In a very significant way you need to be a part of it to truly appreciate it, but it is so powerful and amazing that I will try my best to convey some of the craft to you. For those of you who have followed Lucky Mallonee’s soccer coaching career, you know the program has enjoyed seasons full of wins and sometimes titles as well as other campaigns that included losing records. There are certain constants, however, that permeate through all of his teams regardless of wins and losses.
My perspective is as a player in the mid-eighties, and primarily as an assistant coach on his staff from the fall of ’94 through the present. For the last nine years, what soccer historians will someday come to call ‘the Ryugo Era’ we’ve been extremely competitive. We’ve enjoyed a few regular season titles, lots of play-off games, and one championship game appearance. In some ways it was harder to see Lucky’s genius with these teams because we enjoyed an abundance of talent. That is not to say that Lucky did not mold it and wring out the best of it, because he did. Let’s just say it took a discerning eye to see it.
The gift I’m alluding to is the uncanny knack to get these kids to see beyond their own self-defined potential and then to reach it. As long as I’ve been a part of his teams, and I experienced this very directly as one of his players, his intuition for an individual’s true strengths and weaknesses is most perceptive. As only a true progressive teacher can, Lucky sets about leading these individuals to maximize their strengths, and then, what’s most incredible, he leads them to identify their weaknesses and master them.
On the soccer field, you can see this process at work with this year’s squad. We do not have an overabundance of soccer talent, but the goal tending from Jake Abrams ’12 has been spectacular, and the outstanding play of striker Andrew Patterson ’11 has been integral to the team’s success thus far. This season Lucky has taken a group of athletes who got humiliated in a scrimmage at the hands of an A-Conference opponent four weeks ago and melded them into a team that is now battling the best of our B-Conference rivals to a virtual standstill.
If you’re still reading this and saying to yourself ‘that’s all well and good’ but at the end of the day who really cares about high school soccer?’ then here’s the point. After living through this experience and receiving the gift of Lucky’s coaching, these kids go out into the ‘real world’ and apply the lessons learned. The results are a steady stream of emails, letters, and calls from high-achieving professionals in all walks of life, including Hollywood executives, college professors, attorneys, financial magnates, and doctors, all saying that they got to where they are in life by applying themselves the way Mr. Mal taught them.
At Park, we have lots of meetings, and we talk about many areas of the Park experience. Sometimes we talk about athletics, and we wrestle with questions like, ‘how can we express to the ‘outside world’ how special Park athletics truly are?’ Oh, and of course, everyone wants that accomplished with a tag line to match our society’s diminished attention span. Well, here’s one about the old man in purple shorts who roams Kelly Field in the fall, “He doesn’t just win games, he changes lives.”
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
High Tide
If you were driving around town on Labor Day weekend you probably saw firefighters’ raising funds for the fight against muscular dystrophy through their boot campaign. I love the boot campaign and happily gave. As I dropped my bills into the boot, and received a very warm smile and thank you, I had a flashback of the aftermath of 9/11. There seemed to be a period of months after the tragedy, maybe through the end of the year, when all Americans seemed to go out of their way to help one and other. You noticed it at the most mundane times--while driving, passing through doorways, and other times when we tend to ignore others. We suddenly became a more empathetic nation.
We, as a nation, and on a smaller scale as a Park community, are constantly looking for opportunities to help. Our reasons are myriad, but there is no denying we are a better country or community for it, and moreover it creates a near palpable sensation of good feeling.
Let me say, I don’t intend for these posts to always focus on giving. (By the way the Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team, on which I serve as Lucky’s assistant coach, has home games this week on Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00, and we’d love your support.) But back to the good feelings. At Park, we do a lot of helping. The Parents’ Association has raised funds for a number of causes, including multi-year support for the Susan Komen Race for the Cure and for Haitian relief. Then, of course, there is the fundraising for Park, or more specifically for the students and faculty at Park. All of these efforts bring out what I believe is our natural desire to support important needs. The result is that there is a lot of good feeling around here.
