By Jim Bradford, Chapter Chair at Mission Trail Middle School

The Mission Trail Middle School Father’s Club hit the ground running recently. The brand-new chapter and latest middle school in Olathe to have a Father’s Club chapter chipped in with some good old fashioned sweat equity behind the school.

Earlier this year, Mission Trail science teacher Perry Martin took the lead on building a new 18-hole disc golf course on the Mission Trail property. To ensure they were able to build an appealing, as well as challenging, course, Martin felt as though they should take advantage of the densely wooded area behind the school. That meant clearing the wooded area. He began the project last spring after securing the 18 disc golf baskets through a grant (and a matching grant).

He started clearing some of the area himself, but soon realized the task was a bit too daunting.

Enter the brand-new Mission Trail Father’s Club.

A group of five Mission Trail fathers, Martin and band instructor Eric Griffin chipped in to help further clear the area where three holes would wind their way through the woods behind the school.

With a few heavy-duty trimmers and some chainsaws, the course is starting to come into focus. Another work day is planned in the coming weeks to tackle the back nine.

Way to go, Mission Trail Father’s Club! The kids are going to love this new disc golf course.

By Tim Ginnings, Lee’s Summit West Co-Chair for Father’s Club

On Thursday March 16th, the Board of Education for the Lee’s Summit School District presented the three Father’s Club Chapters in Lee’s Summit with a Certificate of Recognition at their monthly board meeting. Chapter leads from each of the high schools (Lee’s Summit, Lee’s Summit West, and Lee’s Summit North) were present at the board meeting to accept the certificate.

From left to right in the picture – Tim Ginnings and Cartus Rodgers, LSW; Jared Wirsig, LSHS; Don Keeting and Jeremy Marks, LSN.

Dr. Potts, the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education, announced the recognition of the Father’s Club and read the Father’s Club Mission Statement prior to introducing the chapter leads.

Jeremy Marks addressed the Board during the presentation. He thanked Dr. Potts for his support, gave a short history about the development of the Father’s Club in Lee’s Summit, discussed a few examples of what the Father’s Clubs are doing in the schools and in the community. In conclusion he asked for continued support from the Lee’s Summit School District and Board.

 

Board member, Rodrick Sparks, added that he appreciated the Father’s Club contributions to the Lee’s Summit community. He recognized not only the effort of the Father’s Club in supporting students, but also expressed his appreciation for their love and humanity for other men and families in the community. He stated that he was happy for the work the Father’s Club was doing in the community and offered his continued support.

As a leadership team in Lee’s Summit, we are so grateful for the recognition and support of our School District and its board members.

By Mike Rothwell, Board Member/Director of Community Partners for Father’s Club

The Father’s Club is honored to be involved in the 2022 KC Relays Track Meet. We have a huge opportunity to impact the kids in our region by #ShowingUp and supporting the student athletes in this huge, area-wide event.

The KC Relays is a premier track and field event in the Kansas City Metro. The Father’s Club has stepped up to help secure volunteers for this amazing event. We have over 1,400 dads in the Kansas City Metro that are eager to be intentional in the lives of our kids. Here is a simple way to do just that.

Over 18 area high schools will be competing and they cannot pull off this event without volunteers from The Father’s Club.

When: April 15, 2022 at 12:30pm

Where: Blue Valley Northwest High School

SIGN UP HERE

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIGN UP. THEN SHOW UP!

The event begins at 12:30pm on Friday April 15, 2022. So file your taxes in the morning. Play hooky from work, and #ShowUp for a 3-hour time slot to support all the kids in our community. It’s that simple.

We need over 70 volunteers to pull this off. You’ve Got This!!!

CLICK HERE AND SIGN UP TODAY

ALL CONCESSION STAND PROCEEDS WILL BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FATHER’S CLUB MISSION

By Mike Rothwell, Board Member/Director of Community Partners for Father’s Club

Back in 2019, I was walking the halls of the high school as a dad who reluctantly signed up to volunteer as a hall monitor during the lunch hour. They assigned me to the senior hall. It was one of the more intimidating experiences of recent memory. Why was I nervous? I was a grown man, with a family, and a respectable job. Surely monitoring the halls of the high school would be easy.

Well, all the self-talk did not work.

