Issuu

Spiritual writer Mark Nepo

April 2016

Kalamazoo Safari Company

Meet Maria Schneider

Preparing Protection Dogs

Southwest Michiganâ€™s Magazine

Taking it to the

NEXT LEVEL Training athletes to be leaders

Edmond B. Woodruff died in 1981. Today heâ€™s helping Kalamazoo area students pay for whichever college they choose. Education was important to Edmond and Beth Woodruff, and they made sure it was important to their son, Jim, too. So when Edmond passed away, Jim established a Scholarship Fund to honor that legacy: the Edmond B. Woodruff and Beth Woodruff Shipman Scholarship Fund. We can help you show your love for Kalamazoo and leave a legacy too. Call us today at 269.381.4416 or visit us online at www.kalfound.org to learn how.

2 | Encore OCTOBER 2015

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CONTENTS

April

2016

FEATURES The Next Level

Mark Nepo

Tim Hiller and his partners train athletes in performance and leadership

An insight into the prolific poet and spiritual writer

DEPARTMENTS 8 Contributors Up Front 10 First Things — What’s happening in SW Michigan 12 Sticker Shock —Teens campaign to curb underage drinking

Enterprise

Good Works

Kalamazoo Safari Company — Local family helps others explore the wilds of East Africa

Training Mission — Couple prepares protection dogs for families serving abroad

46 Back Story

Meet Maria Schneider — From cough drops to piano caravans, she’s the logistical muscle of The Gilmore

ARTS

34 Bach is Back Bach Festival Chorus inspires “shared experience

of joy”

36 Singing Sisterhood Kalamazoo Community Chorale is a fellowship of

women who want to sing

39 Events of Note 43 Poetry

On the cover: Former WMU and NFL quarterback Tim Hiller, center, talks with, from left, Mitchell Milks, Colin Frieban, Dustin Noble and Alex Thole during a training session at Next Level Performance. Photo by Brian Powers.

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 5

Spiritual writer Mark Nepo

IMAGINE

Family lead African safaris

Meet Maria Schneider

April 2016

Preparing Protection Dogs

Southwest Michigan’s Magazine

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Photographer brian k. powers

Poetry Editor

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The staff at Encore welcomes written comment from readers, and articles and poems for submission with no obligation to print or return them. To learn more about us or to comment, you may visit www.encorekalamazoo. com. Encore subscription rates: one year $36, two years $70. Current single issue and newsstand $4, $10 by mail. Back issues $6, $12 by mail. Advertising rates on request. Closing date for space is 28 days prior to publication date. Final date for print-ready copy is 21 days prior to publication date.

Dave, Teri and Stephanie all needed a change. When they first came to Borgess Run Camp, none of them could run more than a couple blocks without getting winded. But by connecting with new friends and expert trainers, a passion for running grew inside of them, and with it, their overall well-being. Now they are living healthier, happier lives. Just another way Borgess is making our community a healthier place to be. Watch their incredible stories or share your own at ThatsWhere.com

A member of Ascension Health速 w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 7

contributors encore

Olga Bonfiglio

Brian Lam

Lisa Mackinder

A former Catholic nun, Olga’s assignment to profile spiritual author and speaker Mark Nepo was right up her alley. When not writing for Encore, Olga teaches English as a Second Language and is a staff writer for the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University. Olga has previously written for the Huffington Post, U.S. Catholic, Planning (the trade journal for urban planners) and the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Brian says when he heard about youth athletic training center Next Level Performance, he was intrigued by its emphasis not only on physical training but on leadership. “I thought it was a really innovative idea. People typically view youth sports as a way to build character and teach life lessons, but this business really doubles down on this aspect," he says. In addition to writing for Encore, Brian has his own enterprises, Lam Creative Solutions and Improv Effects.

As someone who loves dogs, Lisa was naturally excited to work on the story about Tak9Missions. When meeting the Baumanns, as impressed as she was with their dog training abilities, Lisa was even more struck by their dedication at using their talents for helping others. Lisa also wrote this month’s article on the Bach Festival Chorus and says the shared enthusiasm among Cori Somers, James Turner and Linda Van Dis, as well as their love of choral singing, is key to its success.

Kara Norman

J. Gabriel Ware

Robert M. Weir

Kara covered longstanding Kalamazoo Community Chorale this month and felt right at home with the chorale's boisterous women. As a child, Kara grew up listening to her mother rehearse songs for her all-women's chorus and had no trouble picturing the shenanigans these talented singers get into week after week. For more of Kara's writing, including accounts of how mothering is rewiring every cell of her body with mixed results, visit karanorman.com.

8 | Encore APRIL 2016

J. Gabriel graduates this month with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Western Michigan University. In this issue, he brings readers a story of area youth who are behind a campaign to curb underage drinking. A former intern for Encore, J. Gabriel is also working on a master’s degree in communication at WMU. In his free time… who are we kidding? This young man doesn’t have any free time.

Originally, the story about the Kalamazoo Safari Company was assigned as a short business profile. Then Robert met the Pirbhai family — Erfan, Janene, Daniel, Yasmin and Zara — and told us “What a great family! Their story inspires service, teamwork, encouragement, accomplishment and growth; it deserves to be a human interest feature.” We agreed.

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up front encore

First Things

Something Musical

Enjoy a "Soul-Filled Sunday" Arcadia Ales is helping to keep weekends going just a

little longer with its “Soul-Filled Sundays” music series. Each Sunday, the brewery and restaurant, at 701 E. Michigan Ave., features local talent performing early evening shows. Enjoy a brew or two and a bite to eat while taking in the acts scheduled for April:

April 3, 5–7 p.m.: The Bee’s Knees, a trio that plays creative arrangements of music, from pop and indie hits to classical. pril 10, 4–6 p.m.: Singer/songwriter Mechele Peters with A special guest The Perilous Cats. pril 17, 5–7 p.m.: Flylight Gemini playing original folk, A rock and blues music. pril 24, 5–7 p.m.: Poncho Eco & Friends, an eclectic mix A of blues and Americana with Latin and reggae rhythms. For more information, visit arcadiaales.com/event. The Brass Rail performs at Arcadia Ales

Something Bookish

Ladies’ Library tells all You can learn and see all about one of

Kalamazoo’s most storied historical structures — The Ladies' Library Association building, at 333 S. Park St. — in a new book that will be released at a launch celebration April 16. The Library Ladies of Kalamazoo: Their Home and History was written and researched by seven members of the Ladies Library Association, along with consultant Sharon Carlson, director of the Archives and Regional History Collections at Western Michigan University. The 220-page book includes numerous photos detailing the history of the Ladies’ Library building and its art and other contents. The launch celebration will be held from 9 a.m.–3 p.m., and not only will the books be available for sale, but so will the LLA’s homemade cinnamon rolls and coffee and tea. Tours of the building are free, but donations will be accepted. The price of the book is $64 for the hardcover edition and $38 for the paperback. For more information or to order the book, visit the organization’s Facebook page at facebook.com/Libraryladiesgroup.

10 | Encore APRIL 2016

Something Good

Green-a-Thon celebrates Earth Day

encore up front

Something Colorful

Get powdered at The Color Run You can’t run this 5k and keep it a secret. The Color Run, to be held in downtown Kalamazoo April 23, is a powder-throwing, tutu-wearing extravaganza that just happens to also involve exercise. The 5k run/walk begins at 10 a.m. at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place. Participants will be doused with non-toxic powder of various shades along the route and be feted at the end with a finish festival, complete with music and more color throwing. The cost to participate in The Color Run starts at $39.99 for the Classic Runner participant kit, which includes entry into the race, a T-shirt, a headband and other race-related items. Other kits with additional items are also available. The cost for children 5 and under is $19.99, or free if they do not receive a participant kit. For more information or to register, visit thecolorrun.com/ locations/kalamazoo.

Something Poetic

Kalamazoo Poetry Festival is back Not only will Green-a-Thon 2016’s celebration of Earth Day be entertaining, it will also be educational. Green-a-Thon takes place from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. April 23 at Celery Flats, 7335 Garden Lane, in Portage. This family-friendly Earth Day festival, hosted by the Portage Youth Advisory Committee and the Portage Environmental Board and Park Board, includes live music, games, face painting, activities and giveaway items, including seedlings of Eastern redbud, white flowering dogwood, black gum and white pine trees. In addition, exhibitors such as Tillers International, the WMU Solar Car Team, Costco, the Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste Center and Metro Toyota will be on hand to discuss environmental ideas that can be used at home or work. And, if you’re lucky, you might get to take a selfie with Mr. Crispy, Portage’s celery mascot. For more information, visit portagemi.gov.

Those who read, write and perform poetry will find a lot of kindred spirits at the second Kalamazoo Poetry Festival, set for April 15–16 at several venues around the area. The festival features more than a dozen events, including readings, workshops, performances and craft talks led by some of the region’s most celebrated writers. The workshop leaders will give a reading at 6 p.m. April 15 at Wellspring Theater. This year’s guest poets, Natalie Diaz and Jamaal May, will present a craft talk at 2:30 p.m. April 16 at Kalamazoo College’s Dalton Theatre and a reading at 7 p.m. April 16 at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Local poet Diane Seuss will lead a Q&A after the craft talk. The festival, which runs from 1–9:30 p.m. April 15 and 9:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. April 16, is free, but registration is required for the workshops. To see a festival schedule or to register for workshops, visit kalamazoopoetryfestival. com/2016-festival.

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 11

up front encore

Sticker Shock

Teens campaign to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors J. Gabriel Ware

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12 | Encore APRIL 2016

Above: Stickers with a message warning adults not to buy alcohol for minors are n April 16, more than OW placed on multipacks in a local store. Opposite page: High school students Cody 100 Kalamazoo County students K Smith, Gallup and Ryda Sundila participated in the Sticker Shock project o o Y Y T T yo y O O C Nicole ou O O e e L L u s U U last year. E E from ages 14-19 will into ’ ’ u us by bwalk L L B B L L b b y th e th e eA eA K al K al nc nc st a ama ama b st a alcohol-selling businesses throughout coordinator. “Underage drinking tends to rise along with z o o C o u n ty S u b z o o C o u marketing n ty S u the Kalamazoo area to tag multi-packs youth car accidents and fatalities during that time.” of alcoholic beverages with stickers that read “Buy for a minor The most common way Kalamazoo County high school students today, tomorrow you'll be locked away." get alcohol is by having it given to them by someone, according to a The annual tagging effort, called Project Sticker Shock, is sponsored 2013 Michigan Profile for Health Youth survey. More than 75 percent by the Kalamazoo County Substance Abuse Task Force. The task force of Kalamazoo County minors who consumed alcohol said they got is housed at Prevention Works Inc., a local organization dedicated to it from an acquaintance or family member, according to the survey. preventing substance abuse among youth. A partnership among the The survey also revealed that 60 percent of Kalamazoo County high task force’s Youth Action Team and alcohol-selling businesses, Project school students said alcohol is easy to obtain and that 26 percent of Sticker Shock is aimed at making adults who go into the stores to buy county 11th-graders had drunk alcohol in the previous 30 days. alcohol for youth think twice before they do. Project Sticker Shock, which happens in communities throughout “We do it every spring because that’s prom and graduation season,” the country, began in this area seven years ago, and the number says Dani Persky, Prevention Works’ fund development and health of youth and alcohol-selling vendors participating has increased

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Committee and Prevention Works' Peer Power program, Persky says. “I know we live in a community that cares about preventing underage drinking,” she says. This is Portage Northern High School junior Megna Joshi’s first year with the Youth Action Team and her first year participating in Project Sticker Shock. “Sticker Shock shows adults and children in this area that selling to minors is a big issue and needs to be stopped,” Joshi says. “I’m participating because it’s a great way to help my community and spread the word about selling to minors.” Khalil Adams, a junior at Kalamazoo Central High School, has participated in Project Sticker Shock for three years. “We have a good time going from business to business to place the Sticker Shock stickers on the alcohol,” Adams says. “It is also a great chance to meet other peers with the same values, which is having fun without drinking.” Persky says the youth are involved in every aspect of Project Sticker Shock, from the design of the stickers, posters, T-shirts and billboards to the implementation of the campaign. She says youth involvement continues to grow because members such as Joshi and Adams spread the word about Project Sticker Shock and encourage their friends to get involved. “Sticker Shock empowers youth in our community to know they have the ability to make a difference,” she says. “It shows that they stand behind our message.”

