GOTR - Process Writing

      The piece is only about half done at this point. I have a meeting with a coordinator for GOTR set for Thursday morning. I am having difficulty deciding whether to insert myself - as I was obviously at the race last Thursday, hence my descriptions. I also wonder whether or not to include the race atmosphere at all? Should I focus just on Jordan, should I wait to see what I might incorporate when I meet with the GOTR coordinator? 

     On a lighter note, this piece has been really awesome to get into. The race was so fantastic - I think that it why I want to incorporate it. I guess on that note, I took lots of pictures of the race and also got a whole other bit on why Jordan chose to become involved in GOTR, and was thinking of using that piece of audio for my slideshow. If I am omitting Jordan's words from the piece, should I also omit the race description because I have pictures that will "describe" it?

     In workshop I hope you will help me decide where to place the spotlight for this piece. Should it be on the overall program, the race, Jordan, or a combination of all three?

GOTR Article (For Workshop)

Music could be heard ‘round Western’s Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan last Thursday evening as thousands of third through fifth grade girls, their faithful coaches, parents, and hundreds of community members prepared to run the 5K they’d been training for since March. Traffic was blocked from the far-most right lane of Stadium Drive, and proud parents, brothers, sisters, friends, teachers, and more lined the streets to cheer on their runners.

With a “fun hair” station provided for girls and coaches, pink, green, sparkling, and crowned heads littered the football field as the girls stretched and jived to the beat of the music breaking the hot air. Reminded often as they warmed up to drink water, the girls were all smiles as they marched out of the stadium to take their marks.

Among the many volunteers running alongside their teams was Jordan Earnest, a Kalamazoo College sophomore. Jordan was an assistant coach at Woods Lake Elementary. After 24 practices, Jordan was ready for her first Girls on the Run (GOTR) race.

The 24 practices are well organized, but not in the training for a 5K sense. “In all honesty,  our training process isn’t that official,” Jordan admitted, “It’s just based on - to get moving.” Jordan described the attitude of the program, “So we’re not necessarily - and it’s definitely a non-competitive, we’re not out to win anything, like, everyone gets a medal at the end. We don’t time anyone, anything like that.” When inquired about practice schedules, and whether or not the work-outs are rigorous, she said, “Some days, our activities are like, freeze-tag type things, or just about getting moving and being active, rather than like, ‘okay, we gotta run 15 laps today.’ ” 

While she talked about empowerment for the young girls, Jordan laughed as she remembered, “Which is like, kind of ironic, ‘cause the 5K is today, and I was like thinking the other day, I’m like, ‘oh, I should probably like, I should probably start running around campus a little bit more to get in shape for it. I’m like no!’ If they’re gonna - I’ve been training, training, in quotes, as much as they have, so.” The empowerment seems to reach more than just the third through fifth grade GOTR.

Girls on the Run has been studied since 2001 by Rita DiGioacchino DeBate, Ph. D., MPH, CHES. In reviewing academic research on girls and sports, Dr. DeBate found conflicting data concerning self-esteem and athletics. While girls involved in normal physical activity tend to have a higher sense of self-worth and are better able to avoid peer pressures, girls involved in sports that encourage a small build may be at higher risk of falling into the trap of eating disorders. Dr. DeBate’s research has helped those in charge of providing lessons for girls involved in GOTR which instill messages that might squash this tendency.

Jordan agrees with the ideas of prevention and positive influence, “I think it’s targeted as a prevention program, because it’s for girls third through fifth grade, and just like, just when they’re hitting puberty, and that’s I think when girls images of themselves start to change, around that age, or at least I remember it did for me, involved in athletics of that age.” Empowerment is a theme in which Jordan discusses frequently. “It’s supposed to integrate the physical activity - and it’s feeling empowered in different ways, so with the knowledge we talk about these things, but also pride ourselves with being healthy and being healthy girls.”

Profile - "The Coffee Cafe of Jackson, MI"

     Everyone’s a friend at The Coffee Cafe. The roughly 300 square foot trailer is located at 1513 Horton Road in Jackson, Michigan; thought it may be easier to search instead for a small yellow trailer neatly situated in front of Scruples Hair Design, at the intersection of Weatherwax and Horton Roads in Summit Township.

