A Genius Idea for Your Valentine

Picture this: You're having a romantic Valentine's dinner with your beloved in downtown Kalamazoo . . . A group of oddly assorted yet highly attractive people enters the restaurant. To eat? Perhaps . . . but no. They almost seem to be heading right for your table. And, hey, isn't that Mary Teutsch (PAC '00) among the group? It certainly is! They gather round your table and serenade you and your Valentine, a cappella. Yessssss! BEST. VALENTINE. EVER. The wonderful a cappella group Notified is taking reservations for downtown Kalamazoo restaurants between 5:30 and 10 p.m. on Saturday, February 12 at $35 per serenade. Contact Cece Weeks at ceceweeks@hotmail.com or check out Facebook for more information.

On a more mundane but nonetheless important note: The GLCS Performing Arts Foundation will meet Tuesday, February 8, at the usual time of 5 p.m. at the Richland Area Community Center. Apologies to those who can't make it at 5 this month. Please feel free to come in late or send topics for our consideration to performingartsfoundation@gmail.com. Many thanks!

Join PAF on Facebook and Twitter

We're dipping a toe in! Search for GLCS Performing Arts Foundation on Facebook, and for GullLakePAF on Twitter.

Happy Arts in Education Week!

In July, Congress designated the week beginning the second Sunday of September--that's this week!--as Arts in Education Week. The declaration recognizes that "arts education, comprising a rich array of disciplines including dance, music, theatre, media arts, literature, design, and visual arts, is a core academic subject and an essential element of a complete and balanced education
for all students" and goes on to quote Albert Einstein, "After a certain high
level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in esthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are artists as well."

Not to be outdone, in addition to recognizing Arts in Education Week, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm also proclaimed this Youth Arts Week in Michigan, saying, "The involvement of young people in the arts helps them to understand and respect people of diverse populations and cultures as well as help them to communicate through different forms of expression," and that "education in the arts contributes to the overall education of our students by helping them to develop and explore their own creative problem-solving and critical thinking abilities."

So . . . let's celebrate! You can start by joining us at the regular meeting of the GLCS Performing Arts Foundation, Tuesday, September 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Richland Area Community Center!

We All Scream for Ice Cream on August 18

Come one, come all, to the second annual Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social fundraiser for the Performing Arts Foundation! This year, we'll be scooping ice cream during the Richland Farmers' Market, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 18, at the Richland Area Community Center. Come into the cool of RACC's kitchen/sunroom area to enjoy delicious Plainwell Ice Cream, hand dipped by your faithful PAF volunteers, and to hear the amazing Leslie Gogel (PAC '02) play her beautiful harp. There may be other surprise musical guests dropping in as well . . . you'll have to be there to hear for yourself! Suggested donation for ice cream is $2 per person or $5 per family. So come out this Wednesday for a great afternoon of fresh fruits and vegetables, gorgeous just-picked flowers, AND ice cream and music!

Fun with the Gilmore

There was music and fun galore at the Gilmore for Kids program April 20 at Gull Lake High School. Pianist Peter Miyamoto played for families and talked with all the kids afterwards. The Performing Arts Foundation was there to provide the celebratory punch and cookies. Fun night!

Gilmore for Kids at Gull Lake

It's almost time for the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, and you can enjoy a preview right here in Richland, thanks to the Gilmore for Kids program. The wonderful pianist Peter Miyamoto will be doing an in-school program for kids on Tuesday, April 20 . . . and in the evening, he'll do a public performance, "Piano Power," open to and fun for all but especially geared for elementary and middle school students. So round everyone up and come to Gull Lake High School's studio theater at 7 p.m. on April 20. Admission is free for students, and only $5 for adults. Immediately after the show, please join us--the Performing Arts Foundation--for a punch-and-cookies reception. See you there!

PAF meeting Tuesday, March 9

Hope you can be there for our regular monthly meeting at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue. Anyone who's interested in promoting arts for kids in our community is most welcome to join us at any meeting. It all happens at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 9.

This is also a call for any calendar listings, community arts news, etc., for our spring newsletter. Please send items to us at performingartsfoundation@gmail.com by April 9.

PAF meeting Feb. 9 cancelled

Sorry, all--The Performing Arts Foundation won't meet tonight, February 9, because copious snow has led to the closing of evening activities in Gull Lake Schools which leads to the closing of the Richland Area Community Center. We'll let you know if and when the meeting is rescheduled. Meanwhile, stay safe and warm!

We do want to pass on word about the Performing Arts Company's Saturday performance at regional competition. The group will be onstage with Smoking Lesson this Saturday, February 13, at Forest Hills East High School in Ada, Michigan. They go at 9 a.m. (!), but it's always worth sticking around to see the other shows. Admission is free, and the kids always appreciate the support. Break a leg, PAC!

Quick summary of November's PAF meeting

Hello, all--

Thought I'd try posting an abbreviated version of the Performing Arts Foundation minutes here. Contact us at performingartsfoundation@gmail.com if you'd like the full treatment! And join us for our next meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8, at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue.


