Paying It Forward: Faith in Future Service
Paying It Forward: Faith in Future Service
What a Saturday: Sheppard AFB 2024 Air Show and SW Rotary 15th Annual Clay Shoot Fundraiser. Success by all means these traditions continue strong. Weather or not, "no Plan B!"
April 27th - 28th thousands joined the 2024 Air Show hosted by Shepard AFB. Outstanding experience! My son, wife, two granddaughters, two grandsons and four dogs journeyed from Round Rock and celebrated with my wife and I; watching from the back yard cooking burgers. Grandson Felix tracked the flights on his tablet in anticipation of their passage overhead.
Meanwhile 3 miles away, on the East side of SAFB, Southwest Rotary hosted the 15th annual sporting clay shoot. Many of our “regulars,” with much experience at certain steps in hosting the total event, were not available this year. Questions and challenges came early and often. Conflict on the same day as the airshow was an early question; Saturday weather another. “There is no Plan B,” my answer — of course safety is everyone’s priority; our plan as well as that of Northwest Texas Field and Stream, is to always cancel outdoor activities as warranted by weather or forecast. Weather is beyond our control, not safety.
Last week many hands made sure the shooters enjoyed their day with advance preparation and communication preparing those volunteers working key posts. An hour before shooter registration, College Mentors from the Road to College program joined SW Rotarians in quickly setting up tables and chairs for registration and meals.
Our groups know one another well; several years placing US Flags for subscribers during flag seasons. During some spare time, Rotarian Michael Mitchell gave a quick gun safety overview, then coached each Road to College Mentor in shooting clay targets.
Midafternoon, grandson Felix, his dad and I drove to the range to see how the shoot was going. Everyone was enjoying themselves. Shooters shooting; RIBS Inc cooking; Rotarians registering and serving lunches. Lt. Colonel Wruk, squadron leader 469th Fighting Bulls, took a break from shooting sharing a squadron patch with Felix and fueling his dream to attend the Academy, and be a pilot!
Rain held off till 7pm. Forty-three shooters enjoyed the day: registration, practice round, burger lunch, competitive shoot, RIBS Inc dinner – Ribs and all the fixings. Prizes for first, second, and third place. All the shooters enjoyed the day! A big thank you to our hosts, Northwest Field and Stream. Lonnie Culley thanks for stepping up for John Lamberth; so smoothly most didn’t notice as the details came together.
Amazingly, I’m content and confident that the “critical” vision of success for our Clay Shoot renewed within Southwest Rotary Club. Dreaming what can we do next for the betterment of our community. Check out Serve Wichita Falls group on Facebook to see how you or your nonprofit can make a difference.
How Are the Children Doing? Jack Browne
Published Wichita Falls Times Record News, Trends Section, Sunday May 5, 2024.
Jack Browne is a community volunteer and former technology sales and marketing executive who worked 40 years at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies. How are the children doing?