   
  The Coffee Cafe may be small, but business is big for owner of 15 years, Lonnie Bostwick. Even after 9:00 am on a Thursday morning, as most have already made their coffee stops on the way to work, Lonnie is continuously busy. She never stops moving, chatting, and enjoying her customers as much as they seem to enjoy her. As soft wordless music plays over the stereo, there is the warmth of a panini-maker, two humming refrigerators, and countless coffee grinders sufficiently claiming their needed space. With two windows to attend to at once, and as the sole worker, Lonnie still manages to sip her coffee and answer the questions of an earnest young reporter.

  Though it has been her home for 15 years, this was not always the way Lonnie planned to spend her years. Lonnie had been a buyer for 21 years, and when she lost her job she “wanted something different.” Acquiring the shop was not by dumb luck, but instead by a deliberate inquiry of the previous owners. “This was not for sale, I just asked him if he ever was thinking about selling, and he got back to me three months later, and I bought it from him.” But, don’t be fooled. Lonnie was not always a coffee connoisseur. “I bought this not knowing anything about coffee.” As if she sensed disbelief, she assured, “I did, I didn’t even know between a cappuccino and a latte, I really didn’t.”

  Fifteen years later, Lonnie now offers 15 different flavored coffees, homemade hot chocolate, smoothies, lattes, cappuccinos, donuts, bagels, and sandwiches - for breakfast and lunch. Lonnie orders her flavored coffees from Michigan-owned companies, and buys her donuts from the Jackson-owned Hinkley Bakery. “I try to do as much local as I can.”

The Coffee Cafe offers a unique atmosphere. Unlike many coffee joints, the cafe is a drive-up only place. Drive-thru windows more often provide a speedy alternative to walking in, and often result in a more detached feel. Lonnie’s place is far from impersonal.  She says, “And it is speedy, for people you don’t want to know, but when people come in here on a regular basis, you do become friends.” With these connections comes deep loyalty from her customers, and this loyalty might just be the reason for Lonnie’s 15 successful years and counting.

Lonnie has always been able to sustain her small business, but times have changed since she first began her venture. “The competition is more out there now, when I started there was only the Gourmet Bagel [another local coffee joint, which has since gone out of business], nothing else.” Now Jackson is home to chains such as Starbucks, Biggby, and Tim Hortons. Also heavy in competition with other local coffee shops is the powerhouse, Jackson Coffee Co. Lonnie had long had the advantage of a location in which there was little interaction with these competitors, but this quickly changed with the introduction of the Bearclaw Coffee Company.

The Coffee Cafe may have been in for trouble when one of the Bearclaw Coffee Company chain stores was opened down the street some years ago. A frequent customer of Lonnie’s, Deb Krajewski, said, “She was worried when Bearclaw came in.” The Bearclaw offered a space in which one could sit and enjoy their coffee, or study, read, chat with friends, as well as the lure of the quick drive-thru. Even with the Bearclaw’s seemingly more personal feel, the loyalty of Lonnie’s customers rang true in it’s success, and perhaps the eventual failure and closing of the Bearclaw.

Deb Krajewski gives insight into the reasons for this loyalty, “She has relationships with all her customers. She knows everybody’s names, she knows their families.” In watching Lonnie bounce around the small kitchen of the trailer, laughing and chatting with her beloved customers, it is not difficult to see such intimate relationships forming. Everyone is “hunnie” or “sweetie,” she knows who was sick yesterday, who will be back tomorrow, and what they will want to eat or drink.

Not only does Lonnie’s friendliness attribute to her customer’s loyalty, but also it’s locality. Deb says, “I don’t feel that in a big city she would have survived. People in Jackson are pretty loyal to home-grown businesses.” Maybe it’s just her coffee. Steve and Teresa Schramm seem to think so; “We’re loyal customers. She always treats us great - she goes above and beyond.” Teresa is quick to add, “Plus it’s the best coffee in town!”

"The Events of October" --

     The Events of October was quite a read. I am feeling unbelievable tired upon these last chapters. My heart has been hurting and my thoughts on overdrive for hours and hours. Mixed emotions; guilt, responsibility, disgust, compassion, remorse, confusion, exhaustion.