What can I say? I think giving is a good thing. Someone an awful lot smarter than me said, “A rising tide raises all ships,” and ‘Bama football fans far more devoted than me have spent countless hours chanting, “Roll Tide Roll.” I agree with both sentiments.
We, as a nation, and on a smaller scale as a Park community, are constantly looking for opportunities to help. Our reasons are myriad, but there is no denying we are a better country or community for it, and moreover it creates a near palpable sensation of good feeling.
Let me say, I don’t intend for these posts to always focus on giving. (By the way the Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team, on which I serve as Lucky’s assistant coach, has home games this week on Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00, and we’d love your support.) But back to the good feelings. At Park, we do a lot of helping. The Parents’ Association has raised funds for a number of causes, including multi-year support for the Susan Komen Race for the Cure and for Haitian relief. Then, of course, there is the fundraising for Park, or more specifically for the students and faculty at Park. All of these efforts bring out what I believe is our natural desire to support important needs. The result is that there is a lot of good feeling around here.
What can I say? I think giving is a good thing. Someone an awful lot smarter than me said, “A rising tide raises all ships,” and ‘Bama football fans far more devoted than me have spent countless hours chanting, “Roll Tide Roll.” I agree with both sentiments.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Who Rocks
By Roger Seidenman, Director of Development
My favorite moment as a blogger came two years ago when I was writing about the virtues of a Park education and ended the piece with a quote from The Who. Stupidly, I asked a friend who had read the post what she thought of it. She admitted sheepishly, “I liked the last line.” So in that spirit I thought I would bring back some of Pete Townshend’s wisdom regarding our new Annual Fund.
“I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around.”
Last year we completely overhauled how we run the Annual Fund. We switched to a model that allowed our devoted volunteers to discuss giving with their prospects on their own schedules rather than responding to a school-scheduled series of phoning nights. Ultimately the results were good. Our unrestricted giving went up more than 6% in a year that still included a challenging national and global economy.
Another benefit to the new system was how many more first-time solicitors joined in the effort. Many of these new volunteers expressed how energizing it was to help the school in this endeavor.
It is now a new year, and we have many of our volunteers returning, and as always we are looking for new voices to help. One way to start is to join us at this year’s Annual Fund kick-off breakfast on Tuesday, September 21 beginning at 7:45am for faculty and staff and at 8:30am for the rest of the Park community in the Lieberman Building. If you can’t make it, and want to volunteer for the Annual Fund, feel free to reply to me at rseidenman@parkschool.net or Becky Bridger, Annual Fund Coordinator, at rbridger@parkschool.net.
So after a long, hot summer of thinking about the Annual Fund, here’s my current view on how great the Annual Fund is and the role that it plays in Park’s financial picture.
The Annual Fund:
1.) Makes it possible for students and families who would not otherwise be able to attend Park to do so;
2.) Supports faculty salaries (though there will never be enough to compensate them for their intellect and dedication).
3.) Unites us in supporting an institution that we all love.
Thanks for all of your support. We’re looking forward to another terrific year.
My favorite moment as a blogger came two years ago when I was writing about the virtues of a Park education and ended the piece with a quote from The Who. Stupidly, I asked a friend who had read the post what she thought of it. She admitted sheepishly, “I liked the last line.” So in that spirit I thought I would bring back some of Pete Townshend’s wisdom regarding our new Annual Fund.
“I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around.”
Last year we completely overhauled how we run the Annual Fund. We switched to a model that allowed our devoted volunteers to discuss giving with their prospects on their own schedules rather than responding to a school-scheduled series of phoning nights. Ultimately the results were good. Our unrestricted giving went up more than 6% in a year that still included a challenging national and global economy.
Another benefit to the new system was how many more first-time solicitors joined in the effort. Many of these new volunteers expressed how energizing it was to help the school in this endeavor.
It is now a new year, and we have many of our volunteers returning, and as always we are looking for new voices to help. One way to start is to join us at this year’s Annual Fund kick-off breakfast on Tuesday, September 21 beginning at 7:45am for faculty and staff and at 8:30am for the rest of the Park community in the Lieberman Building. If you can’t make it, and want to volunteer for the Annual Fund, feel free to reply to me at rseidenman@parkschool.net or Becky Bridger, Annual Fund Coordinator, at rbridger@parkschool.net.
