October 17, 2024 • 34 mins
In this conversation, Sami reconnects with her longtime friend and colleague, Ruth Ann Burke. Ruth Ann has been a fixture in the Okoboji Summer Theater community for over two decades, and her story is a testament to the power of embracing change and following unexpected paths.
While her path wasn’t exactly what she expected initially, each opportunity brought new challenges as well as great rewards. Her success is a testament to trusting her gut, being open, and having the right partner by her side. Now, it’s time to see what the future holds as the next phase in her life and career begin!
In this episode we discuss
- How Ruth Ann’s background in dance led her to a career in theater marketing and philanthropy
- The unique culture and community within the theater world, and how it impacted Ruth Ann’s family
- The challenges and joys of balancing career and family as a freelancer and nonprofit professional
- Ruth Ann’s insights on navigating life’s changes and embracing new opportunities
- The exciting plans for the future of the Okoboji Summer Theater
Want to skip ahead?
[07:08] Balancing career and family requires intentionality, a support system, and a willingness to make sacrifices.
[10:02] The theater community fosters a unique culture of openness, self-expression, and support.
[25:57] Being open to unexpected opportunities can lead to extraordinary experiences.
[30:12] Embracing change, even when it’s uncomfortable, is essential for growth and new possibilities.
[31:30] Leaving a legacy and giving back to the community are important considerations as we navigate the next chapters of our lives.
Resources
Okoboji Summer Theater: https://www.stephens.edu/academics/conservatory-for-the-performing-arts/ost/
Ruth Ann Burke
Executive Director, Okoboji Summer Theatre
Ruth Ann currently works as the Conservatory’s director of engagement and just completed her 25th season at the Okoboji Summer Theatre. Prior to returning to campus in 2007, she worked in marketing and public relations in Seattle. Burke is a proud alumna of Stephens College earning both her BFA degree in Dance and a Master’s in Business Administration and also holds a Master’s in Communications from Drake University.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (00:00):
Welcome to Easy style with Sami. I'm your
(00:02):
host. Sami Bedell-Mulhern, eachepisode, I invite a friend,
family member, colleague or justsomeone I've met on this journey
called life, to come and sharetheir personal style and
approach to business, parenting,life and everything in between.
You'll hear motivational andinspirational stories that will
help you refine and build yourown personal style. Remember,
(00:25):
style is easy when it comes fromwithin.
I am so excited to have Ruth AnnBurke on the podcast today. We
go back to what like 2007 oreight I was trying to remember
the year, but you taught for meat my summer camp. You taught
theater. That's kind of how wefirst connected. So I'm so glad
we're getting to have thisconversation today.
Ruth Ann Burke (00:47):
It's great. I'm here at the Okoboji summer
theater even today, and yeah,I've started coming back here to
work in 2000 and have had lotsof opportunities to interact
with folks like you and yourfamily and all kinds of things
with projects here on campus andalso, you know, theater camps
and that sort of thing. So it'sbeen great. It's been what I
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (01:08):
love about some of these conversations that
we have here is like for you andI, for example, we met in a very
specific for a very specificpurpose. You were teaching for a
program that I was running. AndI would have never imagined that
15 or so years later, mydaughter would be participating
in your program as an actor inthe children's theater. So it's
really interesting, like, younever really know how things are
(01:30):
going to kind of play out.
Ruth Ann Burke (01:33):
There's a lot of really interesting things about
that. I The years click by, andthen all of a sudden, you've got
a kid who's old enough to joinour musical theater boot camp or
be in a show with us, orwhatever. And our connections
run long since the 50s with thiscommunity. And so when you do a
show like music man or FreakyFriday and you need community
support and lots of extrapeople, it's always been an
(01:55):
option and a fun way to connectwith the locals. But we just as
those years click by, we werejust talking earlier about the
phases that you go through inyour professional life as a mom,
and pretty soon you turn aroundand your kids are planning their
way. So I know it's just aninteresting ride, but it was a
(02:16):
joy to get to spend some timewith her. But I love the part
that when you go back to when wefirst met, that the work is
inspiring. And then what we'retrying to do here is inspiring
enough that you bring back yourkids to see shows, and then as
they grow up, then they becomeeither interested, or they
figure out that there's somemerit to exploring being in
(02:37):
shows, even if that's not whatyou pursue for your livelihood.
And so that's kind of cool. Seehow that's so
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (02:44):
true. But let's go back to your kind of
theater origin story. And couldyou kind of share a little bit
for you know, because ouraudience, our listeners,
obviously don't know you. And sokind of, who is Ruthann? How did
you get involved into theater?Kind of, what's a little bit
about your kind of your story.
Ruth Ann Burke (03:03):
It's just starting from right this second.
It's easy to say that I marriedinto this, but I'm from Des
Moines, and I spent severalsummers during my high school
years going to Crescent Beach. Idid not realize anything was
over on this side of the WestLake Okoboji. So I did grow up
being exposed to the arts, butmostly dance. And I found out
(03:23):
about Stevens College inColumbia, where I went to school
undergraduate, and I ended up asa dance major, and pursued that
for several years. But whilethere, met and became quite
acquainted with a young man inthe theater department who was
studying stage management anddesign, and Michael Burke had
come here as a theater studentbecause it's a requirement for
(03:45):
theater majors to spend a summeror two here. And so after we
graduated and decided to betogether and find some cities to
work at together, we keptpursuing freelance work so that
we could come here. And I didn'tcome at first, but then one of
my mentors said to me, Hey, doyou want to be marketing
director? And so I gave that atry. I first worked in the box
(04:10):
office, then we moved toSeattle, and I ended up working
more in the marketing side ofthings, nonprofits and that sort
of thing. Had our children inSeattle. And then one of my
other mentors asked, Do you wantto come back and join Mike if he
continues to freelance? So Istepped in as director of
marketing and philanthropy, andthen we started setting up some
systems that hadn't been herebefore in the early 2000s for
(04:32):
sponsorships, corporatealliances, and all of the things
that we really are relying onnow. And that was really fun,
student scholarships, and thenstarting to look at what
infrastructures needed to beimproved, because we hadn't done
a lot of capital campaigns orimprovements to the facilities
during the 80s and 90s. So thenit became apparent we needed to
(04:54):
start working on this or that,and started looking at what do
we need to do for a completetheater renovation? Education
for our 50th and so I startedgetting quite involved in what
those bigger gifts can do, andhow to talk to folks about being
transformational with theircontribution and what can really
happen. And that just took off.And so from 2007 to present,
(05:18):
we've been very focused. Andmore of for me, more of the
business side, philanthropy andmarketing. And so that's been a
fun ride. But I'm not a theaterperson. I was a dancer, and
then, and then made the pivot,as some of your other
interviewees have talked about,to go to the nonprofit marketing
world, and that felt like wheremy wheelhouse was best served,
(05:42):
and it allowed us to keep cominghere. And as you and I talked
about earlier, we werefreelancers, and we were able to
bring our kids, and they grew uphere. They started coming here
when they were three and five,and just stayed every summer.
They didn't know any different.And we just it's almost like
moving to an Airbnb for fourmonths, and then we go back to
(06:04):
our house, and they made friendshere and ended up working
through high school. And one ofmy daughters ended up working at
minervas for many years to getherself through college. She
found Okoboji was a pretty greatplace to spend the summer and
lucrative. That is true, right?
