By Jim Bradford, Chapter Co-Chair at Mission Trail Middle School for Father’s Club

A year ago, a Father’s Club Chapter at Mission Trail Middle School was a pretty good idea, but that’s all it was, an idea. We had two co-chairs and a handful of dads with a little bit of time on their hands.

But that’s it.

Fast forward one year and the Mission Trail Father’s Club is booming! A roster of more than 100 fathers interested and willing to be present in the lives of all 700+ students at Mission Trail.

The key? A strong start and some advanced planning.

Recruitment

We hit the ground running in the fall of 2023. What started as a conversation with administration the previous spring with a handful of willing dads turned into something pretty great at Mission Trail.

Those five dads helped pound the pavement, so to speak, at the Timberwolves Ice Cream Social in early August, talking to willing dads, supportive wives and, well, pretty much anyone who would listen. Five dads quickly turned into 10 or 15.

Then after a couple of Back to School Nights, that number grew to close to 70. Our recruitment was wildly successful. Without the help from those initial five dads, nothing would have happened at Mission Trail.

Buy-in

Getting Mission Trail fathers to sign up was the easy part. Getting them to understand what Father’s Club was truly about was a bit more difficult. Explaining it as the Watch D.O.G.S. program at the middle school level was a bit too generic. It worked to help them understand there was some commitment involved, but Father’s Club is so much more.

At our initial kickoff, we had many conversations about the mission of Father’s Club.

We introduced ourselves to staff, helped a teacher clear some brush to put in a disc golf course and started our insanely popular Fist Bump Fridays.

The Fist Bump Fridays were the linchpin. Once dads got to see the kids each Friday connect with other dads, they were hooked. We had at least two dads at every Friday for the rest of the year.

And our Mission Trail Father’s Club had some legs.

Planning

It didn’t happen overnight. And it won’t happen overnight for anyone trying to build from the ground up. As we learned first hand, a little planning goes a long way.

We had some discussions about what and how much we wanted to bite off in year one.

Once that was done, we leaned into our good friends at Signup Genius. The app helped us set up volunteers for mowing and trimming the disc golf course, helped us with helpers for our night football game tailgate for the students and, most importantly, helped us stay on top of who was lined up for Fist Bump Fridays.

Year Two

We learned a lot in year one. We learned that there was definitely a need for our involvement, which was truly a fleeting thought. Were we even needed? The answer? An emphatic YES!

Our kickoff meeting this year was less of an introduction to Father’s Club, but more about how we can take it to the next level. It was a bit smaller in year two, as well, but that’s OK. We discussed tweaks instead of creations. We discussed how we can improve instead of how we can do.

We hung our hats on two big events last year – one in the first semester and one in the second.

This year, we’re going to be more aggressive and shoot for two each semester.

Starting the year with a bang was easier this year – all thanks to laying some groundwork and planning.

To get involved in the Father’s Club chapter at your high school or middle school, or to ask how to start a chapter at your school, start here!

By Jeff Johnson, Director of Compliance/Board Secretary for Father’s Club

The Father’s Club is evolving into an organization whose mission is to be recognized as a catalyst for positive influence around the world.  With this evolution comes the unique opportunity to reimagine the way we present ourselves to the world we want to impact.  As we capture this opportunity, it is important that we take a moment to recognize the widespread impact we make when we put others first, do everything with excellence, live with integrity, work together, hold ourselves accountable, and lead courageously.

The article explains how we bring our brand to life with every internal and external contact.  Along with other organizational foundations such as our mission, core values, and code of ethics and conduct, our brand provides the heart of our success.

WHO WE ARE

Ultimately, we want a dad-led and community-focused group to be intentional about sharing with other dads, loving kids, and nurturing character development.

• We promote involvement among fathers.
• We are dads just like you who are connecting to make a difference and providing opportunities to support our kids, our families, and our community.
• We use many different approaches like social media, showing up to school functions, partnering with organizations, and promoting community events.

OUR BRAND PYRAMID

Our brand pyramid is a crucial for defining and maintaining a strong brand identity, ensuring that every aspect of the Father’s Club is strategically aligned to create a cohesive and impactful presence to those we encounter.  The right side of the pyramid explains each attribute.

