Issue 2 - Uwpiaa.org

Issue 2 2008Winning a Trip to New Zealand — at Reunion 2007 in Tucsonby Leigh Ann Stadt (82E), Denton, Texasphotos by Susan Blake and Peter Hollis (07A)There was a shout of excitement from the alumni crowd asLeigh Ann Stadt (82E) jumped from her seat with the winningnumber. “I won, I won,” she said repeatedly as her friendsworked their way through the crowd to congratulate her.Dr. Bob Blake (68C) and his wife, Susan, had hosted manyUWP alumni since they became dual nationals (USA/NewZealand) in 1999, but this was to be an even more specialgift of giving back to the UWPIAA for their hard work anddedication to alumni everywhere. A prepaid airline ticket fortwo — from Los Angeles to New Zealand — had been securedwith Qantas Airlines; a variety of “mountain-to-the-sea” hosthomes with tour guides had been gathered from the alumniof New Zealand’s South Island: Peter Hollis (07A), SusanBlackwell (06A) and Torrin Tyler (08B); a donated SubaruImpreza was offered to see the sights; and a beach houseat South Bay, Kaikoura was contributed for some time torelax.Little did theBlakes know thatthis trip would besuch a reward forthem as well; genuinegiving goesboth ways.Bob and Susan Blake greet the lucky winnerLeigh Ann (Rector) Stadt.Off to New Zealand!From the momentour ticket was chosen as the winning entry and we wereintroduced to Bob Blake, my husband, Rob, and I knewwe were in for the adventure of a lifetime. On February20 th — after three plane rides and a breathtaking ferryride — we were greeted in Picton, New Zealand, by a veryInside UpBeatA Message from the UWPIAA President 2Presenting UWP’s New Chairman of the Board 4European Alumni Meeting in Helsinki 6A Poor Outlook for a Rich Culture 9Alumni UpDate – News, Births, Deaths 10–11lively, noisy and lovinggroup that included ourhosts Bob and SusanBlake, UWP alumni PeterHollis (07A) and lots ofMaori friends. Bob wasplaying his guitar and theywere all singing and yellingand holding signs. It was athrilling way to start ouradventure.Rob and I were instantlystruck by the beauty of thiscountry. The water was crystalblue and the lands werelush and green. We spentthe first few days of our tripon the Blakes’ 100-acrefarm called Harambe Park.Leigh Ann and Rob Stadt enjoy apeaceful moment at a Kaikoura waterfall,deep in the bush of the South Islandof New Zealand.Arriving from Wellington on the Picton ferry,Leigh Ann and Rob Stadt begin their tour ofNew Zealand’s South Island.It is a glorious place on the Onamalutu River, nestled at thebase of the mountains with a variety of animals everywhere.Our family in Blenheim included Bob and Susan, Peter, TorrinTyler (who will travel this summer in Cast B 2008) andJacob, one of the interns at Harambe Park. Their hospitalityand friendship was wonderful. We had fun surprising themwith the “American” foods they missed the most, includingpeanut butter, Ding Dongs and Twinkies. We were privilegedto spend a morning in a music therapy session with the studentsat Bob’s Horizon Mental Health Facility and enjoyed anafternoon touring wineries and a local chocolate factory.Afterward, we drovedown the coast to Kaikourawhere we spenta few days alone at theBlakes’ beach house.It is on the ocean witha picturesque view.We also had the pleasureof spending a dayin Christchurch withSusan Blackwell (06A).see “New Zealand” on page 5

A Message from the PresidentNews from UWPIAA President Christine Geißler (91B)Greetings from Frankfurt — and MexicoD.F. — and Denver. It currently seems likeI am revisiting my UWP experience, travelingin three regions of the world to attendUWP and UWPIAA board meetings — stayingwith host families, spending more time onairplanes and buses than at the destinationitself, and the constant need to operate ina language and culture other than my nativeone. Sounds familiar?This “culture thing” got me thinking. Our UWP travels preparedus so well to be open to unfamiliar settings, but doesthat mean we automatically know all the dos and don’ts ofeach culture?During our alumni meetings, one cultural difference surfaceson a regular basis: the topic of financial giving. Forexample, I come from a culture where financial support fromindividuals toward charities, cultural events or their formereducational institution is not nearly as widespread as in theUnited States.For UWP, financial giving by its alumni is indispensablebecause it does much more than just help boost finances; itmeasurably shows how many alumni believe in and supportthe current UWP program — a strong statement that othersare willing to follow. Many potential sponsors, grant providers,etc., take the percentage of alumni participating in financialgiving as an indicator for their own involvement.To ensure the current program’s success, UWPIAA andUWP are working hand in hand. At the BOG meeting in MexicoCity, the UWPIAA voted to support UWP with $17,500. Today,I would like to ask you to follow our lead and seriously considerthe request in Tommy Spaulding’s message (see page 7).Together, we will be able to raise the percentage of alumniwho participate in financial giving significantly — and showthe world how much we still value our UWP experience.On behalf of the UWPIAA, thank you for supporting us inwhatever way you might have chosen in the past and thatmight be appropriate for you in the future — money, timeand expertise!I look forward to meeting many of you at this year’s reunion.Thank you for staying involved!In This Issue ...Having a great idea is one thing. But without taking action,any great idea is nothing more than just that — a great idea;it is only by taking action that we truly can make a difference.In this issue, you can, among other things, read about theinitiative to share important UWP history with new students(page 5) and the actions taken to have a South African tribalyouth travel in UWP — and how you can help (pages 8–9).Take action! And enjoy this issue!— The UpBeat TeamEditorial GuidelinesUpBeat welcomes your articles, photos and story ideas on the huge arrayof subjects that affect alumni around the world. Please be aware, however,that we have a limited amount of space available in each issue of UpBeat.For this reason, we often cut, revise or reformat original material to makeit fit the space available. We may also choose to publish stories in theonline version, UpBeat Live.