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Enterprise encore

Kalamazoo Safari Company

Local family leads others in African explorations by

Robert M. Weir

With a sweet sense of mystery, the word safari rolls softly

through the lips while the mind teases with images of magnificent places like Kilimanjaro and Serengeti. Tanzania, on Africa’s eastern side, is the birthplace of Erfan Pirbhai. Yet, his own personal safari led him westward to the United States where he earned degrees from Tarkio College in Missouri and University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He was first employed as a statistician and computer programmer at the former Upjohn Company (now Pfizer Inc.) and then as analytics practice director at Experis/ManpowerGroup. Now, as an entrepreneur, Erfan’s journey is reconnecting him with his roots. On safari with him in love, marriage, parenthood and business is his wife, Janene Pirbhai. Born Janene Weathers in Muskegon, she’s a graduate of Western Michigan University with 25 years of experience as a wealth management advisor with Merrill Lynch. Together, in 2013, they co-founded Kalamazoo Safari Company to arrange trips and safaris to East Africa focusing on experiences that allow travelers to enjoy the area’s natural beauty, animals and culture. Erfan and Janene met in 1994 through mutual friends. “He was talking about whitewater rafting, and that piqued my interest; plus, he was extremely handsome,” says Janene, smiling at her husband. Married in 1999, the Pirbhais enjoyed wedding ceremonies with friends and family in both Michigan and Tanzania; their honeymoon was a safari to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro

14 | Encore APRIL 2016

Crater and Lake Manyara. Having reluctantly passed up an opportunity to visit Tanzania while at WMU, Janene says her journey with Erfan was “the trip of a lifetime, a dream come true, and a bucket-list item” all rolled into one — but better. “I fell in love with a Tanzanian and then I fell in love with Tanzania,” she says. The genesis for Kalamazoo Safari Company came when the Pirbhais offered to organize “a big trip” to Tanzania for friends and associates in 2012. “We said to whomever wanted to go, ‘We’ll make all the arrangements,’” says Janene, laughing at “how little we knew then.” When 28 people from eight states and Brazil signed up, she found that her hands were more than full; they were tied. Some wanted to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and some didn’t; some wanted to visit the Serengeti and some didn’t. There was this special request and that special request. “I couldn’t find a safari company who would work with us at a reasonable price,” she says. Luckily, the Pirbhais connected with Elvice Marano, who owns a small Tanzania-based company that caters primarily to European customers. “They would customize and were reasonably priced. They listened and were amazingly responsive, and everything came through fabulously,” Janene says. Since that first group safari, the Pirbhais have solidified their partnership with Marano and honed their business model to focus, first and foremost, on safety while also providing hands-on service and affordable prices that range from $450 to $600 (and higher) per day plus airfare. “People want to know what to expect,” says Erfan, who speaks fluent

encore Enterprise

Above: The Pirbhai family, from left, Janene, Yasmin, Daniel, Zara and Erfan, travel often to Africa, where Janene and Erfan lead safaris. At left: A base camp for one of the family’s climbs of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Swahili. “We provide detailed information on how to pack, what to wear, the climate, the people, culture and safe travel tips.” Likewise, the couple ask prospective clients what interests them — ascending Mt. Kilimanjaro, hot air ballooning over the Serengeti, witnessing a great migration of two million zebras and wildebeests, seeing exotic birds, watching animals birthing in the wild or simply feeling the pulse of Africa? To fulfill clients’ dreams, Kalamazoo Safari Company offers two types of trips: hosted and private. A hosted tour consists of 12 to 18 people — individuals, couples or small groups — who come together and travel to Tanzania in the company of either Erfan or Janene. “We take

care of everything so customers can turn off the rest of the world and truly be on vacation,” says Erfan. A private safari is customized for groups or families of any size, including couples, who want to create a unique experience with a hired guide and tailored lodging at an appealing price. A safari normally lasts five to 10 days. The company is hosting two this year — one in June and one in October. The Pirbhais have also organized five private safaris and three climbs for 2016. Customers interested in going to Tanzania can travel at any time, although Janene says the rainy season of mid-March through midMay “is not ideal.” After a hosted group returns, the Pirbhais often throw a post-safari reunion in their spacious rural home at which the travelers share photos, videos and reminiscences.

“We’re in the customer service business,” says Janene, who continues to work at Merrill Lynch, devoting her early mornings to Kalamazoo Safari Company and evenings to her family. Erfan, who retired from the corporate world in late 2015, now has three jobs: chief entertainment officer of the Pirbhai family; chief executive officer of Kalamazoo Safari Company; and part-time executive consultant to Foreign Links Around the Globe (FLAG International), a worldwide student exchange organization. With more time to devote to Kalamazoo Safari, he’s excited about creating theme safaris for people interested in painting, writing, geology, ecology, anthropology, history, holistic health, indigenous crafts and possibly programs geared for high school students. “These safaris would be lifealtering,” says Janene. While the Pirbhais have helped dozens of people experience the thrill of Tanzania, the richness of their own safari through life lies in the hearts and minds of their children: Daniel, 15, Yasmin, 12, and Zara, 8, all of whom have experienced the majesty of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the beauty of the Serengeti ecosystem as well as the joy of generosity. In May 2015, Daniel, now a freshman at Mattawan High School, and two of his friends raised $1,500 to buy a pregnant cow for an orphanage in Tanzania and to provide a scholarship for one orphan, a 6-year-old boy named Jefferson, to attend a private school. “There are about 250 kids in the orphanage, and only about one-third of them go to school,” Daniel explains. “We helped him change his life; that’s pretty cool.” Daniel’s effort was inspired by Yasmin, a sixth-grader at the Gagie School in Kalamazoo, who, amazingly, raised more than $30,000 to help finance a new African lion exhibit at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek. Yasmin’s endeavor came about — as often happens on safari — serendipitously, thanks to the mural on the walls of Zara’s bedroom. Because of her daily exposure to this stylized composition of Serengeti elephants, giraffes and lions, the zoo naturally became one of w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 15

Zara’s favorite places to visit, so she chose that location for her seventh birthday party in 2014. “Because of the animals,” she says. At the party, Janene and Yasmin learned of the zoo’s “Lions, Tortoises & Bears … Oh My” fundraising campaign to fund, among other projects, the African lion exhibit. Yasmin, then age 10, told her mom, “I’ve seen wild lions in Africa; I want to help people see them here at the zoo.” With a goal of raising $5,000, she went door-to-door in her neighborhood with flyers about the zoo and a request to “please donate whatever you can.” Diane Thompson, Binder Park’s president and CEO, says, “Yasmin’s parents took a risk and allowed her to pursue an experience that would mold her and shape her, not knowing if this experience of asking adults for money, in person, would be painful or rewarding.” Persevering through both donations and rejections, Yasmin raised $5,000. Her parents matched that amount with another $5,000. And Merrill Lynch matched that with another $5,000 — a total of $15,000. Then Yasmin told her parents, “I want to do more.” A brainstorming session with zoo officials led to Yasmin’s “Climb for the Lions”

16 | Encore APRIL 2016

Courtesy

Enterprise encore

encore Enterprise

Clockwise from top: Lions photographed on safari by Yasmin Pirbhai; a safari group enjoys breakfast with a view in Tanzania; and, from left, Daniel, Janene, Yasmin and Erfan Pirbhai at Gilman’s Point on Mt. Kilimanjaro.

on the stair-stepper with a 10-pound pack for an hour to ready himself.” Daniel was the youngest of 13 climbers — three youths and 10 adults — who started the trek, and he was one of five who reached the peak. Erfan explains that climbers have two destination goals: Uhuru Peak (19,341 feet), which is the true summit, or Gilman’s Point (18,650 feet), where many people stop because reaching the very top involves

grueling traverses around a crater and over challenging rocks amidst vicious winds at very high altitudes. “When we reached Gilman’s Point, I told Daniel, ‘Congratulations, young man, you’ve reached your goal.’ But he said, ‘We've got to keep going,’” says Erfan. “In truth, I was exhausted, but he inspired me. We have a picture of us hugging at the top.” For Yasmin’s initial ascent, the climb was a full-family affair. Daniel and Janene reached

Brian Powers

fundraiser, which meshed with the family’s plan to ascend Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, in June 2015. With a goal of raising another $15,000, Yasmin hoped to secure one $5,000 sponsor, five $1,000 sponsors, and many others who would donate lesser amounts. She promoted the idea to area corporations and to friends’ parents, including Mike and Kate Longman, franchise owners of Zoup!, a soup, salad and sandwich shop on South Westnedge Avenue in Portage. One day, Yasmin received a phone call from Mike Longman, who was also the coach of Zara’s softball team. “He said, ‘I have bad news and good news. The bad news is that we’re not going to give $1,000; the good news is that we’re going to give $5,000.’ I was so excited. I told Mom, ‘If we don’t put it [our requests] out there, no one will ever know what we want.’” Yasmin also credits Daniel for inspiring her to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in the first place. “It was quite an accomplishment,” Erfan says of his son’s ascent in 2012 at age 11. “He would wake up at 6 a.m., on his own, and get

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Uhuru Peak, Yasmin and Erfan reached Gilmanâ€™s Point, and Zara climbed to Kibo Hut (15,400 feet) before descending with a guide to a lower elevation. In two years, at age 10, Zara, a student in the Mattawan school system, will attempt to reach the summit. If successful, she will be one of the youngest to climb the mountain according to safety protocols for a standard 4.5-day ascent (rather than a 10-day climb that is more common for youths of her age). Through these accomplishments, the Pirbhai family has shown that safari occurs in various shapes and forms, that dreams and destinations can be far abroad or deep within, that explorations and discoveries can be physical or service-oriented. And with the burgeoning growth of Kalamazoo Safari Company, Erfan and Janene Pirbhai will no doubt help inspire others to dream, explore and discover. To learn more, visit kalamazoosafaricompany.com.

encore good works

Training Mission

Couple prepares protection dogs for families serving abroad Lisa Mackinder

Brian Powers

Jaeger’s keen eyes remain firmly planted

Brian Powers

on Mark Baumann. At the appearance of the bite sleeve on Baumann’s arm, the black German shepherd barks eagerly. Baumann gives a command, and Jaeger leaps, bites and clamps onto the jute bite sleeve until his handler provides the word for release. But soon the scenarios played out between dog and trainer will become more true to life. “For instance, we will hide sleeves under jackets and have someone attack me. He then learns to bite the person and not a sleeve,” explains Baumann, a Schoolcraft man who, with his wife Rhonda, operates Tak9Missions, a company that trains tactical, search-andrescue and protection dogs. Tak9Missions trains these dogs to give them to nonprofit organizations and families who need them. Many of the families who have received protection dogs like Jaeger are overseas doing mission or charity work. Tak9Missions doesn’t charge families for the dogs or the training they provide. Instead,

the Baumanns cover the cost to buy, care for and train the dogs. The Baumanns do charge fees to paying clients to provide behavioral training for dogs, and they receive some donations to help offset what they pay from their own pockets. Running Tak9Missions is a secondary pursuit for the Baumanns, who both have full-time jobs. Mark Baumann is senior manager of audits, systems and performance for the Global Risk Management team at Zoetis, and Rhonda Baumann is a customer service specialist at Flower Insurance Group. They train dogs in the evenings and on weekends, but Mark says he enjoys every minute of it, from forming a bond with the dogs to watching them grow to working together as a team. The dogs teach him things too: compassion, willingness to trust and unconditional love. “You always hear people say, ‘If you do your passion, you won’t get tired,’” Mark says. “I finally figured out what that meant.”