BRAND PROMISE
• Engaged dads and community focused

BRAND PERSONALITY
• Locking arms with men
• Carry our shields and engage in life’s daily battles
• One body with many members

BRAND BELIEFS
• Putting others first
• Personal Excellence
• Integrity
• Working together
• Accountability
• Leading courageously

EMOTIONAL BENEFITS
• Positive influence
• Making a difference
• “I didn’t know I needed this”

CORE DIFERENTIATORS
• Create simple ways for dads to be intentional with kids, other dads, and in their community
• Dad-led
• Fathers making a difference
• Committed to strengthen families

THE INTENTION BEHIND BRAND POSITIONING

Brand positioning should be the guide for all pieces of internal and external facing communication.  Everything we create as a brand should aspire to reflect the sentiment of our brand positioning.  The Father’s Club brand is our identity. Many are familiar with our organization and our logo.  However, our brand goes beyond what people see to include a comprehensive image of our organization that includes our character, why we exist, and why others want to be involved with us.  The Father’s Club brand extends to every aspect of our image and communications, including verbal, written, and electronic means. It comprises the images and feelings we want to evoke in all who encounter us when they think, hear, and see our name.

STATEMENTS OF IMPACT

As we move from being an organization that tells stories about what we do to one that tells stories about the impact we make, we must ensure the articulation of our messages feel as big as the impact we make.  Through our function in the areas of mental health, school relations, community promotions/partnerships, and fatherhood support, the Father’s Club is making a positive impact in our communities.  When the opportunity arises, we need to humbly proclaim our impacts. Not with the goal of patting ourselves on the back, but with the goal of ensuring that every father, kid, and donor understands we are there for them.

OUR VISION, TARGET, INSIGHT, AND PROMISES

VISION: Every father is engaged with their kids, other dads, and in their communities around the world

TARGET: All male fathers

INSIGHT:
Every father is unique, yet we all share the joys, triumphs, fears, and concerns of being a father
We desire to be loving and impactful in our communities
We want to help kids, dads, and communities be everything that they can be
We are about fathers making a difference
We are fathers and we are supportive of fatherhood
We have the desire to do anything we can to strengthen families and we are committed to it

PROMISES: Resolve, Humility, and Love

OUR VOICE AND TONE

Voice and tone are essential to the Father’s Club brand because they directly influence how our brand is perceived, how our brand builds trust and authenticity, and how it creates emotional connections.  Maintaining a consistent voice and tone ensures that all communication feels interconnected and recognizable.  Over time, this consistency will help us build our brand identity that people can easily identify and trust.  Below is the voice and tone of the Father’s Club:

OUR FOCUS IS GOODNESS AND LOVE

Goodness is at the core of everything that we do.  Our voice should be bold, impactful, and above all, evoke love and goodness.  Our tone should reflect what fathers offer: positive influence, love, humility, courage, honor, and integrity.

WE ARE HERE FOR ALL FATHERS

Not every fatherhood journey is the same, and we should be mindful of that in our communication. We help fathers from a multitude of backgrounds and are compassionate to every situation.  We believe that all fathers deserve the same level of respect regardless of where they came from.  We all share a common bond – we are dads, we care about our kids, and our community.  This passion should be reflected in our voice.

WE ARE DADS

We are dads, like all dads, who are connecting to make a difference and providing opportunities to support our kids, our families, and our community.  Our tone should never reflect that we are experts or have all the answers.  We are a community of flawed men with the desire to make a difference and do everything with excellence.

THE FATHER’S CLUB IS NOT

• An abbreviation like “FC”.  We should always spell out our name – Father’s Club.  We are worth the extra letters.
• The “Dad’s Club”.  The word “Father” is much more meaningful and signifies a more honored position in our community.
• Plural.  We adhere to the apostrophe in the name “Father’s Club”.  It’s much more than a group of fathers.  We are one body with many members.

OUR LOGO

THE STORY BEHIND THE LOGO

In 2018, the founding members began using an image of Navy Seals “locking arms” to represent the Father’s Club. One of the tests these men endure requires them to sit in the cold water and link themselves together by locking arms with one another. Through this process of locking arms, the men were able to encourage one another and add support to the entire team. This physical bonding created a special emotional bond.

