Month: December 2022

Luther College hosts Dream Week in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

December 20, 2022

Luther College is honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through Dream Week, Jan. 16–20, 2023. Special events and activities are planned each day on campus to bring awareness to the work of King and the state of racism, bias, inequity and injustice in the world.

At 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall, Dr. Ronald Ferguson will present the keynote address “Strategy and Action for the 21st Century: The Costly Lessons Learned from MLK.“ Supported by the Williams Endowment Fund and the Identity Studies Department at Luther, Ferguson will speak about the necessity of engaging in equity work and the inherent risks that accompany it. 

“I am thrilled to be hosting Dr. Ferguson on this day that reminds us of the movement put into motion by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Char Kunkel, head of the Identity Studies Department at Luther College. “Dr. Ferguson will remind us that we have yet to achieve the dream of Dr. King. There is much work to be done. This lecture is intended to embolden us to keep struggling and fighting for social justice.”   

Dr. Ronald Ferguson

Ferguson is a former Luther College faculty member. Now, he works for the Minnesota State University system as an equity and inclusion coordinator in which he facilitates system-wide initiatives to promote educational equity and belonging. He also teaches sociology at Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minnesota, where he offers courses in racialization and social inequity. 

At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall, students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to A Conversation on Racial Healing. This event is in recognition of the National Day of Racial Healing which calls on colleges and universities across the country to engage in activities, events and strategies that promote healing and foster engagement around the issues of racism, bias, inequity and injustice in our society. 

On Tuesday and Thursday, Jan. 17 and 19, Luther community members will be reading books to area elementary students about service, leadership, justice, civility and diversity. And at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, all are welcome to attend MLK Day Chapel: A Service Lamenting Racism in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall. This special service will inspire all in attendance to recognize and work to repair the harm caused by racism through confession, lament and praise. 

Working alongside people of all ages, races and backgrounds, King encouraged Americans to come together to strengthen communities, alleviate poverty and acknowledge dignity and respect for all human beings. King’s legacy is the continuing work for tolerance, peace and equality.

“Dream Week is a true reflection of Luther College’s mission in action,” said Dr. Robert Clay, chief equity and inclusion officer and assistant to the president for community engagement at Luther. “Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, was a drum major for justice. He challenged us to embrace diversity and create a sense of belonging for all regardless of where you live and your background. It is my hope that the programming taking place during Dream Week reminds us that there has been some progress made, however, there is much work to be done to create change that will transform and heal our communities.”

 

About the Williams Endowment Fund for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture

Luther College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Lecture began in 1987 to provide ongoing scholarly conversation about the struggle for human rights in the United States. It is supported by the Williams Endowment Fund, named in recognition of Lawrence and Queen Williams for their dedication and years of service to Luther. The endowment assures the continuation of the college’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture. Lawrence Williams planned and solicited funding for more than 20 of these lectures throughout his career as a Luther faculty member. His dedication to the lecture series reflected a commitment to understanding civil rights that went beyond academic study. Williams’ personal experiences with the civil rights movement and its protests allowed him to share a firsthand perspective with students, and his acquaintance with civil rights leaders brought extraordinary people to campus to share their lives and stories.

 

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact.

Source link

Mike Vermace of Decorah shares experience following a total knee replacement

Mike Vermace of Decorah was not surprised to learn he would need a knee replacement.  Having experienced multiple athletic injuries in his youth, Mike endured years of sporadic pain and tenderness.   An episode of excessive swelling of his left knee prompted Mike to pursue treatment.

“I came to Winneshiek Medical Center to address the swelling and saw Dr. Emily Connor in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department.  She told me that I could continue to manage the symptoms, but to truly experience relief, I should consider replacing my knee joints,” he says. Emily Connor, M.D., is a Mayo Clinic Health System orthopedic and sports medicine surgeon who practices full time at Winneshiek Medical Center. 

Winneshiek Medical Center Orthopedics & Sports Medicine provides:

  • Total Knees
  • Total Hips
  • Total Shoulders
  • Knee Scopes
  • Shoulder Scopes
  • ACL Reconstruction
  • Rotator Cuff Repair
  • Basic Trauma (wrist, hip, ankle fracture, etc.)
  • Hand Procedures (cysts, carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, CMC arthroplasty, etc.)
  • Pediatrics

Mike soon scheduled the first surgery with hopes that his right knee would be replaced as soon as would be feasible.  He says, “As an elective procedure, I had the flexibility to schedule the procedure when it worked for my family.  When I was ready, I called to schedule my surgical consult and was seen by Dr. Connor the very next day.”

