Elizabeth Nguyen spoke to group of 800 during Thursday’s Full Network Meeting
Pinehurst, NC (March 15, 2015) – Elizabeth Nguyen from The First Tee of the Sandhills was selected from candidates across the 175 chapters of The First Tee Network to attend The First Tee Outstanding Participant & Leadership Summit, March 11-15 in Dallas. The summit was an interactive and educational event in which participants were given the opportunity to develop and hone skills to become leaders in their chapters, schools and communities.
Among the dignitaries scheduled to address the 28 teenagers at the summit were President George Bush and World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam.
Educational workshops during the summit covered a variety of topics including college, the importance of community service and volunteerism, financial literacy, social media and more presented by experts in these fields. During the workshops, Lizzy will develop plans for leading a meaningful service project in our community as a way to apply the skills and concepts learned at the four-day summit. Lizzy’s service project goal is to successful engage teen girls into the game of golf for a lifetime while also growing the overall female base in The First Tee of the Sandhills.
Lizzy, a sophomore at Pinecrest High school was one of twenty eight participants selected to attend the weeklong summit where she was also asked to speak during the lunch session on Thursday. For five minutes Lizzy controlled a room of 800 Directors, Board Members, Coaches and advocates speaking on ‘The impact The First Tee has had on her life and how the lessons learned from The First Tee have transferred to her life off the golf course’. She did a fabulous job delivering her story and speaking from the heart. It was a powerful message, indeed.
Nguyen was one of 28 participants selected to attend the summit based on academic achievement, community service, chapter involvement, leadership, essay responses and letters of recommendation. The First Tee Outstanding Participant & Leadership Summit took place in conjunction with The First Tee Network Meeting, a biennial educational event for chapter leaders from around the country and select international locations.
A mere 22 days ago my house was recovering from a fun filled evening of trick or treating and candy eating, a Halloween celebration that spread across two weekends with school carnivals, church wide trunk or treats and door knocking. Yet, in just 33 days we will celebrate Christmas. A holiday that also has spread across a multi week time period as we look to celebrate with classmates, co-workers and family members near and far.
Sandwiched between October 31 and December 25 is Thanksgiving, falling on the fourth Thursday in November since 1940. As our children begin to get older, the history of this holiday – the true meaning, has become of interest to me.
Today, it feels to me that the media and day to day demands have recycled Thanksgiving as a time to encourage individuals to express general gratitude through the celebration of food and spending money while kicking off the Holiday gift giving. Instead of standing alone as a significant day that deserves its own place on the calendar without the commotion of other activities in the works.
Through research I found that the ‘reason’ for the Thanksgiving celebration, which for a few hundred years did not take place on the same day, varied.
The 1623 celebration marked the end of a long drought and a celebration of successful crop growing. During the American Revolution, Continental Congress designated multiple days of Thanksgiving a year. In 1789, George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States, calling Americans to express gratitude for the happy conclusion to the country’s war of independence.
Then, at the height of the Civil War, in 1863, Abraham Lincoln made a proclamation entreating all Americans to ask God to ‘commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife’ and to ‘heal the wounds of the nation.’
Lincoln was the first to schedule Thanksgiving for a set date, selecting the final Thursday in November.
During the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt moved the holiday up one week in an attempt to spur retail sales. A decision that was met with passionate opposition, but has stuck since 1940.
Reflecting on my findings has allowed me to embrace the true reason, in my eyes, for Thanksgiving even more this year.
It is uplifting to see that over time Thanksgiving was celebrated with diversity. A diverse group of individuals coming together to share in celebration and enjoy the available crop. A diverse number of reasons to celebrate each year and to reflect on previous celebrations.
Stirring up history makes my heart swell for all I have to be thankful for this year, both personally and professionally.
Our staff and board at The First Tee of the Sandhills has strived to ensure we are showing thanks ‘every step of the way’ as we have treaded through a year of change and success both on and off the course.
We are bursting with thanks for the opportunity to have retained relationships with volunteers, participants, community leaders and businesses while also making inroads in the execution of new plans, new faces in our volunteer line up, new participants in our curriculum programs and new partnerships with businesses and individual supporters.
We are thankful that so many share in our passion for the mission and vision of The First Tee of the Sandhills. To ensure that a diverse group of young people across the Sandhills are being provided the opportunity to develop and grow through mentorship and character education, giving them the exposure needed to become better citizens tomorrow and helping to make a lasting impact in our communities – all while enjoying the game of golf!
Thursday gives us an opportunity to reflect on a year of gratitude, but in actuality, we are thankful each and every day.
THANK YOU for being one of our ROCK STARS in 2015!
Your support allows us to operate programs, offer scholarships to youngsters, provide continued education to coaches and staff, ensure program quality is unmatched and so much more. You’re helping cement, grow and expand our programs while putting new, innovative plans in place during the year ahead. THANK YOU to each and every individual, business and foundation that contributed to our efforts in 2015!
From the Board of Directors and staff, our sincere thanks for your support in 2015 and continued support in 2016 and beyond!