• Focus! Make sure that every sentence of your article is relevant.• Be concise. Use the fewest possible words.• The length of the article should be: For short articles on events or programs:150–400 words (5–6 paragraphs of 2–3 sentences each). Forlong articles, profiles, human interest stories: 400–700 words.Getting Your Article to UsWhenever possible, we ask that youemail your article or idea. Digitalphotos should be at least 300 dpi.If you are not online, you can mailyour article and photos:UpBeatPMB 46617011 Lincoln Ave.Parker, CO 80134, USAOFFICERSPresidentVice PresidentSecretaryTreasurerPresident ElectVolunteer UpBeat TeamKristina Gillin (92E), EditorVästervik, SwedenDave Martin (68C), LayoutSunbury, OhioSheila Walsh Dettloff (84D),Coordinator and ProductionMacomb, MichiganUWPIAA Board of GovernorsChristine Geißler (91B)GermanyPresident@uwpiaa.orgRetta Bellamy Overturf (76A)U.S.A.VicePresident@uwpiaa.orgClint Smith (84D)U.S.A.Secretary@uwpiaa.orgJeff Zadroga (84C)U.S.A.Treasurer@uwpiaa.orgVickie Law (66B)U.S.A.Presidentelect@uwpiaa.orgCOMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONSAdmissions Mona Bowe (87E)Mexico/U.S.A.Admissions@uwpiaa.orgAlumni ProductsArchivesCommunicationsDevelopmentInformationSystemsReunionsAlumni ContactsPatrick Terry (84C)U.S.A.AlumniProducts@uwpiaa.orgSteve Greenlee (88B)U.S.A.Archivist@uwpiaa.orgVACANTBruce Harris (75C)U.K./U.S.A.Development@uwpiaa.orgVACANTEmail: upbeat@uwpiaa.orgPublication Mail Agreement #40612608Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:Bleuchip InternationalP.O. Box 25542,London, ON N6C 6B2Stephanie Welch (98A)U.S.A.Reunions@uwpiaa.orgKirsten Murray (94D)U.S.A.Alumni-Contacts@uwpiaa.orgBoard RecruitmentVickie Law (66B)U.S.A.Recruitment@uwpiaa.orgREGIONAL REPRESENTATIVESAsia/Pacific Madoka Tatsuno (00D)JapanAsia-Rep@uwpiaa.orgEurope/Sebastian Hesse (00E)MidEast/Africa GermanyEurope-Rep@uwpiaa.orgLatin America Gody Retchkiman (75B)MexicoLatinAmerica-Rep@uwpiaa.orgNorth America Danielle (Charest) Gentry (93B)U.S.A.NorthAmerica-Rep@uwpiaa.orgERA REPRESENTATIVES1965-1970 Bob Blake (68C)New Zealand1965-1970@uwpiaa.org1971-1975 Willie Knowles (71B)U.S.A.1971-1975@uwpiaa.org1976-1980 Donna Reed (76A)U.S.A.1976-1980@uwpiaa.org1981-1985 Greg Fritz (84E)U.S.A.1981-1985@uwpiaa.org1986-1990 Grant Axton (87A)U.S.A.1986-1990@uwpiaa.org1991-1995 Lisa McLean (92E)Canada1991-1995@uwpiaa.org1996-2000 Dana Seidel (97E)Germany1996-2000@uwpiaa.org2004-2010 Silvana Braculla (WS Fall 04)Albania/U.S.A.2004-2010@uwpiaa.org2 UpBeat

Letters from Alumni Relative Scholarship RecipientsIn Issue 3 2007, UpBeat presentedthe July 2007 recipients of the UWPIAAscholarships that are given to relativesof alumni. Having now become alumnithemselves, these students each wantto share a few words about their UWPexperience.Kady Brown (07C)Throughout mysemester travelingwith UWP,I gained a phenomenalunderstandingaboutthe world and who I share it with. Thereis no way I could even begin to sharethis newfound awareness in a few paragraphs,so here is a very unfair summaryof this incredible journey.UWP is, without a doubt, the bestexperience of my life so far. The sightsand adventures were numerous. TheColorado mountains, unrecognizableThai food, Finnish saunas, a cruise ship,the Macy’s parade — just to name afew. I learned things about myself thatI didn’t even know I needed to learn,and my perspective of the world grew somuch. For me, however, the most incredibleaspect of UWP was the people thatI met throughout this journey. I had noidea that it was possible to become soclose in such a short amount of time.My castmates are some of the mostamazing people in the world. They arebeyond friends; they are family.Thank you so much to all alumni outthere! I’m sure I never would have knownabout UWP if it had not been for alumni,so keep spreading the word! There areso many people out there who could gainfrom this program — and in the end, itwill be our world that is gaining!Jin A Cheong (07C)I had an incredibleexperience during mytravel with UWP, butit was a big challengefor me in many ways,since I was the onlyKorean in my cast.I had to communicatein English with somany different people,but all the cast members and host familieshelped me a lot.In UWP, I learned about the world,about people, differences, similarities,histories and myself. I realized howsmall my world was, and that a hugeworld is waiting for me out there. I wantto help people who are waiting for mysmall hand, and now I know there aremany ways to help. Also, I learned aboutthe role of music and dance. It was myfirst time on a professional stage, andit helped me to step out of my comfortzone. I was happy when I was on stagewith my cast members and could communicatewith local people, even thoughwe did not know each other.I was also happy to be a representativeof South Korea, because I couldintroduce my country to many people.To do that, I had to learn more aboutmy country and myself. I learned thatlanguage is not important in order forpeople to understand each other, butthat their true heart can help peoplecommunicate. Thank you for giving mea chance to travel with UWP. It was theexperience of a lifetime.Jonathan Cygnaeus (07C)Six months,70 people —and the world.I mean, a tripcannot get anyb e t t e r t h a nthat. This tripwas truly amazing and I am so glad forthe scholarship that I received from theUWPIAA, since it made it possible forme to travel.We had a fantastic trip and we got tosee many different parts of the world. Iwas mostly amazed at how much helpand support you can give to a communitywith just ambition and by workingtogether. For example, in Denver,Colorado, we exceeded our partner’sexpectations by building a longer trailin a shorter period of time. In Thailand,we built houses, and in two days ourshows raised 338 000 dollars that willgo toward building a new house for TheSatree Phuket School.I felt that we also made a differencein Hasselt, Belgium, where we workedwith disabled children. We learned asong with a couple of them and performedit in the show. During the show,while taking the kids on and off stage, Imet a girl who was 18 years old and in awheelchair. I asked her what she wantsto do when she gets older and she said,“To sing and dance of course.” I thenunderstood what UWP is about and thatnothing is