We just completed our eighth year of Overspeed Hockey camps in Sun Valley, Idaho. That’s 16 weeks of service to over 700 kids predominantly from Idaho but with some coming from Washington, Oregon, Montana, California, Utah, Wyoming and even as far away as Florida, It’s a great camp in a gorgeous area of the country.
What has made it so successful? I believe it’s our collective staff’s culture of service to our customers. We genuinely care about the kids having a great experience. It starts with Toby O’Brien, the owner of Overspeed Hockey, who is so passionate about what he does that it’s infectious to all around him. Toby has very few rules for our staff and campers. Respect each other, communicate and have fun.
But in his thick New England accent he emphasizes the most important one: “Don’t be a jehk.” Translation…”Don’t be a jerk.” Toby always goes above and beyond in his service to others. He and his wife, Kate (our unsung hero), treat our staff so well and model the commitment to the principles of running a great camp.
Why do we care so much about the kids? Why do we bend over to tie and eventually re-tie kid’s skates? Why do we pick up the garbage and used tape occasionally left behind in locker rooms? Why do we console the campers, young and old, when their egos get bruised because they let in a goal or missed a great scoring chance? Why do we take the time to high-five every camper coming off the ice and remain in the lobby to chat with parents?
Because we care.
So, what makes us care? We genuinely want to serve others. We get a number of staff every summer who were recently campers themselves and they have continued that tradition of giving back with a smile. I truly believe that the vast majority of our society leans heavily toward being selfless and caring. You won’t find a lot written about it in the news media because it doesn’t fit the old adage “if it doesn’t bleed it doesn’t read.”
Hearing a group of thirty 6–10-year-olds screaming, “It’s a great day for hockey” at the top of their lungs just isn’t newsworthy. It’s so refreshing and enlightening to not have to worry about parents interceding and making it all about their child becoming the next Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid. I tell the kids how much joy they are to watch, and we help them develop skills on the ice and life skills for off the ice. It’s so rewarding.
Someone Has to Care
May River High School Band Director Deb Hamner invited me to speak to her band students on the first day of band practice for the new school year about servant leadership and service to others. Me? The least musically gifted person I know, speaking to the band?
Actually, I’ve spoken to them before and they’re one of the most respectful groups I’ve ever been with. Truth is, I have gotten to know Deb over the past year, and I watch her pour her soul into these young students. She is one of the most caring and giving individuals I see in my role with the South Coastal Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She wears so many hats and is involved in music in a big way above and beyond her role with May River High school.
So, when she asked me to kick off their new school year I was thrilled to do so. Because she cares so much and always puts service to others first, I was honored to assist. Deb inspires so many young people that I am humbled by her commitment to bring joy to others through music.
Service to Others Takes Many Forms
Last week on the Penn State campus an event took place that featured some of the university’s living legends who came together with others in the community for a worthy cause, supporting Penn State’s Adaptive Athletics program. Football royalty present at the event included former players Lydell Mitchell, Warren “Moose” Koegel, Chuck Burkhart, the incomparable Sue Paterno, Grammy award winning musician Mike Reid and Dana Harris, wife of PSU legend Franco Harris.
Penn State Adaptive Athletics returned to campus after being disrupted by COVID-19. My long-time friend and former Penn State women’s track coach Teri Jordan dedicated 20-plus years of her life to serving others, in this case, spearheading the adaptive athletics movement at Penn State and across the country. Talk about someone committed to service for others. I was there to see Teri struggle to get this program started and to get the support needed to help these incredible athletes.
If you want to learn more about the Adaptive Athletics Program, read this recent article by StateCollege.com writer Evan Halfen. My friend and Penn State donor Steve Kipp attended the event and shared the following appeal with me to support this worthy cause:
“On behalf of Sue Paterno, Dana Harris, the Board of Rise Above, and the entire Penn State Adaptive Athletics community, thank you for attending ‘Foundations: Building of a Penn State Sports Legacy’ last night, an event proudly hosted by Rise Above: Friends of Adaptive Athletics PSU, a dedicated 501(c)(3) charitable organization (EIN: 92-1910039) to benefit Penn State Adaptive Athletics.”
You can provide financial support to “Rise Above” through this link.
Service to others is a mindset, it is a passion, and it is a gift. I hope that you will be inspired by Toby, Deb, Teri, Sue Paterno and the others mentioned above to go out and be a difference-maker.