I was anxious and fearful of the students for some odd reason. I was asked to monitor a door that led to the parking lot and given strict instructions to make sure no one left the building that was not on a pre-approved list. I manned my guard post at the door. Kids began to congregate in the hallways. I tried to be cool but obviously that was not happening. Then a young man sat down near the door. I was sure he was trying to find the right time when I was not watching and make the great escape from the building. He was all alone and seemed a bit off.

I sat there observing this kid all by himself as I feverishly guarded the exit door. A few minutes went by, and this young man was still alone. No one came to sit with him. He began to eat his lunch and I realized at that moment that he had no interest in escaping. He sat by himself, finished his lunch, and did what every other high school kid does. He pulled out his mobile phone and isolated himself in the never-ending scroll of nothingness. I took a deep breath as I mustered up the courage to speak to this young man. I went in for the approach and simply said, “Hey man, how is it going?” I anticipated the “high school head nod” from the young man and then I would be back to guard my post.

There is power in connecting with another person face to face.

This young man not only said hi to me, but he began to open and share. He wanted to talk. He wanted to be noticed. He wanted someone to care. I had no idea what I was in for. So, I listened as this young man shared his story, his battles, and his road to redemption.

This young man began struggling with addition in middle school. As a freshman, he was in a deep battle and longing to be free. He attended high school in the morning. He would eat lunch each day by himself before his mom would pick him up and take him to outpatient therapy for the rest of his school day. He wanted to get right so he could live right. His hopes were that someday he would lead right. He was on the road to redemption. Like all of us, he was seeking validation. He wanted to know that he had what it takes to win the battle. In that moment, he knew he was not alone. I listened to his story and my heart hurt for this young man.

#GoTheDistance

This young man is only one example of why we #GoTheDistance for teenage mental health awareness and suicide prevention. We are all part of his story. We are a community that battles together and lifts a brother up when down. As John Eldredge said, “Every man is a warrior inside. But the choice to fight is his own.” This young man chose to fight.

Are you a warrior on the inside? What are you fighting?

In October, we chose to fight for the teenagers in our community. We walked, biked, and ran on their behalf to raise awareness of the battles they are facing with mental health. We fought to bring robust prevention efforts to eliminate the teenage suicide problem. As we walked, biked, and ran we knew deep down that adults face the same battles. These kids are not alone. We all seek validation and want to truly know that we have what it takes to fight the battles.

This year, on October 16^th, over 50 men, women and children participated in our first annual #GoTheDistance campaign.

• We had 3 bikers #gothedistance at all 10 high schools in Olathe and BV!
• We had 2 walkers #gothedistance for the “Broken Marathon”
• We had 6 runners #gothedistance at the KC Marathon run 5K, 10K, Half or Full Marathon!
• We had 35 walkers #gothedistance at 8 schools in Blue Valley and Olathe!
• We had 5 virtual K participants #gothedistance from all over the country and even Europe including: a 5K runner in Prague, Czech Republic, an 18-mile runner in Pittsburgh, neighborhood walkers in Chicago and Texas.
• We had financial supporters from the US, Germany, Czech Republic, and N. Ireland

I am so thankful for all your challenging work and dedication to making this campaign a big first year success. Together, we raised over $9,000 that will be contributed 100% towards prevention efforts in the mental battle our teenagers are facing.

If you feel led to support the 2021 #GoTheDistance Team, you can make a tax deductible donation HERE.

Mark your calendars now, for October 15, 2022. That is the day we will #GoTheDistance again for the teenagers in our community.

Well Done!

Peace, Grace, and Love,
Soccer Mom

 

In this video, Brad Holdhusen recognizes Tom Herzog as the 2021 Shovel Award recipient. Brad asked Tom to share why he deserved the shovel award this year. :)

Adapt and pivot. We were constantly trying to find a way. The things that we normally do weren’t available. From cleaning up things around the school to the Operation Family Feast food drive. This allowed us to put our energy and hearts towards good works for Shelter KC and families in need. The shovel award means I’ve got more work to do.
Tom Herzog

Our friends at Midwest Engravers created the award (as you can see, it’s amazing.) This will be an annual awards for service above and beyond. In true Herzog fashion, he spread the credit for all the people that come together to make incredible things happen. Including bringing some of his crazy ideas to fruition.

We appreciate all of Tom’s service in the Blue Valley community and on the board of Father’s Club. Congratulations Tom!