Richard LaValley: (President of the Board of Directors and Treasurer for the Pointes of Faith Dancers, Inc. )

Richard is the President of the Board of Directors for the Pointes of Faith Dancers, Inc. He holds a BA in English (1969) and a MS in (English) education (1975), both from Niagara University. He has been granted permanent teaching certification by the state of New York for teaching English grades 7-12. Richard also holds a Certificate of Advanced Study from SUNY Brockport (60 hours beyond his Masters Degree) giving him permanent certification in the state of New York in educational administration up to the level of a superintendent of schools. He also attained a theology degree from Liberty University. He retired from the Rochester City School District in 2002 after more than 30 years of service. There he taught English (grades 7-12), public speaking, theater, film production and film communication. Richard also worked from 1976 until 1988 as the English teacher for the Talmudical Institute in Rochester, New York. Over the years many of his students won awards in state wide acting, play writing and essay competitions, including the annual Cornell Essay Contest. Richard is also a retired dancer, having danced with Rachael off and on for around 10 years. He has preached in prisons, in nursing homes, and in churches. Over the years, he has taught adult Sunday school at different churches, supervised (VBS) Vacation Bible School, created and supervised a Junior church program and helped with numerous productions throughout the years of “Mother Goose Goes To Heaven” and “The Voice of the Master” both evangelical plays created by his wife, Diane. While stationed at Fort Benning, as a second lieutenant, Richard was an instructor with the Company Operations Department and in charge of the production of educational media programs for the Fort Benning Infantry School. He is a decorated Vietnam veteran, who served as a small unit commander. Mr. LaValley was promoted to captain and after his tour of duty in Vietnam entered the United States Army reserves. During his reserve duty, he was the training officer and Educational Team Leader for the 401st Civil Affairs Company, and served as the aide de camp for the commanding general, Major General Harry S. Parmalee, of the 98th Training Division in New York State. After the general’s retirement, Richard became a training officer for the division. Presently, he is president of the board, treasurer, production manager, lighting, sound technician and custodial engineer for the Pointes of Faith Dancers, Inc. He also teaches film production at the Steps of Faith Dance Studio, which is part of the dance company’s ministry. The most important credential is that he is a very dedicated, spirit filled and evangelical minded disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, who prayerfully seeks His wisdom to lead this organization.



Diane LaValley: (Secretary on the Board of Directors for Pointes of Faith Dancers, Inc., assistant production manager, production narrator, costume manager and publicity & media director)

Diane is the secretary on the board of directors for The Pointes of Faith Dancers, Inc. She holds a triple BA : (1) a theater (major in acting and minor in directing), ( 2) English and (3) German all from SUNY at Brockport. She also studied theater at the University of Cologne, Germany, at Clarion College, Pa., and at SUNY Geneseo. Before entering the University of Cologne, Diane studied German at the Goethe Institute in Rottenburg, Germany. Before returning to the United States, she also taught English to top management and overseas sales representatives for the Siemans Company throughout Germany for two years. Diane has performed in more than two hundred performances in college, summer stock, and professional regional theaters. Most of these performances she was the lead character. She has directed more than twenty plays for college productions, schools, community theater and churches. She taught performing arts for the Rochester City School District and taught acting classes at RAPA. Diane has created, produced and directed two highly successful evangelical plays, “The Voice of the Master” and “Mother Goose Goes To Heaven.” These plays have been frequently on tour, with different cast members, numerous times over the last twenty years. Presently, Diane teaches acting at The Steps of Faith Dance Studio, where this year she directed an original play “ Grandpa’s Heart” written by her husband, Richard, and has directed an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz entitled The Journey Home written by Rachael Platt. Most importantly, besides being a serious prayer warrior, Diane, a spirit filled disciple, loves the Lord Jesus Christ and is extremely dedicated to this evangelical mission that the Lord has given her with the Pointes of Faith Dancers and their Steps of Faith Dance Studio in Lyons, New York.

Douglas Platt II: (Board Member and Web Master for the Pointes of Faith Dancers, Inc.)