impossible, as long as youdream. Thank you all alumni and thankyou all future students for believing ina better world.Are You Connected?If not, here’s how you can be!Did you know that the UWPIAA keepsan online database that includes allUWP alumni? This online database canbe found at uwpiaa.org and is ONLYaccessible to alumni. As an alumnusof UWP, you already have a record inthe database. You can get access toyour record — and start searching forother alumni — by sending an email togetconnected@uwpiaa.org with your fullname (including maiden name), date ofbirth, and the cast(s) and year(s) thatyou traveled. After that, you will receivean email with your user name and atemporary password.However, the database is only asgood as the information in it. Since UWPalumni are an active group, with manymoving frequently, we rely on you tokeep your information up to date. Youcan either update your record directly inthe database (see instructions aboveon how to get access) or you can sendan email with your new address to getconnected@uwpiaa.org.The address inyour record is used to send you UpBeatand information about current UWPshows, so be sure to keep your recordup to date! By having a current emailaddress in your record, you can keepin touch electronically too. For yourprimary email address, we recommendusing a personal address rather than awork address.If you have any questions, pleasewrite to getconnected@uwpiaa.org.Thanks for staying connected!UpBeat 3

The Legacy ContinuesA message from Stuart Shepherd (78E), chairman of the board of directors of UWPIt is an honor and a privilegeto serve as the chair of theUWP board of directors. Havingspent a year on the roadwith Cast E 1978, ten yearsworking in the UWP office inTucson, Arizona, six yearsserving on the UWPIAA Boardof Governors and two yearsserving as president of theUWPIAA, I’m ready to take onthe challenge of leading UWPthrough the next stages ofgrowth and development.My focus at the moment is to expand the board of directorsby recruiting leaders that represent the diversity neededto make strategic decisions for the organization. One of ourgreatest concerns is the financial stability of the organizationand creating a business model that is successful and movesthe organization toward a successful future. In many ways,we are starting over … new sponsors in communities, newhost families and new donors.I want to express my tremendous gratitude to the alumniwho have reached out and helped with cast operations, sponsorshipsin cities and contributed their financial support. Wehave alumni working at all levels of the organization … somein paid positions and hundreds lending support as volunteers.If it weren’t for the energy and passion of alumni around theworld, UWP would never have gotten off the ground.The partnership between UWP and the UWPIAA is strongerthan it has ever been and the leadership teams representingboth organizations have worked many long hours to bringthese two organizations closer together to support alumniand the UWP experience. We are excited about the futureand together we’re going to ensure that UWP is around formany, many years.Before Stuart Shepherd, Terry Adams (81A) served as chairmanof the board of directors since August 2006. The UWPIAAwould like to take this opportunity to thank Terry for his serviceto UWP. Terry’s involvement with UWP began when he traveledas a student in 1981, and then spanned more than a decadeas he continued in various staff positions. Terry will continue toserve as a member of the board of directors.Casting Light on the UWPIAA Cast RepsThe Up with People International AlumniAssociation structures the alumni intofive-year periods, or eras, starting with1965–70. Each era has an elected EraRepresentative — a member of theUWPIAA Board of Governors — whocommunicates on an ongoing basis withCast (or Crew) Representatives* in eachof the casts in his or her era.The Cast Reps are volunteers whoagree to be a contact person for theUWPIAA Era Rep with their respectivecast, passing along news, events, opportunitiesand other information fromthe UWPIAA. Although the Cast Reps arenot members of the Board of Governors,they coordinate feedback from their castto the UWPIAA.The role of the Cast Rep is particularlycrucial during the cast’s reunion year,which occurs every five years. Startingthe year prior to a reunion, the Cast Repis busy promoting participation, makingsure that as many alumni as possiblereconnect at the upcoming reunion. TheCast Reps are key to continuing theexcitement generated by the UWPIAAreunions and are recognized for theiroutstanding efforts at each reunion.A complete list of the Era Reps andCast Reps can be found on the UWPIAAwebsite. Just go to uwpiaa.org and clickon “UWPIAA Chapters & Eras.”More Cast Reps Needed!There are several casts who currently donot have a Cast Rep. If you would like tobe a key volunteer and keep your castconnected — be a link between yourfellow cast members and their alumniassociation, and have the privilegeof knowing where all your friends arelocated — please contact the Era Repfor your era.Era Era Rep Email1965-1970 Bob Blake (68C) 1965-1970@uwpiaa.org1971-1975 Willie Knowles (71B) 1971-1975@uwpiaa.org1976-1980 Donna Reed (76A) 1976-1980@uwpiaa.org1981-1985 Greg Fritz (84E) 1981-1985@uwpiaa.org1986-1990 Grant Axton (87A) 1986-1990@uwpiaa.org1991-1995 Lisa McLean Knotts (92E) 1991-1995@uwpiaa.org1996-2000 Dana Seidel (97E) 1996-2000@uwpiaa.org2004-2010 Silvana Braculla (WS Fall 04) 2004-2010@uwpiaa.org* When UWP operated as WorldSmart, the casts were called crews. In this article, the term Cast Repstherefore also includes Crew Reps.4 UpBeat

