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April 25th, 2013
and Notices
Valley News
and Views
I was invited to attend
a very special workshop
last weekend in SFO - not
planned for because my
return to ND was delayed
a week by an ear/sinus
infection and waiting for
antibiotics to kick in.
The event wasn't so
different a setting for
students. Three long tables
lined with laptops and chairs
that faced a white wall for
film projection. In the chairs,
however, were a class of
lifelong learners - all over 50
and half the class over 80.
At the end of the two-
and-a-half-day workshop,
the wall came alive with
images and a sound track
that told personal stories
of each of the participants
- compelling, moving stories
drawn from rich experiences
over a lifetime that were
crafted with a tight storyline
not exceeding three minutes
in narration.
Quite a challenge but
taught by the master,
Joe Lambert, founder
of the Center for Digital
Storytelling in Berkeley. He
spent two days in Drayton
three years ago after he and
his 14-year-old son Massimo
presented a workshop at
the ND Museum of Art in
Grand Forks, teaching the
'rt of Digital Storytelling."
My filmmaker son Lars from
Santa Barbara and myself
participated as well and
began a foursome seven-day
tour across the prairies in an
RV to learn the method and
practice in producing short
digital documentaries. An
eBook was produced from
the tour, titled "Fathers and
Sons."
The storytelling method in
general practice has doubled
since that time when the
ND •workshop was initiated
in 2010. Now the method
operates in varying levels
of application in every state
in our country, plus in a
multitude of countries.
The most impressive
feature of the workshop
was that the classroom
transformed into a global
village of sorts, each telling
their personal story that
touched different parts of
the world. In one way, they
represented artisans and
entrepreneurs - social and
civic entrepreneurs - who
took small steps over time
to produce genuinely big
results.
The workshop was
sponsored by Osher
Lifelong Learning Institute
(OLLI), referred to as "Ollie"
nationwide, except in the
Midwest and at LIND, where
it is often called "Ole."
The learners first wrote
a 300-400 word script,
painstakingly edited to a
tight story thread, then
individuals narrated the
story in their voice in a
recording booth, added a
little background music
between transitions and
finally, they selected photos
or imported images to make
the story a visual one - much
like a documentary film.
In the last two hours of the
event, the white classroom
wall lit up with a bigger-
than-life personal story,
accented by what seemed
like surround sound,
and as the credits were
shown, extended applause
acknowledge the creativity
and performance of a new
skill soon to be matched by
the next digital story on the
playlist.
There is a familiar saying
that "everyone has a story to
tell."
It seems to me, as a believer
in lifelong learning, that
every grandparent sould
document a few momeats of
legacy, in whatever fhion
that fits them (annual etter,
recording, video, 5-mnute
film on a smart,, phoae; a
family blog), as a gift to
their grandchildren and
the next generation. And
when a grandchild becomes
a "co-producer," you have
captured an elusive treasure
that most people only talked
about when it can no longer
happen.
The Story Center is
innovating a new approach in
such workshops in D.C. next
August, when a grandchild is
admitted free as a participant
when accompanying the
grandparent to engage youth
in the Intergenerational
process - a "two for one"
package.
In North Dakota (ND), a
project is underway, funded
in part by ND Humanities
Council, to train high
school and college students
to produce short digital
stories of pioneers and
veterans in their families and
communities for posting on
local civic Websites or in
family "heritage albums."
This seed grant, matched
by in-kind mentoring and
donated equipment (new
and recycled), is a campaign
of engaging "small" stories
to become "epic" for some
person, some place, or
some purpose. The model is
similar to the International
movement of "Pass it (In-
Kindness ...a slogan word)
Forward."
A new-age funding model
is being explored, patterned
after a mix of a credit union
concept, new "kickstart"
online campaigns, 99-cent
iTunes contributions, and
the innovative way that
youth leadership programs
fund their organizations
(see www.stlf.net) through
"chump change (pocket
change) to a chunk of change
(in community service)."
The STLF students
generate revenues to fund
their own "Pay It Forward"
educational tours (mostly
bus) to explore a world
within reach and to fulfill
STLF's mission "to reveal
leadership through service,"
relationships and action."
"Forward" has a
generational meaning,
inspired by youth who lead
change through new media
that advances an educational
Continued on Page 3
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After a couple centuries
of government support, the
Protestant mores that have
dominated the American
culture are disappearing
from the public square.
A majority of Americans
support same-sex marriage,
legalizing marijuana, and
abortion, not to mention
other activities and values
that many Christians find
objectionable. Sunday
baseball is here to stay.
Scattered state laws will
not turn the tide. Even in
North Dakota, if the three
anti-abortion measures
passed by the Legislature
were referred to a vote of
the people, they would be
defeated. Handily.
In this mobile society,
state boundaries mean
nothing. If sin isn't available
in one state, there are at least
a dozen other states where it
will be.
The secular society has
taken charge of the moral
issues and there is no
prognosis that suggests
a resurgence of Christian
values.
In his recent book, Frank
Newport of the Gallup
organization pulled together
polls and other research to
support a conclusion that
Christianity will bounce
back when people move to
the more religious areas of
the country. This is wishful
thinking.
The findings of David
Kinnaman of the Barna
Christian research group
cannot be ignored. He noted
a significant decline in the
commitment of the younger
generation Christians to
the faith. His observations
have been confirmed by
numerous surveys.
A major cause of the
disenchantment of youth
with Christianity has been
the unchristian behavior
displayed by religious leaders
as they battle the secular
public over moral issues
The younger generation
sees more mean-spirited
rhetoric than the gentle
demeanor of Jesus in these
confrontations. Once
engaged, Christians have
tended to distort facts and
use as much inflammatory
rhetoric as the secularists on
the opposing side.
Christians have depended
on secular legislation too
long for the preservation of
Scriptural values. We have
benefited from governmental
support and protection since
the very founding of the
country.
Times have changed and
the unfounded argument
that America was created as
a Christian country doesn't
carry any water these days.
With other faiths to be
accommodated, separation
of church and state has
taken on new meaning.
Instead of ramping up our
blood pressure over this
separation, we shonld be
thankful that Christianity
has been so favorably treated
for 200 years.
Without the government
or secular society to lean on,
the Christian community
will now have to assume its
moral leadership on same-
sex marriage, homosexuality,
abortion and the other issues
it regards as unchristian.
Of course, the primary
problem for the church
is that many of the selfo
proclaimed Christians have
fallen in with the secular
society so that believers
are indistinguishable from
unbelievers. (Catholics are
practicing birth control and
Protestants are supporting
same- sex marriage.)
But the honeymoon is over.
The Christian community
must assume responsibility
for its own values. It is time
for the church to teach its
own members on the issues
of same-sex marriage,
materialism, greed, abortion,
guns, homosexuality, media
trash, big bang theories, and
whatever other controversies
appear. Forget about the
government.
Continued on Page 3
PUBLIC NOTICE
Properties For Sale On Bid
Notice is hereby given that the City of Drayton, ND
is offering for sale the following property: Parcel # 29-
0490000, North 26 V2 feet of Lot 20, West side of Main
Street, City of Drayton. This vacant lot is located at 114
North Main Street, Drayton ND. Minimum bid shall be
$3,000.00. Written bids will be accepted until 7:00pm, May
6, 2013, at which time they will be opened and considered
by the Drayton City Council. The City reserves the right
to reject any and all bids and to extend the deadline for
receipt of bids. Written bids shall be delivered or mailed
to City of Drayton, 122 South Main Street, PO Box 280
Drayton ND 58225.
Carol Gardner, City Auditor
701-454-3590
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