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (06:22):
That is true. Well, okay, so, but I want
to back up a little bit on justyou as a person, because it
sounds like, sounds like you'vebeen always pretty open to the
opportunities as they come, andmaybe ebbing and flowing, like,
how do you do you kind of findthat about Has that always been
a part of your personality, of,you know, it takes a certain
person to be a freelancer andkind of take that risk and just
(06:45):
say, Okay, well, we're gonna gowhere the jobs take us, and
assume it's much, not as easy asassume, but assume the next
opportunity is going to bring itto itself. And then, even with
the Okoboji summer theater,like, kind of ebbing and flowing
within the roles that we'regoing to be the best, you know,
for the organization and kind ofjumping in, is that some
something you've always thecharacteristic of your
personality, or,
Ruth Ann Burke (07:08):
well, I think if you're going to major in dance,
you know, there's someinstability ahead. And so there
was that. But I was always that,you know, it's not for the faint
of heart. And I think when Ibecame seriously involved with
Michael Burke. It he was acalming force. So it was scary.
It was we ended up moving afterwe got married to Seattle, and
(07:30):
neither one of us had ever beenthere, so we're driving and we'd
never been there. And so thatjumping off a cliff sensation,
it can make you quite alive, butit is something that as you if
you call that a pivot, that'ssomething that's probably for
sure, character building, andwhat a great thing to show your
(07:50):
kids. But I think I needed tohave certain things in place
along my life path to make thatfeel safe enough to make those
kind of jumps so moving tocities that you've never been
at, trying completely newcareers, those sort of things
you really need to stop. Takestock of what you really think
you can do, and you rely onothers. You I rely I was
(08:12):
thinking a lot about the path ofthe professional female. You
rely on others to help you. Ifyou're at a low point of
financially, emotionally orotherwise, you sometimes need
help a little bit, and thensometimes you need people to
help open doors for you or giveyou a chance. I've had two
people here give me chances as Iwas starting and as I've gotten
(08:34):
promoted to executive director.I mean, that was another door
opener for me. And I think everytime you're looking at those
kind of pivots, you aren't byyourself. You need to look at
who's there to help you, and doyou have the financial stability
to be a freelancer? What do youhave to have in place to make
you sleep at night? And so Mikeand I've always been able to
(08:55):
have those conversations, andsometimes that means you're
working two or three things, orthat you save up and you make
sacrifices so that you can spendyour summers here. And I think
we just made those commitmentsearly on, because what a ride
it's been. This place is deep inhis blood, and now it's deep in
mine, and so you are. They'reeasy sacrifices to make when you
(09:18):
know it's the right thing. Andas we watched the kids grow up,
they were surrounded by allkinds of artists, the students
as they're learning their craft,but also the professionals that
we bring in. And so they spenttheir lives surrounded by all
kinds of folks. And a lot ofpeople used to say, when they
were in their high school years,are they going to major in
theater? And I didn't know theyboth would have made great stage
(09:40):
managers, but and we threw themin several shows. They were in
many shows. And ironically, I'venever been in a show here, and
so that was fun to watch them,but they had no interest. One
ended up going into licensedprofessional counselor, and the
other ones in the healthcarefield, and but boy, what did
they learn just by being in thiskind of. Environment. For
(10:00):
decades, it was, well, we've
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (10:02):
been in the dance community, the competitive
dance community, which is verydifferent. You know now we're
very much in the theatercommunity. My daughter has
participated in shows inprobably five or six different
with five or six differentcompanies or groups. And I find
that the warmth and theconnection in the community
(10:26):
within the theater book, she'snever had a bad experience.
She's had, like, you know, allthe personalities don't always
get along. Granted, she's also ateenager, so, like, that's a
whole thing. But as far as,like, the culture around
theater, it's such a beautifulthing, I think that at least
we've experienced and what weexperienced when she was there
at the summer theater. So I canimagine that the personalities
(10:48):
and just like the connection andthe uniqueness and, you know,
the fact that the people thatthey were surrounded by growing
up are much more open to beingthemselves, I feel like more
than other different types ofsports or activities that they
could be around all summer longthat had to be kind of an
interesting like conversationsthat they heard and were a part
(11:10):
of and ability to communicateabout themselves.
Ruth Ann Burke (11:14):
One of the things I love about watching the
students who come here is thatthey probably have by the time
they got to Stevens to major inmusical theater or costume
design, they had an experiencethat led up to them applying to
a college for that they'realready very disciplined, pretty
seasoned and creative peoplealready that wasn't exactly my
(11:35):
path. Dance was kind of naturalfor me, but I'd been doing that
since I was like six, so I didit, and then I did it
professionally for a few yearsafterwards, but I was kind of
ready to be done. I wasn't inthe competitive world of the
high school scenarios that theyhave now, but I was just the
regular dance kid, and so I wasready for that pivot. But the
(11:56):
kids that are coming to Okoboji,what I'm finding is that they're
really making those decisionsabout where do they want to go
next, where they want to live,and how can they make this their
livelihood? And that, I wasn'tall in in that. And so I think I
erred towards from my pathanyway, what's a little bit more
of the stability with thefreelance marketing, which was
(12:18):
more stable, and I was good atthat too, and so Mike could
continue to do his freelancestage management and and
production work. So one thingI've noticed in recent years is
when these kids come here, and Ithink what you're referring to a
little bit is, yeah,vulnerability. They went through
high school and they had somesome of the high school programs
(12:40):
are incredible, and they have alot of opportunities, but you
are then you're coming into aplace that's a musical theater
major, and you're surrounded bypeople in costume design or tech
or acting musical theater thatthey are also were maybe the
best in their high school. Sonow you're in a little cadre
where you're trying to find outwhere you fit in in the world.
(13:03):
It doesn't matter where you fitin in your class, because you're
going to end up going throughthis program is three years and
two summers. It blasts by, andthen you off to wherever you
choose to be. So when they everhave any kind of obstacles with
one another, I say temporary.This is going to go by and we'll
be in Chicago, and you'll be inNew York and you'll be in DC,
(13:23):
and that it's a temporary thing,which we forget when we're in
those ages that are moresensitive. But the vulnerability
that they come with, I am alwaysfloored by because a lot of
times they will be one personwhen they get here and very
different when they leave, butputting it out, putting
everything that you have out onthe stage is the vulnerable live
(13:47):
theater experience that we are,you know, sharing with the
community. But when you watchthat happen, I don't know if
you've witnessed that, it's acombination of that kind of
scared, terrified, vulnerable,but also kind of grabbing on to
what you know you're good at,and having these, what we call
sharp elbows, and you gotta getout of my way. I deserve this
(14:09):
lead. I deserve to be here. Ideserve this, and I'm gonna take
my moment. And so it's both.It's a healthy combination of
both. And I see that with theprofessionals too. They just
become better and better andclearer about what they're good
at, which I think is true forall of us and everybody that
you've been interviewingrecently, as you get older and
(14:31):
more clear about what you'regood at, that's where you should
yeah, no, that's
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (14:34):
so good. Okay, so let's talk through
like, mom life and, you know,being a wife, and, you know,
coming back and forth everysummer. So, you know, as I know,
well, we've moved our kidsseveral times, you know, but I
grew up very much, like inOkoboji all the time, like that.
I lived in the same home for allthe like, for all these years.
(14:55):
And, you know, very justconsistent. So what was that
like, raising your kids as theygot. Got older, going,
especially going through middleschool and high school and kind
of picking up and leaving forthe summer. Like, was that
something that they loved, orwas there moments where it was
like, Okay, should we keep doingthis? Or how did that go?