After having read Frank McGee’s book ASong for the World, Rajean Shepherd’s(78E) respect and appreciation for theColwells and Herb Allen grew ten-fold.She felt that every new UWP studentshould have the opportunity to readthe book, as it would give them a betterunderstanding of UWP’s history and theimpact UWP has had in the world.Two of her former casts — 81C and84E — Rajean describes as being fullof “movers and shakers,” and she sentthe two casts an email, explaining theidea of her book project. “Immediately, Iwas getting responses from all over theworld, and it was at that point I knew theproject was a ‘go’ and we could makeit happen for the January 2008 cast,”said Rajean. Within a couple of weeks,they had enough money to purchase120 copies of the book.All together, about 40 alumni fromthe two casts were involved — from asTwo Casts Come Together to Spread “A Song for the World”far away as Denmark, France, Ireland,Norway and all over the United States.John Ruffin (65A) made arrangementsfor the purchase and shipping of thebooks — and took care of the shippingcosts. On behalf of the two casts,Michael Bowerman (81C) and EduardoAguirre (84E) presented A Song for theWorld to Cast A 2008 during their stagingin Denver. To best make the thoughtsbehind this joint effort justice, here area few excerpts from the letter that thecast members of Cast A 2008 receivedwith their books:We would like to welcome you to theUp with People family and to let you knowwe are thinking of you as you begin anadventure of a lifetime! ... For those ofus who had the wonderful experienceto travel in the 80’s, we had the greatfortune to see, firsthand, the creativityand musical genius behind the men whowrote the songs for Up with People. ... Asalumni, we want to share this amazingstory of Up with People’s musical diplomatsby presenting you with a personalcopy of A Song for the World. The ColwellBrothers and Herb Allen ... have touchedthe hearts of millions and we want youto know this incredible history, as eachof you become the next musical ambassadorsfor Up with People.As alumni, we believe this is a mustreadfor anyone who dreams of makingthe world a better place …We wish you the experience of alifetime as you share ‘your song for theworld!’With our love and admiration,Cast C 1981-82 and Cast E 1984Editor’s Note: You can read moreabout A Song for the World inIssue 2 2007 of UpBeat, or go toasongfortheworld.com.“New Zealand” continued from page 1It’s amazing how alumni who havenever met can come together andspend a day as if we had known eachother all our lives. On the last dayof our trip, we returned to Blenheimand spent the majority of the day inBob’s recording studio, singing andrecording UWP songs from throughoutthe years.It is difficult to accurately describewhat unbelievable joy we experiencedthrough this trip to New Zealand. Thehospitality the Blakes showed us wasUWP at its finest. They are giving, lovingand generous people and we are trulythankful to have been the first winnersof this adventure donated by the Blakes.We have made friends for life!Bob and Susan are donating a tripagain this year. At reunion in July, oneticket will be drawn again, and thisyear you might just be the lucky personspending time in New Zealand with Boband Susan Blake. Trust me — it will bean unforgettable adventure!For Marc Anthony ThomasA tribute from the familyMarc departed his life with us on February 11, 2008,after a very brief and unexpected illness. For 47years, he blessed our family with his love, kindness,and tremendous energy and passion for the arts.Marc lived an authentic and actualized life, pursuinghis artistic passion despite the peaks and valleysalong the way. As a result of the relentless pursuitof a dream and mastery of his craft, Marc enjoyedtremendous joy and success with performancesin various cities throughout the United States, aswell as in other countries such as Poland, Finland,Australia and Belgium, to name a few.Marc meets Pope John Paul II during hiscast year.Marc was part of a large immediate and extended family. After leaving home(Florence, South Carolina), Marc remained very close to the family, regularly attendingfamily celebrations and staying in contact with family members via email andtelephone. The best way to summarize our mutual relationship with Marc is that“he loved his family and his family loved him.” Marc leaves behind a family workinghard to heal our broken heart and spirit. Despite this, we also relish in the joy thatMarc leaves an indelible imprint on our collective psyche and that our lives areforever enriched for having him as part of our family circle.The family wishes to acknowledge the tremendous support and love receivedfrom Marc’s UWP friends, as well as his Cirque du Soleil colleagues, over the pastfew months. The memorial organized by Marc’s dear friends Jill Johnson, MarvinWebb and John Fedynich, held on March 30 th in New York City, was phenomenaland it yielded a level of satisfaction and completeness for the family by celebratingMarc’s life in the way that we believe Marc would have just loved. We can only saythank you, thank you, thank you!— Veronica G. ThomasUpBeat 5

EAM in Helsinki, Finland — May 2–4, 2008by Steff Schnier (00D), Berlin, Germany and Basti Hesse (00E), Berlin, Germany, Europe/MidEast/Africa RepOn May 2–4, 2008, this year’s EuropeanAlumni Meeting (EAM) was held in Helsinki,Finland. But even before the official EAMbegan, a few alumni were brave enough tocelebrate May 1 with the Finnish natives inHelsinki. These “early birds” got a chanceto see several clubs, pubs and bars, whichthey later could introduce to the otherEAM participants. They also got a chanceto walk around town with people wearingwhite hats (symbol for “Abitur”) andcarrying helium balloons. Timo, oneof the members of the Helsinki EAMteam, was carrying a penguin balloonwith him during all four days — theEAM-Helsinki mascot. Timo was oftenheard saying, “Penguin is happy.”As was the entire Helsinki team,because of the many happy alumniat EAM 2008.Luckily, nobody fell into the BalticSea during EAM 2008. Nobody gotlost in the fortress during sightseeing and nobody was run over by a tram(the main public transportation system in Helsinki). However, one alumna didmanage to get lost in the city center of Helsinki, which only has about 500,000inhabitants. By the way, it was a Finn. Oops!Some facts about EAM in Helsinki include:• 55 participants • 9 countries represented (including Estonia!) • 4 workshoptopics (European Alumni Clubs, Countries without Clubs, Alumni Events, UWP inEurope) • Many interesting discussions and ideas• Really good food (such asmoose meat) • Professional meeting facility sponsored by the Finnish Organizationfor Occupational Health • Cool party in awesomeclub with live band • An amazing EAM team that dida great job organizing this EAM.EAM in Helsinki was unique since it gatheredso many alumni who had never been to an officialalumni meeting before. (We hope you liked it, folks— come again next year!) It was decided that thenext EAM will be held in either Switzerland or Prague.Volunteers who are interested in organizing nextyear’s EAM are welcome!See you at EAM 2009! You are all welcome!It’s About Time ...for a Reunion!Above: Workshop, SingOut Finland memories,friends from all overEurope, great discussionsand amazing party times— and don’t forget thepenguin! — that was EAM2008 in Helsinki, Finland.Left: The result of EAM 2007:Karoliina from Finland andJens from Denmark willget married soon.“... young and crazy wayback then, let’s getthe gang togetheragain!”— “Reunion” by Pat Murphyuwpiaa.org/pages/Reunion2008.php6 UpBeat