Mark Baumann works with Jaeger, a German shepherd Baumann is training to serve as a protection dog.

Rhonda agrees, saying both she and Mark have to love working with dogs because “it wouldn’t work any other way.” “It would most likely build resentment in someone who didn’t love the dogs and the training process,” she says. “Mark and I are able to work together in a passion we both have, so it strengthens our relationship as we work together to achieve our goals.”

The trainers The Baumanns have always loved dogs. As a child, Mark raised and trained hunting dogs. Rhonda grew up training 4-H dogs, an experience that made her very familiar with the obedience side of their current business. For the last five years, Mark has learned from some of the top dog experts in the business. He trained with Christy Borman of Texas, a certified Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) handler for w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 19

good works encore

Brian Powers

Each dog undergoes extensive testing to determine its potential for protection work. The Baumanns closely examine the dog’s environmental soundness by assessing its reaction to loud noises and its response to heights and slippery surfaces as well as various ground surfaces such as tile and grates. A dog’s inquisitiveness and comfort level in new surroundings also come into play, but a hesitant dog doesn’t necessarily fail. “We then test to see if we can encourage them to get through it,” Mark says. “If they can, that’s great. The possibility is there.” Another extremely important factor that is assessed is a dog’s fear. A frightened dog, Mark says, will incorrectly judge a situation

search-and-rescue and detection work; worked under the instruction of Cpl. Brad Smith, founder of Canine Tactical Operations and Consulting, who instructed him in SWAT & K9’s Interacting During Deployment School (S.K.I.D.D.S.) and search-and-rescue classes; and studied detection and advanced training under world-renowned trainer Pat Nolan, who trains dogs for television and movies. The Baumanns continue to hone their skills by meeting weekly with a professional handler and trainer who has certified several dogs in the industry. As the Baumanns’ dogs come of age, they will get certified in protection, detection or search and rescue. “That (certification) is really where the proof of a trainer rests,” Mark says. Jaeger came to the Baumanns as an 8-week-old puppy. Now a year old, he demonstrates incredible intellect, acute observation skills and judiciousness at following instructions. There are three certification levels for protection dogs, and the Baumanns are training Jaeger toward achieving the highest one, Level III, which means Jaeger will maintain complete obedience to the Baumanns off lead, command up when directed and shut down when instructed. “The certification process can’t start until he is 18 months old,” Mark says. “That is when I can register him with the organization 20 | Encore APRIL 2016

Above: Rhonda and Mark Baumann with two of the dogs they are training to work as protection dogs for families overseas. At right: Mark Baumann in training with Jaeger at the Baumanns' Schoolcraft home.

Service Dogs of America (SDA). Then it is four separate tests, which he has to pass to move on. Three years old is usually what it takes to get a dog steady enough to get a Level III — if they are good.” Jaeger will be Tak9Missions’ demonstration dog. The organization lost its former demonstration dog, a German shepherd named Kita, to hip dysplasia. The Baumanns also have a German shepherd named Schotzee, who will be certified when she is old enough. The Baumanns originally intended for Tak9Missions to focus on training searchand-rescue dogs, but the demand for protection dogs proved greater, especially from Christian missionary families living in dangerous locations. So far, the Baumanns have placed four personal protection German shepherds with families in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

The training For personal protection dogs, the Baumanns train German shepherds. Belgian Malinois are a good choice, too, Mark Baumann says, but they possess an inherently higher drive than their German shepherd counterparts.

and bite. Barking frantically at new people or things, being scared of new people or situations and attempting to bite a person who turns around all indicate a fretful dog. The Baumanns also observe intelligence and trainability, measuring a dog’s rate of learning commands, level of drive and focus, and willingness to work for a reward. Older dogs can be trained more quickly but often come with bad habits that prove difficult to break. With puppies, although it takes approximately two years to complete training, learned behavioral problems don’t exist. “Ideally, for cost, it’s (best) to get more of an adult,” Mark says. “But it’s costly either way.” A Level III-trained dog typically costs between $20,000 and $30,000, he says. But Tak9Missions covers purchase fees, veterinary

visits, vaccinations and dog food while the dog is in training and does the training free of charge. Recipient families pay only for airfare for the trainers to deliver the dog. Rhonda says that financing presents one of the most challenging aspects of Tak9Missions, but she and her husband feel it’s worth it. “It’s cool to get the stories back from people about how the dogs have done their job and how they’ve been effective for them,” she says.

The families The dogs aren’t the only ones undergoing scrutiny by the Baumanns. Potential recipient families are also put through their paces. Mark sets up several interview times that the families must adhere to in order

to demonstrate dedication. The couple has rejected two families. “Mark likes people to pursue him so that we know they’re serious,” Rhonda says. “If they don’t pursue it, you have to kind of assume they’re not that serious.” During the extensive interview process, the families face many questions, including: What type of dog are you looking for? Have you ever had dogs? Did they live inside or outside? Were they large dogs? Have you ever trained a dog? This in-depth questioning helps the Baumanns select the right dog for each family. Some families can handle a dog with higher drive, while others require one that’s lower key. After the training is complete, the Baumanns accompany the dog to its new home. They typically spend seven days with a family and their new dog to ensure proper integration and instruction on dog handling. Jason and Karen Gosdin, who received a dog from the Baumanns, administer a

program that distributes USAID food products and provides water filters in the Dominican Republic. They were robbed on the streets of Costa Rica while attending a language school. “This made us feel very vulnerable,” Jason Gosdin says. “In addition, the town where we live in the Dominican Republic is known for crime and prostitution. From our apartment we often hear gunshots from nearby areas.” The Gosdins have bars on their first-floor apartment windows, which they leave open due to the heat. They worried about criminals reaching through the bars or talking to their 11-year-old and 13-year-old daughters. The Gosdins contacted Tak9Missions after they met the Baumanns’ daughter, Laura, at the language school. After the Gosdins passed the Tak9Missions interview process, the Baumanns located and trained a dog specifically for them: Monty. “Monty is the perfect match for our family,” Karen Gosdin says. “Not only is he gentle with our girls, but his care for us is

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good works encore

demonstrated by how he protects our family and our apartment. No stranger approaches our apartment without Monty greeting them with his barking.” Because of Monty’s amazing hearing, she says, the family sleeps better at night knowing he watches over them. The protection provides peace of mind especially when Jason Gosdin travels out of the country. Jay and Stephanie Fast live in Costa Rica, working with SonLife Latin America to train youth leaders in the churches. Many of their friends there have been held up at knifepoint or gunpoint or experienced home break-ins. In 2013, the Fasts heard about Tak9Missions. For them, the Baumanns selected and trained Royce. When the Fasts welcomed Royce into their family, the Baumanns taught them commands and how to continue training.

The Fasts also learned how to work out Royce’s energy, says Jay Fast, because, at 20 months old, he was still very much a puppy. Royce quickly fit into the family dynamic and provides an added sense of security when Jay travels and Stephanie and their 11-year-old son remain at home. “Everyone in our neighborhood knows that Royce is at our house,” Jay says. “We’re 100 percent confident that no one will try to break into our home. Even if they don’t know that he’s there, they find out immediately when they make noise outside the house. This is the biggest point of impact — he’s providing an ongoing sense of basic security that simply doesn’t exist here like it does in the States.” Jon and Joni McGinnis, another family living in Costa Rica, work to identify and train pastors and church leaders throughout the country.

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“In Latin America personal security is always an issue,” Jon says. “We have lived here in Costa Rica for four years and personally know over a dozen people who have been robbed at gunpoint. We thought we could lessen the threat with a trained German shepherd.” Before living in Costa Rica, the family resided in Mattawan. Jon McGinnis called Mark Baumann, a friend from church, to talk about getting a personal protection dog. The McGinnises have four children, and living in Costa Rica especially frightened one of their daughters, who was 10 years old at the time. After the dog, Vala, arrived, the daughter’s fear dissipated. “It was as if a switch had been flipped and her anxiety went away,” Jon says. To their heartbreak, Vala died of cancer when she was 3. Vala’s presence, however, sparked an interest in dog training in Jon, who is currently training another German shepherd. Rhonda Baumann admits that saying goodbye to these dogs is sometimes difficult, but she says the heartache is eased by knowing the animals will protect families. “We have consistently had confidence that God is in control of each placement,” she says. “It is such an incredible blessing and privilege to see each dog fulfilling its purpose with a family and becoming an invaluable member of that family.”

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The Next

Level

Brian Powers

Training athletes in performance and leadership

24 | Encore APRIL 2016

story by

Brian Lam

photography by

laying sports can provide great life lessons, and former NFL and WMU quarterback Tim Hiller knows this fact as well as anyone. Hiller has experienced some of the highest highs and lowest lows that athletics can bring and knows the lessons that remain: leadership, character, teamwork, graciousness in victory and resilience in defeat. His desire to share these lessons with young athletes is behind the creation of Next Level Performance, a youth athletic training and development company in Portage. With the motto “Making Athletes That Make a Difference,” NLP focuses as much on leadership and character development as it does on athletic performance. NLP’s performance training is sport-specific, focusing on speed, strength and agility for baseball, football, volleyball or soccer. Its leadership and purpose training involves classroom-style lessons to help young athletes learn the qualities that make great leaders, not only on the field but in the community as well. Coaching leadership is more than a fulltime job for Hiller. By day, he’s a manager

Brian Powers

of learning and development at Stryker Instruments, preparing employees for leadership roles. His coaching role at NLP happens at night and on weekends. But no matter whom he’s coaching — athlete or accountant — Hiller draws from the joys and the heartbreaking setbacks of his own experience.

Hiller's journey Hiller grew up in Orrville, Ohio, a town of roughly 8,000, and was a standout in both high school basketball and football. He was the starting quarterback on his football team and by his junior year had the attention of college football programs across the country. “My junior year it seemed like I could go anywhere,” Hiller says, “from the MAC (Mid-American Conference) level to the biggest schools in the country.” During his senior season, however, he suffered a broken collarbone at the start of the state playoffs. The calls from college coaches stopped almost immediately. “The injury killed all my opportunities,” Hiller says. “A few coaches mentioned

Tim Hiller works with Dustin Noble on his throwing technique in a session at Next Level Performance.