GLCS Performing Arts Foundation
Regular meeting November 10, 2009

Present: Murray Cooper, Pat Hanavan, Robin Nott, Jan Watson

Guest artists: Robin reported that Kinetic Affect will come to Gull Lake High School and Middle School as spoken word artists this spring, doing two performances at each school and conducting a workshop with a creative writing class. Robin will apply for grants from PAF and the GL Schools Foundation.

PAF Promise: Robin has received 10 requests for “pay for play” scholarships so far; he expects a few more by the time payment is due—around November 23, when PAC’s state tour show auditions begin—and will submit a request to PAF at that time. PAF has received several donations in response to, some specifically designated for, this need and will be able to provide the scholarships.

PAC Tour Show: This year’s show's playwright Julia Jordan has approved the Performing Arts Company’s shortening the play for festival use, and also has kindly asked that her royalty be donated; it will go to PAF.

Grant requests for pizza for an informational/recruitment meeting for PAC’s state tour show on November 17 and for materials for the successful Scream Team event at Halloween were approved.

PAF Banner: Randy Walbridge will have camera-ready text and image by a student ready for the December 8 PAF meeting.

Respectfully submitted,


Pat Hanavan, secretary

PAF meeting October 13

The Gull Lake Community Schools Performing Arts Foundation will meet Tuesday, October 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue.

All are welcome to join us as we make plans for this school year and consider grant requests.

Time change for June PAF meeting

The June meeting of the GLCS Performing Arts Foundation will be held on Tuesday, June 9, but at an earlier time than usual: 3 p.m. We meet at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue.

Hope to see you on Tuesday at 3!

Open Mic Night, and you're invited

Saturday, May 16, from 7 to 10 p.m., the microphone will be open at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue. The Center will be set up as a coffeehouse, with comfy seating and the appropriate beverages supplied by Biggby's. Local writers, musicians, comedians, and storytellers will take turns entertaining. You're invited to participate--all skill levels welcome, call RACC director Bonnie Feldkamp, 629-9430, to reserve a time at the microphone--or just to enjoy the performances, community, and coffee. There's no admission charge. It may be so much fun that it will have to be repeated on a regular basis!

The evening is sponsored by RACC, its Writers' Circle, and yours truly, the GLCS Performing Arts Foundation.

PAF meeting March 10

Much ado about many things! Please join us at the regular meeting of the Performing Arts Foundation on Tuesday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue. Among the items for discussion will be a barbershop harmony fundraising event paired with an old-fashioned ice cream social; an open-mike night for poetry, prose, and music at RACC; the Gull Lake Fine Arts Alumni reunion in May; and grant requests. All fun, all good, all mean the arts are hopping in Richland. Hope you'll be there.

Celtic Concert and Tea Report!

If you weren't able to be at the Richland Area Community Center in person on December 28, we're sorry to tell you that you missed one of the most delightful afternoons in a long time. PAF's Celtic Concert and Tea was a great success. Even the weather cooperated to let more than 85 people attend the concert by Erica Holcomb, who played the Scottish harp and a guitar and sang songs both traditional and original.

Afterwards, Jeri Holcomb of Tudor House Tea served an amazing array of treats and delicious teas on fine china and white tablecloths. It was quite a day. Jeri had also donated a beautiful tea gift basket, which was raffled, and copies of Erica's two CDs were sold. Huge thanks to all the Holcombs for sharing their musical and culinary gifts, and for doing all the hard work for the event. Rick Holcomb designed and printed the beautiful posters and tickets, so many thanks to him, too.

Between ticket sales and raffle tickets, the event raised just over $1,000 for the Performing Arts Foundation. That will go a long way towards arts education projects in our schools. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported PAF!

Thanks, too, to all the volunteers who helped it to happen. Robin and Sarah Nott, Pat, Louise and Emily Hanavan, Jan and Lisa Watson, Murray Cooper, and of course the Holcombs all pitched in. Even some of the folks who attended as guests wound up lending a hand. Thank you! And we are grateful to the Richland Area Community Center for hosting the event--and for hosting PAF's monthly meetings all year long.

One last note, speaking of PAF's monthly meetings: Our longtime regular meeting day has been changed. The new meeting time for PAF will be 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month, starting this month. So our next meeting is not this week but will instead be on Tuesday, January 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Richland Area Community Center. See you then!

PAF meeting November 13--and a heads-up!

The Performing Arts Foundation has much to discuss at its regular meeting, Thursday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue. Such as . . . new marching band uniforms, new uniforms for the high school choir, the December newsletter (please send items along asap to PerformingArtsFoundation@gmail.com) and--here's your heads-up--arrangements for a fabulous Celtic concert and tea during the holidays.