     I have heard Maggie’s story - Maggie & Neenef - that slip in itself plays into my dilemma - countless times since arriving to K in the fall of 2009. I have been to her memorial services, readings, I have seen the infamous 201, I have stood near her bench in silent remembrance. But never have I listened to her story told from such a wise perspective as Gail. No hearsay interrupted this story.

     I happen to have the pleasure of having Gail in class this quarter. In some strange way it was comforting to hear her voice shine through this piece. I saw words she often uses in lecture, I could feel her deep hurt and anger, as I’m sure other readers with less knowledge of her could as well, but it was helpful to know how passionate she is in telling true stories. Again, without having had conversations with the author, I appreciate her willingness to expose her methods from the get-go. On page 7 she says, “What follows is a chronicle of the days leading up to a particular October morning in 1999, and the days that came after. It’s a fusion of fact, memory testimony, impression, and one other ingredient, a potent and dangerous catalyst: imagination.” I so deeply respect such a statement. She exposes herself to what potentially could come as criticism, as others may have encountered this tragic experience in a different light.

     As far as her writing and reporting style, Gail seems to include narrative surrounding every imaginable aspect of this event. She discusses in serious depth Maggie Wardle, and to what depth she is able on Neenef Odah. She brings us as close as she is able to their relationship, via their messages back and forth and friend’s and parent’s accounts. She is sure to give a well-rounded picture of both, never casting Neenef as an inhumane person who simply murdered his ex and nothing more. She spoke of several faculty members, community members, students, student groups, counselors, and the list goes on. I don’t think one could honestly argue her credibility. It is also comforting to know that the author of such a story was very much a part of this event, this also seems to give her the credibility some other authors we’ve read have lacked.

Response to "The French Fry Connection"

     This article was informative, to say the least! I appreciate the author’s choice in expressing the issues of Asian nations in the late 90’s. I did go into this piece knowing very, very little about Asian politics. While I wonder how things have changed within the last 14 years, I do feel that I got a taste of what was going on at the time of this narrative. In saying this, I wonder to Tanj & Saskia why you chose this piece from so long ago. How did you come across it?

     The piece at times held my attention, and at other times did not. For whatever reason, at times while reading this I had The Omnivore’s Dilemma in the back of my mind - particularly in Part 1 as we explored where the McDonald’s fries begin as spuds! Part 1 was a little less readable than say, the fire scene in Part 4, but we read at times for information, and this article presented much information!

Response to "Held Hostage"

     I enjoyed this radio piece. It is a very interesting topic that again I did not know a thing about before listening. While I do know some Spanish, it was still spoken too quickly for me to understand, and while it is always frustrating to not know what is being said around you, I felt that the non-translated pieces were short enough that they remained effective rather than a hinderance to listening. The reporter’s story - of her father’s kidnapping - was much more enticing than Viviana’s story. I actually had forgotten about her story until it was brought back up toward the end. I am not sure of the usual nature of the show, but in this case, the two narratives worked, but might have worked better if Viviana had been mentioned again more quickly, how her father’s kidnapping was similar, different, etc. I think it was helpful to have more than one story in this short section as the overall theme was something larger than one kidnapping, but focusing on the caller hotline for families of kidnapped individuals as well as the epidemic kidnapping once was in Columbia. Overall, very cool piece. I’ve got to start listening to these online shows!

Reading Response(s) - Aaron Aupperlee

Reading Aaron’s Cit Pat pieces was especially interesting to me because I am reading about my my hometown. That being said, it was still incredible to me how little I know about my home of nearly 21 years. I do not know where Chittock Street is. I have never driven down it or walked past it, because Francis Street isn’t the loveliest place to walk or drive, depending on the time of day. Even as an insider, I read this story as an outsider. That is what is so great about the “news.” You are constantly able to learn something new, and find new stories that must be written. Also, I just love the last line he uses in the article about Dylan and Paul, “So, in the end, the boys’ biggest challenges at Homecoming had nothing to do with wheelchairs or accidents. Their issues were all too-normal: a loose bow tie and an ill-fitting crown.” Beautiful

“The Marriage Cure” was a sad and powerful read. The article was well-written and kept me turning the pages. For me, I was taking a look into another world. Not only have I never experienced the true South, but I have never experienced poverty. I have never worried for my next meal or that my electricity or phone may be shut off. The article left me feeling somewhat helpless. There are so many ways in which people need help, and there are just too few willing or able to give it. What a character Corean was. The love and support she gave to her family and friends was inspiring. Each character, and especially her, were painted very honestly and deliberately. I’m very happy to have read this.