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 25

Clockwise from left: Quarterback Tim Hiller playing in a game for Western Michigan University against University of Michigan in 2009; partners (from left) Scott Gajos, Hiller and Josh Baird in Next Level Performance's Portage facility; and Gajos working with athletes, from left, Alex Thole, Drew Wyatt, Mitchell Milks and Colin Frieban.

some walk-on possibilities, and a couple Division II schools maintained some interest, but at the end of the 2004 season I had zero scholarship offers.” It was a low point for Hiller. But he was, and still is, a man of immense religious faith, which he credits for keeping him optimistic and resilient. While the injury kept him from playing basketball, Hiller continued conditioning with his high school’s basketball team to get back into top physical shape, believing his fortune would turn around. But calls that came from college coaches only brought bad news or weak apologies. That situation changed on Hiller’s 18th birthday. The phone rang. “My parents said it was a college coach,” Hiller recalls, “but I didn’t want to take it. I was just completely over the bad news and didn’t want to go through another tough conversation. Fortunately, my parents urged me to take the call.” The caller was Tim Lester, WMU’s quarterback coach under head coach Bill Cubit. Before coming to WMU, Cubit was an offensive coordinator at Stanford University, one of the schools recruiting Hiller before his injury. Cubit still had film on the Orrville standout and saw Hiller’s potential. Lester invited Hiller to visit Kalamazoo, and, when Hiller did, he committed on the spot, receiving a full athletic scholarship. Hiller’s freshman year with the Broncos in 2005, was supposed to be his “redshirt” year, when he would not play competitively but would develop his skills and adapt to the pace of college play. But midway through the season WMU’s starting quarterback, Ryan 26 | Encore APRIL 2016

Cubit — the coach’s son — broke his leg. Hiller took the field, finishing out the season for the injured Cubit. Hiller was on another high, playing televised games in front of thousands of fans and doing it as one of the youngest players on the field. But bad luck struck again. “We were playing against Northern Illinois, and the game was televised on ESPN2. It was the final game of the season, and on one play I tore up my right knee — the ACL, MCL and PCL,” Hiller recalls, referring to the anterior, medial and posterior cruciate ligaments, three of the four main ligaments in the knee. This injury could have been devastating, but Hiller was able to “redshirt” his sophomore year, giving him time to rehabilitate. When he returned in 2007 as a junior, he was WMU’s starting quarterback. During his career at WMU, he started 44 out of 45 games, but not without cost. “I had three major surgeries. I played all of 2007 with a broken foot and played four games in 2008 with a torn ACL. This time (in 2008) it was the other knee. You could say I got through my college career on prayer and pills,” Hiller says. “With all the injuries, there were some very tough times, but I see it as a time of maturity. It helped me build character and grew my faith. It’s a big part of who I am now.” Hiller also stayed busy off the field, focusing on academics and volunteering with campus organizations, including WMU’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which he founded. Hiller received the 2009 Wuerffel Trophy, known as the “Humanitarian

Heisman,” awarded to the collegiate football player who best combines community service with athletic and academic achievement. At the end of the 2009 season, Hiller was invited to Indianapolis for the National Football League Combine, a conditioning camp that evaluates athletes’ potential to play pro football, and he signed with an agent. Hiller attended an eight-week intensive training camp designed to prepare athletes for the physical demands of professional football. All of this training was leading up to the NFL Draft. Hiller describes the threeday draft as “agonizing.” It ended without his name being called. When the draft was over, however, he got calls for free agent opportunities with the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints and

Indianapolis Colts. At that time, Peyton Manning was the Colts’ quarterback, and Hiller wanted to learn from the best, he says, so he signed with Indianapolis. “The difference between pro and college players is that the pros are incredibly good at

girlfriend — had just moved to Indianapolis. They packed up and returned to Kalamazoo. Michelle began a teaching job and Tim volunteered to coach football at Vicksburg High School while training for another shot at the NFL.

For Hiller, the NFL was a revolving door. The Chicago Bears, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs all expressed interest, but ultimately were no-gos. So, Hiller headed back to WMU to complete the M.B.A. he had started and took a marketing position with Gull Lake Community Schools which included coaching its high school football team. Hiller says he coached attitude, effort and leadership as much as he coached performance. “Those were great days,” he recalls. “I loved mentoring those kids. I was teaching the practices we now teach at NLP. I just didn’t know it at the time.”

Creating NLP Hiller worked and coached at Gull Lake for three seasons, working alongside former WMU roommate and teammate Scott Gajos. Gajos was doing individual coaching on the side, and one of his clients, Jacob Baird, was a quarterback working through some injuries. Knowing Hiller’s background, Gajos brought him into Baird’s training. Hiller soon developed a mentoring relationship with Baird and became close to his family, including Baird’s father, Josh. When Jacob Baird attended a training camp at IMG Academy, in Bradenton, Florida, in 2014, Hiller went along. “IMG is the training place in the U.S.,” Hiller says. “People come from all over the world to train there — not just kids, but professional athletes, too.” Hiller and Josh Baird were impressed with IMG’s athletic conditioning programs but the minutiae of their craft,” Hiller says. “When you think about it, they play football all day every day. In college, you’ve got classes and possibly a part-time job.” Hiller played with the Colts through the pre-season, reveling in the new experience and acclimating to the NFL. And then, without warning, it was over. In NFL locker rooms, team scouts commonly hang about, asking players for information about former pro or college teammates. When a scout asked Hiller into his office, the young QB assumed he’d be asked about other WMU players. Instead, a contract termination form was slid across the desk. The team had to cut down its roster. He was done. He and his wife — Kalamazoo native Michelle DeNooyer, who had been his college w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 27

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were put off by what they perceived to be an ego-driven, win-at-all-costs attitude that pervaded the camp. “Josh and I felt a burden that it shouldn’t be this way,” Hiller says. “We came back to Kalamazoo, linked back up with Scott (Gajos) and went out and bought some sports equipment and a trailer.” Next Level Performance was born. At first, Hiller and Gajos trained young athletes wherever they could find space, trailer in tow. They’d rent time at local indoor soccer complexes or head to open spaces like Ramona Park. At this point, NLP’s character and leadership coaching occurred largely on the field and in the moment. In the fall and winter, however, available indoor training space became harder to find. With just a few mentees, the NLP founders took a leap of faith and invested in their own space. The facility, at 8100-B Angling Road, has 6,000 square feet, 40 yards of turf and two batting cages. It also has a classroom where the founders teach their character and leadership development program, “Reflect, Direct & Connect,” which focuses on identifying one’s talents, setting goals and using one’s talents to lead others. “Every one of our products has a leadership component,” Hiller says. The space has allowed NLP to expand into sport-specific training, coordination and coaching of travel teams, tournament participation and speaking to large groups. “Our goal was to touch 500 lives that first year, and we reached over 1,200,” Hiller says. “Some of those are individuals who work

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Clockwise from top left: Scott Gajos and Tim Hiller teach leadership concepts to athletes including Mitchell Milks and Jacob Baird.

with us regularly, and some are students we speak to in large group settings at schools. Ultimately we want to help as many youths as possible become better athletes and better leaders." In running NLP, each principal plays to his own strengths: Hiller oversees athlete development, Josh Baird handles business development, and Gajos directs leadership training. The company has 11 paid part-time coaches, and the founders are optimistic about the company’s continued growth. “We’re seeing the results,” Hiller says. “The athletes we’re developing are finding success on the field as players and as leaders.” Hiller tells of one NLP client, Aaron Rochow, a Gull Lake High School football player who wanted to play college ball but wasn’t recruited by any schools. Rochow ended up walking on to Northern Michigan University’s team. Through his first season, Rochow stayed committed and disciplined and won a starting spot and a scholarship. Hiller and his partners believe that young athletes and their parents will see the benefits of combining leadership and character development with athletics, not only in improved performance but in the athlete’s life pursuits. “At a certain point, competitive athletics comes to an end,” Hiller says. “The focus becomes being a good parent, spouse, employee or community member. But at that point the lessons learned from athletics can still have an impact.”

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‘My Temple is the World’ Mark Nepo is a prolific poet and spiritual writer story by

Olga Bonfiglio

ark Nepo didn’t set out to be a spiritual guide. In fact, the Kalamazoo resident and author of The Book of Awakening, which hit the top of the New York Times bestseller list after it was discovered by Oprah Winfrey, only began writing in high school after his first love broke his heart. “I wrote to heal myself from that heartache,” Nepo says, “but I found I was not just talking to myself, but to the world and the universe.” Now, 16 books later, Nepo is a prolific poet and philosopher who devotes his writing and teaching to the journey of inner transformation and spirituality. A sought-after speaker, Nepo was part of Winfrey's “The Life You Want Tour” in 2014 and has appeared several times with Winfrey on her Super Soul Sunday program on OWN TV. Many of Nepo’s books are books of poetry, and his latest, Inside the Miracle: Enduring Suffering, Approaching Wholeness (2015), is a collection of poems, essays and reflections on the connection between love and suffering. It's a topic Nepo knows a little something about. At 36, he was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma, and in his struggle to recover from that cancer, Nepo says, he was helped by many people. The experience helped to form his philosophy of experiencing life fully while acknowledging that the future is unknowable, he says. But his connection to the world of spirit started before that. “From an early age I was attracted to poetry and the world of spirit,” says Nepo, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up on Long Island. “As a child I understood the world through metaphor. My connection to the universe took place as the wind moved through the trees and the sun moved through the clouds. Through nature I was able to be in conversation with life.” Nepo earned a doctorate in English literature and poetry at the University at Albany-State University of New York (SUNY), where he taught for 18 years before moving to Kalamazoo in 2001. He published his first book, God, the Maker of the Bed, and the Painter, in 1988. But it was the book he wrote in 2000, The Book of Awakening, that ultimately catapulted Nepo onto the world stage.

Writers help each other improve craft and ‘crank it out’

30 | Encore APRIL 2016

Ten years after The Book of Awakening was published, Winfrey received the book as a gift and liked it so much she included it on her 2010 Ultimate Favorite Things list, which propelled the book onto the New York Times bestseller list. “She related to it and wanted to talk to me in person,” Nepo says. “This came as a grace out of the blue, and we established a friendship. She is an amazing woman who is both genuine and generous.” In total, Nepo has published 16 books and 11 audio projects, with two more books scheduled for publication this year. He travels the globe speaking and leading retreats related to his writings. He will do both close to home next month, at Transformations Spirituality Center, 3427 Gull Road. He will talk about “Heartwork: Being a Spirit in the World” as the keynote speaker May 5 for Transformations’ Voices of Wisdom Benefit Dinner and lead a two-day retreat May 6-7 based on his book Inside the Miracle. Nepo, who was raised in the Jewish tradition, says he does not follow a formal religion. He says that being helped by so many loving people during his cancer journey prompted him to become a student of all religious paths and traditions. “All these traditions offer blessings, help and prayer. My temple is the world,” he says. Separating religions has gone on forever, and what life really comes down to is the ancient choice between love and fear, he says. “When we are ruled by fear, we push away great love and suffering,” Nepo says. “What we have to remember is that we are all one family and that compassion opens us to the possibility that we will never close our hearts again — to anyone.” According to Nepo, this compassion comes from developing empathy through experience. If we have experienced pain, we understand others’ pain and use that knowledge to help them. “We’re then in some kind of kinship with each other,” he says. “This is when love and suffering converge.” Nepo addresses this kind of love and suffering in Inside the Miracle, discussing how to stay vital and buoyant amid the storms of life.

