Grand River Arts Council Exists—
To promote arts and culture in the communities surrounding the Grand River in Northwest South Dakota and Southwest North Dakota.
MEET THE TEAM
Grand River Arts Council (GRAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by an active team of board members and volunteers. GRAC Board meetings are held on the third Monday of each month — Lemmon Library @ 6:15 pm.
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Sally Weyer
PRESIDENT
Sally Weyer enjoys writing and reading. She began writing at a young age and wrote her first “novel” in seventh grade. Other passions included playing the 5-string banjo and creating with fabric. She is a retired Clinical Psychologist whose work at the VA helped veterans repair the fabric of their lives. She has recently become known as a poetic storyteller. In her uptime, Sally writes, bowls, golfs, watches MN Twins baseball, and takes in as many opportunities she has to visit museums, art centers, concerts and other spaces where art is in residence. In her down time, she enjoys a good book and cup of hot, spicy, chai with a shot of vanilla.
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Raven Christman
VICE PRESIDENT
Raven Christman is a public librarian, educator, and community advocate based in Lemmon, South Dakota. She has served as Director at the Lemmon Public Library for over a decade, where she works to create a welcoming space that encourages connection and a lifelong love of reading for patrons of all ages. Raven also teaches at Calvary Christian Preschool, where she enjoys nurturing a sense of wonder in young learners.
Deeply rooted in her community, Raven volunteers as Secretary of the American Legion Auxiliary, supporting veterans and their families through service and outreach. Outside of work, she enjoys camping at Shadehill Lake and relaxing with a good book and a cup of coffee. Raven’s life is guided by a belief in the power of libraries, education, and community to bring people together.
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Jenny Dirk
SECRETARY
Jenny Dirk is an enthusiast of the visual, literary, and performing arts. With a teaching career spanning 17 years at the Lemmon School District, she sought to inspire students in the fields of English, art, and journalism. During this time Jenny also directed several One Act Plays with two of her favorites being "The Desperate Housewives of Shakespeare" and "Lafayette No. 1. With her help, Missoula Children’s Theatre made its return to the Lemmon Community and is now facilitated annually by the Grand River Arts Council. She currently serves as the Secretary and Bookkeeper at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. In her downtime, you’ll find Jenny enjoying family time at Shadehill Lake, watching live theatre and music, and cheering on her high schooler. Go Cowboys!
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Julie Goeres
TREASURER
Julie Goeres is the driving force behind Pretty Rock Farms in southwestern North Dakota. After 21 years and many moves as part of an active-duty military family, Julie has put down roots and built a life grounded in community, care, and creativity. With a professional background in accounting, she brings clarity and precision to everything she does. In addition to supporting the Grand River Arts Council as its financial steward, Julie also serves as Treasurer of the American Legion Auxiliary in Lemmon.
Beyond spreadsheets and schedules, Julie expresses her artistic side through fiber arts, spending her free time carding, spinning, knitting, and felting. Whether working with numbers or fiber, Julie brings dedication, skill, and heart to her work.
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Beth Herin
MEMBER AT LARGE
I am a wife and mom of two. Our family is new to South Dakota. We have been part of this community for 2 years this April. A summer ranching job brought us here, but the community and the ranching job kept us here. We are from a small town in West Michigan, when our family business closed we hit the road in our travel trailer to show our kids how big the world is. This is our home now, and we are so happy to be here. I am currently the Activities Director at Five Counties Nursing home. I hold a Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing and Management from Grand Valley State University. When not at work or sporting events for the kids I enjoy being outdoors tending the garden, raising chickens, hiking, biking, and walking the pasture. Recently I have started to re-teach myself how to play the piano and sew, using my grandmothers old sewing machine.