Ruth Ann Burke (15:12):
Yeah, it was interesting. Mike had a very
different experience. He grew upin a little tiny town in Kansas,
and their family moved toDenver, big city when they were
1010, and 11 years old, he andhis brother, I never moved. I
grew up in Urbandale. Nevermoved until I went to school. So
I had never left, but he had hadthat experience of two different
(15:33):
places. So when we went toSeattle, I decided to stop being
in the professional dance world,and then made that pivot to
marketing, and things were goinggreat. And I think part of my
decision making on changingcareers was that I wanted to
have a family, so when we got alittle bit more serious and
still wanted to freelance andreally just add more plates, and
(15:53):
it was more juggling and all ofthat stuff, as they got older,
it became a question that thefreelance thing was maybe going
to start to get a little bit toocomplex, and at that time, we
were having open conversationswith our colleagues here in
Okoboji. And so one of mymentors created positions for us
at Stevens and made it yearround. And the timing was
(16:16):
perfect, because the kids wereabout nine and 11, and that
movement of uprooting your life,it worked for Mike, because they
did it when they were youngenough. I didn't want to do that
to girls in high school. I kindof thought, Okay, if we're going
to do it, let's do it right now.What before they're in junior
high? Because to me, those seemlike really sensitive years to
(16:41):
uproot, and they still we stillwere, but it was only going to
get more difficult for teenage,pre teen girls. And so the
College made us a wonderfulopportunity, created wonderful
opportunity for us to work oncampus and then be able to do
these jobs. And so it became arelocation to the Midwest, which
(17:01):
was fine for me, and a chancefor them to have a very
different, more suburban, ratherthan city, experience, and their
pros and cons all directions,but it allowed us to have this
life, and it also allowed themto have the opportunity for
going to college, which thosepositions made it easy for us to
(17:21):
have some tuition exchangeprograms where the kids could go
to school, and I knew that thepath was before them if they
chose to do that, which theyboth did, and so that was a
factor. I mean, when you startsaving for college and looking
at colleges, I knew that thatwas going to be really tricky on
the west coast for us withfreelance lives. And so the
(17:44):
College made us quite a anopportunity that was hard to say
no to. And so moved, movedeverybody in the about 2007 and
then they were able to stay inColumbia and graduate. And one
of them is working on a degreealso, yeah, they offer a
master's degree in criticalcounseling, and so she's
finishing up her licensingrequirements at this time.
(18:08):
That's amazing.
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (18:09):
And so do they still go back to Okoboji?
Like, is it still kind of partof their like, do they come back
in the summers, or are they kindof moved on and live their own
lives?
Ruth Ann Burke (18:17):
Yes, no, no. It's a vacation mode. And one of
them that worked for a longtime, my younger one, Miranda,
who worked for a long time atminervas, has several friends
that she keeps in touch with whoare still here, and so that's
pretty fun, because she theyknow all the patrons. They know,
all of the folks in our summertheater Association, long time
volunteers. They all helpedraise them like a village, and
(18:40):
some of our guests, artists theyknow still, who have come back
occasionally. They don't knowthe students as much anymore.
They did for a little bit. Theyknew some of the students
because they were on campus withthem. They were working on their
undergraduate degrees. And Ihave to say, that has changed me
in the recent years, when thekids were the same age as the
students I started, some lightbulbs went off for me, and I
(19:03):
thought, oh yeah, I've heardthis story before. No, I'm kind
of getting removed from knowingthat age group. And then all of
a sudden, my kids were that age,and you got, you got
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (19:17):
your own education and how to handle
we're gonna have to reach out toyou when our kids go to college
for all of the No need to knows
Ruth Ann Burke (19:26):
red flags, it is as a journey too. And you know,
there's nothing wrong withmaking multiple pivots,
especially if you don't knowexactly what you want to do. I
was just talking to someone herewhose daughter is at uni, and I
think they started off in onepath, and just made that
decision to change the majors,and we were talking about what
that looks like, and the worldis just so fast and furious, and
(19:49):
we spend so much of our timeworking, it should be something
at least feels like you have astrong passion or connection for
in some way, because life's tooshort. But it is just short, and
so just trying to ride the wave,I think, with your kids, so that
they can find their path andfeel free to make choices. And
Mike always says to people whoare struggling, your
(20:12):
undergraduate degree largelyrepresents your ability to
finish something. You can go tograduate school for something
more in depth or refined. Butundergraduate school, don't
worry about it. Just go, youknow, and and finish, try to
finish something. And then, um,maybe you need to grow up a
(20:32):
little bit mature, a littleuntil you've decided what you
want to be and where you want tolive. And so it shouldn't be so
much pressure, though.
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (20:40):
I love that. Okay, so you mentioned
your, you know, your youngest isgetting married soon, and your
other daughter is alreadymarried, and you're fully empty
nested. And there's newopportunities that are happening
with the summer theater. There'salways growth and and evolution
on that side as well. But kindof, how are you navigating what
(21:01):
comes next. Because youmentioned, you know, life's life
short. Do what you love. So howare you and Mike kind of
figuring out what that lookslike for you guys.
Ruth Ann Burke (21:11):
It's been fun to watch them complete their goals.
My younger one is the one whogot married a year ago. She's
settled in Des Moines. And, youknow, founder person, which is
the best feeling ever when theyhave completed their degree,
they found a place they want tolive, and they found someone
that they really care about andwant to commit to. And then the
(21:32):
same happened for my olderdaughter, Madison, and she's
getting married in eight weekson Thanksgiving weekend, found
her person, and that's the mainthing. Is I try to have so much
balance. I try to revisit theconcept of balance as much as I
can and and focus on Hey. We didour very best. We've made a lot
of mistakes along the way withthem, and they turn out okay.
(21:55):
And what is the most importantis that they're happy and that
they are where they want to be,whatever that looks like for
them. And so now we're startingto try to figure out what's it
look like for us. And we'regoing to be doing some new
opportunities with the college.The college this fall has
adopted a block scheduling whichis modeled after some places
(22:19):
like Colorado College and MountVernon, Iowa, Cornell, and they
do one thing at a time. Thetheater department is exempt
from that, but the other majorsat the college are adopting
this. And one of the thingswe're looking at is, how can we
use this campus in Okoboji morefully? How could some of the
block schedules students come uphere for maybe a week at a time
(22:41):
for a writer's retreat or a filmproject, or maybe a business
internship with some of ourpartners. And so Mike and I are
up here looking at continuing onwith our tiny homes. We have 15
of those that we use in thesummer, and we have room for
about 12 more. And so we'reworking on laying the groundwork
to complete that so that it canbe a whole full, tiny home
(23:04):
village over time. That's agreat project, and just
infrastructure things on theproperty. It's about 14 acres,
so anybody with this much landknows it's just non stop,
whatever that is, not just nonstop improvements and paying
attention to being a greatneighbor and making sure that
everything is, you know, thewinners up here is so harsh on
(23:25):
the property that every springit's something or other. And so
we're just trying to keep oureye on those things, keep that
going and, you know, put theplace in the best situation
possible for that nextgeneration. But
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (23:40):
what does it mean for you guys personally,
like, Are you dreaming abouttraveling, or are you excited to
just kind of settle in and beable to take on these new
challenges without kind of theextra pressure? Because
sometimes just even being ableto, like, take on a big new
adventure, even creatively withthe work that you're doing and
figuring out how to make themost use of the space, it's nice
to be able to do that withoutthe distraction of kids. I don't
(24:03):
mean that in a bad way, but youknow what I mean? Like to be so
like, what does that look like?
