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A Final Message from Dave Holland (Outgoing President)

posted Jun 23, 2013, 4:36 PM by Unknown user
Just wanted to say thanks for a great year at MES dads club.  This year has been amazing, fun, challenging, you name it.   And through it all there were the stalwart member of the dads club!   I hope you know how much of a difference our club makes to the school and community.   I put that statement at the close of every message AND I MEAN IT!   I get so much positive feedback from the PTA members, parents, teachers and from Nancy.   Our club really fills a void and we are noticed and appreciated!    And thanks to the dads of 5th graders who are graduating this year.    Great work, we will miss you. 
 
Here are some highlights of the year
  1. Ran or helped run over 25 events
  2. Raised about $7k for the PTA (Movie Nights, Sugar Shack at the OW, Beerfest) and $500 for the 5th grade field trip (from the outdoor movie night)
  3. Raised over $3k for us!
  4. Started new traditions:  Football game, camping trip, dads club drop-off monitor weeks, dads club hats
  5. Continued with the old traditions:  work days, resurrected the snow cone machine, and we were a huge help at Otter Walk and Family fun day
 
Passing the torch to Terence
As you know my 2 years as Prez are up.   I loved it!  it was great being so involved in a club I believe in and has so many wonderful members.   But time to move on!  Terence Judkins has offered to take up the position as fearless leader and I think we are in great hands.   He has been very involved since he joined the school and has led several events already.   I plan on staying very involved.  I will be running the poker events again, being treasurer and hope to lead the “Kids Night Out” events next year (formerly known as Movie Nights).   My goal is to have 1 a month!      
PS.  I love that I am running the poker games AND am Treasurer.   That kind of irony fits so well with our club!  J 
 
Good things in the works for next year
We already have the new kinder cocktail party, new kinder picnic, a Sept beer fest, outdoor movie night and many other events in the works.   I think next year is going to be bigger and better than this year.  And we have the new school building and new Ottertorium! 
 
Final words
My only goal when I took over as prez of the dads club 2 years ago, was to “not to screw it up”.  I thought Mark had done an amazing job with the club and we were doing great work and had lots of enthusiasm and involvement.  I knew my style was going to be more nerdy, uptight and organized than Mark.  But I didn’t want a huge drop off from his charismatic and fun leadership style.   I am really happy to say that I didn’t screw up the club (even though as predicted, my style was more nerdy and uptight than Marks…).   Actually I am so proud of what we have accomplished in the past 2 years and I think we built on a lot of the work he set in motion.   Here are the things that make me the happiest:
 
  • We did a camping trip!  Which I hope will be an annual event!   (if you missed you, you have to come next year.  It was amazing!)
  • We had a football game against another dads club!  (Brad thanks for searching and finding one with older, less athletic guys so we could win!)
  • We have hats!   And they are earned for leaders in our club (I know you all want one!)
  • We have our own budget, fund raisers and are somewhat independent
  • We have 5 women in the club!  All are cool and great additions to the club.   We are always looking for more…
  • Added VPs to help the Prez.  Brad (now Bill) to run work days, and Terence for new members.  (also added Schweick as Brew master, Brad for Sports, me for poker…    soon we will have more VPs than Wells Fargo!).
  • Took over outdoor movie night and made it a fundraiser for the 5th grade class – More of that kind of thing coming with the Kids Night Out events next year
  • Built 2 ball walls – awesome! 
  • Continued our great traditions of Golf Tourney, Beerfest, helping with Otter walk, family fun day and work days
 
A lot of great stuff here guys (and gals).   And a lot more to come!
 
Thank you for showing your support for the school and the community!   (really, I mean it!)
 
 David   
ex Prez
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