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NDCA Board of DirectorsThe governing board of directors for the North Dakota Council on the Arts consists of nine members, one from each of the state's eight regions (see map below) and one member-at-large. Currently, North Dakota's first lady serves as an additional, ex-officio member of the board. Each member is appointed by the governor to serve five-year terms. The full board convenes three times a year in meetings that are open to the public. An executive committee is made up of the NDCA's executive director and the board's chair, vice-chair, and one additional member. The executive committee meets occasionally throughout the year to discuss relevant topics and make recommendations to the full board. |
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Member-at-Large: David "White Thunder" Trottier, Dunseith, Chair |
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Member-at-Large David has served on the North Dakota Council on the Arts as a Governor appointee since 1990. In 1998, he was appointed board chair. David is also a past board member of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA). In 2007 NASAA named David the recipient of their Distinguished Public Service Award. It honors an individual volunteer leader whose outstanding service, creative thinking and leadership have had a significant impact on the field of public support for the arts in his or her state or region. David currently resides in Rugby and has 4 daughters, Tarah, Tawny, Trista, and Tashal. |
Region 1 In addition to managing the administrative work of the facility, she designs exhibits, researches historical events, and serves as liaison between the Museum and other organizations. Marilyn and her husband Kent live in Parshall. They have two children and seven grandchildren. Counties served (figures taken from 2000 census): Divide County, population 2,283; Williams County, population 19,761; McKenzie County, population 5,737 |
Region 2 His paintings are in the collections of the Whitney Museum of Western Arts; Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming; the Smithsonian Institute and the Center for Folk Life Studies in Washington, DC; the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the Minnesota Museum of Art in St. Paul, Minnesota; the Yellowstone Art Center in Billings, Montana; Paris Gibson Square in Great Falls, Montana; in addition to many other regional museums. Walter has been recognized by the ND Council on the Arts having received a Visual Arts Fellowship and by the Bismarck Tribune as one of 20 Notable North Dakotans. He has also received a 2005 Governor's Award for the Arts in the Individual Achievement category. Counties served (figures taken from 2000 census): Burke County, population 2,242; Mountrail County, population 6,631; Renville County, population 2,610; Ward County, population 58,795, Bottineau County, population 7,149; McHenry County, population 5,987; Pierce County, population 4,675 |
Region 3
Counties served (figures taken from 2000 census): Rolette County, population 13,674; Towner County, population 2,876; Benson County, population 6,964; Eddy County, population 2,757; Cavalier County, population 4,831; Ramsey County, population 12,066 |
Region 4
In the summer he works with the Summer Performing Arts Company (SPA) in Grand Forks as the Administrative Director. Dean helped to develop SPA 23 years ago along with a small group of Grand Forks area music teachers. Today SPA provides dance, drama, and music opportunities for over 1000 K-12 students each summer. Dean has received a number of awards and recognitions over his career. His wife, Mary Haslerud Opp, serves as the Director of Public Speaking at UND. His son, Lukas, and daughter, Hannah, are both students in the Grand Forks Public Schools. Counties served (figures taken from 2000 census): Pembina County, population 8,585; Walsh County, population 12,389; Nelson County, population 3,715; Grand Forks County, population 66,109 |
Region 5
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Region 6
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Region 7
Counties served (figures taken from 2000 census): McLean County, population 9,311; Mercer County, population 8,644; Oliver County, population 2,065; Morton County, population 25,303; Grant County, population 2,841; Sioux County, population 4,044; Sheridan County, population 1,710; Burleigh County, population 69,416; Emmons County, population 4,331; Kidder County, population 2,753 |
Region 8
Retiring in 1989, Rex enjoys leatherwork, which has been a part of his life since his teen years. He is a well-known saddlemaker who has taught saddlemaking to people throughout North Dakota, including now well-renowned saddlemaker Early Twist of Montana, through the NDCA’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program and outside of this program. He has always been associated with horses, including participating in rodeos for many years, training and showing cutting horses, and judging various horse shows. Rex also participates in art festivals like the Culture Fest in Jamestown, ND and the North Dakota Cenennial Folklife Festival. Counties served (figures taken from 2000 census): Golden Valley County, population 1,924; Billings County, population 888; Slope County, population 767; Bowman County, population 3,242; Dunn County, population 3,600; Stark County, population 22,636; Hettinger County, population 2,715; Adams County, population 2,593 |
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David is a Distinguished Alumni of Mayville State University. He is known for his exemplary business career, for 14 years he served as President and CEO of Chiptronics Inc., an electronics manufacturing distributorship. Since retiring from Chiptronics in 2006, Trottier has been working as a private consultant, local radio host and sports broadcaster; and is the Director of Human Resources for the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby. David has been active in the arts, especially theatre and music, since an early age. He has directed or performed in more than 35 shows, and was the founder and lead singer for The North Band for 12 years. He still plays guitar, sings and writes songs and poetry and is currently playing with a band U-3+1. 
