Sunday, April 28, 2013

Carla Hale – Fighting for Her Right to Teach




There’s the concept of “taking the plunge” and then there’s the reality of being pushed into the deep end. I have never met Carla Hale, I’ve never talked to her, and except for a blip on the MSN.com site would probably not be writing this entry. Ms Hale is kind of busy right now. She recently buried her mother, her daughter will soon graduate from university, and, oh, yes, she lost her position as a physical education teacher in a Catholic school in Ohio.

In writing her mother’s obituary, Carla included the name of her life partner, Julie. Someone notified the school, and along with one letter of complaint from a parent, the school dismissed her after 19 years on staff.

I would not presume to bother Carla with answering 5 questions while she fights for her professional life and her personal integrity, but I will write for her because this forum, no matter how large or small, offers a place for voices to be heard and on occasion, rare occasion, the voice will be mine.

So, I'll postpone the responses of TAKING THE PLUNGE profiles from an artist, an author, a professor, a filmmaker, and a musician (all individuals willing to contribute here). I'm sure they'll understand. I will answer how I imagine a dedicated teacher like Carla Hale would respond.

 
Carla Hale



    
  1. Who are you? List 5 nouns that define you!
 Daughter – Teacher – Mother – Partner - Friend

  1. What have you done that you’re most proud of?
Teaching is all I’ve ever wanted to do, helping students become stronger not only through physical education, but through being good people.

  1. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?
I don’t find much point in living in the past. We all learn from our acts. If mistakes are made, learn from them.

  1. On a personal/client level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?
Last week, my answer may have been different. Today I think hypocrisy is at the top of the list.
        
                   Greatest joy? Walking my dog. Spending time with people I love.

  1. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?    
 Teach.
 


[The answers Above are mine, not Carla’s, but I hope I’ve done her justice. Maybe when things calm down, I can actually share her voice at Taking the Plunge.] 



Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Craig Prater Makes Everyone Feel Special




A chance meeting at a Women in Film luncheon – Craig Prater and I exchanged business cards not knowing we would become lifelong friends. In addition to being handsome and charming, Craig has organizational skills that are off the chart and a way of making everyone he meets feel special. I suppose that’s why his answers don't surprise me.

As his work as Executive Director of the Bangkok Film Festival was winding down after months of preparation, Craig invited me to dinner in the private dining room at the top of the Shangri-la Hotel. I suppose the food and wine were delicious, but his company? Flawless. Whether eating salads at a small eatery in Palm Springs or Chateaubriand high above the Chao Phraya River, Craig Prater charms.

Craig Prater

In one respect my life is very normal but in another respect, there is nothing normal about it.

I had a friend tell me once that I would be as comfortable having tea with the Queen of England as I would be having a beer with a drunk on the street. That’s probably true because both would be extremely interesting to me.

From being raised on a farm where my first job was the removal of yellow thistles out of a corn field to working in my adult life with some of the world’s most famous celebrities and foreign governments, I continue to wonder what is going to happen tomorrow. Of course, the latter work is better. 

If I had a crystal ball to see the future, would I?  Absolutely!  I want to make certain I’m paying attention when it happens. I sometimes allow things to pass me by when I should have been enjoying it at the time.

 
Craig at Bangkok banquet with "hip" friend







    1. Who are you? List 5 nouns that define you.

    Worker – Traveler – Friend – Partner - Leader

    1. What have you done that you’re most proud of?

    Worked with people much smarter than me. I always wanted to excel at everything I did. With a constant feeling that I didn’t have the best ways of doing or knowing things, I always surrounded myself with smarter, more talented people. That includes wise, educated people, and also students. 

    To this day, I continue to enjoy younger people.  Maybe they don’t have wisdom or experience as a result of years, but their ideas, lack of concern for what they say, how they say it and their basic naïveté are a great enjoyment for me.

    3. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

    Plan better for retirement.  I always thought I was young and had plenty of time.  Where did the years go? Other than that, I have no complaints and probably would not change anything.