Ruth Ann Burke (24:09):
I hear you. We fulfilled our obligation with
the kids. No, yeah, right. And Ithink that's yeah. It was so
interesting because we had ameeting with the president of
our college and and the veryfirst thing she said, when the
door closed, she said she'd liketo talk to us. And Mike and Mike
and I were like, I wonder whatthis is about. And the door
closed, and she said,
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (24:27):
we know this is going to take time. Yes,
Ruth Ann Burke (24:30):
are you ready for a new adventure? And she
knew our children, and so she,of course, was helping us to
think differently about how ourjobs could be reconfigured. And
so we're kind of doing what,almost a reverse faculty
contract. And so we will beworking more in the spring and
fall and then in the winter,because this is not a winterized
operation. It's really hard todo much here, November,
(24:53):
December, January, and we can goback on campus and do a little
planning, but also take sometime. And that's. Something we
have not done. We've not hadsummers off in 24 years, or Mike
probably 35 years, and so we'venever really taken time for
that. And I think it's time.I've never been on a cruise.
We've done some backpackingbefore we started this, but in
(25:15):
Europe. But, you know, maybeit's time to go to some beaches
and put your feet in the
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (25:20):
sand a little bit. Yeah, I think, I
think, like the lesson that I'mlearning from you, and what I'm
hearing is when you're open toopportunity without expectation,
and you do what you feel goodabout, you never know kind of
the opportunities that are goingto come come your way. But if
(25:42):
you close yourself off to kindof Nope, this is the way that it
is, or these things won't happenfor me, then you're minimizing
your opportunity to be able tohave kind of extraordinary
experiences that you might nothave even written for
Ruth Ann Burke (25:57):
yourself. I never saw Michael Burke coming.
No idea. So once I said yes toLet's be together, I think I
signed up for a lifetime ofthat. And of course, you want to
make the best decisions and thepros and cons of life, but what
a great thing to try to showyour kids. You know, as we go
through all of these phases withour kids and in our
relationships and marriages andpartnerships that just try to
(26:21):
assess the situation, see if itreally works for you and if it's
something you can succeed at,but it's been a good thing. Of
course, there's, you know,turbulent times or whatever, and
look what we've all just beenthrough in the last five years.
I mean, I think we need to be aspresent as possible. And look at
especially since covidnonprofits have taken a beating,
and you really need to be asaware and present as possible to
(26:44):
make good decisions, likepicking shows people want to
see, doing your best work tomentor students who are maybe a
little bit more troubled thanthey were before, and riding all
of those waves. I've learned alot in recent years about that
with compassion, being patient,understanding things have
changed a lot, and that nothingI can do about that. I we're not
(27:06):
going back in a bunch ofcategories, and we shouldn't,
but sometimes that's hard tomove forward when you wanted it
to be how it used to be, maybein one category or another. And
so I think that's good modeling,and want to do that for our
students and for my kids and formyself, right? What's the next
best decision for us in ourcareers and personally, but
(27:31):
keeping that balance. I'm a yogaperson, so I'm just always
working on trying to be a littlebit more still, a little bit
more present, and that thatcan't be the wrong decision.
It's always the right decision.Yeah, it's hard to do trusting
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (27:45):
yourself, I think, is, I think trusting
ourselves, the way we speak toourselves, as is, two of the
things that I'm always workingon, right? Because we are so
mean to ourselves,
Ruth Ann Burke (27:56):
our lifelong pursuits? Yes, I'm working on
those things too, especiallywhen the kids are gone, now,
your purpose changes. I thinkthat's something, I think that
new empty nest folks have towrestle with. And that's, that's
a powerful thing. What's, whatis it that we want to do with
the last chapters of our careeror the next phase with our adult
(28:19):
children? It's crazy. It's crazyand great. I know it's you're
you're not there yet. Does itseem Yes? Because
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (28:28):
we literally, like, have two more
summers with her, and then it'sher summer where we're moving
her to college, right? So shehas two and a half years, I
mean, roughly two and a halfyears of high school left, which
is bonkers, and then three yearsafter that, my son will be gone,
so we're really only six yearsaway from being empty nesters,
which is insane to me, but yeah,I mean, I think we're starting
(28:52):
to shift into how we take thistime. And also she's busier than
ever, so we see her less. Soit's a really interesting
balance.
Ruth Ann Burke (29:05):
Well, the best thing about that, I think, is
that when you realize how fastthe time is going, you get very
serious about being intentional.That's a good thing. Since covid
especially, I think we've beenall of us, maybe a little bit
better at that little bit betteryou don't know what's coming
around the next bend. And lifeis pretty crazy right now. So
(29:27):
being as intentional and presentas possible, that's a good
thing. And you create those kindof environments, they will come
back and see you for the summer.You start going on adult
vacations together, and it justlooks different. So it's not
over, it's just, it's just more,just
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (29:43):
different. So that leads me to my last
question is we kind of wrap thisup, because I think some people
are really good with change. Itsounds like you're somebody who
embraces change pretty well. Alot of people are not good with
change. So is there any, maybelast words of wisdom, or like. A
strategy that you can share withour listeners about how you kind
of navigate change and kind ofmake it approachable to you or
(30:08):
comfortable.
Ruth Ann Burke (30:12):
Change is never comfortable, and it's funny that
you say I'm good at it, becausewe've just done a lot of change,
and I have to sometimes getpretty emotional about it,
either I'm fighting it, or I'mcrying over it, or whatever,
hand wringing about it. So ittakes me, sometimes a little
longer on the path than thepeople that are around me who
are more adept at that, but ifyou don't change, or if you
(30:35):
don't say things, you just won'tknow what doors were closed to
you or who what could have beenaround that corner for you? What
could have been reallyinteresting? And, yeah, I mean,
there's just been so much kindof havoc in a bad way in recent
years. You know, many of us havesuffered losses, personally,
(30:55):
people, our parents have diedduring covid. And you know, some
things that were reallydifficult to deal with as an
adult. Now, neither one of ushave our parents, for example,
but then these professionalopportunities are just life
transforming. So there's thegood and the bad, and you're
constantly weighing it andfiguring out what's the next
(31:16):
like I said before, what's thenext best thing? But I think it
just Yeah, it's hard for me toto act like I'm good at it,
because you don't ever thinkyou're really good at change,
but um,
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (31:31):
just take it as it comes. Yeah,
Ruth Ann Burke (31:34):
yeah. I mean, it could be such an amazing,
beautiful thing that you hadnever envisioned. And so I'm
just continuing to try to bethat work in progress and see
how I can be successful and giveback, especially to a place like
this. How could I help transformthis place and make it better
for the people who are gonnathat? I hope to open the door
for and take over as Mike says,Who am I handed my keys to? Who
(31:58):
am I?
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (31:59):
Well, Ruth Ann, thank you so much for being
here, for sharing your story,for being open with all the
listeners we never know kind ofwhat's going to inspire us to
kind of make that next step intosomething even better than what
we have now. So I appreciate youcoming on if people want to
connect with you or learn moreabout Stevens college or Okoboji
(32:21):
or Okoboji summer theater. Ialmost said something else
anyway. How do they do that?
Ruth Ann Burke (32:29):
Yes, we are on social media and trying to give
updates as things are evolvingwith us at the Okoboji summer
theater, Facebook page andInstagram, and then we have a
website where we'll beannouncing all the things that
we're doing in the coming yearat okobojisummertheater.org and
so I just appreciate that you'redoing this. I think it's great
for us to support each other,learn from each other, and I'm
(32:51):
inspired by the folks thatyou've already interviewed, and
it's been really great. Thanksfor the opportunity.
