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Dakota Midday: New Program Helps Emerging State Leaders

Since September, 40 members of the inaugural Leadership South Dakota class have visited several communities around the state for insight on the organizations, businesses and industries important to the state. This weekend they’re in Sioux Falls exploring health and financial services. As the first year of the program ends this spring, applications for the second open in March.

Leadership South Dakota is a partnership between the South Dakota Community Foundation and Dakota Education Consulting and its goal is to train South Dakota’s next generation of leaders.

Rick Melmer is the director of Leadership South Dakota.  He’s a Senior Advisor for the Council of Chief State School Officers, the South Dakota Board of Regents, and Mid-Central Education Cooperative. Melmer also served as the Dean of Education at USD and state secretary of education. He joined Dakota Midday and discussed the Leadership South Dakota program.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.