    1. On a personal/client level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

    Bigots.  Hateful bigots.  People with prejudices which are based on nothing but their own ignorance.  I have no patience with people who form opinions based on people’s religion, ethnic backgrounds, language, culture or economic levels. 

    Greatest joy?  My greatest joy is spending time with my partner of 45 years.

    1. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do? 

    Work with legal research teams to help get people out of prisons who have been wrongly convicted.
     


Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Don Wilkin - An Eye on the Future



I was introduced to Don Wilkin when he enrolled in my creative writing course years ago. Impressed not only by his thoughtful writing, but his fervor for the environment, we soon became friends beyond the classroom. Tea at Renaissance became a monthly ritual where our conversations ranged from topics as personal as how our extended families were doing to the survival timeline for the entire human race if generations continued at our rate of overpopulating the limited space on earth.

I don’t know that I’ve ever met a more accessible intellectual, willing to share his passion and knowledge. As a teacher, one never knows who or how many students are listening and learning. I have no doubt that generations of students continually draw on the lessons learned from Don Wilkin about the environment and the world we live in.

 
Don with students
Don Wilkin

Ummmm ........ I have to say that despite my overwhelming 
pessimism regarding humanity's future, there is nothing left for us to do but work relentlessly to try to make the best of a bad situation. We must prepare as many people as possible to deal with the crisis that is coming and, hopefully, to make a start toward a better world. We must all dedicate ourselves to working for each others' well-being. 

The world is way too crowded. By any rational definition, the future is one with substantially fewer people in number and yet substantially more caring people in it. That will prove the single most effective  strategy in creating a stable, sustainable world with an equitably distributed quality of life. 

Obviously, there are individuals with wonderful qualities doing good work. But, as a whole, we are the worst thing to have happened to planet Earth in the 4.5 billion years of biological evolution, and we are only getting worse. 


1.      Who are you?

Student – Introvert – Teacher – Ponderer – Partner

2.      What have you done that you’re most proud of?

I was a professor and advisor for scores of graduate students from all over the world and I tried to impress on all of them the importance of humans working together and helping one another as the essence of social evolution and source of the only real progress humanity has managed to achieve.

3.      If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

I wouldn’t have gotten married until I was mature enough – probably around the age of 55 or 60.

4.      What drives you crazy? What gives you greatest joy?

I have nothing but disdain for western democracy and its pretension that decision makers, both voters and elected representatives, are knowledgeable, thoughtful, and equally concerned for the welfare of others as well as themselves.

My greatest joy comes from being alone in wild places, meditating and observing and learning.  My most recent joy came from having dinner with the family. I am growing adept at imagining the world with only half a billion people, a healthy biosphere, and opportunities for personal growth, and there is substantial joy coming from that process.

5.      Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do? 

Hike the Himalayas; do a walking safari in Kruger National Park; run the Grand Canyon; fly a Staggerwing Beechcraft from Nome Alaska to Tierra del Fuego; lose weight; and change humanity’s values to caring most of all for each others’ wellbeing.                 

Friday, April 12, 2013

21st Century Renaissance



Normally (if there is a “normal” for Taking the Plunge), an individual is interviewed. Renaissance is not an individual but a place, a café actually that offers great coffees and teas and therapeutic massages. 

          I was drawn to Renaissance because it’s one of the few places in town that brews loose leaf tea and when I requested a black blend to match my favorite Irish tea, the staff filled my request and created the newly named “Redshaw Blend". Renaissance may not bring the notoriety of a star-named Pastrami on Rye from the Carnegie Deli, but it inclusion on the menu sparks great affection from this frequent visitor.

         There are many people involved with Renaissance; however, the heart and soul of this endeavor overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca is embodied by the owner, Lynn Keenan. Challenged to answer questions as a “place”, I think she has risen to the occasion. 


         
R2: 1. Who are you? List 5 nouns that define you! 
Lynn’s answers go far beyond the “5” nouns! I derived the following “5” from her descriptive list.

Café-Massage-Business-Staff- View

Lynn Keenan: Just 5 nouns!? Impossible!  Renaissance is too magical, too complex, too much for 5 little nouns!  Basically, Renaissance is an embarrassment of riches.