Most joint replacements at Winneshiek Medical Center are scheduled 3-4 weeks after the consult to allow time for pre-operative appointments and education.  Mike started with a class called Joint Expectations. He says, “The Joint Expectations class answered all my questions and addressed any ‘unknowns’ I had.  After that class, I was ready for my surgery and confident to be able recover successfully at home,” says Mike.

Mike’s surgery went smoothly and his overnight stay revealed an unexpected benefit of receiving care at WMC.  He says, “The transition from surgery to recovery to hospital nursing and therapy was different than I had ever experienced at other locations from numerous past surgeries.  The communication and flow of information from one caregiver to another was above my expectations.  All my nurses knew my pain control preferences and had listened when I shared I always feel cold after surgery.  They had warm blankets waiting for me.  The communication chain was excellent.  There was no ambiguity and I was a person, not a protocol.”

Mike has resumed activities he’s been unable to enjoy for decades. He says, “I loved taking long hikes, but over the years, have gradually avoided them because of the potential for knee pain.”

Mike chose to receive his post-operative physical therapy from Winneshiek Medical Center Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine with physical therapist Judd Landers.  “The coordination between Dr. Connor and Judd during physical therapy was very clear.  She was monitoring my progress and Judd communicated her feedback to me at therapy appointments.  Again, in comparison to my past surgeries, Dr. Connor’s post-operative engagement was unexpected and wonderful,” says Mike.

Mike has resumed activities he’s been unable to enjoy for decades.  He says, “I loved taking long hikes, but over the years, have gradually avoided them because of the potential for knee pain.”  Mike adds, “If I could name the two overarching positives from my knee replacement, I would say the first is that I could schedule surgery for when it worked for me, and the second is that I have a renewed ability to do the things I love.” 

Following such a positive experience and successful outcome, Mike has scheduled his second knee replacement with Dr. Connor.  He says, “The quality of care, convenient location, and my confidence in the people and processes has led me to have my right knee replaced at Winneshiek Medical Center with Dr. Connor.  I am able to get everything I need right here at a facility that rivals, and at times, exceeds, the level of care in larger or specialized facilities.”

Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah is accepting new patients. You do not need a referral. For an appointment, call 563-382-2911.

Source link

DHS Music department to present winter choral concert

The Decorah High School Music Department will present a winter choral concert at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, December 19 in the DHS Auditorium. The concert will feature Ninth Grade Bass Clef Choir, Ninth Grade Treble Clef Choir, Viking Chorus, and Concert Choir. Audience members will hear music by Rachmaninoff, Ramsey, Fox, Bray, and Gardner; songs in Hebrew–“Dodi Li” and “L’dor Vador”; a Native American piece– “Lakota Wiyanki”; and arrangements of familiar seasonal pieces–“Do You Hear What I Hear,” Barbra Streisand’s “Jingle Bells,” and “Here We Come A-Caroling.” The concert will conclude with Concert Choir and alumni singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” – a DHS tradition.

The DHS Madrigal Singers will perform carols in the auditorium beginning at 7:10 p.m.

The Decorah High School Music Department will present a winter choral concert at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, December 19 in the DHS Auditorium. The concert will feature Ninth Grade Bass Clef Choir, Ninth Grade Treble Clef Choir, Viking Chorus, and Concert Choir. Audience members will hear music by Rachmaninoff, Ramsey, Fox, Bray, and Gardner; songs in Hebrew–“Dodi Li” and “L’dor Vador”; a Native American piece– “Lakota Wiyanki”; and arrangements of familiar seasonal pieces–“Do You Hear What I Hear,” Barbra Streisand’s “Jingle Bells,” and “Here We Come A-Caroling.” The concert will conclude with Concert Choir and alumni singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” – a DHS tradition.

The DHS Madrigal Singers will perform carols in the auditorium beginning at 7:10 p.m.

Conductors for the concert are Jason Rausch and Dean Beckman, and collaborative pianist is Mary Beth Bouska. Guest percussionists are Liam Chamberlain, Kealy Hines, Alex McGohan, and Gerald Thompson. The public is warmly invited to attend this concert.

Bring the sights and sounds of Christmas at Luther 2022 into your home

December 16, 2022

On-demand tickets are available for “Christmas at Luther 2022: The Gifts They Gave Emmanuel.” Bring the magic of Christmas into your home by purchasing tickets at luther.edu/christmas2022 through Dec. 31.

This year’s production featured not only five choirs, the symphony orchestra, and the percussion ensemble, but also lifelike puppets representing animals associated with the Christmas story. Audience members are saying: 

“I was immediately captivated by the magic of the birds and animals, so life-like, and communicating such joy and tenderness. It was marvelous. The selection of music was refreshing, so many new and wonderful compositions.”

“I always get teary-eyed at some point during Christmas at Luther. This year it was when the ox ambled in and stopped and looked at the orchestra and choirs. It really touched me. With the many threats to species in our world (especially climate change) I really appreciated the inclusion of animals in this year’s performance.”

