The Good Life Men's Magazine - March/April 2015 by The Good Life Men's Magazine

How to Respond When You Can’t Re m “Hi, (insert your name here)! Man, it’s been ages. How are you?” This sounds like the beginning of a nice, cordial conversation. It might not last for longer than two minutes. Then again, it may last a half hour. It’s great seeing them again. It would be especially enjoyable if you could remember their name. When you are faced with someone who knows you, but you can’t remember anything about them, or you recognize them but can’t remember their name, you have a few routes to choose from. The jerk If you want to come off as a horrible person, “the jerk” is always an option. After their exuberant greeting, act offended that they are daring to address you (I immediately imagined Kanye West taking this option). Follow that reaction with this statement: “I don’t even know who you are, ya creep. Why are you talking to me? Do I have food on my face, or something?” I can predict with some certainty that they will cease conversing and walk away, one eyebrow raised or both furrowed, in wonderment as to what just happened. You will never hear from them again, not that you knew who they were, anyway. A grapevine effect may take place where acquaintances hear about your act and begin despising you from afar. You will then become a modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge and eat cold porridge by yourself at night without even a dog to comfort you in your misery – you, the jerk. Vaguely there Unfortunately, this is the route I usually take. Their cheerful hello is greeted by an equally ecstatic response from me. I then ask roundabout questions in hopes they will produce character clues. In these instances, I’ve oftentimes said, “It’s been forever. When was the last time we ran into each other?” If I just met them last week, things could get incredibly awkward. 2

Methods of Recovery BY: MEGHAN FEIR

e member Someone’s Name When I recognize their face but not their name or history, I continue talking with them until something jogs my memory. But when the conversation is over and the questions still remain, it nags me for days. Be aware that this is the method of potential mental torture. Honesty is the best policy This is probably the most brave and commendable way to figure out who the mystery speaker is and why you know them. If you go with the honest approach, it has the potential to come off as harsh and could embarrass the other person, so be gentle. By kindly stating, “I’m sorry, but I just can’t place your name right now,” you’ll appear bold, confident, considerate and forgetful. However, it is better to be a flake than a jerk or bad actor. The forgotten one When you are the one whose name and identity has been forgotten, misplaced in a sea of faces more recognizable than your own, don’t take it personally. Graciously remind them how you know each other and cut the conversation short. After all, you have other places to be and people to meet, people who may or may not remember your name when you see them out of context in the grocery store. 3

contents MARCH-APRIL 2015 VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 5

ON THE COVER

18 CHRIS BERG - STAY CLASSY FARGO! From Playing Football to Broadcasting: Berg, TV Host, Salesman, Father, Shares His Point of View

in every issue

16 HAVING A BEER WITH ... Fargo Police Lieutenant - Joel Vettel

28 FATHERS 12 Tips on Raising Boys

30 LOCAL HEROES AMERICAN RED CROSS - The Power of Volunteers Bearing Help and Goodwill

CONTENTS

02 METHODS OF RECOVERY How to Respond When You Can’t Remember Someone’s Name

06 MASTER OF THE STRINGS How One Luthier is Keeping Music Alive in the F-M Area

The Good Life Men’s Magazine is distributed six times a year by Urban Toad Media LLP. Material may not be reproduced without permission. The Good Life Men’s Magazine accepts no liability for reader dissatisfaction arising from content in this publication. The opinions expressed, or advice given, are the views of individual writers or advertisers and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of 4 The Good Life Men’s Magazine.

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24 12

16 CONTENTS CONTINUED 10 MIDWEST MUSCLE

New Gym Offers Unique Atmosphere and Equipment

12 CAR CLUBS SPOTLIGHT The Good Life Interviews Three Local Car Clubs That Do More Than Just Fix Up Old Cars

24 THE MAN WITH THE BANDS

Pat Lenertz is One of the Busiest Musicians in Fargo-Moorhead

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Soo Asheim Jessica Ballou Meghan Feir Paul Hankel Jessica Jasperson Alisha Underlee Nelson FOLLOW URBAN TOAD MEDIA ON TWITTER & FACEBOOK

How One Luthier is Keeping Music Alive in the F-M Area

BY: MEGHAN FEIR | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

espite its convenient and bustling location on Main Avenue in Downtown Fargo, Christian Eggert Violins is a humble shop that will never be heard screaming for attention. You may not have been aware of its existence, unless you have besought the aid of one of the shopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skilled luthiers to fix the broken neck on your cello. One could argue that the mustachioed, spectacle-wearing Glenn Miiller (double N, double I, double L) specializes in more than the repairing of stringed instruments. He possesses a formidable track record of gluing together the broken hearts of orchestra students whose dreams were once dashed by the near ruination of their prized instruments.

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When a student comes in here and thinks it’s the end of the world, I love being able to identify the problem and fix it,” Miiller said.

