First name: Belinda. I also answer to mom and Mrs. Schirmer

In which town do you live? Aroma Park (near Kankakee)

Belinda and family outside the family castle in Potsdam, Germany.

How do you make your living? Presently I am a special education teacher. I teach the students who are in grades Kindergarten through 2nd grade. I have been teaching Special Education for 11 years. I currently teach in Donovan, which is between Kankakee and Watseka. Corn country. We watch the corn grow as hands on learning experiences. Our school is surrounded on 3 sides by cornfields. Literally! Next year I will become the reading specialist and be responsible for reading instruction for grades 2-5. What a change!

How long have you been a member of the Arts Alive Band? Since September 2001.

< Belinda and Alice put on their game faces at Tinley Park's 2002 September 11th tribute. Belinda, in her “earlier” flute days. >

What instrument do you play? Flute. I also played piccolo in high school, which was too many years ago and I recently bought one to try to play again. I will not be making my debut any time soon.

How long have you been playing it? 24 years

Are you involved in any other musical groups, either inside or outside the Arts Alive system? If so, which ones? Well for starters, I am your librarian. I am the gal who passes out new music and also gets everything organized so that Steve can find things easier. I am on the band board and serve as the secretary. I am also taking over the BMOTM. Am I nuts or what? I also belong to the Kankakee Municipal Band. I am the secretary/treasurer for that group. This will be my 10th season with them.

What do you like most about this group? The friendly people.

Describe your best/favorite band moment: Well, I haven't been in long enough to have a favorite moment yet. Brian's comments can make rehearsals very interesting at times. Also razzing Terry is quite comedic at times.

What are your hobbies? Scrapbooking is my main hobby. I also like to do cross stitch and plastic canvas. Collecting Wizard of Oz memorabilia and Barbies. I also like to spend time playing with my 5 year old son, Tommy.

< “Off to see the wizard...”, here is Belinda with the original Coroner from Munchkinland. Belinda is a regular visitor to the annual Oz Fest in Chesterton, Indiana. Don't be fooled, Belinda's brother Brian in the front row is kneeling, making her the shortest adult in the family. >

What is your favorite Jell-O flavor? Lime with pineapple chunks in it.

Is there anything else you want your band friends to know about you? I found the band courtesy of Lynn Godfrey. I am a major Wizard of Oz fan. I have seen the movie more times than I care to admit. I have been to the Wizard of Oz festival in Chesterton, Indiana several times. I have quite a collection of Wizard of Oz plates, statues and dolls. I even met some of the munchkins at the festival and have the autographs to prove it.

I am married to the ultimate Star Wars junkie. We have a house full of Star Wars toys that don't belong to my son. You can tell the Star Wars junkies by their license plates. Ours says “D Vadr 77.” And why it is on my car is a whole other story. Really, my husband is also a band person. He plays clarinet and used to play actively until our son was born and he stayed home to play daddy so I could continue to play.

< On tour in Dresden, well before the 2002 floods. Belinda keeps her husband in line. >

I have also traveled to Germany. I went there with my husband, son, and father in law in 2001. My father in law's family is all in Germany and we stayed with them while we were there. We didn't visit Büdingen. We visited Dresden, Berlin and other cities in the east. A fantastic trip. We are planning to go again next year.

I may seem like a quiet and shy person to most, but when you get to know me, I am quite talkative. Just ask Lynn or Marybeth.