Mark your calendar now for Sunday, December 28, at 2 p.m. when, at the Richland Area Community Center, our own Erica Holcomb will give a concert of traditional Celtic and original music. Erica now lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she has built a reputation as a singer and harpist, and we're very fortunate that she will be home during the holidays and willing to do a benefit show for PAF. Check her latest CD, Birds, Ghosts, and Lifeboats, on CDbaby. A festive tea will be served that afternoon by Tudor House Tea, and ticket sales (price to be set at our PAF meeting!) will benefit the Performing Arts Foundation.

Hope to see you at Thursday's meeting . . . and please let us know if you have items for the newsletter or can help with the fun on December 28!

Storyteller comes to Gull Lake Community Schools

Nationally-known storyteller Len Cabral came to Gull Lake schools as artist in residence for May 5 through 8, mesmerizing students in all the buildings with his fantastic tales, and giving workshops for storytelling students at the high school. His visit was made possible by grants from the Gull Lake Community Schools Foundation, the GLCS Performing Arts Foundation, and the Gull Lake Educational

Association. It was an amazing experience for all the students and teachers. Thank you, arts supporters! And thank you, Jack Sizer, for these wonderful photos!

It's spring, so it must be . . . the Spring Fine Arts Festival!

It's that time again--time to enjoy ALL the arts in colorful profusion at the second annual Spring Fine Arts Festival at Gull Lake High School. Two gala evenings of art are coming: Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Admission is $6; students get in for $3--it's a great bargain and a great way to enjoy and support the arts at Gull Lake.

We've got it all:

Feast your eyes on a visual art gallery around the perimeter of the high school cafeteria, featuring 2D and 3D work by art students under the guidance of teachers Carolyn Massey and Randy Walbridge.

Drink in vocal music by ensembles and solo performers under the direction of David Woolf. A special treat: the sweet sound of barbershop harmonies.

Enjoy instrumental music by a variety of ensembles--including Dynamic Pulse Drumline--under the direction of Floy Latham and Michele Chabitch.

Drama and comedy take center stage for the Performing Arts Company's annual One-Act Play Festival. Four very short plays, directed by GLHS seniors, will be produced by Robin Nott, Catherine Kane, and Steve Van Dyke. This year, three of the plays were also written by students.

If your taste runs to rock and blues, enjoy a couple of numbers by a great band from Rick Bengelink's alternative education program.

This is your opportunity to see the amazing work of our own talented young local artists, all in one place at one time. To add to the festive evening, the Performing Arts Foundation will be offering snacks and drinks and congratulatory flowers for sale; every purchase helps the Foundation to support arts education at Gull Lake.

And, take note: This is the first major arts event to take place at the new high school's arena theater. Come see this great new space, filled with lots of art, fun, food, and folks! See you there!

Juggling the PAF meeting

Alert! Alert! As it seems we must from time to time--more often than we'd like--we need to change the monthly Performing Arts Foundation meeting for March from March 13 to March 20. It's still a Thursday, it's still at the Richland Area Community Center, but we're also going to meet earlier, at 5 p.m. So, to review: We will NOT meet on March 13; we WILL meet on Thursday, March 20, at 5 p.m. at RACC. To look on the plus side, perhaps some folks who can't make it to our usual time will be able to join us this month.

Meanwhile, do not forget the following upcoming events featuring local friends:

Friday, March 14 at 8 p.m.: Improv comedy troupe Crawlspace Eviction gives a benefit performance for KNOW, the Kalamazoo Non-Violent Opponents of War, and the Department of Peace and Nonviolence campaign at the Fetzer Center Auditorium at Western Michigan University. Admission is $15, $7 for students.

Saturday, March 22, 5 to 11 p.m.: Ten bands perform at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue. Admission is $8.

Hope to see you at one or more of these three events!

PAF meeting rescheduled

The Performing Arts Foundation meeting scheduled for this Thursday, January 10, has been cancelled--no, let's say rescheduled (see below). That means that on Thursday you can enjoy some bluegrass and old time music with the Hoot Owls, featuring Robin Nott. They're playing this Thursday, January 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Koffee Klutch, 2 W. Michigan Avenue in Galesburg. Have fun!

In the meantime, if you have business that PAF needs to attend to before we meet again, please e-mail us at PerformingArtsFoundation@gmail.com.

Our next regular PAF meeting is on the calendar for February 14 . . . but something tells us that some folks might have other plans for that particular evening. So we're going to split the difference and combine the January and February meetings into one Super Meeting on Thursday, February 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Richland Area Community Center.

So, to reiterate: We won't meet on January 10 or February 14; we WILL meet on February 7. See you then, if not before!

PAF meeting December 13

Just a reminder that the Performing Arts Foundation meeting on Thursday, December 13, will be at the usual time--6:30 p.m.--but at a different place. We're meeting chez Hanavan. Please e-mail if you need directions, and please don't drive your tiny sports car nor your rear-wheel-drive Caddy--the dirt road is rutted and icy and doesn't promise to get better by meeting time. If you don't have a suitable vehicle, arrange to carpool or ask for help via e-mail or phone!

Everyone is welcome.