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Harpo Inc

“We oftentimes commit ourselves to a personal fundamentalism where we are so afraid of difficulties and sorrows that we adhere to our own experience with stubbornness and push away life and other people,” he says. “It takes inner courage to realize that we need everyone different from ourselves to be whole and live well. “For example, spring brings out thousands of birds and insects who were born to pollinate particular trees and plants. If the bees insisted that all the birds and insects pollinate the way they do, spring wouldn’t happen. The infinite mystery of life is that we need all the different ways of loving and being in the world, not just one way.” And as clouds of fear hang over many — whether it is fear of crime, terrorism, illness or other forces — Nepo says it’s difficult to know how to respond to these problems but offers some reflections. “Life is made just difficult enough so that we need each other,” he says. “This ensures that we can choose the journey of love. Every age has its share of those ruled by fear and those ruled by love. It’s always been this way, so we are challenged to decide which path

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we will live in our own time on Earth, again and again.” Nepo recalls the words of his old friend and mentor Joel Elkes, who died recently at age 102 and who saw humanity as a “global body” composed of healthy cells and toxic cells. “In our time we have terrorists who are destructive toward others. They are like the toxic cells in the body,” Nepo says. “Those of us blessed to be 'healthy cells' this time around need to be like white blood cells and rush to the site of the wounds and infections.'”

Mark Nepo and Oprah Winfrey became friends after she was given Nepo’s The Book of Awakening as a gift. Photo: Harpo Inc.

Nepo says that just such healing occurred during World War II when the Allied nations led the fight against Hitler and that this effort is similar to the efforts today to defeat ISIS. “Every time two or more people gather together in authenticity, they are strengthening the ‘immune cells’ in the ‘global body,’” he says. “Any one of us can go either way: to become a healthy cell or a toxic cell. Out of fear, toxic cells need

Hear Mark Nepo Voices of Wisdom Benefit Dinner

Voices of Wisdom Retreat Program

When: 6-9 p.m., May 5

What: Retreat led by Nepo based on his book, Inside the Miracle: Enduring Suffering, Approaching Wholeness

Where: Transformations Spirituality Center What: Keynote speech on “Heartwork: Being a Spirit in the World” How much: $100, or $80 if attending his retreat that weekend

When: 7–9 p.m. May 6 & 9 a.m.–5 p.m. May 7 How much: $185; registration deadline, April 15. More info: To learn more about either event or to register for the events, go to transformationscenter.org or call 381-6290

Reach Deeper With Mark Nepo 7th Annual Voices of Wisdom Benefit Dinner HEARTWORK: Being a Spirit in the World, Keynote speaker Mark Nepo Thursday, May 5, 5:30pm, Fountains Banquet Center 2016 Voices of Wisdom Retreat with Mark Nepo Inside the Miracle: Enduring Suffering, Approaching Wholeness Friday, May 6, 7-9pm & Saturday, May 7, 9am-4:30pm Frank Berkhout

Please register at:

TransformationsCenter.org

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and seek sameness. The other choice is to seek and learn with others so that we can complete ourselves. As Plato once said, we’re born whole, but we need each other to be complete. “When we face our pain with others, we can restore ourselves and open our own hearts and the hearts of others. That’s when compassion takes place. I open my humanity by facing my trouble — and find others who are just like me. That's the meaning behind drinking from the same cup — or seeking the vibrant center of life, whether that center is called dharma, spirit, awareness of being or enlightenment.” And as much as Nepo is recognized as a deep thinker and a mystic, he has what many would see as a relatively normal life. He lives with his wife, Susan, and their “sweet yellow Lab,” Zuzu, a two-and-a-half-yearold rescue dog. Nepo loves sports, especially baseball, and spending time with friends, listening to jazz and folk music, and taking walks with his dog. But Nepo recognizes that his ability to develop and express his spirituality through his teaching, writing and speaking and to foster the abilities of others is a rare blessing. “It is my privilege to be with people and introduce them to their own gifts and wisdom,” Nepo says. “Everyone is born with a gift. If able to find our gift, we’re like fish in water. I’m very blessed to have found 'my water,' and it makes me happy and joyful to be in these waters. It feeds me and keeps me alive.”

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ARTS encore

‘Shared Experience of Joy’

Bach Festival Chorus celebrates choral singing Lisa Mackinder

Brian Powers

Various elements create this bridge, he says, but one particular component that he points out might surprise people — yoga. Who would guess that a choral group would engage in downward dog and child’s pose before rehearsal? But that’s exactly how the Bach Festival Chorus warms up. These exercises get singers in the right frame of mind, says Turner, who also notes that he’s not the only one to employ this method. He watched a TV segment about the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra using this relaxing discipline. “They don’t tune,” Turner says. “They don’t saw away independently on things they’re worried about. They all stop in front of the audience and they do yoga for 10 minutes. I think that one of the most significant things about my choral teaching that’s changed in the last 10 to 15 years is coming to an understanding that to get people to sing and get ready to sing, we have to stop and just be quiet with each other

hen Cori Somers, executive director of the Kalamazoo Bach Festival, attends a Bach Festival Chorus concert, she witnesses a connectedness between the singers and the audience that she describes as a “shared experience of joy.” “Especially at the Christmas concert,” Somers says, “there’s this crossover of energy in the audience and the choir.” Audiences will get a chance to be a part of that connection when the Bach Festival Chorus performs Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D minor at 8 p.m. April 9 at Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave. The performance kicks off Bach Festival Week, which runs until April 16. The Bach Festival Chorus is a volunteer chorus that typically performs three concerts during the annual Bach Festival, which runs from September through May and celebrates the works of Bach, his contemporaries, and other 19th and 20th century composers. In

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December, tickets to the “BachFest Christmas!” concert at Kalamazoo College’s Stetson Chapel sold out two months before the performance. Like Somers, James Turner, conductor of the Bach Festival Chorus and music director of the Kalamazoo Bach Festival, has witnessed the connection between the chorus and audience.

Top photo: A bust of Bach is present as the Bach Festival Chorus rehearses in the background. Above: Chorus members practice as music director James Turner accompanies them on piano.

for awhile. We tend to find each other, and it’s a way of unifying the choir, too.” If the yoga unifies the minds of the Bach Festival Chorus members, it appears that the

ENCORE Arts joy of singing unites their hearts. The work they produce, Turner says, literally leaves him astounded. He attributes this ability to the choir members’ spirits and to their “working their fannies off.” The 60 to 70 members of the Bach Festival Chorus come from all walks of life, dedicating an evening each week to practice. Their ranks include both highly trained vocalists and untrained singers. “We have lawyers, doctors, professors and stay-at-home moms and (everyone) in between,” says Linda Van Dis, assistant director of the Kalamazoo Bach Festival. Its members share a common denominator — the love of singing. Simply because some aren’t professional singers doesn’t mean they don’t have great sets of vocal cords. Chorus member Dr. Richard Van Enk, director of infection prevention and epidemiology at Bronson Methodist Hospital, is a fabulous choral singer who goes to Interlochen every year because he loves choral camp, Turner says. That’s the kind of passion that Turner looks for in chorus members. “Ultimately it is the spirit of someone that I am most attracted to,” he says. Spirited singing will be evident in the choir’s performance of Mozart’s Requiem Mass, Turner says. Not the typical 18th century oratorio, this piece — Mozart’s last work — is “quite volatile and operatic,” he says. “It’s the emotional intensity around this work that is so powerful,” Turner says. “It

Bach Festival Schedule Requiem Mass in D minor, presented by the Bach Festival Chorus, 8 p.m. April 9, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., $8-$20, or $5 for students. The City Sings Bach, area church choirs and organists present works by Bach or his contemporaries during regular church services, April 10. Bach Around the Block Organ Crawl, 7 p.m. April 11, downtown Kalamazoo churches. Bach's Legacy Recital, chamber music, 7:30 p.m. April 12, Light Fine Arts Building, Kalamazoo College. Bach's Lunch Concert, featuring faculty, students and friends of Kalamazoo College, noon April 13, Light Fine Arts Building, Kalamazoo College. Young Vocalists Competition Award Concert, 3 p.m. April 16, Light Fine Arts Building, Kalamazoo College. All events other than the April 9 concert are free. For tickets to the April 9 concert or more information, visit kalamazoobachfestival.org or call 337-7407.

makes the work one of the most beloved choral works in the world.” The audience will also hear the Arcato Chamber Ensemble, led by its founder and director, Andrew Koehler. Since its establishment 70 years ago, the Bach Festival Society has had a mission of presenting excellent vocal, choral and instrumental music, not only through performances of the Bach Festival Chorus and Bach Festival Orchestra, but through guest artists and outreach activities. Somers says festival events, which attracted 4,000 attendees last year, continue to expand. Organizers work at keeping the festival fresh and transcending generations by bringing in performers such as Voces8, a British vocal ensemble that appeared in Kalamazoo in February, and engaging in outreach activities such as its annual High School Choral Festival. But the most important role of the organization, Turner says, has remained the same from day one — emphasizing choral singing. As an organization, the Bach Festival Chorus must remain committed to presenting excellent choral music to the community and exposing the greater Kalamazoo audience to the joys of choral singing, Turner says. “I do know that choral singing is significant to us,” he says, “and that’s what makes us different.”

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ARTS encore

Singing Sisterhood

Chorale offers a place for women who want to sing Kara Norman

Brian Powers

Professional training is not a requirement for the all-female, no-

audition-required group of singers called the Kalamazoo Community Chorale, but a sense of humor may be. At a banquet the day after the group’s April 24 spring concert, which is one of two big concerts the choir presents each year, the incoming KCC president will inherit a giant Buddha statue that has red toenails and wears a T-shirt that reads, “I’ve got an attitude.” And while the chorale focuses on preparing for its two seasonal concerts each year, its real purpose is to offer a place for any woman who wants to sing, regardless of experience or training. “It’s not an auditioned group, and they stand very firmly by that,” says Jackie Stilger, KCC’s current director, now in her fourth year in the position. The chorale rehearses every Monday night from 7–9 p.m. in the choir room at Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts, 922 W. Maple St., working on pieces to be performed in concerts at the end of each “semester.” The group’s rehearsals are lively, active affairs that begin with activities like jumping jacks, conga-line neck massages, vocalizations paired with calisthenics and lots and lots of jokes.

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Director Jackie Stilger holds the Kalamazoo Community Chorale’s mascot, Nun Fanget, that is present at the choir’s often-boisterous rehearsals.

