Election Information
Respectfully submitted by the Area 8 Nominating Committee:
Debbie Llewellyn, Marilyn Wilgocki, and Marilyn Lake, Chair
Candidates for the Office of Secretary of Area 8:
Kathy Leonard, candidate
for Secretary, is currently serving Area 8 as Membership Chair, and
is past-Kansas Chair (2007-2010) and member of the Topeka 2010
Festival Planning Committee. After admiring the bell choirs
for several years, Kathy started ringing bells in 1990, and began
directing the children/youth bells, and adult beginning
bells at 1st United Methodist Church in Manhattan, Kansas in 2007,
where she continues ringing with Allegro Ringers and singing in the
Morning Glory Choir.
A Music Education (Choral Concentration) graduate of Bethany College, she is also an active member of her local P.E.O. Chapter (where she has served all offices --twice as secretary and president), and is a lifetime member of Sigma Alpha Iota. Days are spent working as an IT Licensing Specialist for K-State’s Information Technology Services.
When
Kathy isn’t working at K-State or at church (ringing, singing, or
directing), you may find her ushering or working in the office for
KSU football and basketball games, quilting, reading, or solving
Sudoku and crossword puzzles. The best times are spent with
her family, husband Evan and daughter Amanda are also ringers.
Stephen Swanson
has been studying music since he was in 4th grade when he
began playing the saxophone.
In his late teens the music minister at his church borrowed a
set of bells from a neighboring church, and he enjoyed what he then
thought of as the “novelty” of it playing them on arrangements of
choral anthems. While he
was away at college, the foundation was laid for his church to
purchase their own first 4 octave set and shortly thereafter a new
handbell choir was born.
Steve has been ringing for over 15 years, but in some respects he
has a newcomer’s view of the handbell world.
In 2008, he was asked to conduct and lead his church’s
handbell choir. That is
when the bell bug really bit him.
After years of ringing simple hymn arrangements, he started
searching for new music and his eyes were opened
He wants to do more. He has begun attending workshops, and classes. This last year he attended his first National Seminar in Minneapolis, meeting some great people with great spirits. He is currently in the process of commissioning a piece for his church’s 100th anniversary. He also has dreams to start a community ensemble in the Quad City area. Steve is a CPA for a local accounting firm in Davenport, IA and would be honored to serve Area VIII in any capacity he can help be effective to promote excellence for our art. He lives in Moline, IL with his cat who keeps him around on staff.
Candidates for the Office of Treasurer of Area 8:
Kristin Kalitowski-Kowal
is the current Treasurer of Area 8, having taken that position in
fall 2010. She has been tasked with registering Area 8 members for
Missouri River Ring as well as maintaining a successful budget for
the event. She previously served the Area 8 Board as Illinois Chair,
a position she took over mid-term in 2007 after serving as Registrar
for Illinois events. That year she also acted as equipment loan
coordinator for the Area 8 Festival in Peoria, organizing all those
handbell sets! She has maintained her commitment to the Illinois
committee as their current Registrar.
At a young age, Kristin caught the handbell bug, and began ringing
at Santa Maria in Mundelein, IL. She then went off to college and
became Manager and treble sectional leader in Purdue Bells. When not
ringing, she pursued a civil engineering degree and now works as
senior project engineer for Civiltech Engineering, preparing plans
and cost estimates for roadway projects.
For four years Kristin acted as President of The Agape Ringers, with
enthusiasm for budgeting and dollar stretching. This eye for fiscal
responsibility has aided the group in planning for their future.
Always apt to share her love of handbells, Kristin has taught
classes at private and Handbell Musicians of America sponsored
workshops in the Midwest, as well as Area 2, 8 and 10 Festivals. On
Sunday mornings you can find her directing Glory Ringers, a junior
high and high school choir, at Gary UMC in Wheaton, IL. The rest of
her time is spent with husband Joe, painting the house and even
doing a little fishing.
Burnell L. Hackman
has served as Director of Music Ministry at St. John’s Lutheran
Church in Arnold, MO., since November 2000 where he directs a
multi-faceted music program. In August 2010 he was also appointed
Director of the St. Louis Archdiocesan Handbell Choir.
Prior to coming to Arnold he was involved in music ministry at
several Jacksonville, Illinois churches serving as organist,
vocal choir director and handbell choir director. His handbell
ensembles have provided worship leadership on six occasions for
Handbell Musicians Of America (AGEHR) Area 8 Conferences and had the
honor of leading a worship service for the AGEHR National Directors
Seminar at the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France (the Old
Cathedral) in 1995.
He has served Area 8 as Treasurer from 1992 – 1996 and Chair from
2002-2004. He was award the Outstanding Service Award from
Area 8 in 2000.
Burnell is a member of the American Guild of Organists, Association
of Lutheran Musicians, American Choral Directors Association,
Handbell Musicians of America, the Committee on the Creative Arts of
Arnold and Handbell Association of Greater St. Louis, of which he is
Chairman.
Married since 1980 to Kathryn, they have one son, Biff. Kathy
rings handbells and plays the flute.