All Class Pow Wow III Event Information!
Click Here To See Some Photos from Pow Wow III
Ron added the following on Sunday 21 October 2007
Hi all.
everything is ready. menu is selected, tee-pees are up and ready. the serving tent is ready to go up, wood is cut and gathered in and neatly stacked by the fire pit. I have the tractor and wagon ready for a fun hay ride. the only thing missing now is YOU......
Oh I forgot..do I have a surprise for you. I have invited a special guest. If he is able to come you will love him. His name is Duane Threa Feather a very good friend of mine. He is 80years old a northern Cheyenne and he is one of the finest flutist and story tellers I know. keep your fingers crossed that he can make it.
Just a reminder: please come prepared for the weather. bring a lawn chair and anything special you like to drink. I will have coffee, tea, water and hot cider.. looking forward to seeing all of you come rain or shine...Ron
From the October 2007 Quarterly e-Mail
Dear Friend!
You are cordially invited to attend Pow Wow III at Ron McMillians in Garden City, Missouri (33902 E 275Th Rd. Garden City, Missouri 64747) on the evening of October 27, 2007. Gates to Ron's place open any time in the afternoon for your personal chatting and fun. Dinner is served at 6:00 pm. Campfire follows.
Know well that the Class of 1965 has already had two great and wonderful and fun Pow Wows. Read on for details, but plan to come and be part of Pow Wow III. Good Clean Family style fun except for Terry Thacker's annual joke.
What do you get by going to Pow Wow III? Ron gives you a free site to enjoy yourself. Ron gives you a large campfire to sit about and warm your chilled hands and maybe cook a marsh mellow or two. Ron gives you tee pees to go inside to experience how Indians used small fires to heat their dwellings while the smoke rises through the top leaving you warm fresh air to comfort you. Ron gives you a Renaissance Festival like tent from which to serve the meal so that the food stays dry if there is a shower. Ron gives you the lectures on the creation of the flute and its sacred meanings. Ron gives you more tee pees up in the trees if a bunch wants to stay all night. Ron provides nice indoor facilities for the ladies who attend. A Hay ride? Yes, Ron has it going. Some folks asked about one last year and Ron said "can do" and now the hay ride is all set up. This year, Ron is making sure the boys using the trees have a little place to shelter their nature calls so that they do not become like deers in the headlights and pee all over themselves. For those who RSVP - Ron gives you an Indian style meal prepared in the Indian ways. After the meal, Ron gathers all together and lectures via story telling about the Indian ways - especially the plains Indians. If it is chilly, Ron prepares warm apple cider drinks for you.
So, how much does all this cost? There is no set fee, just two donation hats: Hat number one will be on the food table. There is no set donation amount and actually none is required thanks to Ron and Barb's generosity and some seed money from the Class of 65 turning 60 birthday party. You are encouraged to consider tossing in a little cash depending upon your own lifestyle. If you are like me, it will be a King's outing equivalent to a Burger King meal - large sized with desert. So that's the price, what is the benefit? You get to eat a delicious meal which has a high probability of your never having tasted it before. You do not have to wash dishes. You do not have to cook the food. And most importantly to the Class of 65 - the money you throw in will mostly go towards seed funding for whatever the Class of 65 does next!
Hat number two will be just outside the entrance to a special - magical - tee pee. This is a true story from Pow Wow II, a lovely party crasher managed to spend a little extra private time in the tee pee with a class of 65 hero. Ever time any of us have seen him since Pow Wow II, we have noticed his demeanor has changed and he just can not seem to quit grinning from ear to ear. Now, that benefit is a bit more than a dollar will buy for you. But, if you can use your best Indian like skills to track down an attendee who you might want to check out without having to make any commitments, etc., you can see for yourself if spending a little private or not so private time inside a tee pee with this person is magical for the two of you. Now you can just stand there looking stupid or you can plop a dollar in the hat and lay a big smooch on your prey - then see if the smoke is still rising out the top of the tee pee or whatever sign you need to know whether it was magical or not. That is the short lived benefit of dropping a buck in the second donation hat. One word of caution - when done, get out of the way as the two folks hollering "Next" want to check their magic levels. Te epees only have one way in and one way out and once you check your magic level - please exit. The ride is over - finished - Nada til you drop in another dollar and take your next turn. The guaranteed long term benefit is that your dollar will go towards the next Class of 65 event.