Marilyn Hudson was born and raised on the Fort Berthold Reservation. She graduated from Elbowoods High School in 1953. In 1956 she graduated from the Haskell Institute’s business program in Lawrence, Kansas. Marilyn retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1992, where her career was in the administrative management field involving budget and personnel. Following her retirement, Marilyn began working part-time at the Three Affiliated Tribes Museum in New Town, where she continues to work today. 
A native of Marion, North Dakota, Walter Piehl received his public school education there and in Mesa, Arizona. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art from Concordia College in Moorhead and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from UND. He has taught art at Valley City State University and, since 1970, at Minot State University. As a painter in the Western genre, Walter is respected throughout the Midwest. As an educator, Walter creates an environment that fosters individual expression and a strong work ethic.
Karen Anderson has been involved in making or promoting visual arts since winning awards for her work in high school. Originally from Wyoming, Karen married a farmer/rancher from Warwick, N.D. While raising her two now grown sons, Karen was active in the local arts scene in Devils Lake. She served as president for the Arts Council of the Lake Region and the Lake Region Art Association. After winning one of five $10,000 national scholarships from the Talbots Corporation, Karen returned to school at age 40 to complete her Art Education degree from Valley City State University. She is currently the Art Instructor at Devils Lake High School. Karen continues to work on her own artwork and teaches summer art camp for the award winning Nelson County Arts Council.
Dean Opp has been working at Red River High School in Grand Forks for the past 25 years. He has a B.A. with a major in Speech and a M.A. in Communication, both from the UND. He currently teaches drama and speech. For the past 20 years he has produced a character education production that tours upper Red River Valley schools, presenting 50 performances for over 7000 students each year. He also developed a non-traditional improvisational comedy troupe, Tuesday Night Live, that has been presenting shows for almost 15 years.
Wayne Beyer has been the Director of Parks & Recreation in Wahpeton since 1980. He graduated from Richland High School, North Dakota State College of Science and Moorhead State University with degrees in physical education and health. Organization affiliations include the Three Rivers Arts Council, ND Horticulture Society, Prairie Pothole Partners, Richland County Historical Society, Chahinkapa Zoo Association, ND Urban & Community Forestry Association, Healthy Communities, Koda Manipe Volkssport Club, ND Recreation and Parks Association, Visitors Committee and Special Olympics. His wife Joan works for Wahpeton Public Schools and his two daughters are presently in college (both Kayla and Brittany attend the University of North Dakota). Local Arts Council programming includes Music in the Park, after-school art classes, visual art shows and partnerships with other art organizations.
Taylor Barnes graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in fine arts in 1971. Taylor received an elementary education degree from Jamestown College and taught in a two room school until she and her husband began an offset printing business. Since 1982, she has coordinated the artist-in-residence program for Jamestown Fine Arts Association. In 1991, she served as the coordinator for the Dakota Arts Congress in conjunction with the North and South Dakota Arts Councils and the Manitoba Arts Board. Taylor was a board member with the North Dakota Council on the Arts from 1990-1993 and since 1997 has been the director at the Arts Center. Her responsibilities at the Arts Center include community outreach and public relations, fundraising, financial tracking, organizational planning and visioning, administration and management, grant and reports compliance, and coordinating the artists in the schools and performances in the gallery…..not to mention the occasional cleaning of the bathrooms.
Cindy Haider has been passionate about the arts for years. After her children were in school, she began working at a local art gallery/framing shop, where she stayed until the store closed in 1999. In 2000, Cindy became the director of Dakota West Arts Council, working closely with the different artists in the area, helping to promote and provide support to the member organizations. The job also included daily office management, administration of funds and grant writing. While at Dakota West Arts Council, Cindy helped establish the Art Venture Program. This program brought art programs to disadvantaged students. She was recently the coordinator for the statewide Poetry Out Loud Recitation Contest. Cindy is a native of Lewistown, Montana. She and her husband Dennis live in Mandan and have three grown children and twin grandchildren. Hobbies include reading, gardening and being with family and friends.
Rex Cook was born and raised in Sentinel Butte, ND, where he graduated high school in 1945. After which he attended Dickinson State Teachers College receiving an emergency teaching certificate. He taught at the Goldsberry School in Billings County for the 1945-1946 school term, then returned to college graduating with a B.S. degree in Education. In August 1950, he married Ann Aberson. They both taught in Hettinger, ND, until December of 1950 when Rex was called to active duty with the Headquarters Company, 164th Infantry. He was stationed at Camp Rucker, AL, then sent to the Far East and Japan until October 1951. He was a military advisor to the Japanese Police Reserve and was discharged with the rank of Master Sergeant. |