CHAPTER CHAIRS: Are you ready for the new school year?

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.