For the craftsman, the best part of his job is “being able to help someone with what they’re trying to accomplish. If I can make a small change to their instrument that makes it easier and more enjoyable to play, I feel like I’ve done my job.” Miiller’s adoration for repairing broken objects began in his teens after purchasing a worn-out guitar. “I had this really crappy guitar and started to think, ‘How can I make this thing work better?’ Then I got an electric guitar and tried to customize it to make it more my own and suit my needs.”

Playing his own tune Originally from Hazen, N.D., Miiller attended Bismarck State College until the realization hit him that he was going to college due to societal expectations, not because he was passionate about a particular major offered. “It wasn’t for me,” Miiller said. In remembering a suggestion made by one of his high school counselors, Miiller researched the instrument repair programs at Southeast Technical College in Redwing, Minn. He packed up his bags and made the 8-hour drive to southern Minnesota where he learned the craft of repairing guitars, violins and other stringed instruments. 7

After two years of working in Milwaukee, Wis., full time at a music repair shop, Miiller wanted to be closer in proximity to his roots. With $1,200 in his figurative pocket, no place to stay and not a job in sight, he “up and moved to Fargo.” Not long after his relocation, Christian Eggert Violins opened the shop in Fargo, and Miiller found himself in his niche.

Relishing his craft Ten years and countless repaired instruments later, Miiller is still finding gratification in his craft. Music from Classical Minnesota Public Radio appropriately serenades the shop as he works. Knives of all shapes and sizes are strewn over his working space, and a blowtorch rests on a desk awaiting its next use. There is organized chaos all around this quaint hospital for battered violas, violins, cellos and the like, and Miiller wouldn’t have it any other way. “The good life to me is having a fulfilling day at work and feeling like I’ve really helped people,” Miiller said. “When somebody brings in their instrument in tears, they come back in a week and get their instrument again – that’s the most fulfilling thing for me.” Christian Eggert Violins is open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is located at 618 Main Avenue in Fargo, N.D. More information can be found on their website, christianeggertviolins.com, or by calling 701-280-7017.

Ask the expert

Facts:

How do you choose the right instrument? “If you want the very best instrument, you need to play as many as you can and find the one you like the best. Instruments are like ice cream; do you like mint chocolate chip or rocky road? When you play in an orchestra, your instrument is your voice, and you should really like the sound of your voice. Our voices are all different. That’s what makes them great. You can take one instrument made by a maker next to another made by that same maker, and they may be slightly different because wood is not consistent. When violinmakers make an instrument, they sometimes use a different pattern. It could be shaped slightly different. They’ll have an idea in mind of what they want to accomplish, like making it bright and powerful or warm and intimate. You just really have to try as many instruments as you can and find the one you enjoy the best.” Should you sell your child’s instrument when it’s been gathering some dust? “Keep it. Put it in the closet. Stash it away and forget about it because eventually, in about 15 or so years, your kid is going to say, ‘Hey, mom and dad, where’s that violin? I want to play that thing again.’ You go through these phases in your life where you’re really busy playing music in high school, then you go off to college and you’re busy, and then you’re busy becoming an adult and building a career. Finally, when you get settled down, you think, ‘Gosh, I had so much fun playing that instrument. I want to try it again.’ Look at me; I went back to the baritone after 16 years. It doesn’t matter if you’re great. You just have to enjoy it. That’s the most important part.”

• Glenn Miiller was not a popular big band leader in the 1940s. Glenn Miller was. • The most expensive instrument Miiller has worked on was an Italian cello appraised around $175,000. • After crossing the Atlantic from Germany to America, Miiller’s great-grandfather wanted to keep the appearance of umlauts on their last name, so he changed the U to two I’s. When you write Miiller in cursive, a U with two dots on the top looks the same as two lowercase I’s. • Miiller played the trumpet and baritone in high school and recently picked up the baritone again after a 16-year hiatus. He even played in Tuba Christmas at the West Acres Shopping Center this past December. • He plays the mandolin. • When forced to pick a favorite composer and piece, Miiller chose Antonio Vivaldi’s Mandolin Concerto in C Major. • He loves fixing motorcycles (and everything else). A ’77 Honda CB550, a BMW and a Gold Wing can be found in his garage, unless he’s driving one of them.