So after a long, hot summer of thinking about the Annual Fund, here’s my current view on how great the Annual Fund is and the role that it plays in Park’s financial picture.
The Annual Fund:
1.) Makes it possible for students and families who would not otherwise be able to attend Park to do so;
2.) Supports faculty salaries (though there will never be enough to compensate them for their intellect and dedication).
3.) Unites us in supporting an institution that we all love.
Thanks for all of your support. We’re looking forward to another terrific year.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Update from Bruinland
By Roger Seidenman, Director of Development
I’d be lying if I said there was a hue and cry to bring back my blog, but there have been a few of you who have asked for it to return (thanks big fella, you know who you are), and even if those requests were made out of pity, here goes: Last year, I tried to steer my blog clear of fundraising life at Park School, and I focused primarily on the classroom and the fields. Since the lion’s share of my time is spent working on growing the Annual Fund and increasing the school’s endowment, I thought perhaps I’d share some observations as the fiscal year winds down.
I’d be lying if I said there was a hue and cry to bring back my blog, but there have been a few of you who have asked for it to return (thanks big fella, you know who you are), and even if those requests were made out of pity, here goes: Last year, I tried to steer my blog clear of fundraising life at Park School, and I focused primarily on the classroom and the fields. Since the lion’s share of my time is spent working on growing the Annual Fund and increasing the school’s endowment, I thought perhaps I’d share some observations as the fiscal year winds down.
This year we tried a completely different approach for the Annual Fund. In design, the plan was to virtually eliminate our standard on-campus phoning sessions and assign each volunteer ten prospects who they would contact at their convenience. So far, I’d say it has been a success. We’ve enlisted many more volunteers than in years past. In terms of dollars raised, we’re running neck and neck with last year and hoping, as always, to finish strong. Surprises along the way included discovering how many volunteers like the structure of phoning at Park. So next year, we’ll again try to devise a framework that accommodates our volunteers and our donors.
The endowment efforts continue in a leadership gift phase. Much work is put in before gifts are committed, but the progress has been rapid in the last few months. Planned gifts are becoming more common as a means of providing for Park. Perhaps more about that in the weeks to come.
We had a fabulous auction that surpassed our wildest expectations in what could be raised. Liz Block, auction chair, masterfully navigated some very choppy waters, and Ellen Small, formally, Parent Program Coordinator, and less formally, Auction Maven, helped make sure the event came off in fantastic fashion. Feel good moment of the night was the live auction item to provide a full year’s tuition. Six guests each bid $4,000 to support a full tuition. It was sold in less than fifteen seconds. Thank you to President of the Board of Trustees Josh Fidler for this innovative, and very successful, idea.
We’re looking forward to the 2010 Park Golf Classic on Monday, May 24 at Chestnut Ridge Country Club. There are a few spots left if you’re interested. Just contact Jayme Gilden Wood ’93 at jwood@parkschool.net. There are big plans for Alumni Weekend of May 21-22, including an all-community Toast to the Brown & White Cocktail Party and a special event to honor Jim Howard’s retirement on May 24. Learn more and RSVP at www.parkschool.net/events.
A lot to cover in the first blog of the season. Ultimately, it has been a good year. We hope to have a strong finish to the Annual Fund, and if you have not yet made your contribution, please know how much your participation is valued and needed. You can do that at www.parkschool.net/giveonline
I’ll aim to be blogging more frequently. Things are good in Bruinland, and you should know about as many of them as possible.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
That's the Way the Thunder Rumbles
Children of the 80’s or 90’s may recall the line above from Echo and the Bunnymen. The band was singing of buffalo and bison of course, whereas I’m writing, with some sentimentality (which according to paragraph 3 of the school philosophy is one of the excesses that is permitted), of the noblest creature of all: the Bruin.
The 2008-2009 Annual Fund Campaign has ended. In this economically challenging time, the new measure of success is “Did you match what you did last year?” Well, not us. We exceeded last year’s total by 5% and raised a total of $1,557,329. This is a many-layered statement about Park School.
