Saunter Sojourners

Friendly Photo Shoot

11/11/10

Rebecca was my first guest walker for my City Saunter project. We met up at REO Town and did a photo walk to the old train station there. When she’s not out performing volunteer work and #LoveLansing activities she’s working hard as Public Relations Director at Rizzi Designs. On her free time she also operates a photography business, ReelPhoto, using her new home town to capture gorgeous images of her clients with Lansing as the backdrop.

On April 1, 2011 I had the great honor of having Michael McCallum join me for my walk down Fairview St. Michael has been shooting films in Lansing for over a decade. Despite the pull to leave Lansing for greener pastures he remains fervently loyal to his home town. He, like so many in Lansing, feels that there is something incredibly special about our great town. He continues to write, direct and star in feature films shot on location in small businesses and city streets in the Lansing area. He also finds here a great supply of musicians, actors and other talents that help him create award winning films. Michael is the owner of Rebel Pictures.

On April 13, 2011 for my News Worthy blog I was able to walk and talk to the amazing Evan Pinsonnault from WLNS Channel 6 news. I had contacted him about his “Tell Me Something Good” segment. I thought my City Saunter Project was something he might be interested in and he was! I have since seen Evan many times at other Lansing events and he has never lost his charm!

I had the great pleasure of walking with Robin Miner-Swartz on April 27. She provided the perfect commentary as we explored the intricate streets within Lansing’s West Side Neighborhood. Robin is not shy in accepting her role as “Lansing’s Greatest Cheerleader”, in fact she revels in it. She can usually be found spending her Thursday lunch hour working on a Lunch With a Purpose non profit project. She was also a vibrant participant in Lansing’s first TEDx Lansing as well as having a lead roll in TEDx 2.0. In addition to all the volunteer projects she participates in Robin has a “day job” as Director of Communications at Capital Region Community Foundation.

Ground Breaking

Despite the possibility of more rain, I was able to convince Patrick O’Meara to come along for a quick walk around REO Town today, March 25, 2011. We were both attending the ground breaking ceremony for Board of Water & Light’s new natural gas power plant. Although Pat doesn’t appear much in my blogs for this project he has been one hundred percent behind me and this project. Patrick is my go to guy for all things programming, website and computers in general. I often call him the smartest programmer in the Lansing area, and as if wife I’m not partial at all:) As the lead programmer and owner of O’Meara Consulting he provides these services to multiple businesses in the Lansing area, New York and Virginia. His collaboration with multiple, local design studios allows him the unique opportunity to be involved with many Lansing area events. He also gets drug into my multiple volunteer adventures as a mostly willing guest. Born and raised in Lansing he is passionate about keeping Lansing strong and vibrant for his family.

Secret Garden

I was so happy to see Susan pull into Cooley Garden’s for City Saunter’s first Photo Walk on June 21, 2011. Susan is a fellow photographer that enjoys sharing her gorgeous photos of her two adorable kids. When not enjoying her passion she is deeply involved with her other passion; teaching. Susan is one of many outstanding teachers in the Lansing school district. She is also a fellow Eastern Quaker from the class of 1988 and is often assisting me with alumni activities as an alumni committee member.

My father in law J. Patrick O’Meara has joined me on two walks; A Simple Walk for Peace and A Walk in the Park. Mr. O’Meara, as I knew him while a student at Otto Middle School, has a Ph.D in education from MSU. He was a renowned teacher of history for 38 years at Otto. Nine years later I became his first child-in-law. I then renamed him to Pat, but after a while of the two Pats confusion I again renamed him to Dad O. My father in law is the type of man that I wish there was a lesson book to teach all young men how to act. He is loyal and committed to the many areas he feels strongly about, especially his family. There is a strength in him that is beyond admirable. I am very fortunate that his oldest son, my Patrick, has many of these qualities as well. I always appreciate the love and support they both have given to me and this project.

Emanuele Berry has actually joined me on my walks twice now. The first was July 2011 and covered in my blog Summer Storm. Emanuele is the news director for MSU’s IMPACT 89 FM student radio. Our July walk was an interactive interview; we walked, she asked questions about my project. That interview ran on the air later that month Click to listen to interview. At the beginning of this year Emanuele got back in contact with me for another interview. This one will air on Focal Point another MSU student produced news cast. It’s always exciting to get contacted by the media. It’s even more exciting when they join me for my walks!

You Gotta Have Friends
Shawn has been a close friend for a very long time. She was at one time married to my first cousin and our children are roughly the same age. Together we planned most of our holiday adventures together; trick or treating, Uncle John’s, Christmas. It has always been a special joy to have Shawn around. I am glad we’ve remained friends all this time.