BY: JESSICA JASPERSON | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

est Fargo natives, Ty Zaczkowski and Jacob Kinsella, noticed a need in the Fargo-Moorhead area for a gym with Zaczkowski said. “It is really important to target certain extensive equipment and a welcoming atmosphere for muscles, and you need the right equipment to do so.” bodybuilders and the like. Zaczkowski and Kinsella While travelling across the tri-state area to pick up filled this need with their gym, Midwest Muscle, located various commercial grade equipment, Zaczkowski and Kinsella viewed an array of different gyms. They saw in Fargo. For one year the idea of opening a gym that welcomes firsthand gym qualities that work and do not work. everyone stirred in Zaczkowski’s and Kinsella’s minds They used this advantage to create a gym that welcomes after a gym frequented by bodybuilders and competitors everyone no matter what fitness level or interest. Midwest Muscle provides four separate closed. Forced to workout at other gyms in spaces to work out, locker rooms, and the area, both dreamed of the day a gym cubbies for those who don’t wish to use would fit their workout needs and the the locker rooms. What’s unlike many needs of others. other gyms is the amount of free weights After deciding to open a gym, We have a lot of made available for customers to use. Zaczkowski and Kinsella spent the following year searching the Internet unique equipment, In addition to free weights, there is plenty of cardio equipment and multiple for auctions and individuals interested and it’ll give machines that help target different areas in selling unwanted equipment. While people who take of the body. Zaczkowski estimates the gym still working full-time the team of two travelled almost every two weeks during lifting seriously holds at least 30 pieces of equipment. Lastly, one of the spaces provides wrestling mats the weekend to pick up their latest finds an edge over and punching bags for those interested in for the gym. everyone else,” mixed martial arts (MMA) or kickboxing. “We have a lot of unique equipment, — Zaczkowski “I really like the idea of this area being and it’ll give people who take lifting matted and having bags,” Kinsella said. seriously an edge over everyone else,” 10

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“Because nowadays MMA is really popular, but really expensive. People can’t afford a lot of facilities in the F-M area. This will give them a space to work out and roll around in.” As Midwest Muscle grows, Zaczkowski and Kinsella share the same goal for the gym: to keep changing. Whether this means putting in better equipment or offering different services they want a gym that offers the best of the best for the F-M area. “My goal of this place is to have a unique atmosphere and have a really good community of people that go,” Kinsella said. “The people who are serious about lifting form a community. We want people to feel comfortable coming here every single day.” “We also don’t want people to be scared either,” Zaczkowski said. “Come check it out. The goal was to have something for everybody.” In the future Midwest Muscle hopes to give back to the community by sponsoring athletes, teams, local university clubs, and bodybuilding and physique competitors. “It’s only going to get better, and we want it to get to the point that if you want it, we’ll get it,” Zaczkowski said. “We’re going to be able to.”

THE GOOD LIFE INTERVIEWS THREE LOCAL CLUBS THAT DO MORE THAN JUST FIX UP OLD CARS BY: PAUL HANKEL | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

No one is going to tell you it’s easy to be a car club in North Dakota. The long winters and relatively short summer months make it tough to get out and show off a polished custom hot rod, much less go for club cruises. And yet, the car club scene continues to grow, locally and regionally. It all comes down to a genuine passion for classic cars and for being involved in one’s community. The Good Life met up with three of the area’s clubs to find out who they are, what events they participate in, and what activities the club’s participate in outside of fixing up hot rods.

TOPPERS CAR CLUB founded: 1953 membership: 17 members Toppers, now famous for their monthly Cruise Nights held during the summer months, has one main goal, according to current club President Rich Barnes: to give back to the community. In their 67th year, Toppers continues to grow as well as provide needed charity work to local and regional groups and organizations. They do this by fundraising and hosting large local events each year. Last year, Toppers participated in the Service Dogs of America program, which provides trained dogs to veterans who are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. The club also donated four medical defibrillators to a veteranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home in Lisbon, North Dakota, and hosted a Christmas party for the local Boys and Girls Club. Toppers Car Club also hosts a yearly car show at the West Fargo Veterans Memorial Building. The show has been taking place for over 50 years, and is considered one of the premier car shows in this region.

SWANKS CAR CLUB founded: originally in 1956, refounded in 2007 membership: 20 members According to former club president Gary Johnson, the current Swanks Car Club was refounded with the notion of sharing ideas and passions about hot rods. While the club was originally formed in 1956, it was more of a social group than a car club. As membership grew, the transition to a fully fledged car club took place. As time passed, members moved on and the club was dormant for several years. Swanks was revived by Steve Olson, many years later, and now features hot rods from as early as the 1920’s, through the 1950’s and 1960’s. Swanks Car Club hosts a yearly show in Casselton, North Dakota, where the club is mainly located. The show takes place during Cass County Summer Fest and features as many as 400 cars. As well as donating to several local charities, Swanks also has a club scholarship that provides financial backing to a local student who is going into the automotive field.

SUEDES CAR CLUB founded: 2004 membership: 20 members While most members are Fargoans, Suedes Car Club has members as far away as Colorado, Illinois, and Nebraska. The club’s slogan is, “the future of hot rodding is history,” and this is evidenced by the bevy of club hot rods and muscle cars that are pre-1965 models. The oldest club car, according to club member Stefan Robinson, is a 1932 Ford Coupe. The club’s activities include hosting the Suedes Car Club swap meet, which takes place twice during the summer, as well as attending local and regional car shows.

