Filling a Need...

"The art of honesty, caring for your neighbor, volunteering. The art of studying and learning. (If we can learn all of this in the home before we leave the nest, how can we possibly go wrong.)”
Joseph K. Folsom
I would like to add to that quote “The ability to recognize and fill a need.”  What do you think of when you hear that phrase?  Maybe supplying materials for a project, helping your child with their homework or perhaps volunteering your time for an organization which benefits your community?  For me, “filling a need” this year meant volunteering to help out several organizational boards that provide services to enhance my life and that of my family.  

The most important for me right now is as the President of the Friends of the Orchestra.  This organization helps to enhance the fine arts experience of my two children as they participate in orchestra and develop a greater understanding and appreciation for the arts.  This is an organization that continually needs new blood due to the fact that our kids do grow up and leave the school district, not to mention that we all lead busy lives as adults.  By encouraging other parents to help out organizations related to their kids, they develop a deeper connection between them and that of the community at large.  This is both healthy and enjoyable.

Here is what I am asking of you as a parent of an orchestra student.  Please consider volunteering a bit of your time in the coming year to help out FOTO either on a regular basis by attending our monthly meetings or if that is too much, purchase one item from one of our fund raisers.  A happy medium might be to help with our upcoming fruit sale distribution or collect and turn in Bill’s receipts.  By doing any of the above, you increase your connection to the community and strengthen your sense of satisfaction with life due to this contribution.

Thank you for your continuing support of FOTO and the orchestra students.  I look forward to seeing many faces helping out with the fruit sale in February.  This is the first time doing a fund raiser like this and we need all the hands we can get the night before and the morning of as we set up the field house, sort the paperwork and then distribute the fruit.  We need adults and students to help with the process and as the saying goes “Many hands make light work”, I’m confident that this will be light work indeed!

Enjoy the snow as it makes us appreciate the warmth of July!
Warmly yours,
Renée Frank
President of the Friends of the Orchestra