Meet Our Team
Lawilowan American Indian Festival Inc.
Our Team
Arvil (Beaver Who Works) Meisenhelter (President)
Arvil was born in Hawaii and has traveled across the US. His father was in Air Force. His family decided to make their permanent residence in PA back in 1973. Being of Lenape heritage, Arvil began to learn of his heritage/culture. He started making Native crafts and began to trade his skills at Powwows for items he liked. Arvil grew to learn how to dance and set up at Powwows as a vendor. Arvil also wants to teach people about his culture and does so at I was a vendor at Powwows for 25 years before we started coordinating the two Native American Powwows that we have today. He is also the founder of LAIF.
Allie Fogas (Vice President)
Allie was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He now resides in Gettysburg, PA. He had served in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. Later on, he graduated from the University of W.I. with a B.S. degree in Physical Therapy. Recently he has retired from being a Physical Therapist of 37 years.
His interest in the Native American Cultures began while he was in college and has continued throughout his adult life. Allies love of music started him on the path of the Native American flute. You will see him at our Powwows with his flutes. He also plays his flute with the Pennsylvania Native American Flute Circle that meets once a month at the Indian Echo Caverns in Hummelstown, PA.
He has volunteered with the American Diabetes Association and JDRF At various Native American Community gatherings. He started to volunteer his time at LAIF in 2013.
Gail Meisenhelter (Secretary/Treasurer)
Gail was born in a small town in Southern Pennsylvania and grew up with a loving family. She prefers the small-town feel over a big city. Even though she doesn’t have any Native American blood, she instills Native American beliefs and culture into her life. Gail has been working in an office setting for her entire career. She brings her office expertise into our organization to assist with paperwork, finances, and so many other things. Gail also contributes a lot of hours to help at both of our events during the year. She loves spending time with her loved ones, her pup, walking on the beach, being outdoors, and traveling the United States in her spare time. She started to volunteer his time at LAIF in 2013.
Lora (Delmage) Bennett (Board Member)
Lora was born on an Army Base in Tokyo, Japan. Her father was a career military officer, which meant the family had traveled worldwide. Lora had lived in Albuquerque, N.M., and eventually returned to her home state of Maryland. Johns Hopkins University currently employs her. And she has worked there for 30 years and counting. She has been engaged in the Native American Culture from a young age. Joining the first Longest Walk for Survival was a great honor for her. And she did several Longest Walks after. Lora’s passion is educating people about MMIWG (Missing Murdered and Indigenous Women /Girls). And Every Child Matters Movement. You will find her MMIWG Memorial Grove at each of our Powwows and other local venues. Lora is woodland Metis. She started to volunteer her time with LAIF in 2016.
Jon Bennett (Board Member)
Jon was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He has been in the Construction Trade as a Master Carpenter for over 50 years. He loves to work on many different crafts. His love of the Native American Culture began in his early teens. When he first learned about the Carlisle Indian School. He began digging deeper into the history of the Carlisle Indian School. Jon is also of Lenape heritage and learns more about his culture daily. Jon helped design the MMIWG Memorial Grove and helped install and construct at different venues. He started volunteering his time with LAIF in 2016.