BY: PAUL HANKEL | PHOTO: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

An 18-year law enforcement veteran, Lt. Joel Vettel sat down with The Good Life at Drekker Brewing Company to discuss his life, career and connection to the community. Born in 1971, in Moorhead, Minnesota, Lieutenant Joel Vettel of the Fargo Police Department is the second youngest of seven children and grew up on a farm ten minutes outside of Hillsboro, North Dakota. Vettel attended Hillsboro High School, where he excelled at wrestling and distance running. “We weren’t a family of means,” says Vettel, “My opportunities to go to college were to work hard, wrestle, and earn a scholarship. “ Vettel lived by these three principles and was able to earn a scholarship to wrestle collegiately at North Dakota State University, where he was a three-time All American. 16

“Coming from a large family, you learn what it means to work hard and to sacrifice. I think that’s a good life lesson.” While at NDSU, he majored in Sociology and Minored in Business Administration. Following graduation, Vettel moved to the Twin Cities area and went to work for Target Corporation. His duties included Loss Prevention and Special Projects. Currently, he is married and lives with his wife and two daughters in Fargo. Vettel decided to return to Fargo and join the Fargo Police Department (FPD) in 1997, while pursing his Master’s Degree. He served as a

patrolman for the first 13 years of his career. Currently, he is the Lieutenant in Charge of Investigations and also the Public Information Officer. His duties include overseeing current investigations and acting as a liaison between the FPD and the community. The Good Life (GL): What are the best aspects of your job? Lt. Joel Vettel (JV): Working with some of the best police law enforcement officers in the country. I also really enjoy working with the public and getting to know and work with the people in the community that I talk to everyday.

GL: You’re also busy off the clock. Tell us about that. JV: I don’t hunt and I don’t fish, those just aren’t my hobbies. My hobbies include being involved on boards and in community projects. Also, my wife, Sandy, and my two daughters are the most important thing in my life. Vettel continues to serve on several local boards including the Board of Trustees for the United Way and a three-term stint on the Fargo Park Board. Vettel is also heavily involved in the NDSU Athletic Department and also helps coordinate the Junior National Wrestling Tournament that takes place, yearly, at the Fargodome. Vettel also twice-served as the liaison between the FPD and ESPN Gameday, when the show took place in downtown Fargo. In his spare time, Vettel participates in several athletic competitions including Adventure Races, Tough Mudders, and Ultra Races. GL: What are some of the cool types of training that you’ve gotten to do? JV: I’ve had the opportunity to be heavily involved in the area of defensive tactics. I was an instructor in that area and got hundreds of hours of training in that area. Vettel has taught a multitude of defensive tactics classes, including Taser instruction and hand to hand combat techniques. He even completed United States Secret Service Protective Detail Training.

JV: We have a relatively low crime rate, a high quality of life and it’s not like that everywhere. Also, we serve a community that cares. People don’t move here for the weather, they move here for the quality of life that exists here. If one word could be used to describe the life of Lieutenant Vettel, that word would have to be ‘constant’. Case in point: during the interview, Vettel fielded phone calls ranging from an interview request to the results of a search warrant. You know…everyday stuff. This author will be the first to admit: he tends to dramatize the busyness of his schedule. However, let’s be real for a second: Lieutenant Vettel doesn’t have to. He runs the Investigative unit of the Fargo Police Department, a unit that solves high-profile crimes at a rate that’s higher than the national average. This is all while also serving as the FPD’s Public Information Officer, being on a laundry list of community boards, a public speaker, and being married with two daughters. Somehow, Vettel also finds time to run athletic races, such as 30-mile long obstacle courses…for fun. So, the next time you’re tempted to roll over at 7 a.m. and hit the snooze button, just remember — Lieutenant Vettel has probably been up for a few hours already, making this city better than it was the day before. And if that isn’t the definition of living “The good life,” then this writer doesn’t know what is.

GL: Did you ever want to be on the Red River Swat Team? JV: I think it’s something that is a very cool opportunity. For me, I had other opportunities and in, as far as a work/ life balance, it just wasn’t an option for me. GL: Do you watch police dramas? JV: (laughs) Usually, the only times I do, it’s with my daughters, It’s kinda funny, but I’m probably the only guy where, I’ll be upstairs watching some sitcom, while my wife and daughters are downstairs watching ESPN! They’re the real sports nuts. GL: Be honest, are the FPD police cruisers designed to look cool, as well as be functional interdiction vehicles? JV: I hope so! We want people to take notice of us. Presence is a huge focus for us. Sometimes it’s better to be seen than be heard. It’s a deterrent. Sometimes it’s all about just being there. GL: What’s unique about being a police officer in Fargo? 17

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With POV, I’m looking to hold you accountable, to debate the issues, so it’s always fun to spar with people and go through some of those mental gymnastics. — Chris Berg 18

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BY: JESSICA BALLOU | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

From Playing Football to Broadcasting: Berg, TV Host, Salesman, Father, Shares His Point of View o say Chris Berg is a busy man would be an understatement. As a host of two programs on Valley News Live and a salesman, Berg’s days are packed full of prepping, interviewing, marketing companies, spending time with his family and more. He’s typically in the studio by 8 a.m. to prep for North Dakota Today. Once that show is done at 10 a.m., he works on some sales and preps for his hosting gig on 6:30 Point of View.