At a recent KCC rehearsal, a second alto with short, spikey hair welcomed a newcomer, apologizing for the jocular atmosphere. “We love ourselves,” she jested. Another second alto, 85-year-old Mary Cordier, warned, “Join us with caution.” Because nothing but their love of music is very serious with these group members, the Buddha statue is named Nun Fanget. Of its origins, KCC archivist Lee Dial, a KCC member for 38 years, explains, “The year they started the Buddha tradition, we sang a whole bunch of songs in foreign languages: German, Latin, Greek. ‘Nun Fanget’ (from a four-part a cappella tune written by Hans Leo Hassler) was one of the phrases in one of those songs, and it stuck.” According to Dial, the singing group was founded in 1934 as an offshoot of the Kalamazoo Public Schools, sponsored by the Parent Teacher Organization and chartered under a national group called Mother Singers that provided music for coordinated choir concerts across the country. In the 1970s, the chorale became an official part

ENCORE Arts

of Kalamazoo Public Schools’ community learning initiatives, akin to night classes, and the gender-specific name Mother Singers was deemed inappropriate for affiliation with public education. Although it remained a women-only group, the members chose the name Kalamazoo Community Chorale in 1977. (Incidentally, if a male can reach the high notes, chorale members say, he would be allowed to join.) The chorale is no longer affiliated with KPS and has been a nonprofit since June 2008. Before Stilger, seven other directors served. The longest serving was Jan Berghorst, who directed the group for 38 years. “I’ve sung with three directors,” says Carole Locey, an elegant woman in her mid-70s who lives in Scotts. “When I came in 1991, Jan worked to give us a sense of togetherness. We’ve all had life-altering events go on, and we’re really there for each other. The greatest gift I’ve given myself is to be part of the chorale.” As much as performing, the women look forward to seeing each other every week. Currently the group has 52 members, ranging in age from late teens to late 80s, including four WMU music interns per year — one per vocal section — made possible by an ongoing grant from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation. Chorale members travel from as far as White Pigeon and Decatur to rehearse and perform, and the group sings in places as diverse as Barnes & Noble and Bronson Park. In addition to giving biannual concerts, KCC has sung in a USO show at the Civic Auditorium and has performed The Nutcracker several times with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. The group starts rehearsing in January for its April concert, takes the summer off, and reconvenes in September to rehearse for its holiday concert in December. Stilger chooses what the chorale sings, both secular and sacred pieces, keeping in mind the abilities of the singers. Stilger likes to

Go Ring-a Dem Bells What: K alamazoo Community Chorale Spring Concert When: 4 p.m. April 24 Where: First United Methodist Church, 212 South Park St. Cost: Free, with donations accepted More info: kalamazoocommunitychorale.com

choose a piece or two per concert that will push the singers vocally and rhythmically. “It’s a big balancing act,” she says. “There are pieces the singers are going to get immediately and dig in and love. There are others that, when I say in rehearsal to take out that music, everyone in the room will groan.” “One thing I enjoy about Jackie (Stilger) is she does challenge us,” says Judy Hagey, a 63-year-old administrative assistant for the city of Portage and the KCC board president. “And she brings in interesting things for our concerts. If you’re a person who comes and listens to us, there’s something different for you every time.” Cordier agrees. “With Jackie, we’ve done body percussion,” she says, drumming on her chest with her hands to demonstrate. Cordier has been a member of KCC for more than 45 years. When asked the question, “How long have you been in the chorale?” she responds that the answer has more to do with the question: “How long can you sing?” “Some people need to drop out when they’re 50,” she says. “They can no longer produce the sound or think they can’t. And then there are at least three of us who are past 80, and we’re still hanging in there.”

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35 YEARS OF CARING

Garrison Keillor — The host of the radio show Prairie Home Companion, 7:30 p.m. April 27, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 387-2300.

MUSIC PERFORMING ARTS

Bands & Solo Artists

THEATER

Art Hop Music: Mortals 2 — Local blues-rock band, 6 p.m. April 1, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St., 373-7990.

Plays Parallel Lives: The Kathy & Mo Show — A two-woman comedy examining the quest for parity and love in modern life, 8 p.m. April 1–2, 8–9 & 15–16, New Vic Theatre, 134 E. Vine St., 381-3328. All Ears Variety Review — All Ears Theatre radiotheater presentation of comedy, skits and musical numbers, 6 p.m. April 2, First Baptist Church, 315 W. Michigan Ave., 342-5059. 4,000 Miles — A 21-year-old moves in with his feisty grandmother, 7:30 p.m. April 8–9, 14–16 & 22–23; 2 p.m. April 17, Parish Theatre, 405 W. Lovell St., 343-1313. And Then There Were None — An Agatha Christie mystery about 10 strangers lured to a remote island resort, 2 p.m. April 15, 17 & 24; 7:30 p.m. April 16, 22 & 23, Carver Center Studio Theatre, 426 S. Park St., 343-1313. The Legend of Rip Van Winkle — All Ears Theatre radio-theater presentation, 6 p.m. April 16, First Baptist Church, 342-5059. Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man — A romantic comedy in which no topic is taboo, 8 p.m. April 22 & 23, 2 p.m. April 23, Shaw Theatre, WMU, 387-2300. Immobile! — Three individuals navigate relationships, loyalties and futures with one another in this oneact play by Kalamazoo College graduate Brittany Worthington, 7:30 p.m. April 28, 8 p.m. April 29 & 30, 2 p.m. May 1, Dungeon Theatre, Kalamazoo College, 129 Thompson St., 337-7130.

Art Hop Music: The Sam Pilnick Project — A modern acoustic jazz quintet, 7–9 p.m. April 1, Arcadia Ales, 701 E. Michigan Ave., 276-0440. Tommy Castro and The Painkillers — Contemporary blues-rock band, 7:30 p.m. April 1, State Theatre, 404 S. Burdick St., 345-6500. UV Hippo — Progressive, improvisational band, 9 p.m. April 1 & 2, Bell's Eccentric Café, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 349-7759. Soul-Filled Sundays — The Bee's Knees, Kalamazoobased trio, 5–7 p.m. April 3; Mechele Peters, Kalamazoo singer/songwriter, 4–6 p.m. April 10; Flylight Gemini, original folk, rock and blues, 5–7 p.m. April 17; Poncho Eco and Friends, blues and Americana, 5–7 p.m. April 24, Arcadia Ales, 276-0440. Eddie Money — Rock music legend, 7:30 p.m. April 3, State Theatre, 345-6500. Live Music at Arcadia Ales — Edge of Midnight, a pop, rock, country and jazz duo, April 6; Steve Pesch, guitarist performing rock and country music, April 13; both shows 7–9 p.m., Arcadia Ales, 276-0440. Panic! At the Disco — Award-winning rock band, 8 p.m. April 7, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 387-2300. Lucero — Memphis-based country-punk rock band, 9 p.m. April 7, Bell's Eccentric Café, 349-7759. Lee Brice: Life Off My Years Tour — Country singer and songwriter, 7:30 p.m. April 8, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Drive, 345-1125.

James and the Giant Peach — Based on the popular children’s novel, 7 p.m. April 29, Family Center for the Arts, 6136 S. Westnedge Ave., 321-8385.

Zoot Suit Tour: Turbo Suit & Zoogma — Indianapolisbased electronic music group, 9 p.m. April 8, Bell's Eccentric Café, 349-7759.

The Name of the Tree — All Ears Theatre radio-theater presentation of an African folk tale adapted by Arnold Johnston and Deborah Ann Percy, 6 p.m. April 30, First Baptist Church, 342-5059.

Nick Monaco, Just Alexander, Cookin', Aron Michael — 9 p.m. April 9, Bell's Eccentric Café, 349-7759.

Musicals

Start Making Sense: A Tribute to the Talking Heads — New-wave art punk of the ’80s, 9 p.m. April 14, Bell's Eccentric Café, 349-7759.

Big Night at the Little Theatre — "Showstopper" songs, wines and appetizers presented by Farmers Alley Theatre, 8 p.m. April 2, Little Theatre, WMU, 343-2727.

Slim Gypsy Baggage — A rock, bluesy roots band from Southwest Michigan, 9 p.m. April 15, Bell's Eccentric Café, 349-7759.

Thoroughly Modern Millie — Tony Award-winning musical about a small-town girl's adventures in New York City, 7:30 p.m. April 8–9 & 14–16, 2 p.m. April 10 & 17, Shaw Theatre, WMU, 387-6222.

Bryan Clarke Lubeck — Jazz guitarist and his band, 6:30–9 p.m. April 16, Mangia Pizza & Pasta Co., 3112 S. Ninth St., pattiflemingmusic.com; reservations recommended.

Murder for Two — A Farmers Alley Theatre production with two actors in 13 roles, blending music, mayhem and murder, 8 p.m. April 29–30, May 6–7 & 13–14; 2 p.m. May 1, 8 & 15; 7:30 p.m. May 5 & 12, Little Theatre, WMU, 343-2727.

Keb' Mo' Band — Grammy Award-winning blues musician and his band, 8 p.m. April 22, State Theatre, 345-6500.

COMEDY & STORIES

Kelly Price — R&B singer and songwriter, 8 p.m. April 23, State Theatre, 345-6500.

Paula Poundstone — Stand-up comedian and panelist on the radio show Wait Wait … Don't Tell Me, 7 p.m. April 24, State Theatre, 404 S. Burdick St., 345-6500.

Flint Eastwood — Detroit-based artist Jax Anderson, 9 p.m. April 22, Bell's Eccentric Café, 349-7759.

Pink Martini — Classical, Latin, jazz and pop music, featuring singer China Forbes, presented by The

Gilmore, 8 p.m. April 27, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., 337-0440. Boney James — The saxophonist performs jazz and R&B, 8 p.m. April 29, State Theatre, 345-6500. Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers — Rock, jazz and R&B band, presented by The Gilmore, 8 p.m. April 30, Chenery Auditorium, 337-0440.

Orchestra, Chamber, Jazz, Vocal & More Gold Company Invitational Vocal Jazz Festival — Opening concert featuring Peter Eldridge and Matt Aronoff, 8 p.m. April 1, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, 387-4667. Disney in Concert: Alice in Wonderland — Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Kalamazoo Singers and Kalamazoo Children's Chorus bring the movie to life, 8 p.m. April 2, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 349-7759. Gold Company Invitational Vocal Jazz Festival — Closing concert featuring the WMU vocal jazz ensemble Gold Company, 8 p.m. April 2, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, 387-4667. University Symphony Orchestra Pops Concert — 3 p.m. April 3, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, 3874667. Merling Trio and Friends — Presented by WMU School of Music's Bullock Performance Institute, 7:30 p.m. April 6, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, 387-4667. EStrella Piano Duo — 4:30 p.m. April 7, Dalton Theatre, Kalamazoo College, 337-7045. Birds on a Wire — WMU new-music ensemble, 7:30 p.m. April 7, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, 3874667. Chamber Music at the Ladies' Library — The Arcadia Woodwind Quintet and the Ensemble Des Amis Trio perform, 8 p.m. April 8, Ladies' Library Association’s Richmond Auditorium, 333 S. Park St., 344-3710. Guitarist Ben Monder and Vocalist Theo Bleckmann — Guest artist recital, 6 & 8 p.m. April 9, Dalton Center Lecture Hall, WMU, 387-4667. Requiem Mass in D minor — Bach Festival Week begins with Mozart's Requiem performed by the Bach Festival Chorus and Orchestra, 8 p.m. April 9, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., with pre-concert presentation at 7 p.m. in the reception room, 337-0440. Cantus Femina and Collegiate Singers — 8 p.m. April 9, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, 387-4667. Community Festival of the Arts: Johan and Obe VanderTol — An interactive art and piano recital, 4 p.m. April 10, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1747 Milham Ave., 343-3453. Bach-Around-the-Block Organ Crawl — A progressive organ concert performed on three pipe organs, 7 p.m. April 11, downtown churches, 337-7407, KalamazooBachFestival.org; see website for details. Bach Legacy Recital — Music of Bach and his followers, 7:30 p.m. April 12, Light Fine Arts Center, Kalamazoo College, 337-7407. Bach's Lunch Concert — A one-hour concert featuring music of J.S. Bach, noon April 13, Light Fine Arts Center, Kalamazoo College, 337-7407.

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Events encore Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music — With guest composer Frank Ticheli, 7:30 p.m. April 14, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 387-4667. Classics Uncorked: Spring Evening — KSO members perform chamber favorites, 8 p.m. April 15, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S. Park St., 349-7759. Young Vocalists Concert — College and high school winners of the Bach Festival Young Vocalists Competition, 3 p.m. April 16, Light Fine Arts Center, Kalamazoo College, 337-7407. Spring into Summer — Performance by the Kalamazoo Concert Band, 7:30 p.m. April 16, Chenery Auditorium, 337-0440. Classics on Tap: Spring Evening — KSO members perform, 8 p.m. April 16, Bell's Eccentric Café, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 349-7759. Miró Quartet with Colin Currie — Fontana presents the chamber music quartet, 8 p.m. April 16, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, 382-7774. Building Bridges — Kalamazoo Children's Chorus spring concert, 3 p.m. April 17, Chenery Auditorium, 337-0440. University Concert Band — 3 p.m. April 17, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 387-4667. Community Festival of the Arts: Joel Mabus — The folk singer presents early Michigan music and readings with WMU history students, 4 p.m. April 17, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 343-3453.

