in 2021 we are
#SVSMoreThanJustAShow
July 9, 2021
Celebrating Aging Through the Performing Arts
Greetings!

 VOLUNTEERISM AND SUPPORT FOR THE SENIOR VARIETY SHOW

Webster’s dictionary has many ways of describing the meanings of volunteerism, such as giving freely of time and talents or giving assistance to or the act of showing a person or group one believes something is worthwhile. Volunteering is one of the fundamental building blocks that enables groups to sustain.

The Senior Variety Show has existed because of the hundreds, yes hundreds, of volunteers since it began in 1995. Some of those volunteers are still with the show today. It began with a core group and an idea to find a way, a mission so to speak, to give folks 60 and older a way to “showcase” their talents. These first volunteers branched out to create a volunteer board of directors and committees for each individual need a new organization has, find a venue and get the show on the road. “The word was out! Many folks got on the road to “volunteer” time, expertise, ideas, not to mention the performers who excitedly volunteered to participate in the shows. It all began as a small snowball rolling down a hill and became bigger and bigger.

As with any endeavor, an organization needs constant support in other arenas. The Senior Variety Show has been so very fortunate to have individuals and businesses support the show for these many past years. That support comes in forms of people in the community who are advocates of the arts and invited us to do radio interviews showcasing the Senior Variety Show. There have been countless newspaper pictures and articles. As an organization, we cannot forget the financial support of many sponsors that helped us meet the financial needs a show encounters. As the saying goes; “It takes a village.”

We did hit a “bump in the road” and were not able to put up shows in 2020-2021, but there are still folks volunteering their time and talents to stay in contact and keep our name out there. The bi-monthly newsletter and our fun new venture “Musical Telegrams” (see info in this newsletter) are ways SVS has been staying in touch.
The Senior Variety Show will continue to look forward to the future and “KEEP ON SMILING, CAUSE WHEN YOU’RE SMILING, THE WHOLE WORLD SMILES WITH YOU”

Hint for this week's featured Senior Showcase video performance:
7th birthday, anniversary, and 7th inning stretch! Play ball and are you happy??


Where was this most recent SVS Musical Telegram? Who performed?
Make your best guess and hit the hot linked SVS You Tube Channel below to see this week’s Senior Showcase Video and answer (it’s already posted!!)
Answer: Youth and Shelter Services Integrated Health Services 7th birthday/ anniversary! Leaders are Pat Meek and Leo Timms but everyone performs!!
 “Keeping Up With Folks (and puppies)”
Let’s read how some folks have been spending their time these past months 

Ellen Janke: “I have been very busy with my camera club. I recently returned from a three- day camera club trip to Minnesota where I was able to shoot some spectacular pictures. I have photos entered in 4 categories at the State Fair and have been notified my photos are being displayed and that I also have an award. You don’t know what reward it is until you go to the fair on a specified day. It is wonderful to get recognition from over five thousand entries. The biggest thing I have been doing these past few months is training and loving my new puppy, a King Charles Cavalier. She is sweet, petite and quite a handful! Her name is Charli (female version of Charles).”
Carol Jahn: “It’s been a whirlwind few months as my husband Larry and I decided to move to the sunny state of Florida. We purchased our new home and are excited to get moved (July 17th). We also decided to sell all of our furniture before moving. That has been quite a task. The only downside is that our apartment is very empty and we exist with a sofa, TV and TV trays and a bed! Our other BIG adventure a few months ago was acquiring our lovable, mischievous new puppy. He is trained (we think!) and ready to move to Florida. So long Iowa!    
You can send your quarantine projects and ideas to us at storycountysvs@gmail.com and we will share. Building community one project at a time.
Spotlight article: “Carole Horowitz"

Although Carole Horowitz has been associated with SVS for decades, both as a long-time patron and as a publicity associate, she hesitated to be interviewed. But the editors and all of SVS wholeheartedly agree that hers is a vital voice in the SVS story. 

