THE BEGINNING - Randi’s Resume
2004-Phillips Community College - Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Applied Technology & Workforce Development. Adjunct Instructor for Graphic Arts & Communication.
2003- CATO - 1st Assistant Store Manager.
2002 - Producer's Rice Mill - Seasonal keying of scale tickets and various office duties.
2001-2004 - RRTStudios continuation of Phillips CC classes, Independent Studio projects. Animal Rescue League , Grant writing, bookkeeping, secretarial duties, database of adoptions, securing donations and fundraising. Publication of various poems for memorials.
1999-2004 - RRTStudios, HARTS (Helping Angels of Renewal in Times of Sorrow) Angels. Owner and developer of Web site and production of printed material in conjunction with Print To Order. Published various printed items: Calendar, Postcards, Note cards, Poems, memorial alternatives. Development of Online Catalog and other web sites, including: Wildlife Farms, Secrets of the South, Candy's Southern Scents, Vitamin O, Arrangements.com, Firefighters.com, MTSI. Teaching at Phillips Community College, Web Page Design, and Kids College "Teach me to Draw"
1997-1999 - GROWW (Grief Recover Online founded by Widows and Widowers) Founder, Executive Vice President, Webmaster, Counselor
1995-1997 - America Online Host for Widows and Widowers, directing chat and counseling widowed and children in grief.
1994-97 - Pet Health Center - Reception, Billing, Office manager
1991-94 - Affordable Alarms - Security calls and dispatch, computer accounts receivable and coordination of office.
1989-97 - Memphis Arts Council - Arts in the School program - Teaching artist in drawing, Institute Teacher.
*Art For Heart's Sake - Student exhibit and competition coordination, advertising, judging and display
*Kaleidoscope - Co-director with Elaine Neely for the exhibit and fund raising event featuring local and requested artisans
*Memphis Rangers Youth Soccer: Bookkeeper, Travel Reservations, Secretary and Public Relations.
*Memphis Rogues Soccer - Promotional brochures, Organization, public Relations and music director
*Y.E.S. (Youth Educational Services) promotion youth sports and recycling; promotional brochures, public relations administrative assistant (4 yrs)
1984-89 - Immanuel Lutheran School: Developed and taught Art curriculum. Duties included writing curriculum for a level program. Preparing lesson plans, teaching all grades in the school program. Assisted in writing curriculum for the Ornamental Metal Museum Armor exhibit. Created 4 years of fundraiser's; which included play, auction, and exhibit of student and local artists. Also substitute teaching and librarian
1978-83 - Owned and operated RCR Studios - Produced various ads, logos, brochures, and camera-ready art for clients
1972-83 - Work Experience in various offices in the Chicago and Indiana area as a temporary and full time employee
*Lumber Trade Association, full charge bookkeeper, receptionist, secretary, *Atlas Welding, payroll, union benefit program (2 yrs)
*AJP Pizza Co. - Receptionist, bookkeeping, Mag card (1 yr.)
*Manpower - Temporary employee, secretarial, accounting Reception, dispatch, general office (3 yrs) - ARCO - Administrative Assistant (2 yr as temp)
*Clark Fork Lift - Accounting Clerk, data input NCR (1 yr.)
*Davis Temporaries - Temporary counselor, temporary assignments Ford Motor Company - Switchboard operator, billing, various companies (2 yr.)
1971-72 - Freelance Illustrator with Fleming Studios, Chicago, ILL. Accomplishments in the field of illustration included menu covers, record albums, ads, displays, book covers and other promotional illustrative work. Duties included bookkeeping and office services. Portfolio available upon request.
1967-71 - Window Designer - Marshall Field & Co. Duties included point of purchase, display and window design from initial drawing to building and installation.
 ~  ~
Finding a Place to Vent
Randi Rauh was widowed in 93. She has 2 sons. Chuck died suddenly from a gastrointestinal bleed from an undetermined source.
My first encounter with AOL and chat rooms was quite different than most. I was widowed for a short time when a friend at work said, try AOL, it’s fun, you can talk to people everywhere. It’s all like a big game. AOL was new, and you got an amazing 5 free hours to try the software. I had been using a computer for sometime, but not doing a lot of the fun stuff. I had Prodigy, but only corresponded once in a while with a few people. The friend at work got me to learn to CHAT online. My first room was “Over 40” but I thought, am I really this old? I joined my friend in adult Truth or Dare. I learned quickly that the people on AOL were very creative, very intelligent, and not always who they “said” they were.
