Thursday, December 29, 2011

Jeanne Theismann joins Living Legends Board

 
 
Award winning journalist Jeanne Theismann joins Living Legends Board.  Courtesy Photo
The board of directors of Living Legends of Alexandria is pleased and proud to announce its new member, Jeanne Theismann, whose three-year term will begin on January 1, 2012.

Jeanne Theismann is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years of experience in broadcast, print and online media.

She began her professional career at WTNH-TV in New Haven, Conn., where she was a news reporter as well as co-host of the daily Good Morning Connecticut program. She went on to work for Seaway Communications, the first minority owned broadcasting company before moving to Tokyo, where she spent several years working as a writer and editor for the Yomiuri Shimbun, the world's largest daily newspaper. 

During her time overseas, Ms. Theismann traveled extensively, covering the third Indochina War between Vietnam and Cambodia as well as the Seoul and Sydney Olympic games. She began several relief projects for children and refugees and has personally delivered more than five tons of medical supplies to orphanages throughout the world.  She has worked with organizations such as Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity, the National Defense Council Foundation and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu's St. George's Cathedral Foundation.

For the last nine years, Ms. Theismann has served as a visiting professor at the Ukrainian Catholic University, teaching at the Institute for Nonprofit Management in L'viv, Ukraine, and implemented the first ever Executive Leadership Exchange program between Ukraine and the United States.

Ms. Theismann has served on numerous boards, including Stop Child Abuse Now, the Washington, D.C. area chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, and Goodwill Industries of Greater Washington. Ms. Theismann currently serves on the board of directors for First Night Alexandria, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, the Salvation Army and the Alexandria Sportsman’s Club. She is a member of the National Press Club, American Legion Post 24 and Rotary International, and is the media representative for the City of Alexandria’s Emergency Planning Commission. In addition, she served as the Executive Director of the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Theismann is presently the Special Assistant to the Publisher of The Connection Newspapers, a group of locally-owned community newspapers serving the Washington, D.C. region with a total circulation of 120,000. This includes the Alexandria Gazette Packet, the longest continuously published newspaper in America. She continues her work in Ukraine as an advisor and guest lecturer at the new L’Viv School of Journalism.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Legends of 2012 Announced

Living Legends of Alexandria announced the selection of the Legends of 2012:  Robert Calhoun, Al Grande, Harry "Bud" Hart, Wendy John, Bill Kehoe, Allen Lomax, Jimmie McClellan, Pat Miller, Michael Oliver, Lillian Patterson, Joe Shumard, the Steuerle Family and the team of Dorothy Turner and Gwen Menefee-Smith.

Director Nina Tisara said the Board is proud to add these names to the roster of 124 individuals and teams who have been chronicled in the 5-year history of Living Legends.

 "Some have expressed concern that we will run out of qualified nominees. Maybe one day, but this has not been our experience. There were a large number of excellent nominees this year and the selection process was especially difficult.  Additionally, our town has lost a number of folks this year who met the Legend criteria but were never nominated."

Also nominated this year were Duncan Blair, Suzanne Brock, Diane Charles, the team of Elizabeth Chimento and Poul Hertel, Bernard Cohen, Brooke Curran, Allison Cryor DiNardo, Michael Hadeed, James Henson, Lori and Nigel Morris, Patrick O'Brien, William Rivers, James Singerling and the team of Fay Slotnick and Joyce Woodson.      

"It is often said that it is an honor to be nominated," said Tisara.  "This is particularly true of Living Legends of Alexandria.  Each of the nominees will be introduced and honored at the Meet the Legends reception on March 22 at the Patent and Trademark Office.  A photograph and profile of each nominee will be published in the Meet The Legends catalog that is donated to the Alexandria Library, collected by the Library of Virginia in Richmond and available at the U.S. Library of Congress."

Now completing its fifth year, Living Legends of Alexandria is an ongoing 501(c)(3) photo-documentary project to identify, honor and chronicle Alexandria's Living Legends.  The project was conceived by Tisara to create an enduring artistic record of the people whose vision and dedication make a positive, tangible difference to the quality of life in Alexandria.  The 2012 Legend profiles will begin being published in January. 

For information about ways you can be part of the project,sponsorship opportunities and/or a list of past Legends, visit www.AlexandriaLegends.com or email AlexandriaLegends@ninatisara.com.