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (32:57):
Just want to say thank you again to Ruth
Ann for joining me. One of myfavorite parts about this
podcast is that I get to connectand reconnect with people that
have been impactful in my life,as well as have conversations
with new people. But just tohave an excuse to kind of share
their stories, she's been aninspiration to me, and I've
always learned so much from herand enjoyed every conversation
we have. So to be able to kindof share that with all of you is
(33:22):
just what I love so much aboutthe easy style with Sammy
podcast. So if there's somebodythat's been inspiring to you and
your life, that you think theirstory would be great for other
people to hear, I'd love to hearit. You can shoot me an email
Sami@easystylewithsami.com orjust message us on Facebook or
Instagram, or all of the placeswe're around. You can find the
(33:44):
show notes for this episode withextra links and resources at
easystylewithsami.com/30 fornow. Thank you so much for
listening or watching if you'rehere on YouTube, I really,
really appreciate you taking thetime to hear these stories and
share it with someone who couldalso use some words of
inspiration around change andgrowth and new opportunities. I
(34:05):
really appreciate you taking thetime to listen, and I will see
you in the next one.
Welcome to Easy style with Sami. I'm your
(00:02):
host. Sami Bedell-Mulhern, eachepisode, I invite a friend,
family member, colleague or justsomeone I've met on this journey
called life, to come and sharetheir personal style and
approach to business, parenting,life and everything in between.
You'll hear motivational andinspirational stories that will
help you refine and build yourown personal style. Remember,
(00:25):
style is easy when it comes fromwithin.
I am so excited to have Ruth AnnBurke on the podcast today. We
go back to what like 2007 oreight I was trying to remember
the year, but you taught for meat my summer camp. You taught
theater. That's kind of how wefirst connected. So I'm so glad
we're getting to have thisconversation today.
Ruth Ann Burke (00:47):
It's great. I'm here at the Okoboji summer
theater even today, and yeah,I've started coming back here to
work in 2000 and have had lotsof opportunities to interact
with folks like you and yourfamily and all kinds of things
with projects here on campus andalso, you know, theater camps
and that sort of thing. So it'sbeen great. It's been what I
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (01:08):
love about some of these conversations that
we have here is like for you andI, for example, we met in a very
specific for a very specificpurpose. You were teaching for a
program that I was running. AndI would have never imagined that
15 or so years later, mydaughter would be participating
in your program as an actor inthe children's theater. So it's
really interesting, like, younever really know how things are
(01:30):
going to kind of play out.
Ruth Ann Burke (01:33):
There's a lot of really interesting things about
that. I The years click by, andthen all of a sudden, you've got
a kid who's old enough to joinour musical theater boot camp or
be in a show with us, orwhatever. And our connections
run long since the 50s with thiscommunity. And so when you do a
show like music man or FreakyFriday and you need community
support and lots of extrapeople, it's always been an
(01:55):
option and a fun way to connectwith the locals. But we just as
those years click by, we werejust talking earlier about the
phases that you go through inyour professional life as a mom,
and pretty soon you turn aroundand your kids are planning their
way. So I know it's just aninteresting ride, but it was a
(02:16):
joy to get to spend some timewith her. But I love the part
that when you go back to when wefirst met, that the work is
inspiring. And then what we'retrying to do here is inspiring
enough that you bring back yourkids to see shows, and then as
they grow up, then they becomeeither interested, or they
figure out that there's somemerit to exploring being in
(02:37):
shows, even if that's not whatyou pursue for your livelihood.
And so that's kind of cool. Seehow that's so
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (02:44):
true. But let's go back to your kind of
theater origin story. And couldyou kind of share a little bit
for you know, because ouraudience, our listeners,
obviously don't know you. And sokind of, who is Ruthann? How did
you get involved into theater?Kind of, what's a little bit
about your kind of your story.
Ruth Ann Burke (03:03):
It's just starting from right this second.
It's easy to say that I marriedinto this, but I'm from Des
Moines, and I spent severalsummers during my high school
years going to Crescent Beach. Idid not realize anything was
over on this side of the WestLake Okoboji. So I did grow up
being exposed to the arts, butmostly dance. And I found out
(03:23):
about Stevens College inColumbia, where I went to school
undergraduate, and I ended up asa dance major, and pursued that
for several years. But whilethere, met and became quite
acquainted with a young man inthe theater department who was
studying stage management anddesign, and Michael Burke had
come here as a theater studentbecause it's a requirement for
(03:45):
theater majors to spend a summeror two here. And so after we
graduated and decided to betogether and find some cities to
work at together, we keptpursuing freelance work so that
we could come here. And I didn'tcome at first, but then one of
my mentors said to me, Hey, doyou want to be marketing
director? And so I gave that atry. I first worked in the box
(04:10):
office, then we moved toSeattle, and I ended up working
more in the marketing side ofthings, nonprofits and that sort
of thing. Had our children inSeattle. And then one of my
other mentors asked, Do you wantto come back and join Mike if he
continues to freelance? So Istepped in as director of
marketing and philanthropy, andthen we started setting up some
systems that hadn't been herebefore in the early 2000s for
(04:32):
sponsorships, corporatealliances, and all of the things
that we really are relying onnow. And that was really fun,
student scholarships, and thenstarting to look at what
infrastructures needed to beimproved, because we hadn't done
a lot of capital campaigns orimprovements to the facilities
during the 80s and 90s. So thenit became apparent we needed to
(04:54):
start working on this or that,and started looking at what do
we need to do for a completetheater renovation? Education
for our 50th and so I startedgetting quite involved in what
those bigger gifts can do, andhow to talk to folks about being
transformational with theircontribution and what can really
happen. And that just took off.And so from 2007 to present,
(05:18):
we've been very focused. Andmore of for me, more of the
business side, philanthropy andmarketing. And so that's been a
fun ride. But I'm not a theaterperson. I was a dancer, and
then, and then made the pivot,as some of your other
interviewees have talked about,to go to the nonprofit marketing
world, and that felt like wheremy wheelhouse was best served,
(05:42):
and it allowed us to keep cominghere. And as you and I talked
about earlier, we werefreelancers, and we were able to
bring our kids, and they grew uphere. They started coming here
when they were three and five,and just stayed every summer.
They didn't know any different.And we just it's almost like
moving to an Airbnb for fourmonths, and then we go back to
(06:04):
our house, and they made friendshere and ended up working
through high school. And one ofmy daughters ended up working at
minervas for many years to getherself through college. She
found Okoboji was a pretty greatplace to spend the summer and
lucrative. That is true, right?
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (06:22):
That is true. Well, okay, so, but I want
to back up a little bit on justyou as a person, because it
sounds like, sounds like you'vebeen always pretty open to the
opportunities as they come, andmaybe ebbing and flowing, like,
how do you do you kind of findthat about Has that always been
a part of your personality, of,you know, it takes a certain
person to be a freelancer andkind of take that risk and just
(06:45):
say, Okay, well, we're gonna gowhere the jobs take us, and
assume it's much, not as easy asassume, but assume the next
opportunity is going to bring itto itself. And then, even with
the Okoboji summer theater,like, kind of ebbing and flowing
within the roles that we'regoing to be the best, you know,
for the organization and kind ofjumping in, is that some
something you've always thecharacteristic of your
personality, or,
Ruth Ann Burke (07:08):
well, I think if you're going to major in dance,
you know, there's someinstability ahead. And so there
was that. But I was always that,you know, it's not for the faint
of heart. And I think when Ibecame seriously involved with
Michael Burke. It he was acalming force. So it was scary.