• 100 Mile Café
• Center for Massage—with an impressive staff of experienced massage therapists!
• Triple Bottom Line Business
• Tightly-knit staff that is sharing that affection and respect with customers and clients
• Killer View


R2: What have you done that you’re most proud of?

LK: In the café we’ve developed a creative menu that offers food produced within the 100 miles surrounding Port Angeles. Approximately 90% of what goes into our meals grows or is made right here in our area.

To us that means we’re reinvesting in the local economy—a pivotal reason for our being: to strengthen our local community, as well as the people, who come to Renaissance. Most importantly, the food – the beers, the veggies and fruits, the cheeses, the breads, the bacon, the fish, all taste fantastic! As one customer said, “We’ve a freakin’ luscious cornucopia here!”

I’m proud of this because the challenge to stay local was brought by a staff member who cares deeply about the local foods movement and sustainable communities. She showed us how the local foods movement is a vital aspect of community building and community development and we’ve worked hard to operationalize our values around this. I get a charge, a deep satisfaction, really, from walking the talk. And here, we’re strong.

R2: If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

LK: Every now and then I ask myself this question because it’s been a formidable challenge to start and maintain a new business during the Recession. Nothing, NOTHING I’ve done in the past has come close to demanding the creativity, perseverance, or sacrifice. Along the way, especially as I’ve watched countless businesses in our little town close, I’ve asked myself if I would begin Renaissance knowing what I know now. 

Try as I might, though, I can’t imagine life without Renaissance, without the brilliance of the relationships here, the service provided, the good work, the healing and vibrant health expanded, and the good will created and passed along.

Though there have certainly been days when I’ve longed to return to being someone else’s employee, being a job creator during the Recession has been a rush.

Though I’ve missed, no… yearned for, the paychecks I used to take for granted, the steady, slow retiring of all of Renaissance’s start-up (and stay alive) debt, and finally, in Year #7, being able to pay myself for my own massage work here is a feeling that is unparalleled. In retrospect, I wouldn’t have things any other way.

R2: On a personal/client level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?

LK: Hmmmm, so far I don’t think a client/customer has come into Renaissance that has driven any of us crazy. We have something of an organizational culture of positive regard. Maybe people sense that and don’t have to act crazy?  Once a raccoon tried to come in through the back door, but that’s about as repugnant a guest as we’ve had, and even she was cute.

One of the balances that we have to deal with at Renaissance is co-location of a massage center and a café. We often worry that the café is too loud for massage. But one day early on in the growth of the café I was providing a massage when a loud burst of laughter came from a group lunching together and rolled through the café into the massage room. I was worried that my client would be disturbed by the noise, but before I could apologize, the client said, “Isn’t that one of the most beautiful sounds in the world? Thanks for arranging the “joy” therapy along with the massage, Lynn”. 

Since then, I’ve heard similar stories from other massage therapists on staff. I know we may lose some possible business because our massage rooms don’t completely restrict the sound from the café but even so, I agree with my client—there’s nothing like the sound of laughter and conversation shared among friends.

R2: Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) –
what would you most like to do?    

LK: Easy. We’d build up to our 3 story limit, giving us more room for yoga and other classes and events that would benefit from this fantastic view and warm, competent staff. Not to mention a water outlook office for the owner!

“Like” Taking the Plunge and Renaissance on Facebook


Owner Lynn Keenan with Christian Miller.
















Overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca 

Saturday, April 6, 2013

1st Interview: Allyson Kamrat - Aces in My Book!



          When I was a little girl all I wanted to be was a teacher. Now I list is teaching as one of my past professions. I find I gain far more knowledge when I ask questions and read and listen. By interviewing different people and then sharing what I learn, I now enjoy the best of both worlds - teaching and learning. Every week I’ll ask someone of interest 5 questions and share his or her answers.

          I chose Allyson as my first subject. She is the daughter of my niece and I’ve only met her a few times when she was very young. But following her on Facebook has triggered my interest. I find her thoughtful and caring and incredibly talented.

