November. Turning a little greyer and colder. But, the best part of November comes at the end of the month with Thanksgiving. It is something to look forward to.
When we hit this month, I think it is important to remind ourselves of the large number of things that we have to be thankful for. In my case, I have a loving family, great friends, and a wonderful job leading a great organization. I’m sure if you sit down and think about it, you will find a list that works for you too.
Yesterday afternoon, Dr. Cal Fercho and Rammie Olson were recognized for their hard work on behalf of our organization. The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) awards banquet recognized Dr. Fercho for the Lifetime Achievement – Legacy of Giving Award for his many years of giving to our community. Rammie Olson was recognized by AFP with the Outstanding Volunteer award for her many years of service as the chair of our annual Paul Howry Golf Tournament. Both are key contributors to the success of the YMCA and the community at large.
Let me explain why I am thankful for both of these community leaders. In Dr. Fercho’s case, as I have written previously, he has consistently taken care of the Fargo/Moorhead community with his business, community leadership, and giving impact. What started as an eye surgery has blossomed into years and years of impactful giving to the community at large. At 99 years young, he is still sharp as a tack and looking for new ways to make our community even better. We are the YMCA we are today because of Dr. Fercho’s belief in giving back to the community and we are thankful to him and the Fercho family for all they do.
Rammie Olson is a community gem. While she volunteers for the Y as our chair for the golf outing, raising more and more funds each year to help us improve our facilities for ADA upgrades for those who need them (think automatic door openers!), she is so much more. First, when Rammie enters the room you are greeted by her upbeat and energetic presence. You can’t help but feel like we can overcome any obstacle or reach any goal. The best part is that while she is sharing these traits with the Y, she is also sharing them in the broader community. She chairs the North Dakota Autism Center and serves on many other boards and committees. All places that make our community a great place to be, and again, something we can be thankful for.
When individuals like Cal and Rammie come to an organization and leave their imprints on it, we should be thankful. As the leader of this organization, I am thankful to them for all they have done. More importantly, I am thankful to all the volunteers who give this community hours and hours of time and their talents to make our region the best place to live.
Yes, we could be disappointed that summer has come and gone and that snow is on the way. However, I think we should be thankful for the warm hearts that surround us each and every day in this great community.
Congratulations, Cal and Rammie!
See you at the Y!
Steve Smith, President and CEO
Posted on: November 15, 2024