In the last issue of UpBeat, I told youthat the tide had turned for Up withPeople — and it has. We are on ourway toward becoming the sustainableorganization that we envisionedthree years ago. However, this is afive-year plan and we still have twomore years of growth and challengesahead of us. I am pleased and proudof our work so far, and grateful to allof you who have supported our newprogram with your time, actions and resources.In describing our new Up with People model, we stressthe fact that we donate 100% of show revenue to our localcommunity nonprofit partners — something we never did inour 43-year history. Yet with this new relevant and philanthropicmodel, we are dependent upon financial contributions— both corporate and individual. Up with People is stillin the critical phase of our relaunch and it needs the help ofits alumni. Some facts:• UWP is a 43-year-old start-up! On average, it takes fiveyears for a start-up to hit its stride. UWP is only three yearspast its relaunch — we still have two years to go beforereaching sustainability.• Last year we raisedmore money from individualalumni than in the historyof our organization. However,only 3 percent of our20,000 alumni gave to UWPlast year. Most internationalnon-profit programs receivefinancial support from aboutAlumni Are Crucial to UWP’s Success30 percent of alumni — that leaves a 27-percent gap to fill.• If each alumna/us gave just US$10 a month, UWPwould net almost half of its budget, allowing it to offer scholarshipsto many more students who cannot afford to travel.Up with People Cast A 2008 had nearly 100 student participantsfrom 27 different countries — 60 percent are non-U.S.Our casts are more diverse than ever! Although we still chargetuition for our program, many students cannot afford to pay infull. With the help of our alumni, we could offer more scholarships,thereby increasing the diversity of our program.Up with People is, always has been and always will be acharity. As a charity, we must depend on the generosity andsupport of our constituents. And we have 20,000 of them!We have the foundation in place for sustainable and renewablefunding; we just need your help to make it happen.We can do better than 3 percent of our alumni giving. Ifalumni, our most invested constituents, aren’t supporting ourorganization financially, then why should others?Please use the colored donation envelope attached to thisissue to donate to Up with People today, or donate onlinevia PayPal at upwithpeople.org. If you are a U.S. citizen,your contribution is tax-deductible. Your contribution willhelp us through this critical relaunch period. All alumnidonations go toward internationalscholarships — youcan make a difference!Sincerely,Thomas J. Spaulding, Jr. (87D)President & CEOCast A 2008 meets the First Lady of Mexicoat the Mexican presidential residence,Los Pinos.Cast B 2008Tour ScheduleDates and citiessubject to change.United StatesDenver, Colorado(orientation)Colorado Springs,ColoradoMexicoSan Jose del CaboLa PazTepicCuliacanHermosilloDates11 July-11 Aug.11 Aug.-18 Aug.Dates18 Aug.-25 Aug.25 Aug.-1 Sept.1 Sept.-8 Sept.8 Sept.-15 Sept.15 Sept.-22 Sept.United StatesDatesTBD, Arizona 22 Sept.-29 Sept.Albuquerque,29 Sept.-6 Oct.New MexicoPueblo, Colorado 6 Oct.-9 Oct.Durango, Colorado 9 Oct.-13 Oct.Salt Lake City, Utah 13 Oct.-20 Oct.Park City, Utah 20 Oct.-23 Oct.Jackson Hole, Wyoming 23 Oct.-27 Oct.Casper, Wyoming 27 Oct.-30 Oct.Rapid City,30 Oct.-3 Nov.South DakotaSioux Falls,3 Nov.-10 Nov.South DakotaYankton, South Dakota 10 Nov.-13 Nov.North Platte, Nebraska 13 Nov.-17 Nov.PhilippinesManilaSubic BayCebuManilaDates17 Nov.-1 Dec.1 Dec.-8 Dec.8 Dec.-15 Dec.15 Dec.-16 Dec.UpBeat 7

UWPIAA Prepares for New LeadershipApril 1, 2008 marks a day of transitionby Christine Geißler (91B), Frankfurt, Germany, UWPIAA PresidentThe Board of Governors has votedfor Vickie Henthorn Law to becomepresident of the UWPIAA in April 2009.Vickie traveled in various casts from1966–1968 and currently resides inKnoxville, Tennessee. Besides volunteeringfor the UWPIAA, she works as afreelance consultant and editor in themedical field. In 2006, Vickie joinedthe BOG as an era representative. Shecurrently chairs the Board RecruitmentCommittee. We are excited to continuethe leadership of the association withsuch experienced hands and congratulateVickie on this election!April 1, 2008, also marked the endof past leadership. Sary Garcia (77A),who served first as an era representative,then secretary and president, hascompleted her term as immediate pastpresident. Please join me in extendingmy deepest gratitude for the seven-plusyears of service that Sary has dedicatedto the UWPIAA.As the current president of the UWPIAA,it has been an honor to learn from andwork with Sary Garcia, and I am nowlooking forward to passing on the torchto Vickie in April next year.Health & Wellness Updateby Jim Williams (86C), New York CityIn UpBeat Issue 1 2008, we presentedthe UWPIAA community service themefor this year: Health and Wellness.We hope that as many alumni aspossible have had a chance to participatein their own way — in findingways to promote healthy living in theirown lives, families and communities.Please send your idea, story, tributeor question to communications@uwpiaa.org.One great resource — for informationand inspiration — is the EuropeanPublic Health Alliance, which promotesand protects the health of all peopleliving in Europe and advocates forgreater participation of citizens inhealth-related policy making (epha.org). The Healthier US Initiative has awebsite that provides ideas for peopleIn additionto the leadershipchanges,a number ofn e w f a c e shave joinedthe BOG thisterm: