| References for Richie Plass's Seminar Series "Trails of the Menominee" |
| To Whom It May Concern: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your two seminar presentations here at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. The first presentation given on Saturday October 26, 2002, and the second one on Saturday November 16, 2002 were truly exceptional academic works of art. Both presentations were extremely professional and well received by more than 220 individuals in attendance. Your words were clearly inspirational to everyone, and were certainly appreciated by the teachers, administrators, and supervisors present at these events. If any of the students follow the wisdom of teaching shared in your message, the entire teaching profession will certainly raise its level of performance, and our communities will absolutely be more appreciative and understanding of the diverse cultures present in their lives. Again, thank you for providing the professional inspiration delivered to our seminar attendees. If my office can be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me here at the university." Sincerely, James R Coates, Jr., PhD. "I would highly recommend Richie Plass as a speaker-educator on multicultural issues. I first met Richie through his music. He is a member of the Wolf River Band, a country band comprised of several members of the Menominee Nation. As a writer/journalist, I interviewed him about the band. It quickly became apparent that his talents went well beyond his music. Richie was born on the Menominee Reservation. In 1969, he was elected president of the senior class at the predominantly white Shawano High School. That was an early indication of Richie's many talents. He has had direct and sometimes painful experiences as a member of the Menominee Nation. Those experiences and his keen understanding of both the big picture of life in a complex world and the small details of human interaction combine to make his multicultural presentations extremely valuable. To use an old phrase, Richie knows how to raise consciousness. He has done this with audiences that range from elementary school students and industrial workers to white-collar corporate groups. In addition to being a writer and editor, I teach communications courses at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. I asked Richie to make a presentation in the fall of 1999 to a group of more than 90 students in a course called Evolution of Mass Communications. He spoke about the way media portrays minority groups. His message was simple and effective. It stressed themes of human dignity, understanding and tolerance. He used video, art and other props to help make his points. In the end, it was his presence, wit and intelligence that carried the presentation and captivated the young audience. Richie Plass is a big man with an important message. He gently but directly challenges an audience to look at the world in different ways. He is a storyteller. His is a story that should be heard time and again." Bill Berry, Stevens Point, Wisconsin "To whom it may concern: Richie Plass has been a wonderful resource for the Indian Education office this school year. He has done numerous groups at both the middle and high school level. Richie is always willing to help kids and has had a positive attitude. The message he gives to the students on how to live their life traditionally and with optimism even in the face of adversity or unfair treatment. His talents are numerous and he is willing to share without asking for anything in return. He has been a wonderful asset to our Native American children in the Green Bay Public School District. all it takes is a phone call and he's there to help. Richie is someone you can call a friend even before you meet him, he has a big heart! He would be an asset to any program." Sincerely, Carrie Pasterski "Dear Richie, Thank you for coming to teach my class about your heritage. It was very interesting and helpful in gaining a better understanding of the rich culture of American Indians. The artifacts that you brought were also helpful for the children in First Grade. Seeing the real objects are so beneficial to aid in their learning. You have a wonderful way of explaining things so the children could understand and remember what you taught them. We enjoyed the music and story you shared with us. You shared so much with us that we cannot learn from any other source. We all need to learn more about the truly American Culture." Sincerely, Mary Lu Sachs |
bravenet.com