It was we ended up moving afterwe got married to Seattle, and
(07:30):
neither one of us had ever beenthere, so we're driving and we'd
never been there. And so thatjumping off a cliff sensation,
it can make you quite alive, butit is something that as you if
you call that a pivot, that'ssomething that's probably for
sure, character building, andwhat a great thing to show your
(07:50):
kids. But I think I needed tohave certain things in place
along my life path to make thatfeel safe enough to make those
kind of jumps so moving tocities that you've never been
at, trying completely newcareers, those sort of things
you really need to stop. Takestock of what you really think
you can do, and you rely onothers. You I rely I was
(08:12):
thinking a lot about the path ofthe professional female. You
rely on others to help you. Ifyou're at a low point of
financially, emotionally orotherwise, you sometimes need
help a little bit, and thensometimes you need people to
help open doors for you or giveyou a chance. I've had two
people here give me chances as Iwas starting and as I've gotten
(08:34):
promoted to executive director.I mean, that was another door
opener for me. And I think everytime you're looking at those
kind of pivots, you aren't byyourself. You need to look at
who's there to help you, and doyou have the financial stability
to be a freelancer? What do youhave to have in place to make
you sleep at night? And so Mikeand I've always been able to
(08:55):
have those conversations, andsometimes that means you're
working two or three things, orthat you save up and you make
sacrifices so that you can spendyour summers here. And I think
we just made those commitmentsearly on, because what a ride
it's been. This place is deep inhis blood, and now it's deep in
mine, and so you are. They'reeasy sacrifices to make when you
(09:18):
know it's the right thing. Andas we watched the kids grow up,
they were surrounded by allkinds of artists, the students
as they're learning their craft,but also the professionals that
we bring in. And so they spenttheir lives surrounded by all
kinds of folks. And a lot ofpeople used to say, when they
were in their high school years,are they going to major in
theater? And I didn't know theyboth would have made great stage
(09:40):
managers, but and we threw themin several shows. They were in
many shows. And ironically, I'venever been in a show here, and
so that was fun to watch them,but they had no interest. One
ended up going into licensedprofessional counselor, and the
other ones in the healthcarefield, and but boy, what did
they learn just by being in thiskind of. Environment. For
(10:00):
decades, it was, well, we've
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (10:02):
been in the dance community, the competitive
dance community, which is verydifferent. You know now we're
very much in the theatercommunity. My daughter has
participated in shows inprobably five or six different
with five or six differentcompanies or groups. And I find
that the warmth and theconnection in the community
(10:26):
within the theater book, she'snever had a bad experience.
She's had, like, you know, allthe personalities don't always
get along. Granted, she's also ateenager, so, like, that's a
whole thing. But as far as,like, the culture around
theater, it's such a beautifulthing, I think that at least
we've experienced and what weexperienced when she was there
at the summer theater. So I canimagine that the personalities
(10:48):
and just like the connection andthe uniqueness and, you know,
the fact that the people thatthey were surrounded by growing
up are much more open to beingthemselves, I feel like more
than other different types ofsports or activities that they
could be around all summer longthat had to be kind of an
interesting like conversationsthat they heard and were a part
(11:10):
of and ability to communicateabout themselves.
Ruth Ann Burke (11:14):
One of the things I love about watching the
students who come here is thatthey probably have by the time
they got to Stevens to major inmusical theater or costume
design, they had an experiencethat led up to them applying to
a college for that they'realready very disciplined, pretty
seasoned and creative peoplealready that wasn't exactly my
(11:35):
path. Dance was kind of naturalfor me, but I'd been doing that
since I was like six, so I didit, and then I did it
professionally for a few yearsafterwards, but I was kind of
ready to be done. I wasn't inthe competitive world of the
high school scenarios that theyhave now, but I was just the
regular dance kid, and so I wasready for that pivot. But the
(11:56):
kids that are coming to Okoboji,what I'm finding is that they're
really making those decisionsabout where do they want to go
next, where they want to live,and how can they make this their
livelihood? And that, I wasn'tall in in that. And so I think I
erred towards from my pathanyway, what's a little bit more
of the stability with thefreelance marketing, which was
(12:18):
more stable, and I was good atthat too, and so Mike could
continue to do his freelancestage management and and
production work. So one thingI've noticed in recent years is
when these kids come here, and Ithink what you're referring to a
little bit is, yeah,vulnerability. They went through
high school and they had somesome of the high school programs
(12:40):
are incredible, and they have alot of opportunities, but you
are then you're coming into aplace that's a musical theater
major, and you're surrounded bypeople in costume design or tech
or acting musical theater thatthey are also were maybe the
best in their high school. Sonow you're in a little cadre
where you're trying to find outwhere you fit in in the world.
(13:03):
It doesn't matter where you fitin in your class, because you're
going to end up going throughthis program is three years and
two summers. It blasts by, andthen you off to wherever you
choose to be. So when they everhave any kind of obstacles with
one another, I say temporary.This is going to go by and we'll
be in Chicago, and you'll be inNew York and you'll be in DC,
(13:23):
and that it's a temporary thing,which we forget when we're in
those ages that are moresensitive. But the vulnerability
that they come with, I am alwaysfloored by because a lot of
times they will be one personwhen they get here and very
different when they leave, butputting it out, putting
everything that you have out onthe stage is the vulnerable live
(13:47):
theater experience that we are,you know, sharing with the
community. But when you watchthat happen, I don't know if
you've witnessed that, it's acombination of that kind of
scared, terrified, vulnerable,but also kind of grabbing on to
what you know you're good at,and having these, what we call
sharp elbows, and you gotta getout of my way. I deserve this
(14:09):
lead. I deserve to be here. Ideserve this, and I'm gonna take
my moment. And so it's both.It's a healthy combination of
both. And I see that with theprofessionals too. They just
become better and better andclearer about what they're good
at, which I think is true forall of us and everybody that
you've been interviewingrecently, as you get older and
(14:31):
more clear about what you'regood at, that's where you should
yeah, no, that's
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (14:34):
so good. Okay, so let's talk through
like, mom life and, you know,being a wife, and, you know,
coming back and forth everysummer. So, you know, as I know,
well, we've moved our kidsseveral times, you know, but I
grew up very much, like inOkoboji all the time, like that.
I lived in the same home for allthe like, for all these years.
(14:55):
And, you know, very justconsistent. So what was that
like, raising your kids as theygot. Got older, going,
especially going through middleschool and high school and kind
of picking up and leaving forthe summer. Like, was that
something that they loved, orwas there moments where it was
like, Okay, should we keep doingthis? Or how did that go?