Music Therapy Clinic Concert — 7 p.m. April 18, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, 387-4667. Elgar & Stravinsky — Cellist Hai-ye Ni performs Elgar's Cello Concerto with the KSO, 8 p.m. April 23, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 349-7759. Concerto Concert: University Symphony Orchestra — 3 p.m. April 24, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 387-4667. Community Festival of the Arts: Malcolm Dalglish — Performance of the composer's Hymnody of Earth, with conductor Kim Adams, percussionist Carolyn Koebel and parish choirs, 4 p.m. April 24, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 343-3453. Go Ring-a Dem Bells — Kalamazoo Community Chorale performs, 4 p.m. April 24, First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St., kalamazoocommunitychorale.com. Resurrection — Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra performs Mahler's Symphony No. 2 with area high school combined choirs, 4 p.m. April 24, Chenery Auditorium, 337-0440. KSO Burdick-Thorne String Quartet — 7 p.m. April 26, First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. South St., 349-7759. The Gilmore International Keyboard Festival — Multiple concerts featuring world-class musicians, April 26–May 14, various area locations, 342-1166, thegilmore.org; see website for schedule. Kalamazoo Fraternal Order of Police Country Music Spectacular — 7 p.m. April 28, Chenery Auditorium, 337-0440.

DANCE Ceilidh — A celebration of music, song and dance, 2–4 p.m. April 16, Kalamazoo Ballet Bullard School, 431 E. South St., 387-2300. Ballet Arts Ensemble Spring Concert — 2 & 7 p.m. April 23, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., 337-0440.

VISUAL ARTS Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 314 S. Park St., 349-7775 High School Area Show — Artwork by area high school artists, through May 4. Rhythms of Abstraction: Landscape Duets of Arnold Chang and Michael Cherney — Twenty works combining contemporary Chinese ink painting and photography, through June 19. Sunday Public Tours — Tour exhibitions with a docent: High School Area Show, April 3; From 2 Arises 3: Arnold Chang and Michael Cherney, April 10; West Michigan Area Show: 2D, April 17; West Michigan Area Show: 3D, April 24; all sessions begin at 2 p.m. ARTbreak — A weekly program about art, artists and exhibitions: The Year Ahead at GRAM (Grand Rapids Art Museum) with Chief Curator Ron Platt, juror of this year’s West Michigan Area Show, April 5; Kalamazoo Alliance of Artists, talk by artists from the Park Trades Center, April 12; Kalamazoo ’76 with David Curl, restored video of Kalamazoo's history at the nation's bicentennial, April 19; all sessions begin at noon, KIA Auditorium. Thursday Evenings — Spring Break Fun Night with Read and Write Kalamazoo, writing and art activities for the family, 6–8 p.m. April 7; A Docent-Guided Tour through Rhythms of Abstraction: Landscape Duets of Arnold Chang and Michael Cherney, 6:30 p.m. April 14; West Michigan Area Show Artists, 6:30 p.m. April 21 & 28. 2016 West Michigan Area Show — This juried exhibition displays work in all media, April 9–July 10. Opening reception, 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 8, with awards presentation at 6:30 p.m. Art League Lecture: Frank Maugeri: Spectacle in Miniature — As the producing artistic director of Chicago's Redmoon Theater Company, Magueri created miniature toy theater productions, 6:30 p.m. April 13. KIA Film Series: Due More Time by Chad Earnest — Filmmaker studied production at Public Media Network and writing at WMU, 6:30 p.m. April 14. Book Discussion: The Art of Travel — Discussion of the book by Alain de Botton, 2 p.m. April 20, Meader Fine Arts Library, 585-9291. Get the Picture! Gallery Talk — Michelle Stempien discusses Phillip Evergood's “Little Accomplices,” noon April 21.

Richmond Center for Visual Arts Western Michigan University, 387-2436 Lecture: Helen Hiebert — Internationally known papermaker and artist, 5:30-7 p.m. April 6, Room 2008 (see exhibition under “Other Venues”). 40 | Encore APRIL 2016

Paul R. Solomon: Boundaries of Eden — Through April 21, Netzorg and Kerr Gallery. Annual Gwen Frostic School of Art Student Exhibition — April 7–21, Monroe-Brown Gallery. Farewell: Prints from the WMU Permanent Collection — April 28–May 27, Monroe-Brown Gallery.

Top Shelf Reads — A young professionals book group discussion of Geek Love, by Katherine Dunn, 7 p.m. April 11, Latitude 42 Brewing Co., 7842 Portage Road, 585-8711. PDL Writers' Group — Focusing on fiction and creative nonfiction writing, 6 p.m. April 14.

Other Venues

International Mystery Book Group — Discussion of The Broken Shore, by Peter Temple, 7 p.m. April 14.

APRIL FIRST-RUNS

Art Hop Visual Experience: From Fractals to Forms — An exhibition by painter Frankie Heynig, 5 p.m. April 1, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St., 373-7990.

Open for Discussion — Discussion of Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel, 10:30 a.m. April 19.

OPENING APRIL 8 Melissa McCarthy in THE BOSS

Art Hop — Local artists and musicians at various venues in Kalamazoo, 5–8 p.m. April 1, 342-5059. Westminster Art Festival — A juried exhibition titled The Earth Speaks, April 2–23, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1515 Helen Ave., Portage, with speakers, workshops and other events, 344-3966; see wpcportage.org for schedule. The Secret Life of Paper: 25 Years of Works in Paper by Helen Hiebert — The internationally known papermaker and artist displays her handmade books, starting April 8, with opening reception from 6-9 p.m., Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 103A; workshop by Hiebert, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. April 9, 373-4938.

LIBRARY & LITERARY EVENTS Kalamazoo Public Library Writing from the Threshold: A Workshop in Generating Memoir — Retired Kalamazoo College professor Gail Griffin facilitates structured prompts to generate writing about one's past, 1–4 p.m. April 2, Van Deusen Room, Central Library, 315 S. Rose St., 342-9837; registration required.

Zentangle: Meditation through Drawing — Use patterns to draw, 2–4 p.m. April 23. PDL Writers' Group Workshop — How to do research for historical fiction, 6 p.m. April 28. Must Be 21+: Bad Poetry Night — 7 p.m. April 29.

Parchment Community Library 401 S. Riverview Drive, 343-7747 Parchment Library Book Sale — 9 a.m.–3 p.m. April 2. Second Sundays Live: Wasepi Bluegrass Singers — 2 p.m. April 10.

OPENING APRIL 29 Key & Peele's KEANU

Genre Gyration Book Club — Discussion of Kitchen Confidential, by Anthony Bourdain, 2 p.m. April 13.

APRIL SPECIALTY

Other Venues Michelle Seelye Drucker Book Signing — Author of The Flightless Adventures of Princess and Pearl, 10 a.m.– noon April 9, Barnes & Noble, 6134 S. Westnedge Ave., 327-9589. April Book Club — Discussion of Prayers for Sale, by Sandra Dallas, 7 p.m. April 14, Richland Community Library, 8951 Park St., 629-9085. Anne Marie Macari and Gerald Stern — The poets appear in the Gwen Frostic Reading Series, 8 p.m. April 14, Rooms 157–159, Bernhard Center, WMU, 387-2572.

Powell Book Discussion Group — Share insights about The Meanest of Them All, by Tiffani Murphy, 6 p.m. April 12, Barnabee Gallery, Alma Powell Branch, 1000 W. Paterson Ave., 553-7960; registration required.

Kalamazoo Poetry Festival — Poetry readings and workshops, April 15 & 16; see kalamazoopoetryfestival.com for schedule.

KPL Concert Series: Mas Que Nada — WMU's awardwinning Latin jazz ensemble, 7 p.m. April 20, Van Deusen Room, Central Library, 553-7844. Exquisite Hair Showcase — Stephan and Keneisha Darden show the latest trends in hair design, 6 p.m. April 26, Alma Powell Branch, 553-7960. A Poetry Choral Performance with Richard Katrovas — Readers perform "dithyrambs" from the collection Swastika into Lotus, 7 p.m. April 28, Central Library, 342-9837.

Portage District Library 300 Library Lane, 329-4544 Friends of the Library Book Sale — 9 a.m.–3 p.m. April 2. Science Fiction and Fantasy Discussion Group — Humor in science fiction and fantasy, 7 p.m. April 4. Classic Movie: Gold Diggers of 1933 — Starring Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell, 2–4 p.m. April 9.

OPENING APRIL 15 Disney's THE JUNGLE BOOK OPENING APRIL 22 Chris Hemsworth and Emily Blunt in THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER'S WAR

First Saturday @ KPL — Family event with stories, activities, guests and door prizes, 2–3:30 p.m. April 2, Children's Room, Central Library, 553-7804.

Pop-Up Booktalks — Share your latest favorites during the lunch hour, 12:30 p.m. April 15, Rotunda, Central Library, 342-9837.

OPENING APRIL 15 Richard Linklater's EVERYBODY WANTS SOME

MUSEUMS Gilmore Car Museum 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners, 671-5089 Gilmore Speaker Series — Featuring experts on various topics: Michigan License Plates: A Historical Overview, Greg Gibson, April 10; Tin Toys of Yesteryear: From Realistic to Whimsical, Jack Nottingham, April 17; Runabout Renaissance: The Rebirth of the Wooden Pleasure Boat, David Irvine, April 24; all presentations begin at 3 p.m.

Kalamazoo Valley Museum 230 N. Rose St., 373-7990

APRIL 2 & 5 Leonardo DiCaprio & Claire Danes in ROMEO + JULIET APRIL 10 HOOP DREAMS APRIL 12 Girlie Night: BRIDESMAIDS Champagne Party APRIL 19 James Stewart in HARVEY APRIL 26 ALIEN and ALIENS Double Feature APRIL 30 Dr. Seuss' THE 5,000 FINGERS OF DR. T SUNDAY SHAKESPEARE FROM THE BBC APRIL 3 AS YOU LIKE IT APRIL 10 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM APRIL 17 KING LEAR

Kalamazoo Gals — Story of the women who built the legendary WWII-era Gibson guitars known as “Banners,” through April 10.

APRIL 24 THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

Goose Bumps: The Science of Fear — An experiential and holistic view of fear science, through May 8.

Visit drafthouse.com/kalamazoo for showtimes and tickets

Led Zeppelin Laser Show — The band's classics set to computer-generated effects, 8 p.m. April 1, Planetarium.

DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE PLEASE CHECK DRAFTHOUSE.COM/KALAMAZOO FOR UPDATES.

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Events encore A Team of Their Own — Documentary film about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1943–1954, 1:30 p.m. April 9, Stryker Theatre. Avoiding Climate Chaos: The Threat of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It — Three WMU professors discuss issues and potential solutions related to climate change, 1:30 p.m. April 10. Tasting Kalamazoo History: Favorite Dishes & Recipes from Our Rich Midwestern Heritage — Ellie Carlson serves up historically authentic foods prepared by Kalamazooans in the 1880s, 1:30 p.m. April 24.