After some time of “playing” in these Chat rooms and learning all the in’s and out’s of role playing and the online world, I had an opportunity to go to San Francisco with my friend from work to see her give a lecture, and while we were there to “meet” some of our “buddies” from AOL. I was nervous, meeting these people that gave new meaning to the word creative. I was looking forward to this, but still, I was widowed such a short time. Meeting these people changed my perception totally of who they were and how easy it was to “fall” for a persona online that was nothing of the image I had seen in my minds eye. I met one person “Scott” who was a widower. He told me there was a group of widowed online and I might enjoy meeting them. I managed to find the widows and widowers room after returning from San Francisco and was glad I did.
The first person I actually talked to was a woman, who like me, was widowed, and searching for a purpose in life again. We spent many hours sharing, our anger and pain and hope for the future. Her children and mine were our concern, we both had been in our “fog” and needed to reestablish our lives. Before the bid for the W&W sanction, I was just fumbling around still learning how to accept the changes in my life. My oldest son was suffering badly from the problems in his life. My “friend” from work had turned out to be someone I no longer knew. She divorced her husband, moved away. Said she was dying. I learned that even in real life, people seemed to have a need to be what they were not.
The very first W&W gathering was held in Memphis, TN in February of 1996. I hadn't thought about “hosting” this, I was only there to help LaQ because she was in Jonesboro. She had decided the odds were good to be able to meet if the gathering was planned for Memphis. We arranged a hotel, a dinner, and got those name tags ready for the people that were already “booking” their time for the gathering. MaryE even consented to open her home to those that would like to come face to face. I had already been dating Tim Tyler and he joined me at the gathering functions. He was amazed to see such a diverse group of people that seemed more like family than just online friends.
I was asked to host after our meeting in Memphis. Tim encouraged me to keep talking to others. I found that in this sharing there was hope for not being alone. The wav’s we played were uplifting, we were Not alone, we gave lots of “Cyber hugs” we were learning the pain of others could be empathized with, not just left to be suffered in silence. Understanding that when a mate dies, the lives of many are affected. I agreed to host, and went through the rigors of AOL training.
My mentor on AOL and those that attended my “sims” (simulation of hosting) were impressed that I was able to turn around the would be “snerts”, and move them to other areas that would prove to be enjoyable for them.
My “pre-W&W” experiences helped me to understand why the creative people on AOL needed a place for expression.
Helping the children turned out to be the most wonderful experience to me, when asked to help two Widowed Kids with their room. It took time to establish the trust that was needed for them and others that wanted to “join” the discussion. Being an “adult” in a room of grieving kids I learned how not to judge, how to establish contact with my own children, how to listen to those that needed to be heard. To hear what was not being said, to trust that healing was there. I read as much as I could during this time, to learn more about the child’s grieving process. I found that I hadn't dealt with the death of my own Father (7/91) and that many of the adults of our group were also just beginning the grief process over the loss of a parent. The ONLY parents left to these children would meet with me often to find ways to reach their child, to help them deal with their loss.
As AOL changed their format, the change to the AOL staff that had supported us so strongly came. Many were being “fired” and replaced. They wanted more from us, they wanted us to increase our membership. They offered certain plausible alternatives, but then withdrew them. I married Tim Tyler in 1997 and moved to Arkansas, and my online “time” was no longer just a matter of credits, it was a matter of access. I finally found an ISP server, and was able to be online without as much cost. When this occurred I found the INTERNET. Netscape proved to be on the leading edge to me and moved me forward in “surfing the Web”. AOL, had barely touched the surface of the web, they were still using Gopher, Veronica and Archie. I was learning that a new possibility existed. I upgraded my computer and had access to Internet Explorer too.
When the Unlimited one rate became real on AOL, the management changed again. New people were put in charge and the idea of entertainment was the rule of the day. The meetings held by AOL staff and management were volatile. Hosts were going to be removed, guides were going to be nothing more than “how to click and point entrepreneurs”. I resigned, because this was a compromise of my principles, knowing that other avenues could be opened for those in grief, and not be intimidated into turning support into entertainment.