The Father’s Club wanted to embody this idea and apply it to fathers. Our logo represents a modern and simplified symbol of courage using interlocking shields and locking arms to face the daily battles we endure in our lives.

When we lock arms:

• We become an unbreakable force
• We stand together against the things that attempt to destroy us
• We are able to encourage one another
• We add support to all fathers
• We create a physical and emotional bond with one another

NOTE: The logo should never be modified in any way. The Father’s Club Branding Guidelines will be the authority for all Father’s Club related communication and images.

HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR BRAND

Our brand is not just a logo or a tagline; it is the embodiment of who we are and what we stand for.  As an organization of fathers, we are committed to positively impacting our families, our communities, and the world.  As we embrace this opportunity, it’s essential to reflect on the profound impact we make when we put others first, strive for excellence in everything we do, live with integrity, work collaboratively, hold ourselves accountable, and lead with courage.

The members of the Father’s Club play a crucial role in the success of our brand.  Here’s how each YOU can make a significant impact:

Embodying Our Core Values

Every member of the Father’s Club has the power to bring our core values to life—whether it’s putting others first, striving for excellence, acting with integrity, working together, holding oneself accountable, or leading courageously.  By consistently demonstrating these values in daily actions and decisions, members reinforce the essence of our brand.

Consistent Communication

The way members communicate, both internally and externally, directly affects how our brand is perceived.  Consistent use of our voice and tone in emails, meetings, presentations, media, and social interactions helps build a unified brand identity.

Delivering Excellence

Excellence in every task and interaction is a key driver of the Father’s Club.  Whether it’s leading a chapter, interacting with kids and other dads, delivering a fist-bump, or engaging with the community, we need to prioritize excellence in everything we do.

Creating Positive Experiences

Every interaction with kids, dads, and members of our community is an opportunity to create a positive experience that aligns with the Father’s Club mission.  By being intentional, caring, and solution-oriented, members can turn everyday interactions into powerful moments that reinforce our brand’s commitment to making a positive impact around the world.

Leading by Example

When we lead with courage and integrity, it inspires others to follow suit.  Leadership at every level sets the tone for the Father’s Club brand identity and values.

Accountability and Integrity

Holding ourselves accountable ensures that our brand remains trustworthy and respected.  By taking responsibility for actions, maintaining transparency, and upholding our code of ethics and conduct, we can contribute to a brand that is set up for long-term success.

Acting as Brand Ambassadors

Every member of the Father’s Club is a brand ambassador.  By consistently representing our brand values in the community, on social media, and in our networks, we help extend our brand’s reach and influence.

The success of the Father’s Club is a collective effort that depends on the daily actions and decisions of every member. By embracing our core values, communicating consistently, delivering excellence, and leading with integrity, each person contributes to a brand that is not only recognized but also respected and admired.  Together, we bring our brand to life and drive the positive influence we aim to have on the world.

By Dan Holdhusen, Grandfather of three graduates and one currently enrolled in Blue Valley High School

The summer of 2024 is nearly complete and the ’24-’25 school year will be starting in the next few days. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! This refrain has been repeated over and over again in the past, but it never fails to make us think to ourselves: “How can this be?” Another important thing to consider for Father’s Club Chapter Chairs and other leaders is this: “Are our Father’s Club Chapter at (insert the chapter/school of your choice) ready to ‘hit the ground running’ in the coming school year?”

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is often “no, but…”

This blog is intended for Chapter leadership across the Father’s Club footprint throughout the metro to provide some ideas and encouragement to those whose plans may be in the formulation stages, or possibly non-existent; and to provide some testimonies from some leaders who have already put plans in place to hit the ground running on the first day of school coming up in just a few short days.

Chapter Leadership Responsibilities

Simply stated (and taking the liberty of paraphrasing the Mission Statement), the task of any Father’s Club leader is to motivate and collaborate with dads of a like mind to be a catalyst for positive influence and outcomes with KIDS, other DADS, and within the COMMUNITY.

Stepping up to the level of Chapter leadership is a noble calling and should not become a burden. Being prepared with plans to recruit and partner with other dads is a huge part of the Chapter leadership’s responsibilities. The ROI comes with the joy and satisfaction of knowing that you can and have made a difference in the lives of each individual kid, dad and other individuals. Right here. Right now!