‘AN ACT OF GOD’ Berg said he was originally interested in broadcasting to make a difference, which is why he’s still passionate about it. “I think there’s a real opportunity to make a difference in our community,” he said.“You’ve got a chance where you can help people if there’s something going on, there’s an injustice happening or something’s not right for a certain person or group of people, whatever it might be, there’s obviously a chance to move the public opinion needle and make an impact.” He also said it was an act of God that got him involved in the broadcasting world in Fargo. “If you would have said to me five years ago, Chris, you’re going to be hosting a lifestyle show and an issues show, I would’ve thought you were on some pretty serious drugs,” he said with a laugh. “The door opened for me to come back to North Dakota five years ago, and the door opened for me to do some radio outside of what I was coming back here to do initially. And then God opened a door for me to do a three-hour radio show in 2010. And then from there, something happened with the radio station and then God opened a door for me to get on TV.” 19

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“If you would have said to me five years ago, Chris, you’re going to be hosting a lifestyle show and an issues show, I would’ve thought you were on some pretty serious drugs,” he said with a laugh. He used to work for and travel with motivational speaker and life coach Tony Robbins, whose message was all about being bold, having a vision and making it happen. “What’s been amazing about my journey back to North Dakota is that I can’t say I came back and I made it happen to have a radio show,” he said. “I didn’t make it happen to be on two TV shows. The more I’ve kind of let go and let God lead my life, the more doors He’s opened at really the perfect time, so it’s just been because of Him that I’m doing television.” He said one of the greatest things he learned from Robbins was how to communicate effectively, which definitely comes in handy for his two shows. “So for example with Point of View, it’s not a scripted show,” he said. “It’s not a news cast where I’m going to say X and then we’re going to this package and I’m going to come back and say Y or Z. So I think it’s really helped me be able to get in front of a camera for 30 minutes and dance in the conversation and be able to speak effectively and make my point.” “With POV, I’m looking to hold you accountable, to debate the issues, so it’s always fun to spar with people and go through some of those mental gymnastics,” he added.

‘I REALLY LOVE WHAT I’M DOING’ Berg used to split time with KFGO Radio’s Joel Heitkamp as moderator of a Hot Box segment before hosting it himself. Berg started hosting 6:30 Point of View solo in April 2013. Once the radio show switched to new management, Berg said he felt like it was time for him to try something different, so when Wareham offered 20

him the chance to take over Point of View and be a co-host on a new hour-long lifestyle show that developed into North Dakota Today, he jumped at the chance. Around this same time, a woman who was in sales left to get a job in Bismarck so Berg took over her accounts and started doing sales as well. Berg said Point of View is the only interactive television show in the Red River Valley, so it’s unique in that he and the other people on the show try to integrate people’s feedback as much as possible. He views it as an opinionated issues show that strives to focus not just on politics. “We actually don’t want it to be politically focused,” he said. “I really see it more as these are the issues the people in our community are talking about, and there’s also some controversy around them.” He said having social media integrated into POV has been great because there are so many points of view out there that perhaps he hadn’t thought of before, so it spurs great discussions. He also said hosting Point of View is full of great challenges, like trying to stay on top of the news and always being ready and “on.” “The biggest challenge about POV is trying to make it fresh, creative, fun and edu-taining every single night,” he said. “I can’t call the Today Show and ask them to move back Matt Lauer for 15 minutes because I’m not really feeling it at 9 o’clock,” he added. “That’s one of the most interesting aspects for me is that no matter what’s going on in my life, no matter what’s happening, at 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., I gotta be ready to roll because that red light is about to hit and there’s nothing I can do about it.” Berg said his attitude is inspired by John Wooden, who coached basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles, and won 10 NCAA

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“I didn’t make it happen to be on two TV shows. The more I’ve kind of let go and let God lead my life, the more doors He’s opened at really the perfect time, so it’s just been because of Him that I’m doing television.” 21

PLAYING FOOTBALL AND SETTING GOALS Berg was born in raised in Fargo. His parents got divorced when he was eight or nine years old, and then he started playing football in sixth grade. Berg said he started playing quarterback in eighth grade, and he never lost a football game as a quarterback until college. He loved watching John Elway, and he decided that he wanted to play quarterback at Stanford, which later came true. His dad started giving him goal-setting and positive mental attitude books when Berg was in high school, 22

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: CHRIS BERG

national championships in a 12-year period, which was unprecedented. He said Wooden’s philosophy focused not on showing up every day and looking at the scoreboard, but showing up and getting one percent better every day because if you do that over the course of a year, the growth you go through is unbelievable. “So that’s where I’m at. I really love what I’m doing. I like being able to swing public opinion, make a difference in our community, and if I can get one percent better at doing that every single day, then God will put me where I’m supposed to be,” he said. He then added how grateful he is to do what he does, and he appreciates and respects the responsibility of being able to have a platform to share issues and affect change.