Read on:


 My name is Allyson, and I am a fourteen year old, straight A and athletic student. I am about to graduate eighth grade as one of the fourteen top scholars.  I absolutely love school.  My favorite subject is math, but I love science.  I play softball and run track. I enjoy writing in my free time, exercising, reading, playing guitar, listening to music, or drawing.  
Music is such an important part of my life.  I am always listening to music. From punk to country, or pop to alternative  I love it all, and I can never get enough of it.  A few of my favorites are Avril Lavigne, Pierce the Veil, Mayday Parade, Hunter Hayes, Paramore, Panic! At The Disco, Sleeping with Sirens, and Taylor Swift.
I recently read "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky. Honestly, it was one of the best books I've ever read.  Normally though I read fiction books such as "The Hunger Games" or "Divergent".  I find those most enjoyable.  I also love books about being a teenager, such as "Winter Girls" and "Speak".  
My love for reading is credited to the Harry Potter series.  Without that series I wouldn't have gotten into reading so quickly.  To be honest, I love to read and could write a paragraph solely about books I've read. 
I like to think of myself as diverse.  There isn't one type of book I like to read, there isn't one type of music I like the most.  I love all sports, all art, all music, all books, and most importantly all people.  

  1. Who are you? List 5 nouns that best describe you.

     Artist – Guitarist – Student – Traveler – Daughter

  1. What have you done that you’re most proud of?

I am actually very proud of two things I've done.  One of them is becoming one of the fourteen top scholars in my school, and the other is traveling to Europe for three weeks without my parents.

3. If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?
 
Honestly, I have no regrets in my life because every thing I've done has made me who I am.  I wouldn't change a thing.  Maybe I'd go back and try harder in sixth grade math.

     4. On a personal level, what drives you crazy? What gives you joy?
 
Arrogant and judgmental people drive me nuts.
Playing guitar, art, running, softball, and talking with people give me joy.  I also love traveling and learning new things.

5. Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do?

I'd travel the world and learn about all the different cultures.v



Allyson's most recent work.




Sketch from a recent trip to Paris



An example of Allyson's "scratch" art

Allyson's first work of art! (Last year)

l the world

Monday, April 1, 2013

Taking the Plunge: To Facebook? Or not to Facebook?

Taking the Plunge: To Facebook? Or not to Facebook?: To Facebook? Or not to Facebook? Signed on to Facebook years ago ‘cause everyone said I should. Got off shortly thereafter ‘cause I...

To Facebook? Or not to Facebook?



To Facebook? Or not to Facebook?

Signed on to Facebook years ago ‘cause everyone said I should. Got off shortly thereafter ‘cause I didn’t care that a “friend” had toast for breakfast and there was a cute cat video link I had, had, had to see.

Signed back up again because family of a different generation living faraway doesn’t really get talking on the phone, much less writing a letter and actually, I’m good with that. I get it – now. Not to say it didn’t take a little getting used to, but once I resigned myself to clicking online, I began to see the positives.

1.      A photo of teenage Carter next to his new carJ
2.      David, Andrew, and Kassandra shooting hoops as a family.
3.      Allyson has an awesome collection of her artwork posted!
4.      A picture of Tina with friends in Europe.
5.      Unexpected “congrats” on my new marital status.

I even went so far as to look up childhood friends.

1.      Melissa lives in Florida (friend from Grade 1-6). After I told her I loved playing “Concentration” on her screened in porch and she wrote she loved the fact we had two staircases in our house, we moved on.
2.      Sally lives in Alabama (friend from Grade 10-12). I love knowing she’s still involved with music and agrees with me politically.
3.      Jennie lives in Virginia. (friend form LA). Happy to see her happy and surrounded by good friends and cool dogs.
4.      Looked up two “exes” and decided there was no point in pursuing a FB connection. They’re exes for a reason.

I try to not put stupid stuff on my site, but I do add pictures and occasional activities I think others might take a millisecond to click “Like.” And since I rarely remember birthdays, it’s fun to send “good wishes” to friends of all generations. I don’t keep a tally of friends, although a few famous strangers have been added to the roster.

That’s OK as long as I don’t have to read about eggs and bacon for breakfast.