  

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Living Legends at Center for the Arts Opening

The Alexandria Center for the Arts hit the stage running with a grand offering of performance art in the T.C. Williams High School Auditorium on November 30th.  Shawn Thorpe, Academic Principal on Assignment, mc'd the program which included performances by  the TC Wind Ensemble, the GW Middle School Band, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, the TC Williams Choir and much more. Alexandria's Arts groups showed off their work to parents, children and educators in the cafeteria before the performances.

Living Legends of Alexandria had two tables, one focusing on Family Legend actvities.

Book Artists Sushmita Mazumdar shows books to students. 



Tinkerbell Forever

Tinkerbell magic for the little angel in your life.  Thanks to the generosity of Tinkerbell Collector Frances Mohr, Living Legends is offering her Tinkerbell Forever collection including a 3 foot star Tinkerbell rug, Ceramic trashcan, 20 inch stocking, tiara, magic wands, cloisonne earrings,  comb and brush set, wash cloth, school supply bag for 3 ring binder, personal journal, 6 pencils, painted wood note/recipe holder, 4 rubber stamps, small pillow, and bag of magic dust. Collection value:  $150.  Buy Now price - $119. Funds support Living Legends.  First call to 703-625-2330 gets it in time for holiday giving.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Living Legends Portraits at Prudential PenFed Realty

Despite the day-long rainstorm and high winds, about 50 people attended the reception honoring the Living Legends of Alexandria.

Tisara (right) surrounded by Board members Mary Anne Weber, Joe Shumard and Jane Collins and past year's Legends Fran and Gant Redmon, John Porter, Melvin Miller and Arlene Hewitt holds up the Living Legends catalogs.  The annual catalog with stories and photographs of the year's Legends and nominees is donated to the Alexandria Library, collected by the Library of Virginia in Richmond and available at the U.S. Library of Congress.

Vice Mayor Kerry Donley (left) and Prudential PenFed Realtor Becky Arnold.  Arnold organizes the art exhibitions at the Prudential PenFed Offices.
 
Photos by Steven Halperson/Tisara Photography
 
Three years of Living Legends of Alexandria portraits are currently being exhibited at the offices of Prudential PenFed Realty, 300 N. Washington St., Suite 100. 
 
In her review of the exhibition, Trudi Van Dyke, Independent Fine Art Consultant, wrote  "...Artist Nina Tisara is representative of the many historical photographers and painters who see beyond the subject of the "head shot" and present the soul and personality beyond the likeness.

"Capturing the essence of each person is the key to making the black and white portraits of the legends come to life. The viewer of this exhibition is treated to meeting each of the legends in a way that brings their individuality to the forefront. The careful composition, lighting, and unpretentious appearance allows the viewer to virtually interact with the subject.

"...I encourage citizens of Alexandria in particular to visit this outstanding art exhibition before it closes on January 27 and get insight through art into the people who make Alexandria a great place to live and work. The Prudential PenFed Realty office is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday-Friday."

Now in its fifth year, Living Legends of Alexandria is an ongoing 501(c)(3) photo-documentary project to identify, honor and chronicle Alexandria's Living Legends.  The project was conceived by Tisara to create an enduring artistic record of the people whose vision and dedication make a positive, tangible difference to the quality of life in Alexandria. 
 
Major 2011 sponsors are Club Managers Association of America, Erkiletian Real Estate Development, Inova Alexandria Hospital, John McEnearney, Renner & Co., Rotary Club of Alexandria, the late Douglas Thurman and the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.
 
The Legends of 2012 will be announced by the end of December.  For more about the project and a list of past Legends see www.AlexandriaLegends.com or contact Nina Tisara, AlexandriaLegends@NinaTisara.com.  For information about art exhibitions at Prudential PenFed, contact Becky Arnold, becky.arnold@penfedrealty.com, 571-345-6175. 
 
 

 

Monday, December 5, 2011

Scottish Walk

It was a perfect day for the Scottish Walk.  The Living Legends banner was carried by Board President Rose Gentile and Gianna.  Nina (in the plaid cape) is holding the leash of Sandy (AKA Bubbie), one of the family chihuahuas.  Little Bubbie who was the hit of our group is not visible in this photo.

Photo by Steven Halperson/Tisara Photography