Ruth Ann Burke (15:12):
Yeah, it was interesting. Mike had a very
different experience. He grew upin a little tiny town in Kansas,
and their family moved toDenver, big city when they were
1010, and 11 years old, he andhis brother, I never moved. I
grew up in Urbandale. Nevermoved until I went to school. So
I had never left, but he had hadthat experience of two different
(15:33):
places. So when we went toSeattle, I decided to stop being
in the professional dance world,and then made that pivot to
marketing, and things were goinggreat. And I think part of my
decision making on changingcareers was that I wanted to
have a family, so when we got alittle bit more serious and
still wanted to freelance andreally just add more plates, and
(15:53):
it was more juggling and all ofthat stuff, as they got older,
it became a question that thefreelance thing was maybe going
to start to get a little bit toocomplex, and at that time, we
were having open conversationswith our colleagues here in
Okoboji. And so one of mymentors created positions for us
at Stevens and made it yearround. And the timing was
(16:16):
perfect, because the kids wereabout nine and 11, and that
movement of uprooting your life,it worked for Mike, because they
did it when they were youngenough. I didn't want to do that
to girls in high school. I kindof thought, Okay, if we're going
to do it, let's do it right now.What before they're in junior
high? Because to me, those seemlike really sensitive years to
(16:41):
uproot, and they still we stillwere, but it was only going to
get more difficult for teenage,pre teen girls. And so the
College made us a wonderfulopportunity, created wonderful
opportunity for us to work oncampus and then be able to do
these jobs. And so it became arelocation to the Midwest, which
(17:01):
was fine for me, and a chancefor them to have a very
different, more suburban, ratherthan city, experience, and their
pros and cons all directions,but it allowed us to have this
life, and it also allowed themto have the opportunity for
going to college, which thosepositions made it easy for us to
(17:21):
have some tuition exchangeprograms where the kids could go
to school, and I knew that thepath was before them if they
chose to do that, which theyboth did, and so that was a
factor. I mean, when you startsaving for college and looking
at colleges, I knew that thatwas going to be really tricky on
the west coast for us withfreelance lives. And so the
(17:44):
College made us quite a anopportunity that was hard to say
no to. And so moved, movedeverybody in the about 2007 and
then they were able to stay inColumbia and graduate. And one
of them is working on a degreealso, yeah, they offer a
master's degree in criticalcounseling, and so she's
finishing up her licensingrequirements at this time.
(18:08):
That's amazing.
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (18:09):
And so do they still go back to Okoboji?
Like, is it still kind of partof their like, do they come back
in the summers, or are they kindof moved on and live their own
lives?
Ruth Ann Burke (18:17):
Yes, no, no. It's a vacation mode. And one of
them that worked for a longtime, my younger one, Miranda,
who worked for a long time atminervas, has several friends
that she keeps in touch with whoare still here, and so that's
pretty fun, because she theyknow all the patrons. They know,
all of the folks in our summertheater Association, long time
volunteers. They all helpedraise them like a village, and
(18:40):
some of our guests, artists theyknow still, who have come back
occasionally. They don't knowthe students as much anymore.
They did for a little bit. Theyknew some of the students
because they were on campus withthem. They were working on their
undergraduate degrees. And Ihave to say, that has changed me
in the recent years, when thekids were the same age as the
students I started, some lightbulbs went off for me, and I
(19:03):
thought, oh yeah, I've heardthis story before. No, I'm kind
of getting removed from knowingthat age group. And then all of
a sudden, my kids were that age,and you got, you got
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (19:17):
your own education and how to handle
we're gonna have to reach out toyou when our kids go to college
for all of the No need to knows
Ruth Ann Burke (19:26):
red flags, it is as a journey too. And you know,
there's nothing wrong withmaking multiple pivots,
especially if you don't knowexactly what you want to do. I
was just talking to someone herewhose daughter is at uni, and I
think they started off in onepath, and just made that
decision to change the majors,and we were talking about what
that looks like, and the worldis just so fast and furious, and
(19:49):
we spend so much of our timeworking, it should be something
at least feels like you have astrong passion or connection for
in some way, because life's tooshort. But it is just short, and
so just trying to ride the wave,I think, with your kids, so that
they can find their path andfeel free to make choices. And
Mike always says to people whoare struggling, your
(20:12):
undergraduate degree largelyrepresents your ability to
finish something. You can go tograduate school for something
more in depth or refined. Butundergraduate school, don't
worry about it. Just go, youknow, and and finish, try to
finish something. And then, um,maybe you need to grow up a
(20:32):
little bit mature, a littleuntil you've decided what you
want to be and where you want tolive. And so it shouldn't be so
much pressure, though.
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (20:40):
I love that. Okay, so you mentioned
your, you know, your youngest isgetting married soon, and your
other daughter is alreadymarried, and you're fully empty
nested. And there's newopportunities that are happening
with the summer theater. There'salways growth and and evolution
on that side as well. But kindof, how are you navigating what
(21:01):
comes next. Because youmentioned, you know, life's life
short. Do what you love. So howare you and Mike kind of
figuring out what that lookslike for you guys.
Ruth Ann Burke (21:11):
It's been fun to watch them complete their goals.
My younger one is the one whogot married a year ago. She's
settled in Des Moines. And, youknow, founder person, which is
the best feeling ever when theyhave completed their degree,
they found a place they want tolive, and they found someone
that they really care about andwant to commit to. And then the
(21:32):
same happened for my olderdaughter, Madison, and she's
getting married in eight weekson Thanksgiving weekend, found
her person, and that's the mainthing. Is I try to have so much
balance. I try to revisit theconcept of balance as much as I
can and and focus on Hey. We didour very best. We've made a lot
of mistakes along the way withthem, and they turn out okay.
(21:55):
And what is the most importantis that they're happy and that
they are where they want to be,whatever that looks like for
them. And so now we're startingto try to figure out what's it
look like for us. And we'regoing to be doing some new
opportunities with the college.The college this fall has
adopted a block scheduling whichis modeled after some places
(22:19):
like Colorado College and MountVernon, Iowa, Cornell, and they
do one thing at a time. Thetheater department is exempt
from that, but the other majorsat the college are adopting
this. And one of the thingswe're looking at is, how can we
use this campus in Okoboji morefully? How could some of the
block schedules students come uphere for maybe a week at a time
(22:41):
for a writer's retreat or a filmproject, or maybe a business
internship with some of ourpartners. And so Mike and I are
up here looking at continuing onwith our tiny homes. We have 15
of those that we use in thesummer, and we have room for
about 12 more. And so we'reworking on laying the groundwork
to complete that so that it canbe a whole full, tiny home
(23:04):
village over time. That's agreat project, and just
infrastructure things on theproperty. It's about 14 acres,
so anybody with this much landknows it's just non stop,
whatever that is, not just nonstop improvements and paying
attention to being a greatneighbor and making sure that
everything is, you know, thewinners up here is so harsh on
(23:25):
the property that every springit's something or other. And so
we're just trying to keep oureye on those things, keep that
going and, you know, put theplace in the best situation
possible for that nextgeneration. But
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (23:40):
what does it mean for you guys personally,
like, Are you dreaming abouttraveling, or are you excited to
just kind of settle in and beable to take on these new
challenges without kind of theextra pressure? Because
sometimes just even being ableto, like, take on a big new
adventure, even creatively withthe work that you're doing and
figuring out how to make themost use of the space, it's nice
to be able to do that withoutthe distraction of kids. I don't
(24:03):
mean that in a bad way, but youknow what I mean? Like to be so
like, what does that look like?
Ruth Ann Burke (24:09):
I hear you. We fulfilled our obligation with
the kids. No, yeah, right. And Ithink that's yeah. It was so
interesting because we had ameeting with the president of
our college and and the veryfirst thing she said, when the
door closed, she said she'd liketo talk to us. And Mike and Mike
and I were like, I wonder whatthis is about. And the door
closed, and she said,
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (24:27):
we know this is going to take time. Yes,
Ruth Ann Burke (24:30):
are you ready for a new adventure? And she
knew our children, and so she,of course, was helping us to
think differently about how ourjobs could be reconfigured. And
so we're kind of doing what,almost a reverse faculty
contract. And so we will beworking more in the spring and
fall and then in the winter,because this is not a winterized
operation. It's really hard todo much here, November,
(24:53):
December, January, and we can goback on campus and do a little
planning, but also take sometime. And that's. Something we
have not done. We've not hadsummers off in 24 years, or Mike
probably 35 years, and so we'venever really taken time for
that. And I think it's time.I've never been on a cruise.