Want to attend? Please use the following RSVP address to e-mail Ron directly: hagaoda@yahoo.com.
Special Instructions: Bring a blanket, one lawn chair per person, a flash light, and most importantly - your best attitude.
That's all folks See ya at Pow Wow III!
P.S. Ron specifically requested that we add the following disclaimer: "This picnic is not about Ron, for Ron or in anyway built around him. it is about all of us getting together for an evening to enjoy each others company. Ron does however love to entertain and try to make it fun for all who attend.
P.P.S. Most folks meet up at Marilyn Holsworth˘s place and car pool on down to the Pow Wow. For details, give Marilyn a call. 796-8995
Next all Class event
Ron McMillian - Pow Wow III
(Left) Ron telling Indian lore story.
(Right) Classmates actually listening...
Updated as of August 14, 2007 All are welcome to Pow Wow III On October 27, 2007.
Many folks wanted to know something about Ron - this is his bio sketch
The song of one man
hagaoda
flute maker, story tellerRonald a. McMillian also known as Hagaoda or Hagaota the Turtle - Story teller was born third child of Richard and Betty McMillian in the Spring of 1947. His father was a tall and very Irish man from Kansas City. His mother a small, dark haired woman whose family was from southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma
As a young boy, Ronald’s family moved frequently and he seldom had time to make life long friends. Books about Indians and natural history became his friends. Learning as much as he could some how made his heart seem fulfilled. After finishing high school Ronald joined the United States Navy and spent the next three years traveling the world. He served three tours of duty in Viet Nam. Upon finishing his duty to his country, Ronald returned to the Kansas City area where he attended a local collage.
35 years ago Ronald met and married his beautiful dark haired wife, Barbara. It was with her that he attended his first Pow-wow near Nowata Oklahoma. Barbara’s cousin was the head woman dancer for the northern Cherokee at that gathering. It was at that pow-wow with Barbara that he discovered the drum beat hidden in his heart.
Ronald has been self-employed most of his working life. He has been a builder, auctioneer, farmer and owner of a small trucking company. At present he is the owner and president of a Ramm Enterprises Inc., which is doing pioneering work in solid waist recycling. Being self-employed allows Ronald to pursue his real love, teaching Native American heritage “the red ways”. It was not until the age of 50 that he discovered that his Mother had hidden from Ronald the fact that she was one quarter Kiowa, but that is another story.
Being a lover of stories it was only natural for Ronald to start collecting and retelling the stories of the plains Indians. When Ronald and Barbara's children came along, Ronald educated his siblings by telling them stories. This helped Ronald refine his story telling skills. Later he began traveling and sharing his stories at schools, library’s, colleges and festivals around the country. He has been called upon by the federal government and many other organizations to speak on Native American history, art and culture.
Ronald tries to spend as much time living in one of his traditional lodges as his job and wife will allow. Year round Ronald can be found living the red life. If he is not traveling somewhere you can find him in his lodge set up in the woods behind his house. His wife, Barbara, refers to it as the spare bedroom.
Art and music are a very important part of Ronald’s life. He has devoted much of the last few years studying the art forms of the plains Indians. Following in the traditions of the 'old ones,’ Ronald makes nearly all of his clothing, jewelry and art. He hand carves his flutes according to tradition and each one has its own unique voice and design. The story behind the making of the flute and what it represents is one of Ronald’s favorite stories.
If you would like Ronald to visit your school or organization please contact him at the following address or phone. Because of his busy calendar please make your request early.
Booking fees upon request.
Ronald A. McMillian
P.O. Box 587
Garden City, Mo. 64747
1-816-699-2007
Fax 1-816-862-6101
e-mail hagaoda@yahoo.com
The Class of 1967 Asked, and
Ron RespondedOkay, for those who want to spend the night after in a teepee, you must first contact Ron and make individual arrangements. Please have a plan for breakfast and a plan for when you intend to leave for home the next day. Whatever you propose, Ron is the final answer as it is his property. That's all folks!!!
Hi Cecil,
Thanks for the information. ...
