KRCA Board of Directors
Garrylee McCormick - President
Garrylee McCormick, President of the Kalamazoo Russian Cultural Association, is a lifelong resident of Kalamazoo. He is owner of Garry’s Magic Comb in the Park Trades Center; is wig master for Western Michigan University’s Theatre Department and the Augusta Barn Theatre; and as a member of IATSE Local 26, is a freelance wig master for national tours playing at WMU’s Miller Auditorium and DeVos Hall in Grand Rapids. Additionally he is a printmaker and photographer. He writes icons and has studied icon writing in both the United States and Russia at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra (Monastery) in St. Petersburg.
A Kalamazoo Community volunteer, Garry serves as President of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Vice Chair of the Metro Transit Advisory Board, and the KRCA. He has been a member of the Pushkin Steering Committee since its founding and was a member of the first delegation to Pushkin that setup the partnership. He has traveled to Pushkin five times and served as a delegate to Pushkin in 2010 for the celebration if its 300th year as a city. He is excited about serving as President of the Kalamazoo Russian Cultural Association and the opportunity to continue the annual Russian Festival in Kalamazoo wherein the warm relationship between the citizens of Kalamazoo and Pushkin will continue and be enhanced.
Marie Stoline - Co-Vice President
Marie Stoline is a Registered Nurse and a retired Geriatric Care Manager. Her first visit to the Soviet Union came during the Chernobyl nuclear disaster (1986), and her interest in Russian people and culture has continued ever since. In 1992, during the major transition from the old Soviet system to the time of Perestroika and Glasnost, she was instrumental in setting up the Kalamazoo Pushkin Partnership, a sister city relationship between the people of Pushkin, Russia, and the Kalamazoo community. This group arranged for shipments of humanitarian supplies to their medical colleagues and social agencies for the next few years.
In 1996, she helped to start the Russian Festival, and has enjoyed assisting with that celebration to the present day. In 2010, she authored a book based on conversations with Russian elders and about her experiences in Russia ("The Fire and the Gold"--available from Heartland Press). She and her husband, Michael, host an annual picnic for the local Russian community at their home. These friendships and activities are a delight for both of them!
Yulia Willoughby - Co-Vice President
Information to be added.
Helen Palleschi - Co-Secretary
Helen Palleschi recently retired from teaching full time at KVCC in the nursing department. Helen has been a member of the Kalamazoo Russian Cultural Association since 1992. She first became involved in the Russian Winter Campaign when local Kalamazoo citizens collected medical supplies, food and clothing to ship to Pushkin, Russia. Helen remained active with this initiative as a Partnership was developed with the cities of Pushkin and Kalamazoo. In addition, Palleschi is involved with several nursing organizations, church committees, and community service organizations. In 2009 the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners bestowed on Helen the Kalamazoo County Treasure Award for dedication and service to the community.
Helen has traveled to Pushkin and other areas of Russia in 1993, 2002, 2003 and 2010. Helen has been involved in planning and hosting the Annual Russian Festivals for the past 15 years. During the Festival you will find her coordinating the Silent Auction. In 2010, along with Mike Stoline, Helen co-chaired the Festival committee. Helen currently serves as secretary for the Kalamazoo Russian Cultural Association.
Alice Asmus - Co-Secretary
Information to be added.
Svetlana Canfield - Treasurer
Svetlana Canfield is a native Russian that came to Kalamazoo after graduating from Ivanovo State University with a MA in Linguistics and a BA in English. Her passion for translation and interpretation coupled with her academic background has fueled many endeavors into contract work ranging from polling firms to the Department of State. Lana also enjoyed teaching for two semesters at Western Michigan University before having her (so far) only daughter in 2008.
Svetlana's current focus involves the newly formed KRCA Literacy project, where she develops curriculum and facilitates weekly classes for bi-lingual children in our community. Also notable is the involvement in other cultural programming such as Yolka and Maslenitsa celebrations that are growing in size and inclusiveness.
The Kalamazoo Russian Cultural Association is proud to have Canfield serve as a Board member. She has been involved with Kalamazoo non-profits and Russian Community since moving to the States. Svetlana also travels home to Russia regularly with her husband and daughter to Ivanovo, Russia, where her parents still reside.
Kalamazoo Russian Festival Chairs
The organization has always been blessed with exceptional festival leadership, and this year is no exception.
2012 Festival Chairs:
Jackie Howlett
Garrylee McCormick
Christal Stricklan
Judith Rypma
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KRCA is a volunteer organization. If you are interested in becoming a resource or volunteering, please let us know on our contact page.
KRCA is a volunteer organization. If you are interested in becoming a resource or volunteering, please let us know on our contact page.