BruceHarris (75C)UWPIAA President ElectVickie Henthorn Lawas Development chair, Dana Seidel(97E) as 1996-2000 era rep, GodyRetchkiman (75B) as Latin Americanrep, Grant Axton (87A) as 1986-1990era rep, Greg Fritz (84E) as 1981-1985 era rep, Madoka Tatsuno (00D)as Asia-Pacific rep, Mona CarrandiBowe (87E) as Admissions chair,Robert Blake (68C) as 1965-1970era rep, Sebastian Hesse (00E) asEurope-MidEast-Africa rep, and WillieKnowles (70B) as 1971-1975 erarep. The 26 BOG volunteers currentlyrepresent eight different countriesand span from the original Sing Outcasts to the WorldSmart era. If you areinterested in volunteering your talents,ideas and energy for the UWPIAA,please contact recruitment@uwpiaa.org for further information.to incorporate more physical activity intheir lives, eat healthier foods, protectthemselves from illness and avoidhealth risks (healthierus.gov). If youknow of a similar resource in otherregions, please email communications@uwpiaa.org.Also, don’t forget about “mental”fitness. The Canadian Mental HealthAssociation (cmha.ca) reminds us that“when we are mentally healthy, weenjoy our life and environment, and thepeople in it. We are better able to copewith difficult times in our personal andprofessional lives.Nurturing our mental health canalso help us combat or prevent themental health problems that aresometimes associated with a chronicphysical illness. Managing stresswell, for instance, can have a positiveimpact on heart disease.” So giveYou Can Help a SouthAfrican Tribal YouthTravel with UWPIn an effort to extend the opportunity totravel with UWP to someone who wouldotherwise never have the chance,the UWPIAA and UWP are launchingan unprecedented effort to raise fullscholarships for young people fromcountries where the annual income ismeasured in just hundreds of dollars.The first beneficiary will be eithera Zulu, Pedi, Xhosa or Basotho youthfrom South Africa. This has beenfacilitated by UWPIAA BOG memberBob Blake and his Sing Out friendsfrom the late 1960s (see article atright). On youtube.com you can evenwatch them interviewing some of thepotential candidates under the title“Harambe in South Africa.” Harambeis Swahili and means “pull together.”In order to make this a reality, weneed your help. At firstgiving.com/uwpsowetoscholarship you can makea secure online donation with any creditcard — and leave a message for thelucky student. You can also send adonation to UWPIAA, PMB 466, 17011Lincoln Ave., Parker, CO 80134. Pleasenote it as “South Africa Scholarship.”For a full scholarship, we need toraise $20,000. This will cover UWPtuition, travel, passport, visas and otherexpenses, including clothing, suitcase,etc. If every alumnus gave just a fewdollars or euros, we could change thefuture of one African tribal youth forever— and it will enrich the experience forall the other cast members and hostfamilies around the world too.When have you had the chance tochange someone’s life in such a positiveway for the price of a cup of coffee?Please, everyone, make room atthe table.yourself permission to step away fromtasks at hand and recharge your batteriesfor at least a few minutes eachday. Allow yourself to daydream — andstop multi-tasking — remember positivepast moments, enjoy hobbies, setpersonal goals, share humor — andtreat yourself well.8 UpBeat

A Poor Outlook for a Rich CultureAn eye-opening journey through South Africaby Dr Bob Blake (68C), Blenheim, New ZealandDuring a recent visit to South Africa and Mozambique, myview of the world as I knew it changed forever; it gave me adeeper and, I hope, genuine appreciation for the countriesthat are struggling for their everyday existence, and how theseissues relate to the goals of UWP.One of the reasons for the trip was to interview possiblesponsors for assistance with indigenous tribal youth who wishto bring their rich culture, music and dances — for the firsttime — into UWP. More specifically, those are the villages ofthe Zulu (the famous warrior nation that defeated the Britisharmy in battle); the Basotho (from the mountain kingdom ofLesotho with their skillful horsemanship); the Xhosa (NelsonMandela’s tribe from the coastline of the Eastern Cape); andthe Pedi (with their unusual architecture, horn whistles andgreat drums).As these tribal peoples merged into Johannesburg to workin the mines, some found themselves living in Soweto (SouthWest Township). The poverty and poor living conditions of theinhabitants of Soweto are now legendary, and when wevisited, there was a celebration because a freshwater tap— yes, just one — had been installed at the end of a longrow of houses. Downtown Johannesburg is abandonednowadays, and the electricity and water have been turnedoff; it has become a darkened city of illegal immigrants andeven the police stay away from the former downtown area.To add to this grim outlook, the official government reportsstate that there are approximately 5,000 illegal immigrants— each day — walkinginto South Africaacross the desert bordersof Zimbabwe,Namibia, Botswanaand Mozambique.Bob Blake (68C), UWPIAA Era Rep 1965-1970, is greeted by Zulu youth inJanuary 2008.During our trip, we visited several Zulu villages where theyouth were caretakers for African endangered animals. Theydemonstrated their cultural dances, and we were blown awayat the magic of their rhythm and naturally choreographedancestral stories. Seated on the dirt floor inside the large,dark ceremonial hut, I will never forget ... It was like the NewZealand “Haka” gone mad — with large knives and raw-hideshields crashing against each other, just inches from our faces!And with few cell phones, walkmans, gameboys and othergadgets that jerk people away from eye-to-eye, heart-to-heartcommunication, it was evident that the young Zulu don’t have,what I call, the “fidget syndrome” — at least not yet ...How the youth of the Zulu could benefit from the UWP experiencetruly is not the question; after spending time with them,the question we need to ask ourselves is, “How can UWPbenefit from Zulu participation?”Above, left to right: Simon, a 23-year-old possible UWP recruit if he can obtain enoughfinancial assistance. Soweto children with Bob Blake after celebration of installation of thevillage’s only water tap in December 2007. Zulu youth demonstrate their ancient tribal wardances for Blake.At left: William de Toit (67B) and Blake meet in Cape Town, South Africa, as part of Blake’sattempts to reengage lost alumni from his era from Southern Hemisphere countries.UpBeat 9