so he said he developed an affinity for those subjects. His mom moved to Colorado, so it was just Berg and his father. He had to grow up fast, which he said was good for him. He got a football scholarship to Stanford University in California, and his freshman year coach was Dennis Green, who went on to coach the Minnesota Vikings. In his spare time Berg said all he wants to do is be with his family. He said he’s been working such long hours that every free moment he has, he wants to go home and be with his wife and five-year-old daughter. “That’s such a great age, and I know in a few years, I’m going to be the last person she’s gonna want to hang out with, so I’m just trying to take advantage of that as much as I can right now,” he said. When asked what the good life means to him, Berg responded:

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The good life means to me being able to live your life passionately, doing what you want to do with passion, making a difference in people’s lives and doing the right thing.” — Chris Berg

BY: ALICIA UNDERLEE NELSON | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

usic is in Pat Lenertz’s blood. From humming along with the oldies station in his parents’ car to singing in choirs from elementary school until well into college, Lenertz has always been musical. But it was the gift of an acoustic guitar when he was fifteen that really set his course. “I finally had an instrument I could focus my energies with and a medium for songwriting,” Lenertz said. He played his first gig at The Funky Monkey (a now defunct coffee shop across from Fargo Theatre) with the band Bad Mojo just a few months later. His expressive voice, which runs the gamut from a warble to a growl, his guitar skills and the achingly honest, melodic way he writes and interprets Americana and roots music have made him a fixture in the Fargo-Moorhead music scene ever since. Lenertz has performed with multiple bands since his 1999 debut, including the aforementioned Bad Mojo, The Legionnaires, The Quarterly, Heavy is the Head and his eponymous quartet, the Pat Lenertz Band. Reggae roots band Heavy is the Head, The Quarterly and the Pat Lenertz Band are all still performing, so for the last several months, Lenertz has balanced playing in multiple bands and earning a master’s degree in social work. “I am a plate spinner,” Lenertz said. “I multitask and try to stay afloat.” Whatever he’s doing, he’s doing something right. He’s an 24

audience favorite and one of the busiest performers in the region. “I was very honored to have received the ‘Best Musician’ award from the High Plains reader last year,” he said. “But I am proud when a few people come to our shows and dance and have fun. That makes me very happy.” In between gigs and school, he also found time to record a buzzed-about concept album with the Pat Lenertz Band. The project captures the energy and camaraderie that Lenertz loves and transforms it into a new experience for listeners. The album, titled “Love, Loss & Regret”, features fourteen of Lenertz’s original songs and three original vignettes narrated by Pat’s close friend Kevin Hendrickson and was recorded over the course of a year. It explores the evolution of moods and feelings over time through artfully layered arrangements and Lenertz’s brand of emotional storytelling. The songs explore falling in love, losing friends and other emotional touchstones that will resonate with audiences. “The songs stand alone by themselves, but it is the full album that tells the story,” said Lenertz. “I wanted to create an aural story for myself and listeners. I wanted to weave a meta-narrative with the individual songs through placement and flow.” The project also gave Lenertz a chance to connect with artists he respected. He brought over 25 local

“We are lucky to be living in an area with such a diverse blend of wonderful music. There is a constant ebb and flow of number and types of bands that play around here, from heavy music to acoustic.”

musicians into the studio as guest artists. It also gave him a chance to reconnect with Ken Davis, his friend and former band mate in The Legionnaires. Davis engineered and produced the record, which was recorded in Davis’ Positively Tenth Street Studio. This type of collaboration isn’t unusual in the downtown music scene. And it’s a big part of why Lenertz continues to support and perform in this part of the city. “I love to play downtown,” he said. “And I wouldn’t be anything without the wonderfully talented musicians that I am lucky enough to play with. We are lucky to be living in an area with such a diverse blend of wonderful music. There is a constant ebb and flow of number and types

of bands that play around here, from heavy music to acoustic.” His favorite venues include bustling bars like Sidestreet Grille & Pub, and Dempsey’s, the upscale but laid-back HoDo Lounge, the come-as-you-are downtown VFW and downtown’s live music mainstay, The Aquarium. He also loves playing outdoors in the parks during those warm prairie nights. There’s a new Pat Lenertz Band album in the works for 2015, which means Lenertz is spending more of his time writing, a process he’s refined and polished during his years in the business. Part of the proficiency comes from experience. But Lenertz also understands and respects the nuances of his creative process. “It’s always been a feeling for me,” he said. “I call it the ‘switch’. It’s the muse, or the inspiration or what have you. If I try to create when the ‘switch’ is off, nothing happens.” 26

And sometimes technology helps too. “It’s been nice having a smart phone these last few years,” he admits. “It allows me to pull over when driving to sing a melody into the recorder or write down some lyrics when it comes to me.”