Foremost, we are fortunate to have a corps of volunteers who work tirelessly on the Annual Fund. They spend many dark nights in the fall and winter phoning alumni, parents, and grandparents. They work cards from home throughout the year, and they always ask, “Is there anything else I can do to help?” Oh yes, they also make their own generous gifts.
Then there’s the team of Len Weinberg ‘76 and Tom Wetzler ‘84. These two provide the leadership for the Annual Fund effort. They’re present and working at all of our events, and they do all of the out-of- sight work that makes it possible for Park to hit its goals. They are indefatigable, good-natured, and provide an incalculable service to the cause.
Ultimately, there’s each contributor to the Annual Fund. You are the ones who made this year a success. Thank you. Achieving these results in this difficult year makes a powerful statement about how much Park’s students and faculty matter to all of us.
This year’s campaign worked because young alumni made first time gifts of $10, because parents who could increase their support did, because grandparents understood the need to support the school, because parents of alumni have remembered how significant the school was in their family’s life, and because faculty in overwhelming numbers--more than 90%--chose to support this effort.
A few highlights from 2008-2009:
An all-time high of 68 college-aged alums supported the campaign.
A Trustee, who had already made a sizeable donation in the winter, stepped up to make another significant contribution towards the Meyerhoff Challenge, and I had to stop him from giving more.
Speaking of the challenge, the family of Lyn P. Meyerhoff has been extraordinarily supportive of all things Park for many years. In the spring, the Lyn P. Meyerhoff Foundation committed to matching 50% of new and increased gifts to provide financial assistance dollars for families who developed new needs this year. Yes, our community met the challenge and $50,000 was raised. We are all grateful for the Meyerhoffs’ vision and inspiration and generosity.
So if you’re still wondering why this edition began with thunder---that’s how it felt around here as the campaign came to a close. The community rallied to make this year far better than what the rest of the world is using as a measure of success. The Bruin Nation rose to the occasion in a thunderous roar of approval for the ole Park School. Thank you to everyone who took part in this success. It would not have happened without you.
That’s the Way the Thunder Rumbles in Brooklandville.
The 2008-2009 Annual Fund Campaign has ended. In this economically challenging time, the new measure of success is “Did you match what you did last year?” Well, not us. We exceeded last year’s total by 5% and raised a total of $1,557,329. This is a many-layered statement about Park School.
Foremost, we are fortunate to have a corps of volunteers who work tirelessly on the Annual Fund. They spend many dark nights in the fall and winter phoning alumni, parents, and grandparents. They work cards from home throughout the year, and they always ask, “Is there anything else I can do to help?” Oh yes, they also make their own generous gifts.
Then there’s the team of Len Weinberg ‘76 and Tom Wetzler ‘84. These two provide the leadership for the Annual Fund effort. They’re present and working at all of our events, and they do all of the out-of- sight work that makes it possible for Park to hit its goals. They are indefatigable, good-natured, and provide an incalculable service to the cause.
Ultimately, there’s each contributor to the Annual Fund. You are the ones who made this year a success. Thank you. Achieving these results in this difficult year makes a powerful statement about how much Park’s students and faculty matter to all of us.
This year’s campaign worked because young alumni made first time gifts of $10, because parents who could increase their support did, because grandparents understood the need to support the school, because parents of alumni have remembered how significant the school was in their family’s life, and because faculty in overwhelming numbers--more than 90%--chose to support this effort.
A few highlights from 2008-2009:
An all-time high of 68 college-aged alums supported the campaign.
A Trustee, who had already made a sizeable donation in the winter, stepped up to make another significant contribution towards the Meyerhoff Challenge, and I had to stop him from giving more.
Speaking of the challenge, the family of Lyn P. Meyerhoff has been extraordinarily supportive of all things Park for many years. In the spring, the Lyn P. Meyerhoff Foundation committed to matching 50% of new and increased gifts to provide financial assistance dollars for families who developed new needs this year. Yes, our community met the challenge and $50,000 was raised. We are all grateful for the Meyerhoffs’ vision and inspiration and generosity.