We've done some backpackingbefore we started this, but in
(25:15):
Europe. But, you know, maybeit's time to go to some beaches
and put your feet in the
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (25:20):
sand a little bit. Yeah, I think, I
think, like the lesson that I'mlearning from you, and what I'm
hearing is when you're open toopportunity without expectation,
and you do what you feel goodabout, you never know kind of
the opportunities that are goingto come come your way. But if
(25:42):
you close yourself off to kindof Nope, this is the way that it
is, or these things won't happenfor me, then you're minimizing
your opportunity to be able tohave kind of extraordinary
experiences that you might nothave even written for
Ruth Ann Burke (25:57):
yourself. I never saw Michael Burke coming.
No idea. So once I said yes toLet's be together, I think I
signed up for a lifetime ofthat. And of course, you want to
make the best decisions and thepros and cons of life, but what
a great thing to try to showyour kids. You know, as we go
through all of these phases withour kids and in our
relationships and marriages andpartnerships that just try to
(26:21):
assess the situation, see if itreally works for you and if it's
something you can succeed at,but it's been a good thing. Of
course, there's, you know,turbulent times or whatever, and
look what we've all just beenthrough in the last five years.
I mean, I think we need to be aspresent as possible. And look at
especially since covidnonprofits have taken a beating,
and you really need to be asaware and present as possible to
(26:44):
make good decisions, likepicking shows people want to
see, doing your best work tomentor students who are maybe a
little bit more troubled thanthey were before, and riding all
of those waves. I've learned alot in recent years about that
with compassion, being patient,understanding things have
changed a lot, and that nothingI can do about that. I we're not
(27:06):
going back in a bunch ofcategories, and we shouldn't,
but sometimes that's hard tomove forward when you wanted it
to be how it used to be, maybein one category or another. And
so I think that's good modeling,and want to do that for our
students and for my kids and formyself, right? What's the next
best decision for us in ourcareers and personally, but
(27:31):
keeping that balance. I'm a yogaperson, so I'm just always
working on trying to be a littlebit more still, a little bit
more present, and that thatcan't be the wrong decision.
It's always the right decision.Yeah, it's hard to do trusting
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (27:45):
yourself, I think, is, I think trusting
ourselves, the way we speak toourselves, as is, two of the
things that I'm always workingon, right? Because we are so
mean to ourselves,
Ruth Ann Burke (27:56):
our lifelong pursuits? Yes, I'm working on
those things too, especiallywhen the kids are gone, now,
your purpose changes. I thinkthat's something, I think that
new empty nest folks have towrestle with. And that's, that's
a powerful thing. What's, whatis it that we want to do with
the last chapters of our careeror the next phase with our adult
(28:19):
children? It's crazy. It's crazyand great. I know it's you're
you're not there yet. Does itseem Yes? Because
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (28:28):
we literally, like, have two more
summers with her, and then it'sher summer where we're moving
her to college, right? So shehas two and a half years, I
mean, roughly two and a halfyears of high school left, which
is bonkers, and then three yearsafter that, my son will be gone,
so we're really only six yearsaway from being empty nesters,
which is insane to me, but yeah,I mean, I think we're starting
(28:52):
to shift into how we take thistime. And also she's busier than
ever, so we see her less. Soit's a really interesting
balance.
Ruth Ann Burke (29:05):
Well, the best thing about that, I think, is
that when you realize how fastthe time is going, you get very
serious about being intentional.That's a good thing. Since covid
especially, I think we've beenall of us, maybe a little bit
better at that little bit betteryou don't know what's coming
around the next bend. And lifeis pretty crazy right now. So
(29:27):
being as intentional and presentas possible, that's a good
thing. And you create those kindof environments, they will come
back and see you for the summer.You start going on adult
vacations together, and it justlooks different. So it's not
over, it's just, it's just more,just
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (29:43):
different. So that leads me to my last
question is we kind of wrap thisup, because I think some people
are really good with change. Itsounds like you're somebody who
embraces change pretty well. Alot of people are not good with
change. So is there any, maybelast words of wisdom, or like. A
strategy that you can share withour listeners about how you kind
of navigate change and kind ofmake it approachable to you or
(30:08):
comfortable.
Ruth Ann Burke (30:12):
Change is never comfortable, and it's funny that
you say I'm good at it, becausewe've just done a lot of change,
and I have to sometimes getpretty emotional about it,
either I'm fighting it, or I'mcrying over it, or whatever,
hand wringing about it. So ittakes me, sometimes a little
longer on the path than thepeople that are around me who
are more adept at that, but ifyou don't change, or if you
(30:35):
don't say things, you just won'tknow what doors were closed to
you or who what could have beenaround that corner for you? What
could have been reallyinteresting? And, yeah, I mean,
there's just been so much kindof havoc in a bad way in recent
years. You know, many of us havesuffered losses, personally,
(30:55):
people, our parents have diedduring covid. And you know, some
things that were reallydifficult to deal with as an
adult. Now, neither one of ushave our parents, for example,
but then these professionalopportunities are just life
transforming. So there's thegood and the bad, and you're
constantly weighing it andfiguring out what's the next
(31:16):
like I said before, what's thenext best thing? But I think it
just Yeah, it's hard for me toto act like I'm good at it,
because you don't ever thinkyou're really good at change,
but um,
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (31:31):
just take it as it comes. Yeah,
Ruth Ann Burke (31:34):
yeah. I mean, it could be such an amazing,
beautiful thing that you hadnever envisioned. And so I'm
just continuing to try to bethat work in progress and see
how I can be successful and giveback, especially to a place like
this. How could I help transformthis place and make it better
for the people who are gonnathat? I hope to open the door
for and take over as Mike says,Who am I handed my keys to? Who
(31:58):
am I?
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (31:59):
Well, Ruth Ann, thank you so much for being
here, for sharing your story,for being open with all the
listeners we never know kind ofwhat's going to inspire us to
kind of make that next step intosomething even better than what
we have now. So I appreciate youcoming on if people want to
connect with you or learn moreabout Stevens college or Okoboji
(32:21):
or Okoboji summer theater. Ialmost said something else
anyway. How do they do that?
Ruth Ann Burke (32:29):
Yes, we are on social media and trying to give
updates as things are evolvingwith us at the Okoboji summer
theater, Facebook page andInstagram, and then we have a
website where we'll beannouncing all the things that
we're doing in the coming yearat okobojisummertheater.org and
so I just appreciate that you'redoing this. I think it's great
for us to support each other,learn from each other, and I'm
(32:51):
inspired by the folks thatyou've already interviewed, and
it's been really great. Thanksfor the opportunity.
Sami Bedell-Mulhern (32:57):
Just want to say thank you again to Ruth
Ann for joining me. One of myfavorite parts about this
podcast is that I get to connectand reconnect with people that
have been impactful in my life,as well as have conversations
with new people. But just tohave an excuse to kind of share
their stories, she's been aninspiration to me, and I've
always learned so much from herand enjoyed every conversation
we have. So to be able to kindof share that with all of you is
(33:22):
just what I love so much aboutthe easy style with Sammy
podcast. So if there's somebodythat's been inspiring to you and
your life, that you think theirstory would be great for other
people to hear, I'd love to hearit. You can shoot me an email
Sami@easystylewithsami.com orjust message us on Facebook or
Instagram, or all of the placeswe're around. You can find the
(33:44):
show notes for this episode withextra links and resources at
easystylewithsami.com/30 fornow. Thank you so much for
listening or watching if you'rehere on YouTube, I really,
really appreciate you taking thetime to hear these stories and
share it with someone who couldalso use some words of
inspiration around change andgrowth and new opportunities. I
(34:05):
really appreciate you taking thetime to listen, and I will see
you in the next one.
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