Lenertz is busy, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. The constant gigs, writing and recording sessions are all part of a life he loves, a life dedicated to “being true to oneself and others, doing good work, and creating.” It’s the life he set out to live when he was a fifteen year-old kid with his very first acoustic guitar.

“…I am proud when a few people come to our shows and dance and have fun. That makes me very happy.”

I was not given a manual on raising boys. My manual for the most part has come from the fact that I was once a boy. I realize now that some of the stuff my dad used to tell me is oh so true. In addition to my 20/20 hindsight vision, I also learn from other dads who have raised boys or shared their insight. Two books I picked up recently have given me some great insight and encouraging tips for raising boys. The Resolution for Men by Steven and Alex Kendrick is a masterpiece on manhood and has some great tips on fatherhood. Dr. Clarence Shuler has also written a great book, What All Dads Should Know, and dedicates an entire chapter to raising boys. Here are some great takeaways from both:

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BE PRESENT. A father’s presence in his son’s life is invaluable. Not just physically but emotionally, spiritually, and mentally as well. Be present in your son’s life.

Dr. Shuler says that one of the most important things his dad instilled in him was to “not be a hypocrite.” If you say it, then do it.

TREAT YOUR WIFE, MOTHER, AND OTHER WOMEN WELL. Your son will grow up to have relationships with women and, hopefully, get married one day. His friends and the media will portray one way to treat them, but he’ll learn the most from watching you.

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH.

PRAY WITH HIM.

GIVE HIM OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE.

NEVER STOP TEACHING, JUST CHANGE HOW IT’S DONE. Even as an adult, we can learn from our fathers and our kids can learn from us. The method of teaching may change at certain ages, but we should always be instilling life lessons.

Watching you pray, and praying with you, will help him to feel comfortable praying and show him the privilege, and power, that comes from prayer.

One of the greatest things Dr. Shuler experienced was “helping” his dad in his shop. Fulfilling that role built his self-confidence and selfesteem as a boy which carried into manhood.

TAKE HIM TO CHURCH WITH YOU.

BE HONEST WITH HIM.

WORK HARD AND SHOW THEM HOW TO WORK HARD.

Much like prayer, seeing his father active in ministry and going to church will let him know it is okay. Men can pray, men can attend church, and men can participate in ministry. In fact, men should do all of them.

You probably made a lot of mistakes, just like I did. However, your kids see a different person than you were growing up. Be honest and let them know you did make mistakes, but you learned from them. Now you are teaching them so they can keep from making the same mistakes.

Another big point that Dr. Shuler made was how his dad worked hard and showed him to work hard as well. Without hard work, not much can be accomplished in life. Instill this value in your son.

ENCOURAGE, NOT DISCOURAGE, HIS DREAMS. Our kids have dreams, and some are outlandish. No matter how outlandish they are, support and encourage them. Your encouragement can be the thing your son depends upon when his dreams become hard.

AFFIRM HIM.

BE AFFECTIONATE.

Does your son hear you tell him what you think about him? Congratulate him, tell him you are proud, make sure he knows you are pleased with him.

Some view affection between a dad and son as off limits. The Kendrick brothers believe it should not be. Hug him, kiss him, high-five him, fist bump him…show him and tell him how much you love him.

The Power of Volunteers Bearing Help and Goodwill BY: SOO ASHEIM | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

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LEARNING WHAT I DIDN’T KNOW Recently, I sat down with an amazing group of five men who represent the DAKOTA CHAPTER of the AMERICAN RED CROSS. Brian Shawn, the Regional Communications Officer; Sean Coffman, the Disaster Program Manager; Terry Askin, the Government and Community Liaison and two of the local Red Cross Board members, who volunteer their time in an advisory capacity: Mark Jensen, V-P of Western Bank in West Fargo and Ray Grefsheim, V-P of Bremer Bank in North Fargo. These gentlemen re-educated me about an organization so well known, no one could misidentify it with another, The AMERICAN RED CROSS. However, what I learned about today’s American Red Cross not only surprised me, but shores up my belief that in every able bodied person there is also a heart beating with good will toward their fellow human and when the chips are down the extension of helping hands do reach forward.

— Brian Shawn

A BIT OF HISTORICAL REVIEW When Clara Barton convinced her friends to join her mission to establish the first Red Cross in Washington, D.C., the plan was to establish a network in alleviating the pain and suffering of survivors from natural disasters such as floods and fires and diseases spread throughout whole communities. One might wonder if she ever knew her dream of spreading humanitarian aid would one day grow into a worldwide organization. Since before World War I, The Red Cross has been on hand to help whenever a major crisis involving multiple populations have been at risk. During World War I the number of local Red Cross Chapters leaped from 107 to 3,864 by 1918 and the

Without the amazing people we have who are willing to help and volunteer time after time, we couldn’t do what needs to be done.

