My Storytellers Project experience: Julie Gammack led me to do this and now she wants me to write about it
Julie Gammack is an inspiring leader and role model.
Those of you who know Julie Gammack will know exactly what I mean. I will post more about my story and the storytelling experience - but first must recognize how in the world I ended up here, at this place in my life.
I stood on the stage at Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines, telling my story as part of the Iowa Storytellers Project. It was an honor and opportunity. One of the best parts was meeting and hearing inspiring stories from my fellow storytellers.
I thought, how in the heck did I ever end up here?
It was because of Julie Gammack, of course.
The night’s topic was “community,” which has many meanings and applications. A key part of all communities is connections. Julie Gammack is a master of connection creation.
I first connected with Julie a few years ago after reading an article she wrote in the Des Moines Register about how back during her college days, she had driven singer John Denver, a relatively unknown singer then, in her car around central Iowa taking him to a few small concert venues. I always loved John Denver, first seeing him on TV as an opening act for another singer at a concert.
The article included Julie’s email, so I wrote her to say how much I enjoyed reading her story.
Being the kind person Julie is, she wrote me back an acknowledgment and also invited me to follow her “Iowa Potluck” blog.
That was the beginning of my adventure learning more about writing, meeting other writers, and expanding my vision for many diverse and interesting things.
If you are reading this, you likely know about or have attended one of Julie’s Okoboji Writers Retreats. Her Potluck columns publicized and promoted OWR I – held in September 2021 at Lake Okoboji. It was a brand new event, with people just starting to meet again in person after Covid. Everyone wore masks, and it was held at the Dickinson County Nature Center, Okoboji.
Mostly out of curiosity, I attended the event.
Wow, I do not remember ever being in the same room together with so many creative, inspiring, and engaged people all at the same time!
Smart, experienced speakers and leaders (writing icons, actually) – many of whom I had just read about in the newspaper or seen online. Now meeting them in person!
Julie and her husband Richard initiated and led the event, which has since then been replicated, expanded (including more speakers, topics, and a larger venue), and become even better in versions II and III (2022 and 2023).
Julie also started the Iowa Writers Collaborative - enabling smart, progressive, and caring writers to share stories, information, and perspectives about people and events. She hosts a weekly Zoom meeting for writers and other leaders, does a podcast, writes a column for her dog Dudley (sorry, I mean helps her dog Dudley publish his own column), and generally helps good people everywhere find one another.
Last year, I attended the OWR workshop on Oral Storytelling, led by Des Moines Register writers Courtney Crowder and Kim Norvell. These young and personable writers were active in the Iowa Storytellers Project.
At the end of the class, they encouraged participants to make a pitch to speak at a future storytellers event: “Everyone has a Story!”
That led me to send in a story proposal last fall, receive a follow-up call later, and then get an invitation to speak at Hoyt Sherman Place on Feb. 27.
One week before the event, all five storytellers and our coaches met for a rehearsal to meet one another and practice our stories. What an amazing and inspiring group of people. I wrote Julie to say if that had been the entire storytellers experience, it would have been well worth it.
My fun time as a speaker on the Hoyt Sherman Place stage all started with Julie Gammack and her connections.
I will probably call her the Queen of Connections from now on.
Photo courtesy of Jill Neas.
Oh, Jim! I'm blushing. I love it. And you! Truly, one of the best parts of coming back to Iowa and becoming a part of the mission to help people tell their stories, has lead me to meet such extraordinary people from all over the state. You are such a leader and giver. I can't wait to hear your talk ~
Thanks for sharing this, Jim. So sorry to have missed your Storyteller Project performance! In total agreement with the Connection Queen description of Julie!