Finding a Place on the Web
Safety of the children was my concern. I continued meeting with the kids in private, and began a member room for those that were adults that had lost a parent. The idea of becoming a corporation came during long talks with another widow on the phone. We knew that there was a purpose of us. We met in Florida, and began the foundation for an online support group. I drew a LOGO, two angels that were our guides creating the trunk that would guide others to the sunrise of a new tomorrow. a willow to protect the tears, a butterfly to symbolize the new person after the “grief”. The decision to create a web site came after months of planning. Learning all the new technology and what the web would have to offer. The theme of angels grew from the logo design and the first angel created for our rooms was the hug angel. Where to come to get your first HUG. Building that Web site was a fantastic gift. It gave me knowledge of Web development and a sense of accomplishment and purpose. I built the community page by page, refining the pages as I learned more about the inner workings of web development. The corporation was finally approved as a nonprofit organization and developed a board of directors and staff.
I continued to work with the kids and adults that had lost parents.
RENEWAL - HARTS™
In October of 1998 my work with the organization came to an end. I resigned from the Vice Presidency as well as the duties of web mastering. I began to develop a new Web site, one that would help those that needed to move further after their grief, to another level of healing, the one known as Renewal.
I developed RRT STUDIOS, created more angels with backgrounds and began to write more of renewal after grief. Finding life purpose and changing not only my own life, but those of others in grief that needed new purpose in life. As the site developed, I realized that this site would be in three parts, RRT STUDIOS, Grief at Home, and HARTS™ Angels. The HARTS™ (Helping Angels of Renewal in Times of Sorrow) Angels was to become a book for those that were looking for something to help them in grief, or wanting to lend comfort. As the web site develops, I have encouraged others to create their own sites. To use whatever knowledge I have gained and give purpose to their lives again. In this way they have given honor to those that have died, and respect to those in grief.
ANOTHER LOSS
On October 19, 1999, Judy Divers, president of GROWW was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. Judy, took this as an opportunity to once again help others. A new section was added to GROWW, "Living With Cancer". December 5, 1999, Judy died, of cancer.
I was with her at the start of GROWW. Helping with artwork and the web mastering. When I resigned from GROWW, a distance came between us that cost me the friendship I had so treasured. My heart will always ache for that friendship. I pray that anyone that knew Judy or has been a member of GROWW will continue the work that was started there. For the love of those in grief, and for your own grief, give back to others some of the love that was taken from you by death. Keep the honor and spirit of that love alive. Remember that when you are giving to others, you get so much more in return. When Trip died, Judy and I were in Houston. The wonderful memorial at that time for Trip was an inspiration to me, as I'm sure it was to others. I pray for Judy's sons, and grandchildren. I hope her family will know what a wonderful woman she was and can sustain themselves with the love she had for them.
I will miss Judy, and keep her family and all those in grief, in my prayers for a very long time.
With Love Randi
Rose, Judy & Randi in Houston
PERFECT FEATHERS
With my Mother's death in April, 1999, I faced new challenges. Now a true orphan I began the search to help others that felt the loss of a parent in other ways. I adopted a Webring called Remembering Mom and built pages for the many others that needed to remember their mothers. The next step was to create the Remembering Dad Webring to fulfill the need of those of us who had also lost fathers. This accomplishment brought much memory and satisfaction to renew a spirit that was looking for validation and renewal.
Following the anniversary of my Mother's death yet another loss of a good friend occurred. Gigi, who helped guide so many of my drawings by her encouragement of their creation. The poem "Perfect Feathers" was created in her memory. My path has now changed again, and the creation of the HARTS™ Angels has taken yet another direction. No longer just for those in grief, but to help build more of the spirit of renewal in all aspects of life's journey.
For some time I have been working on a manual to help those that wish to help others in grief. I had an opportunity with LOTH (Ladies of the Heart) to hold a class on the web to present this workshop. By our second class, 9-11 happened, and some of the participants had close ties to victims. The class did not turn out to help these people help others, but did help those that experienced the immense grief of a nation.
Everything happens for a reason, and you will be in the right place at the right time. Those words have been so true for me, even as I have taught classes for the college, I have met and helped quite a few people who were lost in grief. I sometimes feel like the "Grief Lady" and it is not something I want to be an expert in, but being able to have compassion and reassure others that the grief will not last forever seems to be a gift, and I am more than willing to share.
 |
"All things are connected like the blood that unites us. We did not weave the web of life. We are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves"
Chief Seattle |
|
|