Mr. Platt holds an AS in Engineering Science from SUNY at Alfred and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from RIT. He was an applications engineer for OGP, in Rochester, NY and a sales engineer for Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corporation for New York State. Mr. Platt also sold industrial supplies for Syracuse Supply. Presently, Douglas is the Technical Sales and Support Director of RAM Optical Instrumentation also located in Rochester. Mr. Platt has been with the Pointes of Faith Dancers, Inc. since 2002. He began as a dancer with his wife, Rachael, and continued with the Pointes by giving tremendous technical help as our web master. He also is invaluable with his helping to set up the equipment for touring and in running the stage lights. Rachael Platt, artistic director, dancer and choreographer for the company, says of her husband, “Doug is an asset because of his creativity, intellectual capabilities, people skills, and especially his love of God. I am proud to have him not only as the leader of my family, but also for his wisdom and good work ethics in helping with the studio.”



Robert (Bob) M. Frame: (Board Member for the Pointes of Faith Dancers, Inc.)

Mr. Frame became a member of our board of directors in January of 2008. He holds a BA in Theatre from SUNY Oswego and is the Coordinator of Theatre Operation at Cayuga Community College (CCC) in Auburn, NY. He directs student plays at the college, teaches all the courses within the Theatre Concentration and mentors students in the technical aspects of the theatre. The Pointes met Mr. Frame at their first performance at CCC in 2007 and were very impressed with his technical knowledge. Bob provided the Pointes with his expertise in the technical aspect of the theatre and was able to give the Pointes of Faith Dancers, Inc. an unsurpassed visualization to their performance, perfectly melding the choreographer’s multi dance moods and styles with the college’s vast array of lighting, enhancing the overall theatre experience. Bob also serves as the TANYS (Theatre Association of New York State) Board of Directors as a Member-at-Large. Mr. Frame is both a Roving Adjudicator and Technical Adjudicator for TANYS. During the summer, he is resident Lighting Designer for Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and is very involved in the planning for the New Music Theatre Festival. He is also a freelance actor, director, lighting designer and theatre consultant, who has received numerous awards from ACTF and TANYS for his work. He also received a best supporting actor award from ESTA. Bob lives with his wife Ann, son Michael, daughters Caryl, Alicia, Gillian, and dog S'more in Skaneateles, NY. Mr. Frame is truly a theatre asset and gives an artistic balance to our Board of Directors.



Lisa Casalmir, PhD. : (Board Member for the Pointes of Faith Dancers, Inc.)

Lisa comes to us with much enthusiasm and new ideas and has been given the positions of chairing both the Recruiting Committee and the Community Liaison Committee for the Pointes and the Steps. Mrs. Casalmir has already implemented some of her ideas with this position. Recently she has spruced up the Steps of Faith Dance Studio’s window by creating a display and will be putting up different displays throughout the year. Rachael Platt, artistic director, is very pleased to have Lisa on board and says, " Lisa is obviously creative, and we really appreciate the fact she is a team player and wants the best for all of the students, for the Steps Missions Team and for the Pointes of Faith Dancers, Inc. She is also truly interested in sharing the love of Christ with others through the dance and other arts." Mr. LaValley, (Pointes Board of Directors) is also very happy with Lisa’s input during board meetings and looks forward to continuing working with Lisa and the other six board members in the future. Mrs. Casalmir has taught a Statistics class at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse. She obtained her BS & MS in Forest Resources Management and her PhD in Forest and Natural Resources Management all from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, SUNY, Syracuse. Although Lisa obtained her PhD in 2006, she has put her career on hold so that she can devote even more of her time in raising her three young and delightful children. She has been bringing her children to the dance studio for two years now and also partakes in the Women's Exercise & Praise Class. Lisa and her husband, Paul, live with their children in Sodus. Their children attend Lyons Central School District. Lisa says that she is at the Steps of Faith Dance Studio because, "My girls love dancing at the steps. They learn the basics for tap and ballet in an environment focused on faith. The Christian music they dance to is fun and uplifting. Joining the board has been a great way for me to learn more about the Pointes and to support them."

 

Pastor Tony Goddard: Member of the Pointes of Faith Directors: Write up is forthcoming.

Pastor Kevin Turner: Member of the Pointes of Faith Directors: Write up is forthcoming.

Rachael Platt: Member of the Pointes of Faith Directors: Write up is forthcoming.