Tuesday Veteran & History Posts from Molly Maka

Each Tuesday on the Miss Heartland Swing - Pam Krajewski Facebook page and the Miss Heartland Swing Twitter page, Team Pam's Staff Historian, Molly Maka, profiles a different unique story from the swing era, focusing predominantly on veterans and inspirational individuals from the World War II era. 

Maka, who promotes herself as "an aspiring author and a 1940's girl at heart," writes "historical women's fiction with romantic elements."  You can find out more about her writing by giving a 'Like' to her official Facebook author page or following her on Twitter. 

Miss a post?  Here's an archive of what Molly's put together: 

Oct. 16:  Army Cpl. Melvin Kaminsky, aka Mel Brooks
Oct. 9:  Navy Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, GCB
Oct. 2:  The 84th Infantry Division, "The Railsplitters"*

Sept. 25:  Army Special Services Entertainment Specialist Werner Klemperer*
Sept. 18:  Gary Bedingfield's Baseball in Wartime*
Sept. 11:  Tora! Tora! Tora!*
Sept. 4:  Margaret Henry Fleming

Aug. 28:  Army Reserve Maj. Audie L. Murphy
Aug. 21:  Army Air Forces Capt. George Hickman, Jr.
Aug. 14:  V-J Day
Aug. 7:  Marine Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone

July 31:  Navy WAVES
July 24:  Army Nurse Corps 1st Lt. Reba Whittle
July 17:  Air Force Maj. Gen. Jimmy Stewart
July 10:  CIA Field Agent & Intelligence Analyst Virginia Hall Goillot, MBE, DSC
July 3:  Marlene Dietrich

June 26:  Army Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
June 19:  Army Air Forces Capt. Louis Zamperini
June 12:  The Battle of Carentan
June 5:  D-Day

May 29:  National World War II Memorial
May 22:  Msgr. Hugh O'Flaherty, CBE
May 15:  Army Nurse Corps 2nd Lt. Frances Y. Sanger
May 8:  V-E Day
May 1:  Navy Ship's Cook 3rd Class Dorie Miller

April 24:  Benny Goodman
April 17:  Army Pfc. Charles Durning
April 10:  Mae West
April 3:  The Andrews Sisters

March 27:  Army Sgt. "Wild Bill" Guarnere
March 20:  Women Airforce Service Pilot Ann Baumgartner Carl
March 13:  Army Cpl. Tibor Rubin

Maka and Miss Heartland Swing herself, Pam Krajewski, have an extensive history of participating in historically accurate reenactments together, representing eras ranging from the Renaissance to the 1940's.  Both are active volunteers with the Wisconsin Stars & Stripes Honor Flight, which gives WWII veterans the opportunity to fly from Milwaukee to Washington, D.C. to spend a day at the National World War II Memorial, all at no cost to the veterans themselves. 

Maka and her husband, Chris, are expecting their first child soon.  While Maka is indisposed for the birth of her child, Dan Pfeifer will post in Molly's place.  Posts by Pfeifer will be denoted with an asterisk in the archive listing. 

Monday Vintage Links on Facebook

For those of you truly interested in how to get the vintage look, check out Pam's weekly Monday vintage posts!

'Like' the Miss Heartland Swing - Pam Krajewski Facebook page or follow @PinupPam on Twitter so you can get the links as soon as she posts them.  The sites will also have plenty of other great information for those who are involved in the swing dance scene, such as videos from nationally-known dancers, WWII-era history posts and plenty about Pam herself and her 2012 National Tour as Miss Heartland Swing.  Every Monday, Pam will be highlighting a different site with information on vintage fashion. 

Miss a day?  Can't remember that one awesome site?  Don't fret!  Here's an archive of Pam's links: 

Oct. 22:  Bombshell Bettie
Oct. 15:  Red Dress Shoppe
Oct. 8:  Plasticland
Oct. 1:  Dig This ... Clothing

Sept. 24:  Bleyer Shoes
Sept. 17:  Mystery Mister
Sept. 10:  Jitterbuggin
Sept. 3:  Get Go Retro

Aug. 27:  Daddy-O's
Aug. 20:  Bettie Page Clothing
Aug. 13:  Best Vintage Patterns
Aug. 6:  Atomic Swag

July 30:  What Katie Did
July 23:  Remix Shoes
July 16:  Whirling Turban
July 9:  Vintage Fashion Lounge
July 2:  Rocket Originals

June 25:  Vintage Martini
June 18:  LaFrock
June 11:  Bear Flag Republic
June 4:  LaceAffair

May 28:  My Baby Joe
May 21:  MovieMaidens
May 14:  Pearls & Swine
May 7:  Heyday! Vintage Style

April 30:  ModCloth
April 23:  Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Hairstyles with Step-by-Step Techniques
April 16:  Woodland Farms Vintage
April 9:  DanceStore.com
April 2:  M•A•C Lipstick

March 26:  Pin Up Girl Clothing
March 19:  Stop Staring!