In Memory of JackRavenscroftIn 1968, after three years of operation, UWPdecided to incorporate. Jack Ravenscroftshepherded all the legal work through the courtsof California, where he then resided. At the 90 thbirthday party for Jack, Mr. Belk said, “I could nothave gotten through the early years of Up withPeople without Jack Ravenscroft behind me.”Jackson Pittman Ravenscroft died January 22,2008, peacefully in his sleep at home, after 92years of hard work and fascinating adventures.Born in 1915, Jack started working at the age of6, helping his father with deliveries and jerkingsodas in their pharmacy. After graduating fromhigh school at 17, Jack went to Washington, D.C.He began as a messenger boy, worked his wayup to being a Federal Bank examiner, and finisheda college degree by attending eight yearsof night school. When drafted for World War II,News67C: John Rucker writes: I wouldlike my fellow cast mates to knowthat I am alive and well and wouldlove to hear from them ... especiallyLarry Tinsley, Larry Winans, LarryHazzard (trumpet), John Ottobrino,Dave Johnston (flutist), and AlfredSaffel. I can be reached at johnrucker@att.net.91A: Mick Dill received a Diversityand Principles of Community TeamAward for leadership and significantcontributions to the Universityof California Campus communityon the Student Affairs Officers forthe Future development program.Mick writes: Enhancing diversityand inclusiveness are integral componentsin the recruitment andretention of both a diverse workforceand student population and in thecreation of a welcoming, productivecampus climate that reinforces affirmativeaction/equal employmentopportunity, heightened awarenessand sensitivity to diversity.91B: Heimen Visser moved last yearwith his wife, Muriel, and newbornson, Thijn, from Amsterdam to TheHague in The Netherlands. Heimenis working for KPN Telecom as aBusiness Development Manager,designing and building innovativeproducts and services for the Dutchtelecom market.91B: T.J. Mannix appeared on theseason premiere of NBC’s Law andOrder as a public defender. He isa performer and co-producer ofhe became a captain in three years.After leaving the Air Force, he worked withMr. Belk and others to build lasting peaceand continued when UWP began. In 1967, hemarried Day Ely. who had also been working inMoral Rearmament full time. The couple followedUWP to Tucson in 1970. Their daughterVirginia was born in 1971. In 1981, Jacksonretired from UWP at age 65 and embarked onnew ways of serving God. In 1993, he joyfullywelcomed Virginia’s partner Rebekah as amuch loved daughter-in-law.At the 40 th reunion of UWP, in accepting his“Everyday Hero Award,” Jack said, ”My parentslost their first child just before I was born andpromised God that if they got a healthy child,they would dedicate it to God’s service. Mothernever went back on her promise. When I grewolder, I had to make the choice myself for myown life. I have kept affirming my promise. Nowat 90, I live by these values: Love, Honesty,Appreciation and Acceptance.”FACE — performing with a four-piecejazz band and six actors in a fullyimprovised full-length musical attheater and rock venues in NYC(tjmannix.com).91C: Sheila Samaddar writes: I justopened my own General Dentistryprivate practice in Washington,D.C., across the street from thenew Washington Nationals baseballstadium. I have been in D.C. since1995 and live on Capitol Hill withmy husband, Terry, daughter, Madeline,and dogs, Daisy and Duke. Mywebsite is SouthCapitolSmileCenter.comand you can email me atDrSamaddar@SouthCapitolSmile-Center.com.91F: Consuelo Garner (Chely Tijerinawhen traveling with UWP) has recentlymoved and wants to let everybodyGot News?To share your news with alumniaround the world, just send ane-mail to upbeat@uwpiaa.org.Please reference “Alumni UpDate”in the subject line. Photos arewelcome, but should be hi-resolution(300 dpi). If you’re not sure if yourphoto is usable, send it in and we’lllet you know.You can also mail your update toUpBeat, PMB 466, 17011 LincolnAve., Parker, CO 80134. Photos willnot be returned unless requested.Alumni UpDateknow of the new address: 10829Quarry Oaks Trl.; Austin, TX 78717.91F: Tone Aas Skålevik writes:The third child is soon one year,and I am working as the leader ofthe Theater of Nedre Buskerud inNorway. I am also directing there,acting, singing and doing coursesand events. I have my own firm aswell, where I act and direct. Checkout teaterart.no.92D: Stacy (Martin) Dumas writes:I am currently married, since 12years, to an Air Force officer andhave two children. I still try to doas much community service as Iam able. I was recently given twowonderful awards for my communityinvolvement. One was from the USAF,Spouse of the Year for 2007, andthe other one was from the US AirForce Association, Volunteer of theMick Dill (91A)10 UpBeatStacy (Martin) Dumas (92D)Alexis Nicole ThompsonChase Robert McAvoy

T.J., Isabelle, Madeline Maureenand Jessica (Heuchert) FletcherFelix Riise HansenEmma HolzerYear 2007. These awards were bothgiven for my involvement in the local,regional and global community. Bothwere a surprise and great honor. Inaddition, I recorded my first albumof inspirational music. My albumcan be heard at myspace.com/stacydumas,stacydumas.com, cdbaby.com or iTunes.com. I still credit UWPwith teaching me a passion forcommunity. It remains one of thegreatest years of my life!Births96A: Gabriella Nilhammer writes:On March 27 th , my husband, Freddie,and I had a beautiful little babygirl. Her name is Ellen, and Victor isa very proud big brother. I will behome on maternity leave until spring2009, so please email me at gabriella.nilhammer@hotmail.com.97A: Jessica Heuchert Fletcherwrites: My husband, T. J., and Irecently welcomed our seconddaughter, Madeline Maureen, onDecember 25, 2007. Her big sister,Isabelle, enjoys her little sister quitea bit and is a wonderful helper. Itwas truly a Christmas to rememberand it will be hard to top this gift inthe coming years!00B: Dana (Charest) McAvoywrites: Chase Robert, the light ofour lives, was born on September30, 2007. What an amazing andlife-changing experience. We areso