So if you’re still wondering why this edition began with thunder---that’s how it felt around here as the campaign came to a close. The community rallied to make this year far better than what the rest of the world is using as a measure of success. The Bruin Nation rose to the occasion in a thunderous roar of approval for the ole Park School. Thank you to everyone who took part in this success. It would not have happened without you.
That’s the Way the Thunder Rumbles in Brooklandville.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Can't Get No
A benefit of working in the Development Office is that you get to spend a great deal of time catching up with alumni. Last month, we held an alumni reception in Boston. We had a group that ranged in years of graduation from 1950-2005. What was most striking about them was their high level of job satisfaction. There were bio-tech scientists, social workers, public relations specialists, and programmers to name just a few of the professions represented, and in each case they spoke of their work with both pride and joy.
The group gathered to meet Dan Paradis and fellow alumni in the area. As they asked Dan questions about school and shared bits of their time at Park, it was clear that they had received more than just an exceptional education on Old Court Road or in the park. They had gained the wisdom that personal satisfaction with work is important.
My guess is that Park subtly passes that lesson along during a student’s time here. Sure there are parts of the school experience that are not pleasurable—just ask any of my former Spanish teachers—but if the school nurtures individual’s interests and allows passions to be pursued, that’s a lifelong lesson being taught---delving into the mind’s and heart’s desire is worthwhile. The results of this practice are a plethora of students excelling in their areas of keen interest.
During alumni weekend, spending time with a much larger group of graduates, the theme of job satisfaction continued to play out. The list of professions pursued grew exponentially and the high level of joyous engagement was a constant.
Does Park deserve all the credit for this phenomenon? Maybe not, but by now you must now that I’m biased. Are there some alumni who don’t enjoy their work? I would imagine that there are. If you’re a graduate reading this, please share your thoughts on the link between your time at Park and your job satisfaction.
In the meantime, we’ve just sent another a group of Park graduates out into the world to seek, to inquire, to conquer, and to heal.
Sadly, we cannot count Mick Jagger as a Park alum, but if we could, he might very well have sung a different tune.
The group gathered to meet Dan Paradis and fellow alumni in the area. As they asked Dan questions about school and shared bits of their time at Park, it was clear that they had received more than just an exceptional education on Old Court Road or in the park. They had gained the wisdom that personal satisfaction with work is important.
My guess is that Park subtly passes that lesson along during a student’s time here. Sure there are parts of the school experience that are not pleasurable—just ask any of my former Spanish teachers—but if the school nurtures individual’s interests and allows passions to be pursued, that’s a lifelong lesson being taught---delving into the mind’s and heart’s desire is worthwhile. The results of this practice are a plethora of students excelling in their areas of keen interest.
During alumni weekend, spending time with a much larger group of graduates, the theme of job satisfaction continued to play out. The list of professions pursued grew exponentially and the high level of joyous engagement was a constant.
Does Park deserve all the credit for this phenomenon? Maybe not, but by now you must now that I’m biased. Are there some alumni who don’t enjoy their work? I would imagine that there are. If you’re a graduate reading this, please share your thoughts on the link between your time at Park and your job satisfaction.
In the meantime, we’ve just sent another a group of Park graduates out into the world to seek, to inquire, to conquer, and to heal.
Sadly, we cannot count Mick Jagger as a Park alum, but if we could, he might very well have sung a different tune.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Ful-FILLY-ing Weekend
By Roger Seidenman
What a weekend for Park athletics. By the time Rachel Alexandra had crossed the finish line at Old Hilltop, our softball team had won its conference championship. The Bruins defeated Bryn Mawr 8-6. It has been a terrific ride for them all season, and I’d like to add more details, but I was not able to attend the game. You can find more information about the championship at http://www.digitalsports.com/team/id/695334.aspx.
On Sunday morning, the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team played Friends for the B Conference title. The teams had met twice prior to this game. Friends won both contests by just one goal. I had the pleasure of sitting next to my pal Len for the game. His daughter is on the team, but more about her later. Early on, the teams traded goals, and I turned to Len and said, “Is this one going to be decided in the last two minutes?” Not wanting to be distracted, his response was something along the lines of, “Probably.”
