Ray-Pec Chapters Launch in Just 40 Minutes!

By Joshua McDonald, Ray-Pec Schools Regional Chair for Father’s Club

It was time for Fist Bump Friday! DADS were able to come face-to-face with almost 3,500 students at four Ray-Pec schools in a 40-minute timeframe! DADS were present at two middle schools, the ninth-grade center, and the high school. As I leaned into a mom’s car window in the morning drop-off line at one of the middle schools, I was reminded why we are doing this. I was encouraged that the effort and work to develop and build something new was worth it. I was reminded that our kids NEED this. Our families need this. Our community needs this.

Launching a new region of Father’s Club is not an easy task.

This is especially true when operated exclusively by volunteer DADS. We are pulled in many directions and can, at times, seem to have an overwhelming number of commitments and responsibilities. It can also be difficult to gauge the impact. However, experiences like this are a great reminder of the impact a small act can have on others.

Our mission that morning was simple. Be present. Pass out dum-dum’s, fist bumps, smiles, and encouraging words as students piled into the schools. During drop-off, a mom pulls up and calls me over to the car. As most parents know, the drop-off line needs to be fast and efficient… Keep It MOVING! (This was NOT one of those times. Sorry parents.) As I lean in, I notice “Mom” is in tears simply due to fathers’ proactive choice to engage and be present. We had a short conversation and explained the mission of Father’s Club quickly before saying our goodbyes and attempting to get the drop-off line back in rhythm.

I had felt a bit defeated over that week regarding dad engagement. How do we engage and recruit DADS without a presence? But, how do we create a presence without DADS?! Fortunately, the inaugural chapter chairs at each of the schools have been steady and consistent and surrounding regions of Father’s Club sent DADS over to partner with Ray-Pec DADS at two of the schools.

A simple forty minutes of presence produced multiple stories of impact on students, administration, and parents. Hopefully ”Mom” left that day encouraged knowing that there are fathers being proactive and present. Students who did not wish to be at school had changed their tune. Administrators and staff were immediately requesting more Fist Bump Fridays. Though the number of DADS at the official launch may have been lower than I had previously anticipated, the impact was not.

40 Ounces of Coffee and 500 Fist Bumps

Hopped up on 40 ounces of coffee and 500 fist bumps, I headed to work more excited than I had ever anticipated. The tough times in the trenches is where the foundation is built that supports the impactful times. Even if it is “just one,” it was worth it. As Father’s Club continues to grow in the Ray-Pec region, we are looking forward to adding co-chairs to assist in carrying the load as well as DADS who can simply be present.

Ray-Pec Father’s Club has begun to schedule additional events and even had the opportunity to run the chains at the South Middle v. East Middle football game. Fist Bump Friday will also take place at each school monthly.

For information on upcoming events, sign up at  fathersclub.org/join

If you would like more information about schools in your area or wish to speak to someone, you can check out the list of chapters and chapter chair contacts at fathersclub.org/chapters

If you wish to directly connect, feel free to reach out to me at jmcdonald@fathersclub.org