This year, Christmas at Luther will also be broadcast on the following dates and times: 

Radio Broadcasts:

  • Wisconsin Public Radio: Dec. 18, 12-2 p.m.
  • Iowa Public Radio: Dec. 23, 4 p.m. and Dec. 24, 11 a.m.
  • WVRQ (1360 AM): Dec. 24, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • KBEW (1560 AM/95.3 FM): Dec. 24, 4:30 p.m.
  • Wisconsin Public Radio’s “NPR News & Music” stations: Dec. 25, 3-5 p.m. 

Television Broadcasts:

  • KGAN 2: Dec. 24, 6-7 p.m.
  • FOX 28: Dec. 25, 11 p.m.-12 a.m.

In addition, the Luther Book Shop has Christmas at Luther 2022 CDs available online and in-store. It is also streaming on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify and YouTube Music.

Source link

Bradley Chamberlain named provost at Luther College

President Jenifer K. Ward has announced the appointment of Bradley Chamberlain as provost of Luther College. 

Bradley Chamberlain, PhD

Chamberlain, who has served as vice president for mission and communication since 2019, was named interim provost in August 2022. His appointment as provost follows a nationwide search led by a 22-person committee consisting of faculty, staff, cabinet members, students and regents. He will assume the role beginning in January. 

“Dr. Chamberlain has already provided steady leadership at Luther as part of my senior team and has been a trusted thought partner to me and to his colleagues,” said Ward. “He brings an innate curiosity to the project of higher education, always looking for ways to connect the best of what our faculty and staff offer to the accomplishments of the students they mentor. In him, we will have a chief academic officer who is committed to student success and community flourishing, and I look forward to continuing the work we have started together.” 

As provost, Chamberlain will work alongside the president to provide thoughtful and creative leadership as he oversees a student-facing division that includes academic affairs, student engagement and student success. The provost model was instituted at Luther in 2021 as a way to create an integrated, student-centered approach to all academic and co-curricular services. 

“I am inspired by Luther’s mission to prepare students for lives of meaning and purpose in service of the common good. I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to partner with this community in a new way to support and enhance the student experience, both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Chamberlain.

I am inspired by Luther’s mission to prepare students for lives of meaning and purpose in service of the common good. I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to partner with this community in a new way to support and enhance the student experience, both inside and outside of the classroom.

Bradley Chamberlain

Chamberlain arrived at Luther in 2001 as a member of the faculty, where he taught a range of courses in the chemistry department and conducted collaborative research with students to prepare new biodegradable plastics. In 2005, Chamberlain began serving in various leadership capacities. He was the chair of the academic planning committee, interim director of advising, head of the chemistry department and interim dean for institutional planning and mission. In 2019, Chamberlain was named vice president for mission and communication and he has been serving as interim provost since August 2022.

As vice president for mission and communication, Chamberlain led the implementation of Luther’s first integrated brand strategy. It included the integration of newly identified brand pillars, a refreshed visual identity, social media strategy and a redesigned luther.edu website. In addition, Chamberlain developed the college’s first strategic internal communications plan and led the COVID Response Team under which he provided leadership for the development of a set of indicators and alert levels that provided a flexible and phased approach for all curricular and co-curricular operations during the height of the pandemic. 

Chamberlain earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College and holds a doctorate degree in chemistry from the University of Minnesota. Chamberlain will also serve as interim vice president for mission and communication through the current academic year.

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact.

Source link

Luther Athletics adds men’s and women’s bowling, names Dan Bellrichard head coach

Luther College President Jenifer K. Ward and Athletic Director Renae Hartl are excited to announce the addition of men’s and women’s bowling to the athletic department. Additionally, Luther alumnus Dan Bellrichard has been selected as the head coach of both teams. Beginning in the 2023-24 academic year, men’s and women’s bowling will become the 20th and 21st sports in Luther’s athletic department, making the Norse the third member of the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) to add the sport. 

“We are excited to introduce men’s and women’s bowling as the first new sports at Luther College since 1990,” said Ward. “In addition to allowing us to recruit students of high academic promise with an opportunity to continue in a sport popular in high school athletics programs, we are happy to work with the newly opened King Pin Entertainment Center to advance local partnerships in a great new facility.”

“It has been over 30 years since we have added a new varsity sport at Luther College, and I am very excited about this announcement and the first coach of our two new programs,” commented Hartl. “It is the perfect time to add this sport to our athletics department. Coach Bellrichard will join us immediately and begin recruiting and communicating with prospective student-athletes. We hope to have a mix of new first-year students in addition to some current students to schedule and compete in a full season for the 2023-24 academic year.”