The half ended with the Bruins trailing 6-5. Both teams had enjoyed the lead, and it seemed as if the second half would be one of numerous lead changes and constant shifts in momentum. As the second half began, Friends started pulling way. They built an 11-7 lead, and as Park called a time out after the 11th goal, it felt like it might be an insurmountable lead. Heading into the time out, as our team name suggests, we looked as if we were still feeling the effects of hibernation. Then it became a different game.
It took a few minutes before the Bruins started to chip away at the lead, but chip they did. Lucie ’10, the aforementioned Len’s daughter, scored three and assisted on the other of the four goals that eliminated the gap. Then with the final minute ticking away, after not converting on two scoring opportunities, Julia Meyerhoff ’10 drove to the goal and scored the winner with nineteen seconds remaining. After the draw, Friends had control of the ball, but then it came loose, Adrienne Tarver ’10 secured it and ran out the remaining the time. Championship won, 12-11 Park.
If you weren’t there, you missed a great game. It took an extraordinary team effort to rally from the four-goal deficit. Every girl on the team and every coach should feel great pride in rising to that challenge. It was a daunting situation to be trailing by four so late in the game, but the Bruins displayed great poise and courage to come back and win.
The game was well attended by the usual suspects— parents, grandparents, faculty, and administrators. One of the great things about Park though, is that the game was also well attended by students and in particular male athletes whose teams did not enjoy the same success this spring as the girls. Park is a community and on a weekend belonging to fillies it was never more so. You won’t see us tossing around monikers such as “Lady Bruins.” We’re all Bruins, especially, “As we’re marching onto vict’ry ‘neath the Brown and White.
What a weekend for Park athletics. By the time Rachel Alexandra had crossed the finish line at Old Hilltop, our softball team had won its conference championship. The Bruins defeated Bryn Mawr 8-6. It has been a terrific ride for them all season, and I’d like to add more details, but I was not able to attend the game. You can find more information about the championship at http://www.digitalsports.com/team/id/695334.aspx.
On Sunday morning, the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team played Friends for the B Conference title. The teams had met twice prior to this game. Friends won both contests by just one goal. I had the pleasure of sitting next to my pal Len for the game. His daughter is on the team, but more about her later. Early on, the teams traded goals, and I turned to Len and said, “Is this one going to be decided in the last two minutes?” Not wanting to be distracted, his response was something along the lines of, “Probably.”
The half ended with the Bruins trailing 6-5. Both teams had enjoyed the lead, and it seemed as if the second half would be one of numerous lead changes and constant shifts in momentum. As the second half began, Friends started pulling way. They built an 11-7 lead, and as Park called a time out after the 11th goal, it felt like it might be an insurmountable lead. Heading into the time out, as our team name suggests, we looked as if we were still feeling the effects of hibernation. Then it became a different game.
It took a few minutes before the Bruins started to chip away at the lead, but chip they did. Lucie ’10, the aforementioned Len’s daughter, scored three and assisted on the other of the four goals that eliminated the gap. Then with the final minute ticking away, after not converting on two scoring opportunities, Julia Meyerhoff ’10 drove to the goal and scored the winner with nineteen seconds remaining. After the draw, Friends had control of the ball, but then it came loose, Adrienne Tarver ’10 secured it and ran out the remaining the time. Championship won, 12-11 Park.
If you weren’t there, you missed a great game. It took an extraordinary team effort to rally from the four-goal deficit. Every girl on the team and every coach should feel great pride in rising to that challenge. It was a daunting situation to be trailing by four so late in the game, but the Bruins displayed great poise and courage to come back and win.
The game was well attended by the usual suspects— parents, grandparents, faculty, and administrators. One of the great things about Park though, is that the game was also well attended by students and in particular male athletes whose teams did not enjoy the same success this spring as the girls. Park is a community and on a weekend belonging to fillies it was never more so. You won’t see us tossing around monikers such as “Lady Bruins.” We’re all Bruins, especially, “As we’re marching onto vict’ry ‘neath the Brown and White.
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