The main focus of this blog is NOT to call anyone out for not being adequately prepared with plans for the coming school year. We are all very busy and have good intentions and, often, wait to the last minute to put a plan together. Instead, we would like to share plans put in place by a couple of Chapter leaders and, especially, to share with you the excitement they have as they anticipate the events that will unfold in the coming school term.

Chapter Preparedness Plans – Blue Valley West and Olathe Mission Trail Middle School

Blue Valley West (BVW) has a highly active membership group and community. Here is an article written early this year about the great leadership and school support that the BVW Father’s Club has contributed to the life of those they are called to serve. Two veteran leaders at the school are Kevin Saylan and Dan Viall.

Viall offers a few perspectives on what BVW chapter has done and is doing to ensure the new school year gets off the ground in fine fashion and maintains momentum throughout the year. He explains that everything begins with focus on the importance of being connected with the principal and other supporters of the school.

“Relationships matter,” Viall emphasizes. He and Saylan, BVW’s Chapter Chair, have a collaborative working session with their principal and her administrative team just prior to the beginning of school year (and on an ongoing schedule throughout the year) to hear what is planned as points of emphasis throughout the year. The Father’s Club can then plan events that support those programs in addition to giving the students a rousing welcome as they return to school.

Viall adds that the importance of collaborating with West’s PTO to coordinate events at the beginning and throughout the year. He adds that “we already have our fall calendar set, with 16 events planned that will lead up to and include BVW’s Father’s Club signature Friday night home football concession sales.”

Saylan emphasizes the importance of preparation and planning for the new year. In so doing, the Chapter will host a meeting with its top volunteers to share with them BVW’s Father’s Club vision for the coming year, share program and recruiting ideas, and ensure the Chapter is ready to launch a successful year.

Is all this planning and all these events make a difference and worth the effort? Both Kevin and Dan respond with an emphatic: “Yes!!! We love our Jaguar community!!!” That statement is golden and says it all!

Mission Trail Middle School

Jim Bradford took over as Chapter Co-Chair (along with Kevin Kufeldt) at Mission Trail Middle School (MTMS) this past school year and immediately began involving other dads to successfully close out last year and promptly begin planning for another great year in 2024-25.

Last year, the Father’s Club chapter partnered with the school staff to clear some wooded property adjacent to Mission Trail and created a disk golf course. Not only did this project add a popular attraction and more eye appeal to the school’s grounds, but also served as an excellent team building opportunity for MTMS dads.

Bradford goes on to say, “we are very excited to welcome the kids back with a special Fist Bump on the first day of school, followed up with our popular Fist Bump Fridays two days later.” They also use a few of the back-to-school events to help recruit and involve other dads. For example, “we are present at all three (6th, 7th and 8th grade) ‘back to school nights’ which, last year, were instrumental in the recruitment of 70 dads signing up to participate in Father’s Club!”

Tailgate events, ice cream socials, and grilling hamburgers and brats to show appreciation for teachers are other events that MTMS sprinkles in during the year.

Bradford sums it all up with this statement: “Getting back up to the school, seeing the kids and being a positive influence in their lives, even if just for a moment in the morning, is so overwhelmingly rewarding to all of us.”

The Importance of Planning

The Father’s Club planning efforts of Blue Valley West and Mission Trail Middle School are excellent examples of how effective and engaged dads in being a catalyst for positive change in the lives of a Chapter and its community.

If you have questions on what ideas will work in your Chapter, don’t hesitate to reach out to Mike Davisson, Father’s Club’s Executive Director at mdavisson@fathersclub.org or one of the Chapter Chairs listed on the website. A well-prepared and executed plan can make all the difference in the vibrancy and positive outcomes of Father’s Club activities on each and every campus.

By Jim Bradford, Chapter Co-Chair at Mission Trail Middle School for Father’s Club

The minute school starts, kids check the district calendar to find out when school’s out. It’s second nature. It’s a kid thing.

And who are we kidding? Parents do it, too. We want to know when we can start planning vacations. When’s that first lake weekend? When can we plan that trip to the coast? Or Yosemite? The options are endless, but the timeframe is always the same, late May until early August.