NATURE Kalamazoo Nature Center 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., 381-1574 Tailgating for Woodcocks — A cookout, walk and glimpse of a woodcock, 7:45 p.m. April 5 & 12. Wildflowers After Work — Identify wildflowers on a walk in the woods, 5:30 p.m. April 7, 14 & 21. What's Bugging Our Trees — Learn about invasive insects and hike to look for insect damage, 2 p.m. April 10. Artist Reception: Jeri Love — Meet the photographer of the Beauty and Wonder of Trees exhibition, 2–4 p.m. April 10. DeLano Wildflowers — Join a naturalist for a walk to search for wildflowers, 2 p.m. April 17, DeLano Homestead parking lot, 555 West E Ave.

Everyone Outside Walk — Take a trail route to match individual abilities, 1 p.m. April 19. Earth Day Celebration — 5k and Raccoon Run, activities and crafts, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. April 23. Discover the Beech Maple Trail — Explore the 0.7mile trail, 2 p.m. April 24. Birding with the Stars — Enjoy a morning birding hike, 8–9:30 a.m. April 26.

Kellogg Bird Sanctuary 12685 East C Ave., Augusta, 671-2510 Sustaining the Vision: Free Open House — Free admission to the bird sanctuary, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. April 3. Birds of Prey Live — Learn about and view the bird sanctuary's injured birds, 1–2:30 p.m. April 10. Earth Day Free Admission — 9 a.m.–5 p.m. April 22.

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute 701 W. Cloverdale Road, Hastings, 721-4190

Amphibian Workshop — Herpetologist Edythe Sonntag discusses the habitat and life cycles of Michigan amphibians, 3–5 p.m. April 30.

Other Venues Images to Inspire: Bobcats, Great Horned Owls, Bald Eagles: Observation and Interpretation of Their Behavior — Audubon Society of Kalamazoo program featuring speaker Bill Heyd, 7 p.m. April 25, People's Church, 1758 N. 10th St., 375-7210. Special Showing: The Messenger — Songbirds take flight and fight to survive, 6:30 p.m. April 27, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 180 Portage St., 532-7990. Garden Education Day — Instructional talks on garden-related topics and climate change, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. April 30, W.K. Kellogg Manor House, 3700 E. Gull Lake Drive, Hickory Corners, 671-2400.

MISCELLANEOUS

Out and About — Spring art exhibit by Susan Wray, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., through May 31.

Thunderbirds RC Club 2016 Swap Show — RC airplanes, cars, boats, helicopters and drones, April 2, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Drive, 345-1125.

April Brunch & Program — A film about mnomen (wild rice) and discussion of the work of the Gun Lake Tribe of the Pottawatomi band of Indians, 11:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. brunch, 12:15 p.m. program, April 10.

Kalamazoo Numismatic Club Annual Spring Coin Show — Buy, sell and trade coins, paper money and memorabilia, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. April 2, Kalamazoo County Expo Center North, 2900 Lake St., 381-8669.

Lunch and Learn: Earth Day Celebration and Hike — Noon–2:30 p.m. April 22.

Spring Arts & Crafts Show — 9 a.m.–4 p.m. April 2, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. April 3, Wings Event Center, 345-1125.

Nest Boxes for Bluebirds — Larry Hayward explains how to monitor and maintain a nest box, 1–3 p.m., April 23.

Spring Cleaning Model Railroad Swap Meet — 10 a.m.–3 p.m. April 2, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, Room A, 344-0906. Sustaining the Vision: Free Open House — Guided tours, 1–5 p.m. April 3, W.K. Kellogg Manor House, 3700 E. Gull Lake Drive, Hickory Corners, 671-2400. Kalamazoo Indoor Flea & Farmers Market — New, used and handcrafted items and fresh food, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. April 5–6 & 12–13, Kalamazoo County Expo Center North, 383-8761. Antique Bottle & Glass Show — Flasks, medicines, fruit jars and dairy bottles, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. April 9, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, Room A, 616-5817005. Southwest Michigan Postcard Club Show & Sale — Postcards from the 1890s to the present, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. April 9, Kalamazoo County Expo Center North, 517-230-0734. Kalamazoo Scrabble® Fest — Benefit for the Kalamazoo Literacy Council, noon–3:30 p.m. April 9, Bell's Eccentric Café, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 349-7759. Kalamazoo Gun & Knife Show — 9 a.m.–5 p.m. April 9, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. April 10, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, Room A, 517-676-4160. Spring Expo & Craft Show — 9 a.m.–4 p.m. April 16, Kalamazoo County Expo Center South, 903-5820. Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Pet Expo — 10 a.m.–3 p.m. April 16, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, Room A, 779-9851. Kalamazoo Record & CD Show — Collector records and music memorabilia, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. April 17, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, Room A, 734-604-2540.

42 | Encore APRIL 2016

ENCORE Poetry Interactive Family Health Fair & Summer Camp Extravaganza — Open swim, wall climbing, games and prizes, 1–4 p.m. April 17, Sherman Lake YMCA, 6225 N. 39th St., Augusta, 731-3000. Pinball @ the Zoo — Games for sale and play, auction and tournaments, 2–10 p.m. April 21, 1–10 p.m. April 22, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. April 23, Kalamazoo County Expo Center South, 628-4628. Tasting on the Town — Fundraiser for Hospital Hospitality House of Southwest Michigan with wines, appetizers and desserts, 6–9 p.m., April 21, Rose Street Market, 303 N. Rose St., 341-7811. Climate Change Dinner — Celebrate Earth Day with dinner and a presentation on climate change, 6:30– 9:30 p.m. April 22, W.K. Kellogg Manor House, 6712400; registration required. Weekend Kalamazoo Indoor Flea & Farmers Market — New, used and handcrafted items and fresh food, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. April 23, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 383-8761. Kalamazoo Color Run — Tropicolor World Tour 5k paint race, 10 a.m. April 23, Arcadia Creek Festival Place, downtown Kalamazoo, thecolorrun.com/kalamazoo. KazooPex Stamp & Cover Show — Buy and sell stamps, covers, postcards and supplies, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. April 23, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. April 24, Kalamazoo County Expo Center North, 375-6188. Green-a-Thon Earth Day Festival — Music, exhibits, games and giveaways, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. April 23, Celery Flats, 7335 Garden Lane, Portage, 329-4512. Dinner & Movie: Peace Officer, Indies Lens Pop-Up Screening — A former sheriff sees his son-in-law killed in a controversial standoff, 5:30–8 p.m. April 26, Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, Kalamazoo College, 205 Monroe St., 337-7332. Kalamazoo Rock, Gem, Jewelry, Fossil & Mineral Show — Featuring dinosaur skeleton replicas on display, 4–8 p.m. April 29, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. April 30, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. May 1, Kalamazoo County Expo Center South, 979-3348.

This poem was featured in the Expressions in Ink reading last summer at Water Street Gallery, in Douglas. The gallery invited authors to write about 100 words responding to any piece in its exhibition Acoustic Abstractions. Boyer’s poem was written in response to Ray Becoskie’s painting The Spring Has a Weight Attached (pictured at right).

The Spring Has Weight This image is how your story changes. You're on the sidewalk, the street smells rain-wet. In the instant he drops a piece of yellow chalk you think of a rowboat, and when a dog barks behind the house with forsythia, you turn. That row of five is important. Notice how all is so finely balanced that no matter which way the canvas is rotated it all still works? It took several lifetimes to solve the problem of how you'd meet. There are layers. It depended on your mother wearing that shade of blue, the back window of your grandpa's truck awash in sunlight. Nothing about this is random. — Marion Boyer Boyer, of Mattawan, is a professor emeritus at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She has had three poetry collections published. Her most recent, Composing the Rain, won Grayson Books’ 2014 chapbook competition.

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44 | Encore APRIL 2016

BACK STORY (continued from page 46)

How did you get to where you are today? After I earned a master’s degree in oboe at the University of Southern California, I began auditioning for jobs while also doing office work. I even worked for a retired superior court judge in Los Angeles, which is where I gained experience in contract work and administration. The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra had an opening in oboe and had jobs open in administration. I was the KSO’s operations director for seven years. Then I came to The Gilmore, where I’ve been since 2009. What do you do as the Gilmore’s director of operations? What don’t I do? There are many, many components to my job, but one of the biggest is the festival. It’s like putting together a huge reunion of people who love pianos and making sure everyone who attends as a patron and artist has what they need and are comfortable. It really takes a team, though. I have a staff of five that includes coordinators for volunteers, operations and ground transportation. That’s not a huge team for such a massive undertaking. It’s not. But the volunteers are crucial in making the various venues work. And I have people who are helping me at each venue — like Ray Jenkins at Chenery Auditorium and Kevin West at Dalton Center Recital Hall — who are really key to making those concerts go well. What keeps you busy in non-festival years? The Gilmore presents concerts throughout the year, almost once a month, and I handle those by myself because I only have staff for the festival. We also award the Gilmore Young Artist Award every two years and The Gilmore Artist Award every four years. The secret part of my job is coordinating the anonymous committee of professionals — the Artistic Advisory Committee — who go around the world listening to musicians and pianists to find the next Gilmore Young Artist or Gilmore Artist. Committee members are always going to concerts, listening to recordings, and I provide the support for them to be out there doing that secret work. The committee comes from all over, and, in addition

to helping arrange their travel, I also coordinate their communication with one another so they can discuss these artists, whether online or in person. Has there been a pivotal moment that influenced you? I know it doesn't seem related, but that moment was when my son was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3. That was 11 years ago now, but it redefined how I look at success because at that point your future becomes less clear. I felt it was really important to get perspective and that not much else mattered except what the future was for my kid. I had to get very serious because he needed early intervention and it required I take everything else out of my life to see what I needed to do for him. It helped me manage lots of different things and prioritize. It was really a resetting of my life, and it helps me to this day. How do you think dealing with your son’s challenges has shaped your career? I have a lot more of an understanding of our artists and their differing temperaments, their idiosyncratic behaviors and their need for repetition and focus. I’m not saying our artists have special needs, but I am so grateful to the teachers and health professionals that have helped our family along with our son because they have helped me learn to deal with people in a way that is more understanding. I am much more patient and my anger management skills have grown immensely (she laughs). What keeps you up at night? Thinking about people who are being treated unjustly. I have a strong sense of justice and trying to take care of people. Gun violence in the United States has bothered me for a long time — even before the shootings in February in Kalamazoo. Sandy Hook was really a turning point for me. I am a little social activist in my spare time. You are incredibly detail-oriented and organized at work. Are you like that at home too? Not as much. I try, but it’s about prioritization. You’ve got to pick your battles, right?

Everyone Deserves a Great Workplace

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BACK STORY encore

Maria Schneider Director of Operations The Gilmore

For 19 days, audiences at the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival will be enthralled by the artists they see in the 70 performances at 20 venues across the region. But will they think about how quiet the wrappers are on the 10,000 cough drops available for audience members to stifle coughs? Will they consider the coordination needed to bring dozens of expensive Steinway pianos from New York and Detroit to Kalamazoo for the festival? Will they make note that most every performer has towels on stage with them? Probably not, but Maria Schneider sure will. “Anything that has to do with the performances falls right in my area,” she says, describing her job. And she means anything. From finding lost luggage for a performer to making sure microphones are placed correctly to, yes, ordering cough drops in bulk, Schneider and a small team organize the million details of the festival’s logistics.

Brian Powers

(continued on page 45)

46 | Encore APRIL 2016

You’re invited to

Take a Closer Look at Friendship Village Take a peek inside our multi-million dollar renovation and expansion and join us for hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

40th ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE Thursday, April 28, 2016 • 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 1400 North Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI RSVP by Monday, April 18, 2016 (269) 381-7064 www.friendshipvillagemi.com

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