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

volunteer membership grew from 17,000 to over 20 million. During that time the Red Cross trained, staffed hospitals and ambulance companies, and registered a small army of nurses to serve the military as well as combat the worldwide influenza epidemic of 1918. During all of the wars the United States has been involved in to this day, The Red Cross has played an integral part in aiding our soldiers and their families, our Allies and countless civilian war victims. After World War II, it was the Red Cross who began the first nationwide civilian blood program. Today it supplies at least 40 percent of the blood and blood products used in the United States. THE RED CROSS TODAY AND WHAT HAS CHANGED One of the primary changes has been funding. The government no longer subsidizes each and every chapter in each and every city and town. Secondly, the Red Cross responds to disasters, be they natural or man-made regardless wherever they occur the same everywhere. The reason for this is because, about a year ago, The American Red Cross realized in order to remain effective they needed to change how they manage what they do. Today each section of the country is broken down into “regions” that the Red Cross is primarily 32

responsible for. There are seven National Divisions of the Red Cross. Within the seven divisions there are sixty-four Regions. The Dakotas Region is large, as it encompasses all of South Dakota, North Dakota and ten counties in Northwestern Minnesota. Population wise, that is approximately 900,000 people. What is so amazing about that is that the Red Cross has an employed staff of only 17 — that’s SEVENTEEN people. Everyone else who serves and helps during any and all times of need is a volunteer. Brian Shawn, Sean Coffman and Terry Askin are three of the key people who communicate, coordinate and handle whatever needs to be done when a disaster is called in. “Without the amazing people we have who are willing to help and volunteer time after time, we couldn’t do what needs to be done” Brian Shawn says often during our conversation. Locally there are 150 volunteers. On a regional level estimates range to about 850 volunteers. Terry Askin, who often works on the line with the volunteers, says “they are usually a very diverse group. Many are moms and dads with grown kids and retired people who like to pitch in and help.” The Red Cross today does more than respond to disasters—they do whatever they can to prevent them

as well. There are three core missions that the Red Cross considers to be it’s job: A) PREPAREDNESS B) RESPONSE C) RECOVERY. When it comes to working to prevent a disaster, the volunteers with the Red Cross are instrumental. One example is placing smoke alarms in the homes of people who do not have them. Smoke alarms alone may not prevent a fire, but they certainly do prevent tragic deaths due to smoke inhalation. During and after a fire the Red Cross will be there to help both First Responding teams if they need it and victims of the fire to find shelter and clothing until they can secure more help on their own. In 2006 the Red Cross and FEMA teamed up to aid and lend support to victims in need of governmental agency help and community organizations during natural disasters such as the Red River flooding of 2007 and 2008. They also help to provide shelter and assistance for families in being reunited with missing members of their families. LOCAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION Along with all the humanitarian needs the Red Cross meets they still offer courses and certification classes for folks who need to keep up to date with

lifesaving skills for employment purposes (Childcare Providers, Teachers, First Responders) or because they live with a person who is disabled and might require assistance immediately. There are also others who simply would like to have the ability to aid or save someone in an emergency with the proper skills and training needed in the event it might take an emergency medical team a few minutes to reach their location. The Red Cross offers First Aid/CPR/AED training courses, Lifeguarding courses, Learn about Babysitting and Caregiving Courses and Become a Red Cross Instructor course. There are also on-line seminars and “table-top” hands on training courses offered periodically. The Dakotas Region has a fiscal budget of $2.1 million that runs from July 1 through June 30 of each year. That requires a lot of green s-t-r-e-t-c-h-in-g when considering the number of calls received per year. Last year the Red Cross responded over 500 times to needy individuals during and after disastrous events within the regional area. Thanks to corporate donors such as Anheuser-Busch who joined the American Red Cross’ Annual Disaster Giving Program in 2014 with a $500,000 donation that will help support disaster relief operations on both a national and local level. Anheuser-Busch also donated an additional $250,000 to support the Red Cross Blood Services work. Another program is the Red Cross’ “Our Supporters’ Corporate and Foundation Partners READY WHEN THE TIME COMES.” The Red Cross trains corporate employees from partnering corporations and companies and returns them back to the community as a trained and willingly prepared volunteer when a disaster strikes. RWTC volunteers presently have 14,000 trained volunteers from 460 businesses and organizations in 54 cities establishing disaster zones across the county. RWTC volunteer teams have responded to tornadoes in the South and Midwest as well as floods on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and hurricanes from North Carolina to New Jersey. “It is an efficient turn-key way to involve your company and your employees in responding to critical local needs,

The American Red Cross has launched a nationwide campaign to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from home fires by as much as 25 percent over the next five years. Visit Redcross.org for more information.

multiple and varied ways for people to be engaged and an opportunity for employees to learn new knowledge and skills.” WHAT THE RED CROSS HAS NOT CHANGED Sean Coffman, the Dakotas Disaster Program Manager said it best “the American Red Cross is here to help anyone victimized by disaster, anywhere, anytime, regardless of who they are, what they believe, or the color of their skin. That’s who we are and what we do.” And there can be no disputing that. Repeatedly, time after time, the Red Cross has proven no organization in the world does it better.