"Rudi Angelmaier was born in Austria and his childhood was not unlike many other farming communities around the world
. . . . the one-seater was in the back of the barn."

Rudi Angelmaier was born in Austria and his childhood was not unlike many other farming communities around the world, as well as here in Tennessee. He was born and lived in an old farmhouse, with electricity, but no running water or toilet facilities. The one-seater was in the back of the barn near where the cows, pigs and chickens lived. With only radio and books for entertainment he turned to stories and imagination.

Coming to this country at the tender age of fifteen he got into all the usual American things like sports, girls, television and folk dancing. Folk dancing kept his Teutonic history alive. He met his wife Arlene at a vacation resort and they have now been married for over 40 years. As their son Scott grew he kept them busy over the years with soccer, 4-H and Boy Scouts. Many of those activities involved storytelling and clowning. Now in his role as a grandfather to three grandchildren, storytelling the past has become even more important.

As a ten year member of Toastmasters International, he learned presentation and leadership skills.

From 2000 through 2003 he has worked with his wife in founding a Toastmasters storytelling club and producing three Storytelling Festivals, the first one taking place four days after 9/11. Starting in 1998 he also helped his wife produce five Tellabrations. Rudi did all the emceeing and wrote most of the dialogues. But through all these activities the actual storytelling took on a high priority. Every opportunity was used to tell his kind of stories, especially those with a message or a lesson.

Retired from his job as Assistant Budget Director of the City of White Plains, New York and now safely imbedded in history rich Elizabethton, Rudi is ready to tell stories as well as nurture his other loves of knitting, spinning and weaving. He and his wife have two adopted kitties, Martha and Mary, who keep them entertained when not researching stories on the Internet.

Rudi is looking forward to many years of storytelling and story sharing.