March 12:  Miss L Fire

The Role of Miss Heartland and the Journey to Get There

I was extremely happy, honored, privileged, and more than excited when I was announced Miss Heartland Swing 2012!  It's an experience that not even words can truly describe.  When I first found out, I was a little bit more in a state of shock than anything else.  It wasn't until later the next day that it finally hit me, realizing more of the role and position that I will be able to fill for the year. 

It started with a professional photoshoot the next day for the making of the Heartland Swing Calendar 2013.  Afterwards, it was over lunch with my boyfriend, Dan Pfeifer, that we discussed things in more detail; future Lindy Hop events and festivals that I might attend, the job of selling the calendars and promoting the Heartland Swing Festival along with swing dancing as a whole, organizing some media to get others interested and involved, and preparing for competing at Camp Hollywood!

I want it to be known that I take this position very seriously.  Of course there will be fun to be had along the way, but it means a lot more to me than I sometimes think others even perceive.  I'm really dedicated and committed to making a meaningful representation at events.  I want to make it easy and be helpful to others at their events, and be an inspiration for others!

Many may recall me participating in this contest in 2011.  I saw an advertisement on Facebook for the contest, which immediately caught my eye.  I knew it was something that interested me because it's something that I do regularly when I go out dancing or participating in other events such as the Stars and Stripes Honor Flights.  I love to dress up whether it's vintage, retro, or rockabilly!  I do my own hair including pincurls and victory rolls, do my own makeup, and make a lot of my own dresses!  I've also spent a great deal of time studying by watching things like YouTube videos to perfect a look!  Needless to say, I was disappointed when I first found out that I didn't make it in the top 12.

I still had a really good time at the event and learned a lot at the classes!  I also knew that the following year I wasn't going to give up because I knew that I had a lot potential and I really wanted to prove it!  I arranged a photoshoot with a friend, Matthew Schneider, that took the swimsuit pictures in September preparing for entering the contest that wouldn't start until December, knowing that it would give us plenty of time to take more if we wanted to.  Besides, I'd never pass up an opportunity to have more pictures taken!

This year I really stepped it up and gave it everything I got, of course with the help and support from many others as well!  I paid extremely close attention to the Heartland page.  There were also some changes that were made in the contest, including an essay "I Am A Heartland Girl."  I even changed my bio a bit.  Eventually the voting began, and I had a lot of help in getting as many votes as I possibly could. 

And ... well ... I guess you all know the rest.



(Photo by Ben Hejkal/Ben Hejkal Photography)

Before I knew it, the Facebook page was created, I was on Twitter, and had my own blog.  The goal is to really get people talking about and interested in various topics revolved around the swing dancing culture.  I hope to provide some helpful tips, advice based on experience, and links to sights that others will be interested in that I have spent years finding out for myself!

I don't think that there's a way to express as much appreciation to all those that helped and supported me along this entire journey. 

Dan was very supportive of me from the very beginning.  He was always very encouraging and helped in doing all he could and more!  I could not be more grateful in having someone like him by my side!

My friend Molly Maka did an extra help getting others to vote and is one of my vintage cohorts - also currently part of the Team Pam on the Miss Heartland Facebook page.

Thanks to the Jumpin' Jive Club, the Milwaukee Ale House, and the Bay View Brew Haus for helping promote the voting, and I know I mentioned time and time again, a HUGE thank you to all those that voted!  I want everyone to know that it does not go unnoticed.

Most of all, thank you Michael Brafford for putting on such an amazing event - the Heartland Swing Festival and for having a Miss Heartland Swing!  Thanks for giving a girl like me an opportunity to not only appear in a fun pinup calendar, but to do what I love to do, and to learn and experience such great opportunities, meet wonderful new people, and travel the country while doing it!

~Pam - Miss Heartland Swing 2012

"About Miss Heartland Swing" Features

John Li/JohnJayLi.com

Every Thursday during her reign as Miss Heartland Swing, Team Pam member Dan Pfeifer will be posting a fun fact about Miss Heartland Swing herself, Pam Krajewski. 