For the Post article, I have to admit (embarrassingly) that I did not know anything about this situation with Robin Madrid before reading, and so for me, while I see the lede as effective, I myself did not understand it as well as one who had been keeping up with the story (or the war, for that matter). It was effective in that it added suspense and tension to the piece immediately. The reader is intrigued and urged by it’s teases to read further. 

Profile - David Iocca - For Workshop

     Okay guys, I ended up changing my initial profile idea. I am not yet sure if I want this profile to be specifically on Dave or on DJI. Please give me your feedback! Thanks :)

     It’s 7:00 on a Monday night as I walk into DJI & Associates, Inc. to find it’s sole owner David Robert Iocca at his disheveled desk sipping a Coors Light, finishing his work for the day. It it not uncommon to find Dave here at such an hour, though the other workers clock out at 5:30 PM each day. Dave is no longer working for pay, but ensuring that the jobs get done correctly.

     Dave began DJI fourteen years ago. He wasn’t trained in engineering or business management, but rather accounting, yet he sits as president and manager of 25 men and women as well as the architect of much of the natural gas pipeline they are contracted to construct. 

     Dave is the second youngest of twelve siblings. He worked initially for his father, but after some years of intense scrutiny and unfair wages between he and his younger brother, Dave decided to venture out on his own. While working for his father he had learned the “ropes” of engineering and design and felt he could be a successful without his father. He said, “And when I left I told him, I said, you know, I’m moving on, and he said, ‘You’ll be back in six months,’ and that was fourteen years ago.”

     Dave’s frustration with the way his father ran his company drove him to operate his own business exactly opposite. He says of his father, “He used to sit out at the front door and wait for people to come in. He was in the service, so he was, 8 o’clock or nothing.” Dave was also held to such standards. “And I used to get sent home. I came in at 8:05 one day and he sent me home. ‘You’re late, go home.’ And it was in the middle of a winter storm, and there was accidents all over the highway and I was like, ‘God damn, I got here as fast as I could’ and it wasn’t acceptable.” Dave made sure to turn this around in his own company by being less strict and holding his employees to a more attainable standard. Ever critical of his father’s method he admits, “I mean, we all want the same result, we want to do a good job, but there’s other approaches you can take to achieve that goal.” 

     Even with the difficulty Dave had working with his younger brother and his father, he chose to stick with family in his own endeavor. Of his 25 employees, five are members of the Iocca clan. Dave also employs many friends. While DJI continues to thrive, he admits the difficulty that comes with having people close to his heart working for him. He says,“If something goes bad, then it’s hard to talk to your friends that you hang out with. It’s hard to like, say that, ‘Hey guys, we’re struggling here.’ It has it’s pluses and minuses. I mean, when things are going good, it’s great. And you feel good because it’s your friends and you’re doing great. But when it goes bad you have a hard time, you know, trying to figure out why.” Dave recalls a time in the past week that he had to call in a friend who wasn’t performing as expected and discuss the problem. “It’s very hard to understand why we’re doing so bad, and it makes it very awkward.” He admits that it often becomes very difficult to separate work and his social life. “I’m going to be honest with you, I’d never do it again. I’d never hire people I know again.”

     While for now, Dave is the sole owner of DJI, he hopes one day for an employee-owned company. He believes employees would then feel more involved and thus be more invested in the work DJI performs.

     Thought owning his own company can be stressful, Dave says, “I can envision myself being here in my 60’s. You know what, you enjoy what you do, and you keep on doing it.” He says of the nature of DJI’s work, “You can’t beat it. Especially in Michigan. It’s something you don’t learn about in school, they don’t teach you this stuff.” 

     He hopes one day one of his three daughters will take over DJI. “All I can say is I hope one of you guys take advantage of it, whether it’s you, or my daughter, or Kent’s daughter. It’s a shame if you guys don’t.”