Note from editor: As a regular blog series, members of the faithful and talented TEDxSacramento team will be profiled, offering them a platform for their ideas worth spreading. These individuals make the TEDxSacramento stage possible, allowing our community to meet, mingle, and share stories of ourselves and others, fostering a strong community foundation in an effort to make the upcoming year the best yet.
By Lauren Herman
Rich Beckermeyer, TEDxSacramento volunteer, in the production booth.
Rich Beckermeyer, a member of the TEDxSacramento production team, is dedicated to art and the process of creativity - making the connection between reality and fantasy possible. He reminds us that reality is often more interesting than fantasy, and art is all around us. As a photographer, Rich aims to capture the story of everyday moments that are often overlooked and to capture his subjects' emotions in these moments. Perhaps that is why he is an ideal TEDxSacramento team member who inspires the unusual, the creative, and the power of ideas.
TEDxSacramento: Describe yourself in four words or less.
Rich: A documentarian of life. I seek to find stories and tell these stories.
TEDxSacramento: How long have you volunteered for TEDxSacramento, and what is your role at TEDxSacramento?
Rich: I have volunteered with TEDxSacramento for about 4 years as a member of the production team. It entails a variety of things, including shooting, producing, and editing the videos of the TEDxSacramento talks. My work is often well beyond that, but those are the primary tasks of the production team.
TEDxSacramento: Why do you volunteer with TEDxSacramento?
Rich Beckermeyer at TEDxSacramento "This Changes Everything: Seeds of Change" in September 2014.
Rich: My motivation for volunteering with TEDxSacramento is connecting with other creative individuals and being part of the Sacramento community that understands creativity is an important part of the economy and artistic expression. I really wanted to start TEDx in Sacramento when I first moved here because I was inspired by the videos I watched during college. Then, I found out that one was already started, so I thought if I can’t start it then I should join it.
TEDxSacramento: What, in your opinion, is Sacramento's best-kept secret?
Rich: The best-kept secrets of the Sacramento region are its parks. I often go to Ancil Hoffman Park, River Bend Park, and American River Parkway. Nature has always been an integral part of myself, allowing me to recharge, re-energize by hiking through woods, finding a great spot on the river or climbing to the top of hills. These experiences are important because it is so different than where I am from where everything is linear -- flat that seems to go on forever.
TEDxSacramento: What is your favorite TEDxSacramento talk?
Rich: My favorite TEDxSacramento talk so far is Lisa Donchak’s talk “The game theory/ultra running connection” about ultra running – the sport of running 100 miles within 24 hours. The exercise aspect of it inspires me. She shows that a person is made of mind, body and spirit. You have to feed all three parts to be whole, so life without exercise is not balanced. The choice to continually push oneself to finish is an important lesson.
Lisa Donchak’s TEDxSacramento talk, “The game theory/ultra running connection”
TEDxSacramento: If you have the opportunity to speak on the TED stage, what would be your idea worth spreading?
Rich: Even though it has been talked about before, my idea worth spreading would be about creativity. Creativity can be found anywhere and used with all types of technology. Technology should be used as a tool to spread your creativity.
TEDxSacramento: How or where can others connect with you?
Rich: Twitter: @leland_beck and Instagram: @rb_visuals