Here's a backlog of the features so that you can go back and check out ones you might have missed: 

October:  Dancin' Pam

Oct. 18:  West(ie) of the Rio Pam*
Oct. 11:  Polka Pam*
Oct. 4:  Pam-Poms

September:  Dress-Up Pam

Sept. 27:  Lady Pam of the Bristol Renaissance Faire
Sept. 20:  Mary Pam (way better than Ginger)
Sept. 13:  Pirate Pam
Sept. 6:  Pam-a-Go-Go

August:  Pam Quirk-jewski

Aug. 30:  What Pam's all aboat
Aug. 23:  Snuggly Soft Pam
Aug. 16:  Pam, Pam on the (Open) range
Aug. 9:   Epic Pam Meal Times
Aug. 2:   No matchy-matchy for Pam

July:  Home Sweet Pam

July 26:  Pam's younger places
July 19:  On, Pam-sconsin!
July 12:  The Pam That Made Milwaukee Famous
July 5:  Greenfield Pam

June:  Dance Accomplishments

June 28:  Same Pam, new year
June 21:  Pam flies high at Hangar Dance
June 14:  Queen Pam of the Swinger's Ball
June 7:  Pam competes for "Milwaukee's Best Dancer"

May:  Proprietary Pam

May 31:  BetterPam
May 24:  Miss Pam at Grandma's House*
May 17:  Pam K., as in Kmart
May 10:  Pam Krajewski, Mary Kay Consultant
May 3:  The Sweet Pam on Etsy

April:  Interests Beyond Swing

April 26:  Pam's a gamer
April 19:  Pam Am
April 12:  Pam screams for ice cream
April 5:  "Go Kyle!"  Pam's love of NASCAR & Kyle Busch

March:  Hidden Talents

March 29:  Pam's "Calls of the Wild"*
March 22:  Go(-Kart) Pam Go!
March 15:  Pam plays the saxophone

* - video feature

Make sure to 'Like' the Miss Heartland Swing - Pam Krajewski page on Facebook, follow @PinupPam on Twitter or keep reading this blog to get the updates as they happen!

Swing Dancer Profiles

It is truly an honor and privilege to be able to represent the Heartland Swing Festival and participate with so many other great events, and do everything that I can for the swing culture! 

It's amazing to be able to go to such a phenomenal event and learn from only the best of instructors!  I am so fortunate that I'll be able to travel to so many other great events as well, and learn from many others that I haven't even met yet!  I only hope that I'll be able to share some knowledge that I learned along the way and be a better dancer than when I started! 

That's why I really want to do a feature once a week on some of these fabulous dancers that I have or may meet along the way.  They'll be posted on the Miss Heartland Swing - Pam Krajewski Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/PinupPam

Here are the ones I've already done:  

Oct. 24:  John Joven†
Oct. 17:  Dorry Segev & Sommer Gentry
Oct. 10:  Joel Plys
Oct. 3:  Steven Mitchell†

Sept: 26:  2011 Lone Star Championships Solo Charleston Finals
Sept. 19:  Thomas Blacharz & Alice Mei
Sept. 12:  Thorbjørn Solvoll Urskog & Susanne Sandberg
Sept. 5:  Norma Miller

Aug. 29:  Pontus Persson & Isabella Gregorio
Aug. 25*:  Dax Hock & Sarah Breck at the 2012 International Lindy Hop Championships
Aug. 22:  Andy Reid
Aug. 15:  Zack Richard & Carla Heiney
Aug. 8:  Jason Esparza & Vanessa Cobb
Aug. 1:  Erik Robinson & Sylvia Skylar

July 25:  David Frutos & Kim Clever
July 18:  Mikey Pedroza & Nikki Marvin
July 11:  Jeremy Otth & Laura Keat
July 4:  Jean Veloz, Don Gallager & Lenny Smith

June 27:  Dan Newsome & Gabriella Cook
June 20:  Kenny Nelson & Tiffiny Shea
June 13:  Max Pitruzzella & Annie Trudeau
June 6:  William Mauvais & Maeva Truntzer

May 30:  The Fly Rights
May 23:  LeAnn Rimes' Swingin Video
May 16:  Jamin' Jackson
May 9:  Yuval Hod & Nathalie Gomes
May 2:  Nina Gilkenson

April 25:  Jean Veloz
April 18:  Benji Schwimmer
April 11:  Peter Strom
April 4:  Mikey & Eve Brafford

March 28:  Nick Williams
March 21:  Sharon Davis
March 14:  Dax Hock & Sarah Breck

* - Bonus coverage
† - Fill-in post by Dan Pfeifer

Hope you all follow along and learn a lot about all of these great instructors!

~Pam