weekend. We couldn’t get married in the church because it was such short notice.

I married Helen over the Christmas holiday vacation in 1948  – it was New Year’s Eve and a long weekend and they were visiting their families. Our parents came and we got married at East Salem Church Parsonage with a small party at my parents’ house, then we went back to Wisconsin to live. (the same church Ron’s parents and grandparents attended).

Tell us about…your favorite memory.
When I was about 7 or 8 years old, my grandpa gave me a pony – which was a pretty big deal for someone my age to get. It was an older horse, but I just really loved to ride it!

Interviewed by Dorothy (Alberts) Sunday – Foreword by Aryn Henning Nichols

Anna (Rohm) Iverson lived her whole life on Oak Street in Decorah, Iowa, up until her recent move to Wellington Place in nearby Freeport, Iowa. Up until that point, she was Inspire(d)’s across-the-street neighbor. The 92-year-old is smart and practical and has a memory like a safe-deposit box. She can recall the name of every family that lived in every house on Oak, Sunday community concerts at Phelps Park, and a time when gypsies rolled through town.

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Mother gave us all good advice. She said we needed to learn how to take care of ourselves. We learned to work together.

What did you want to be when you grew up?I thought I wanted to be a seamstress. I even made one woman a suit out of a man’s suit. My mother sewed as well. We had mother/daughter bunads that even won honorable mention at a contest. Mother’s bunad is at Vesterheim now.

What did you do?
Well, my first job was at the Creamery. I did the butter slips, figuring how much it costs. Eventually I did bookkeeping. Next I worked at the hospital right after my daughter Lois was born. I worked 5-9 every night doing bookkeeping and answering the phone for emergencies. At that time a hospital room was only $10. Then I worked at Anthony’s Clothing Store downtown.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
Bible, water, shade tree.

Try to describe yourself in one sentence.
I hope I’m friendly…I try to get along with others.
(Dorothy’s note: I would say historian, very intelligent.)

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I don’t know if I could care for anything that long. (“Not even lefse?” Dorothy asks.) Not even lefse.

Name one thing you could not live without.
Water.

Tell us about…
…your wedding day.
Leonard and I met working at the Creamery together. He asked me out, of course, but I can’t seem to remember what we did on our first date. We got married May 16, 1947 out at Big Canoe Church. It was a cold spring day and a simple, small wedding.

…your favorite memory.
Arnold’s (her twin – there are two sets in her immediate family!) and my 90th birthday at Aase Haugen Home. It was just beautiful.

Verne Koenig, a long time resident of Decorah, started his career in radio at KFJB in Marshalltown, IA. Eventually, he settled in Decorah and became co-owner of KDEC radio along with Ken Bjerke. He still lives in Decorah with his wife Ardith. They’ve been married for 68 years.

Interview by Sarah Cisco, granddaughter of Verne and Ardith

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?
My Dad said, “Be your self. Do the best you can with what you’ve got and you’ll turn out okay.” So, I’ve tried to follow that and I believe it works.

How about the worst?
If anybody did give me terrible advice, I don’t remember it.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A Country and Western cowboy singer on radio.

What do/did you do?
I did become a Country and Western singer and it grew into my career of a radio station personality, entertainer, newscaster, announcer, emcee, and so forth. And that eventually lead to my owning and operating a radio station in Decorah.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
My guitar, my stamp collection, and my recordings.

Try to describe yourself in one sentence.
I’m someone who cares deeply for humanity. I hate brutality and wars.

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Any kind of pie.

Name one thing you could not live without.
The love of my wife & family, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Tell us about your favorite memory.
Meeting and announcing with Ronald “Dutch” Reagan during a high school football game over KFJB. Reagan came from WHO radio in Des Moines to fill in for our sportscaster who was ill.

Paul Hexom lives a life of service, laughter, and passion.

Interview and foreword by Sondra Carver

I’ve lived in Decorah long enough to know that everywhere I go, Paul is there volunteering. He is still a cowboy at heart and farms a 40 acre tree farm.

I thought he was an excellent person for this honor

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My father said,”don’t worry, but be concerned.” Trust in God and take one day at a time. You can’t change yesterday, tomorrow will be whatever, and we can do our best today.

How about the worst?
Somebody said get a new car for better mileage. I did and the mileage was the same as before.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Because of Roy Rogers, I wanted to be a cowboy. I also wanted to be a farmer. My first job was selling garden seeds door-to-door in elementary school for which I earned a guitar. After graduating from high school in 1957, I graduated from Luther College in 1961, then I spent 21/2 years in seminary. After hearing Bob Hope talk about the Peace Corps, I joined and spent 1964-1966 in India.

What was your career?
I was in sales and management for World Book Encyclopedia for 46 years. I’ve also been president of Nordic Fest, chairman of the United Way, president and vice-president of the Winneshiek County Historical Society, and president of Decorah JayCees. Presently I am vice-president of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum Board, vice-chairman of the Decorah Historic Preservation Commission, and chairman of the Locust School Museum. I also volunteer at the the food pantry.

Try to describe yourself in one sentence.
I am well-organized, honest, calm, thoughtful, can work with all ages, and have a “long fuse.”

Do you have some favorite quotes?
Yes, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people,” by Victor Borge, and “Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face,” by Victor Hugo. If everyone would hug someone everyday, it would be a more peaceful world.

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Lefse

Name one thing you could not live without?
Sunshine

What is your favorite memory?
A trip to Norway in 2005