Dan Bellrichard

While announcing the addition of bowling, Hartl also announced Bellrichard as the programs’ inaugural coach. A 2001 Luther alum, Bellrichard held a variety of positions at the college from 2009 to 2014 and has been active in the growth of bowling in Winneshiek County. Bellrichard has been involved in the Youth Mentoring Bowl-a-thon, which serves families and children in Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek Counties, and has also been a member of various leagues in the area. 

“I am thrilled to be returning to Luther College as the head women’s and men’s bowling coach,” said Bellrichard. “My goals are to not only build an excellent bowling program, but also help the team members be successful in the bowling alley, the classroom and the community.  I’m excited to begin recruiting our inaugural team members and working with these women and men on their personal and athletic development.”

Luther’s home venue will be the King Pin Entertainment Center, located in Decorah, Iowa. The building, which opened in September 2022, features 16 bowling lanes, an arcade, billiards tables, ax throwing, meeting rooms and a bar and grill. 

“I’d like to thank Luther College Athletic Director Renae Hartl. Her enthusiasm and commitment to bringing bowling to Luther gives me the confidence to lead the newest Norse athletic program,” continued Bellrichard. “Additionally, I’d like to thank Russ Novak for his commitment to bowling and the Decorah community through his amazing renovation of King Pin Entertainment Center. Without this, Luther College’s new bowling program would not be possible. I can’t wait to get started!”

Bellrichard will begin recruiting efforts immediately to build the team rosters for the 2023-24 season. Individuals interested in joining the Norse bowling teams should contact him at dan.bellrichard@luther.edu. 

Source link

New Year’s Eve Bash

We are bringing back the New Year’s Eve Bash! The Decorah Parks and Recreation Department invites the community to attend the 25th Annual New Year’s Eve Bash sponsored by Decorah Bank & Trust and Gundersen Health System!  This free family friendly event will be held Saturday, December 31, 5:00-9:00pm, in the Luther College Regents Center. The evening includes open swimming, basketball, tennis, pickleball, a Bouncy House for the little ones, and more.  Concession items including pizza, popcorn, water and Gatorade will be available for purchase.  Please enter the Luther College Regents Center using the circle drive entrance on the west side of the building. No registration required, just show up!

Source link

Rhymes With Decorah Podcast: RWD29 – Winter 2022-23 Inspire(d) w/ Aryn Henning Nichols

Winter22_23_Inspired_Cover-791x1024.jpg
“Winter 2022-2023” Inspire(d) – Cover Art by Diane Knight of Whalan, MN.

Aryn Henning Nichols and host Benji Nichols run down the “Winter 2022-2023” issue of Inspire(d) Magazine on this episode of “Rhymes With Decorah”. Join us for a fun half hour highlighting the articles that are keeping us inspired this winter, as well as a few other sidetracks along the way!

ArynWinter_22.jpg

From Aryn’s Editor’s Letter in the “Winter” issue:

“Lagom. It’s a Swedish word meaning “just the right amount.” “Not too much, not too little.” “Just enough.” The Swedish proverb “Lagom är bäst” literally means “the right amount is best,” and is also translated as “enough is as good as a feast.” Enough is as good as a feast! Leave it to the Scandinavians to have just the right phrase to encompass my feelings for this winter.
In a time and world where the mantra is so often more, more, more, I encourage you, this season, to say, “Better, not more.” Make choices that count – shop local, show up for your community, be present with your loved ones. Define what’s enough for you.
A lot about defining enough is being creative with your resources.”

Read the whole piece here – as well as the whole “Winter” issue online, or find it at your favorite location across the region. 

We are truly excited to share this issue’s stories with you, and hope that they provide a sense of community and inspiration to you this winter season. 

Winter_TOC_2022_23.jpg

In this issue, you’ll find: 

The Tlou House: Finding Joy in Decorah

Seamus Schwaba + Sugarloaf Theatre 

Community Builders:

– Diane Knight – MN Artist
– Shaundel Spivey – Co Founder of BLACK La Crosse
– Marnie Hofmeister-Pooley  – Let’s Shine Coffee

Mental Health: Defining Enough + Hierarchy of Needs

Great-horned Owl

Sum Biz: Gabi Masek + Wildcrafted Acupuncture & Herbs

Chinese Winter Wellness Tips 

Dream Boards

Probit: Hazel Grotegut

and more!

 

Thank You for listening – and thank you for being Inspire(d)!
Want to support our work?
Become a member or give a gift membership to Inspire(d)!

 

“Rhymes With Decorah” is a companion project of Inspire(d) Media.

Original music heard in this podcast performed and recorded by Nick Zielinski of Decorah. Find him on Instagram @indicative_of_drumming

1 2 3 4