Page 5
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Lund receives ‘greatest award’ from his peers... IVSHA director optimistic
about safe house project
(Continued from page 1)
of 3.85. She, of course, had
many memories of my
high school principal’s
office.” Not to mention
certain other events during
his younger, wilder days,
and his high school GPA
of “around 1.2” before he
dropped out.
Lund related that when
he told his mother of his
SOU academic achieve-
ment, she replied without
hesitation, “I knew you
could do that because your
brains are brand-new.”
Said Lund, “That is so
typical of her; to let me
know that since I had
never used my brain be-
fore, I had to do well.”
He received his bache-
lor of science degree in
music and certification by
the American Band Asso-
ciation in 1992, and his
teaching certificate in ‘93
from what was then South-
ern Oregon State College,
now SOU.
He confessed that he
wanted to quit the program
each semester, what with
having to take classes in-
cluding “Music Theory”
and related topics -- areas
that made him stretch his
motorcycle mechanic
brain. However, Max
McKee, Stuart Turner and
many others encouraged
him to hold onto his dream
of teaching and making a
difference.
Turner was his adviser
and trombone teacher at
SOU. McKee was band
instructor, and taught
American Band College
for band directors planning
to teach.
So Lund stuck it out,
despite some agonizing
times, particularly trying to
learn Spanish until he
switched from a bachelor
of arts degree to a bachelor
of science degree.
Upon graduation, he
applied to Three Rivers
School District (formerly
Josephine County School
District) and was hired.
He serves as the instru-
mental and choral music
director for Illinois Valley
(From left) Robert Deveny, of the SOU Alumni Association; Lund daughter, Shari
Kaye Kuykendall from Phoenix, Ore.; SOU Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient,
T. Lund; Sandi Lund; Lund daughter, Teri Jo Breyman of Ashland; SOU president,
Elisabeth Zinzer. Not shown, Lund daughter, Carie Lyn Van Meter of Iowa.
High School and Lorna
Byrne Middle School.
He realized from day
one that it was, and still is,
a financially poor district.
But that has not deterred
him.
In fact, he described
himself as “a guy who can
fix anything,” and the mu-
sic program was in need.
When he began, he
recalled, there were 12
“Beginning Music” stu-
dents at the middle school,
14 in “Concert Band,” and
no choir students.
At the high school,
there were nine in the
band, and six in the choir.
Today there are some
250 students from sixth-
through 12th grades in the
program. There are three
choirs and three bands.
The students present
various concerts and recit-
als; march in parades; and
perform at sporting events
and other community func-
tions.
To help raise funds for
the program, Lund 10
years ago instituted the
popular Valentunes pro-
gram. He explained that
for certain donations, per-
sons can have a group of
choral students, with “T”
on portable keyboard, play
for their loved ones. He
noted that sometimes the
loved ones have to be pur-
sued, sometimes into gro-
cery stores or post offices,
or even into cow pastures.
But the love behind the
Valentunes is delivered,
and it’s a program of
which he is justifiably
proud.
He also began a Com-
munity Band in Illinois
Valley a few years ago. It
disbanded after a couple of
years because members
had scheduling and other
problems. But he’s think-
ing of restarting it, he said.
Regarding Mr. Hol-
land’s Opus Foundation,
the enthusiastic mentor
said, he initially got in-
volved when seeking funds
for more band instruments.
“They wanted to send
me $5,000 worth of instru-
ments,” he said, “But heck,
that’s what one new tuba
could cost. I finally con-
vinced them to send the
money to me; and with it, I
was able to acquire
$10,500 worth of instru-
ments.”
That was accom-
plished through his “fix-it”
and horse-trading abilities.
“All the pawn shops in this
area know me,” said Lund.
“I’ll even buy an instru-
ment from under a porch:
‘Hey, will you take 10
bucks for that rusty trum-
pet under your porch?’
That’s how I like to work.”
After receiving the
funds, a representative
from the foundation came
to Illinois Valley and
watched him work for sev-
eral days, and to make sure
he had put the money to
good use. He had.
Subsequently, last
year, he received another
phone call from the foun-
dation. After making sure
he was sitting down, a
woman told him he had
been chosen for the na-
tional honor.