When class is done and schedules open up, thoughts turn to road trips, airline flights and summer fun.

Sure, summer is full of travel for sports like baseball, softball, volleyball, soccer and so many more, but it’s about time to relax with the family, too.

Those summer teams can come with some built-in travel, but is that really a vacation? No, not really. You travel to Orlando, Omaha, Denver or Las Vegas for a reason. It’s not about kicking back and relaxing for five or six days. There’s a heck of a lot of work involved when it comes to travel sports and there is precious little downtown. There are plenty of memories to be made at those far-off tournaments, but those are different memories. Still great memories, but just a bit different.

When the whole family gets to take to the highway or the friendly skies, it hits differently. For some it’s an annual trip. Something the family has done for a generation or for a few years. It’s a lake house or a beach home. It might even be a trip to the Big Apple or our nation’s capital.

The best thing about every single trip you plan, the byproduct is memories.

You can’t go on a trip and not pack a suitcase of memories to bring back with you. It’s impossible.

This summer, it was a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks, for us. Great times, great conversations, great food and, of course, a spin around the lake on a tube – still a favorite for our three kiddos. We’ve been taking a trip to the Ozarks or Branson each of the past five or six summers. This year, we added a bit of history, though. We were sure to drive a few extra minutes and stop by the Willmore Lodge to learn about the history of the Lake of the Ozarks and harnessing the power of Bagnell Dam.

For some other Father’s Club dads, their family trips this summer saw then heading west to the coast or southeast to the Gulf Coast.

Kevin Kufeldt, co-chair of the Mission Trail Middle School Father’s Club, and his family, summer 2024 had an international feel. Literally. Between travel baseball tournaments, the Kufeldts took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to South America. They took a family cruise to Honduras, Belize and Cozumel and, despite the tropical storm, had an absolutely blast, even catching some great waves in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

For Brad Reynolds, co-chair of the Father’s Club at Chisholm Trail Middle School, it was all about keeping traditions going and starting new ones with his kids. A family vacation was delayed until August because of baseball and softball, but the summer started off with bang for him and his son and daughter. He was able to continue his dad-daughter tradition of going to the Women’s College Softball World Series in Oklahoma City in June and then started a new tradition by taking his up to the Men’s College World Series in Omaha. Brad was able to get some unmatched, quality, one-on-one time with each of his kiddos at the start of summer before their big family trip this month.

Whether it’s regional, international or just one-on-one time, summer vacations come in many shapes and sizes, but all are perfect ways to get away and make memories. That’s the important part!

By Mike Davisson, Executive Director/Olathe Regional Director/Board Member for Father’s Club

Father’s Club mission is to create simple ways for DADS to be intentional with their KIDS, with other DADS and within the COMMUNITY. It was with the simple approach and desire to have a greater impact that Mike Tireman stepped up and stepped into the Chapter Chair role at Chisholm Trail Middle School. After 2 years of leadership and flawless execution (except for a Daylight Donuts error!) Mike Tireman was honored and awarded the Starfish Award for the annual Volunteer of the Year presented by Principal Rick Sola.

Rick explained the following regarding the origination of the Starfish Award and his reason for honoring Mike with it:

“The CTMS founding principal gave a copy and pin of the Starfish poem to each staff member. This was my first year and the story is about making a difference no matter how overwhelming or large a task may be. Throwing one starfish among thousands back into the sea makes a difference to that individual starfish.

My first year I wanted to honor Mrs. Levar and her legacy at CTMS and created the “Carol LeVar Starfish Award” to honor a non-staff member for making a big difference for our kids/community. The person is selfless with their time and dedicated to CTMS and its kids. Mike epitomizes what the award is designed to honor. He gave time and dedicated his efforts to the Father’s Club cause at CTMS. His passion was kids and connection. He did that for two years and was a driver for our building.”

Mike is a great example of how simple, intentional actions make a huge impact that are sometime recognized in the moment and in special ways like this one. On behalf of Father’s Club, we too recognize Mike for his tenure as the Chapter Chair of Chisholm Trail Middle School and look forward to his continued impact as he transitions to Olathe South High School this coming school year!