By the way, I have had people ask what the "Pow Wow" is about. I am assuming it is a good opportunity to get together as a class...but is there other significance in regards to Indian heritage???
Donna Middleton Staley
- Well, it is that stupid Cecil that wanted to call these Pow Wows. Catchy, different from reunion, but having worked with the Indian Tribes in EPA Region 7, Cecil knows this ain't a real Pow Wow. There are no dancing Indians and it isn't on sacred ground. At least I don't think so.
- Now to the Donna Middleton Staley inquiry about Indians at the Pow Wow:
- Ron McMillian is Indian and lectures all over.
- Ron has real Tee Pees set up at his place - very interesting.
- When folks RSVP, Ron cooks a very delicious Indian style meal for the event
- Ron cooks the meal Indian style which is a lesson in itself.
- Ron shares actual Indian lore stories of value in that they teach lessons.
- Ron plays tricks on Marilyn by hiding lamps in the trees.
- Barb and Ron open their beautiful home up to the ladies for the restrooms.
- Guys get to use the natural trees for restrooms and pray nobody turns on their car headlights.
- There is a bond fire within Ron's fire circle.
- Each year Ron discloses the story of one additional hole in his hand carved sacred flute.
- Ron tells at least one significant Indian lore story.
- Now about the get together with Class mates and this year several classes:
- Last year, while waiting for the sun to set, Kenny VanTuyl entertained us with his R/C airplane.
- Terry Thacker offers up his joke of the event.
- Those who live in the Independence area meet at Marilyn's and car pool to the event.
- As always - during the meal - lies and stories of what purportedly took place when we were teenagers - well, let us just say that bragging has turned into an art form of sorts.
- Sitting around the fire is just more friendly than parking yourself at a table get together.
- Me, I can not afford this quality of pleasure - so I sneak into Ron's events like a kid going to a ball game through a loose board in outfield.
- As to romance - get Janis Butcher to bring her friends again this year. Randy Halsey and Dawn hooked up at the 2006 Pow Wow... Thank you Janis!!!
- As we do at all class functions these days, there will be a donation hat set out to gather funds for the next event. Money collected at the 60th birthday party is being used for the Pow Wow.
- Dress for being outdoors. Bring a lawn chair. Bring a blanket. Bring a flash light.
- It is a Class of 65 event approved by Marilyn's committee - everyone is welcome - Ron has also invited the Classes of 66 & 67 this year.
- Right now, if you missed the 60th Birthday party - you missed a chance to see Janet Dawson for the last time. While I may joke about bragging, it is truly good to be with old friends who actually like you for yourself. If you have skipped the reunions - the twentieth was the demarcation from high school clicks and social orders to everyone just being happy to see everyone else.
- There are more reasons to attend the Pow Wow - but if this ain't enough ... sorry. I just finished posting David McKinney's obituary.
- Please give it a go. I would like to see you at the Pow Wow. And, if you have a better name for the event - let Donna know. She is one of my bosses.
Those who have currently RSVP'ed are:
- Ron and Barb McMillian
- Dee Ann Yancey
- Doris and Charley Clubb
- Jeannie Sympson Hall
- Terry Thacker
- Kenny Gorseline
- Cheryl Coffman
- Dan Holman
- Bob and Janette Greene
- Bill Hurst
- Marshall & Terry Stapleton
- Sherri and Jim JOnes
- Mike Kassen and Kay
- Rick and Joyce Wyckoff
- Carl Glazier
- Donna & Joe Braughton
- Bob and Pam Bergin
- Marvin Rogers
- Judy Bailey - Class of 67
- Sandi Kendrick - Class of 67
- Jim Pescetto
- Marilyn Holsworth
- Pat Landuyt
- Randy Halsey and Dawn
- Cecil Taylor
If you are planning on coming to Pow Wow III, please take a moment to RSVP by:
1. Calling Ron at (816) 699-2007, or
2. e-mail Ron at hagaoda@yahoo.com,
Otherwise -- Chrisman folks call Marilyn Lewis Holsworth at (816) 796-8995, or Truman folks call Jeannie Donna Sympson Hall at (816) 836-2786.If you wish to contact the Reunion Coordinator: E-mail Class Reunion Coordinator
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E-mail to the Class Reunion Coordinator