She added that he
would receive $10,000;
and that he and his wife
would receive a four-day
all-expenses-paid trip to
New York City to receive
the Mr. Holland’s Opus
Award in Carnegie Hall
from Richard Dreyfuss,
who played Holland in the
movie of the same name.
“I was staggered by
the news,” said Lund. “I
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was crying I was so happy.
And I got even happier
when it was made clear
that the money was for me,
not necessarily for the pro-
gram.”
Sandi, hearing him in
emotional straits, thought
that a family tragedy had
occurred. “I kept telling
her through the tears, ‘No-
no, it’s a good thing’,” said
Lund.
The trip and the NYC
experience were magnifi-
cent, he said.
He has received other
awards including recogni-
tion from various valley
organizations for his musi-
cal efforts benefiting the
entire valley community.
In addition, besides
playing trombone with the
SOU Pep Band on Satur-
day during the homecom-
ing football game in Ash-
land, he was introduced on
the field by Zinser.
Lund said that he
works to inspire his stu-
dents with a love of music;
to reach them on intellec-
tual and emotional levels.
And to bolster the commu-
nity spirit with music
through students, showing
the payoff of their dedica-
tion.
He believes in hard
work and caring.
“I have no idea how I
got here,” he joked. “I just
followed my love and my
heart, with good advice
from friends.”
He noted the love and
support from his wife and
children, and the education
he received at SOU.
“I have been helped,
with a lot of tears and
shouting, to find the real
person inside me,” said
Lund.
“We all need to know
what we’re good at,” he
said, “and to pursue that
dream. We can make a
difference. Teaching and
instilling the love of music
is my dream.”
It seems to be a dream
come true.
By STEVE FAIRCHILD
Staff Writer
Illinois Valley Safe
House Alliance (IVSHA)
served pastries, fresh cof-
fee and a big dose of opti-
mism to volunteers, politi-
cians and the public on
Monday night, Oct. 27,
during an open house at
the Selma Community
Center.
IVSHA Executive Di-
rector Chris Mallette
proudly proclaimed that
building a safe house
within three miles of Cave
Junction is the No. 2 prior-
ity for both the Cave Junc-
tion City Council and the
Illinois Valley Community
Response Team.
The No. 2 distinction
puts IVSHA in an excel-
lent position to start re-
ceiving the large grants it
needs to finish its five-
room facility that will
house abused and battered
women and children.
The city’s No. 1 prior-
ity is finishing the down-
town revitalization project
while IVCRT’s top priority
is the Kerby’s water woes.
IVSHA’s 2,500 square
foot proposed safe house
will be built in phases and
will include a room for
women with teenagers and
two bedrooms for women
with mental health or sub-
stance abuse issues. A
separate facility will house
IVSHA’s staff offices.
IVSHA has not pur-
chased the 2-to-10 acre
parcel it needs to build its
facilities.
IVSHA has raised ap-
proximately $250,000 to-
ward its goal of $432,000
and participated in 13
community events to raise
funds this year.
“Our tree is healthy
and growing,” Mallette
said metaphorically of the
program’s successful year.
“Looks like the next cou-
ple of years are going to be
even more amazing.”
IVSHA would like to
have the safe house in op-
eration by September of
2005.
Since January, IVSHA
-- currently based in the
I.V. Family Coalition
building -- has served 225
women and 203 children
that have been affected by
domestic abuse.
Other projects IVSHA
is working on include a
self-sufficiency program to
help place women into af-
fordable housing with a
way to support themselves.
Financial difficulties are
one of the biggest reasons
women return to abuse
partners, Mallette said.
As candles lit in mem-
ory of domestic violence
victims flickered nearby
Mallette joked with com-
munity members.
“We’re not radical
fems. We’re here to pro-
vide services,” she said.
So me c o m mu n i t y
members agreed with their
pocketbooks. Kit Kemper
of Cave Junction wrote a
check for $500 and chal-
lenged anyone in the com-
munity to match his dona-
tion by Monday, Nov. 3.
To make a donation to
IVSHA phone Mallette at
592-5332.
Parent / Teacher
Conferences
Thursday, November 6
8 a.m. - Noon
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday, November 7
8 a.m. - Noon
Please contact Linda Kent at 592-2163 to arrange an appointment.
Office hours are 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Lorna Byrne
Middle School
2003