blessed.Deaths75C: Kevin Brown died on April 14,2008, as the result of a fall. Heis survived by wife Deb, daughterShelagh and son Colin.Editor’s Note: Cast 95A’sCast Rep did a great job ofcollecting updates from 16of the cast members. If othercasts would like to take suchan initiative, UpBeat will behappy to publish additionalcollective updates.Chantal Thorn: My boyfriend ofnearly four years proposed inDecember. We’ll be getting marriedin October, 2008, back homein North Bay!Che Barker: On January 26, 2008,my wife and I had a daughter. Hername is Lola Pimentel Barker, andshe is growing like a weed.Crystal (Ristow) Miller: Mathewand I were married at a smallceremony in Chicago on March 3,2008. We live by Montrose Harbor— at 4250 Marine Drive #1606;Chicago, IL 60613 — and wouldlove visitors. Mathew is managerof a flooring business, and I amtemporarily in sales. I still havemy jazz band but also play withsome old cats here in Chicago.No babies yet!Inken (Sitz) Berghoff: Our secondson, David Alexander, was bornon March 12, 2008. He and hisbig brother, Jonas, are loving eachother. We are all doing great, enjoyinglife and are thankful for thosetwo healthy kids.Janne Dehn Larsen: An updatefrom Denmark: I gave birth to abeautiful son, Felix Riise Hansen,on January 20, 2008.Jennifer (Weymouth) Evans: Mynewest addition, Tristan Lee Evans,was born March 19, 2008. We areall doing well — healthy, happy andlearning to be a family of four.Jessica (Goodwater) Reeb: It hasbeen a long time since I wrote, butwould like to let you all know thatwe had another baby on December20, 2007. Her name is Joelle andmy older kids adore her.Katie (Reiser) Desikan: I got marriedon March 8! It was a reallysmall wedding, mostly family. Myhusband, Raj, is from India. He wasdefinitely worth the wait!Ken Head: I wanted to pass on abit of good news about the growthof our family. We brought KenleighElizabeth Head into this world onJanuary 14, 2008. She is veryhealthy and cheerful! Mommy isdoing great, and all the grandparentsare spoiling her terribly. Daddyis rather proud as well.Kim Lewis: I am happy to announcethat I’m soon getting married!Chad and I have been together foralmost six years.Kimberly (Lenox) Kelly: I wouldlove to announce the birth ofmy third child: Conor Lenox Kellywas born July 1, 2007. His sister,Sarah, and brother, Aidan, couldnot be happier to have him. Ourfamily is now complete.Cast A 1995 UpdatesMarisa Montoya: I’m engaged!Yes, I have finally found my soulmate. His name is Mitch Markenand he proposed to me a fewweeks before Christmas. We planto get married spring 2009.Melody Teodoro-Kurtis: It’s definitelyofficial. I became Mrs. MelodyTeodoro-Kurtis to my love of 17years, Ray Kurtis, on September 30,2007. We had a historic late medieval/earlyRenaissance wedding,complete with the bride makingher entrance on a sandolo (whilesinging), swordfight while bride andgroom were handfasted (yes!, boundtogether) during the ceremony, adove release, and traditional medievalfood (with Filipino pig on a spit)and homemade mead as well.Nicole (Goodale) Thompson: Myhusband, Art, and I are proud toannounce the birth of our daughter,Alexis Nicole Thompson. Alexiswas born September 7, 2007, andshe is a true joy! She is a happy,healthy little girl who loves tosmile! We are truly blessed.Shenoa Lawrence: I am glad toshare with you my plans to be marriedto Dan Cazel on June 13th,2008, in Healdsburg, California.Sonja (Haas) Holzer: On December31, I married my boyfriend,Andi. So my name is now SonjaHolzer. On March 3, 3008, we gotour little daughter, Emma. I amvery, very happy.UpBeat 11

Calendar of EventsDate EVENT WEBSITE/e-mailJuly 4–6 FUWPAA Finland Alumni Club fuwpaa.2ya.comSummer theater meeting atLappvik/RaseborgJuly 11–13 FUWPAA Finland Alumni Club fuwpaa.2ya.comMedieval custom party weekend atLappvik/RaseborgJuly 23–24 UWPIAA Board Meeting president@uwpiaa.orgTucson, ArizonaJuly 24–27 UWPIAA Reunion 2008 uwpiaa.orgTucson, Arizonareunions@uwpiaa.orgSept. 14 UWPSAA Hike europe-rep@uwpiaa.orgOct. 2–5 German Alumni Association avuwpd.comGeneral Assembly & (then follow JHV 2008)20th Anniversary German Alumni ClubHamburg, GermanyOct. 3–4 UWPIAA Board Meeting president@uwpiaa.orgHamburg, GermanyOct. 17–19 UWP Swiss Alumni Association uwpsaa.orgGeneral Assemblyor ddesi@bluewin.chKerenzerberg, SwitzerlandNeed to Get Connected?If your address, phone or email has changed,just send an email to getconnected@uwpiaa.org andwe’ll update your information in the alumni database.What Could Be Betterthan Germany in October?Dear Alumni,On behalf of “The Team,” I’m proud to announceand invite all of you to check out the homepageof the German alumni club — the most activealumni club worldwide — at avuwpd.com.This year the club celebrates its 20 th anniversaryin my hometown of Hamburg, and I belongto the team that is organizing this big event.There will be special guests, such as BlantonBelk, Tommy Spaulding and the full UWPIAABoard of Governors, and every alumnus fromaround the world is invited to join!Go to avuwpd.com and click on the Event “JHV2008 Oct 2nd – Oct. 5th, 2008.” All informationneeded can be found there!We would be pleased if anyone of you wouldlike to join — don’t worry, the language will beno problem, and every year we have more andmore international guests! Join us!For further questions, don’t hesitate tocontact us by email at hamburg@avuwpd.de.Wishing you all health and hope to see many ofyou in October in Hamburg.Maren Succo (95A)Where Will Your Next Reunion Be?The UWPIAA is currently accepting proposals forreunion cities for 2010, 2011 and 2012.Currently, the only bidding city is Tucson. If you’reinterested in making a proposal for any or all of thoseyears, please contact reunions@uwpiaa.org.Branson Alumni ShowRescheduled for Summer 2009The concert dates for the Branson Initiative(see UpBeat Issue 1 2008) have been changed toJune/July 2009. The decision to postpone the showwas made primarily to allow more time for creating aninspired, scripted show. For more information, pleasevisit eventteam.us/bransonquest.Get Ready for Reunion 2009!Reunion 2009 will be held July 30–Aug. 2, 2009, at theWestin La Paloma Resort and Spa. Calling the casts of1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994 and 1999, and theWorldSmart crew of 2004 — start making your plans now!