Question:  Where were you born?  What brought you to Iowa?
I am a proud native of Brooklyn, NY.  I arrived in Ames, Iowa in 1961 as a brand-new bride.  My husband Jack came to accept his first job as a professor in biochemistry at ISU. 

Question:  How did you become a "voice" for the performing arts in our community?
I was raised on the arts in Brooklyn. My mother had always wanted to be on stage.  She had talent and studied with important actresses of the day but her folks wouldn’t allow it. So she was really my inspiration as she often took me to movies, stage shows, vaudeville, etc. in Manhattan.
I had studied speech pathology and theater at Brooklyn College. When I arrived in Ames, thinking we would only be here a few short years, I just followed my passion for the performing arts, starting with the board at ACTORS. Publicizing, not performing, was always my interest and intent.
Jack also loved the arts so he encouraged me.  Eventually I was asked to give a weekly account of the community’s performing arts on WOI, then KASI, and then a column in the Ames Tribune. It was Jack’s support that made it all possible as he often watched our two sons so I could venture out at night to various meetings and events.
All in all, it did keep me off the street!

Question: What was the first senior variety show you attended?   What are your memories from that show?  
The first show I attended was very early on.  And truthfully, it was not really ready for “prime time” in those years. And that was ok because the purpose was to share the talent of older people, and to be an inspiration to the audience.  
 
Question:  Truthfully, did you think that the show would succeed?
Definitely! There is much talent in our community and the show filled a community need.  And I could see the determination of the creative leaders. Through the years the staging of the show was refined by moving acts on and off quickly and that has kept the audience on their toes! It has become quite the professional production!
 
Question: Is there a memorable moment from a show that has remained with you all these years? I basically just enjoy seeing the return talent in general and the newcomers.  I would have to say that I always look forward to the Heart of Iowa band.  Also Kay Berger and Skip Walter in the Laugh-in skit was a favorite of mine!
 
Question: How did you become more active with the show in later years? 
When Heartland decided that the show had grown beyond what their minimal staff could handle, I was adamant that the show must continue independently!  So I grabbed my pom poms as a SVS cheerleader!  I also encouraged in the area of publicity and featured SVS twice a year on Carole Previews the Arts at KHOI…announcing auditions and again at show time.
 
Question: During your interviews with SVS on KHOI, was there a favorite fact that came to light?
I’ve enjoyed all my SVS radio guests but Chuck Jones was a special treat to interview.  He loved to tell the story that the auditorium staff said that no one would come to see old folks perform. And in actuality, they had to turn people away at the door that first year. From then on, SVS scheduled two well-attended performances each year…for the next 25 years! 

Question:  Finally, we have noticed that so far you have escaped being a performer in the show. When can we expect your debut?
As I said, I’m a publicist. I enjoy promoting the talent of others.                              Don’t hold your breath! (Her voice is smiling.)
 
Thanks, Carole, for your encouragement of the performing arts in our community…and especially for waving our banner enthusiastically when we most needed it!  And be assured, one day you will find yourself in our REAL spotlight… the one on the SVS stage!  We can hardly wait!

MUSICAL TELEGRAMS!!

Also take a look at and embrace the information on the flyer below. Share it with many others and partake at your favorite event. Enjoy SVS “Musical Telegrams”!!! Give us a call soon!
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Newsletter humor by Steve Bellin:

Two little skunks, one named IN and one named OUT, wanted to go and play. Their parents told them they could, but an hour later only Out returned

  "Hasn't In come in?" asked the father Skunk.

  "Out went out with In, but only Out returned," said Mother Skunk
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  "Well Out," said Father, "you better go out and find In, and bring her in."

  So Out did, and only a few moments later he returned with his wayward sister.

  Ah, good," said Mother Skunk. "How did you find her?"

  Out smiled broadly. "Instinct," he said.

 ***Moral of the story: Sometimes instinct works even if it stinks!***

    “CATCH THE SENIOR VARIETY SHOW TRAIN!! ENJOY!”  

  “ MUSICAL TELEGRAMS”!! Call and sign up!!