Looking for a Quick Fall Getaway? Or a Weekend Guys Trip?
Enter to Win a Trip to Wild Dunes – Charleston’s Island Resort!
*Trip redeemable from September 11 to December 31, 2016*
On the tip of Isle of Palms, a barrier island off South Carolina, Wild Dunes Resort is a 1,600 acre, award winning, oceanfront oasis, 30 minutes from the charm and grace of historic Charleston.
At the heart of the resort, the Four Diamond Boardwalk Inn sits a mere 150 yards from the ocean, features a designated quiet pool and easy access to the popular The Grand Pavilion and Boardwalk. Also on property is the highly acclaimed Coastal Provisions, an upscale coastal restaurant in a casual atmosphere serving creative and fresh seafood creations
Designed by Tom Fazio and perennially ranked among the world’s best, the Links Course at Wild Dunes, offers rolling fairways framed by moss-bearded live oaks and rustling palms. Noteworthy for massive humpbacked sand dunes and finishing holes along the Atlantic Ocean, the Links recalls golf’s ancient Scottish heritage.
Also a Fazio design, the Harbor Course is a challenging test of shot making skills and strategic thinking. Water comes into play on nearly every hole as fairways skirt saltwater marshes, lagoons and the Intracoastal Waterway.
Our raffle winner will enjoy a two (2) night stay in a run of house Guestroom at the Boardwalk Inn Hotel, a round of golf for four (4) on the Harbor Golf Course, and a round of golf for four (4) on the Links Golf Course at Wild Dunes Resort.
RAFFLE TICKETS ARE $25 per TICKET
ONLY 100 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD!
WINNER TO BE DRAWN FRIDAY, AUGUST 12
Want to increase your chances of winning? Simply increase the quantity of raffle tickets from your check out cart in PayPal!
Good Luck & THANK YOU for Supporting The First Tee of the Sandhills!
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SPONSOR A CLASS PROGRAMI’m Ready to Accept the Challenge! What’s next?
Step 1: Contact Executive Director, Courtney Stiles (910.255.3035 or [email protected])
Step 2: Formally Accept the Sponsor a Class Challenge
Step 3: Determine who you want to challenge next
Step 4: Set a time to tape your video + challenge the next group!
THANK YOU to our Sponsor a Class partners! Midland CC & Knollwood VillageDonovan & Laura BachtellJennifer Nguyen, Realtor – Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Pinehurst Realty Group Pinehurst South Realty – Joy DonatFirst Bank Back
The First Tee of the Sandhills is having a grown-up Caddyshack party at Pinehurst Country Club Pool Complex and you’re invited! Join us on Friday, September 16 at 6pm for a night of live music and dancing with the McKenzie Brothers Band while delighting in dinner stations and cocktails provided by Pinehurst CC, Southern Pines Brewery and Jones von Drehle.
Even though it’s a 21 and older party, we’re still focused on the mission, growing good kids through golf. Benefits from the event will support programs, scholarships, outreach and development for our youth right here in the Sandhills.
In addition to great food, music, drinks and company, you’ll have the chance to test your golf skills on the Birdie Ball pinwheel. But don’t let the pool water make you nervous, as prizes will be on the line!
When the sunsets, grab a lounge chair and go back to the summer of 1980 while watching Caddyshack under the stars on the inflatable TV screen.
Don’t forget, it’s a theme party like no other, so wear your best Caddyshack inspired attire and get ready to make memories at our themed photo wall!
Ticket options include individual non reserved seating ($75) plus four and six pack reserved seating tables ($400 – $600). All tickets include full menu of food, beer and wine. Non reserved seating tickets will be available at the door. Learn more about this year’s event and grab your tickets today by visiting firstteesandhills.org/caddyshack.
Thank you for supporting The First Tee of the Sandhills!
The First Tee of the Sandhills Teen Selected For National Opportunity at Coca-Cola Headquarters in AtlantaCollege scholarship will be awardedCongratulations are in order for Elizabeth Nguyen, a rising Senior at Pinecrest High School. Lizzy has been selected to attend Coca-Cola America’s Future. An annual event provided by The First Tee home office that selects a mere five teens from across the country for participation. Only rising seniors are eligible to apply and selected participants are reviewed based on their school grades, involvement in their local chapter and community, as well as an essay on how they live their lives positively. Recently, I had the opportunity to play with Lizzy in the Moore County Women’s Amateur. We were paired together during the first round with a competitor that was our senior in age, but not in spirit! Prior to teeing off for our second round, she pulled me aside to express how much she enjoyed our round one pairing. She went on to say that while the golf was great, the one thing that most impressed her was Lizzy’s character. A true nod to the coaches that implement our programs and curriculum for being a positive component in Lizzy’s life. When Lizzy travels to Atlanta, she will join the other selected participants, representing Greater Sacramento, Delaware, Greater Charlotte and Atlanta, for four days where they will visit the Coca-Cola Company headquarters, attend area attractions in the heart of downtown Atlanta as well as the PGA TOUR’s TOUR Championship. In addition to their adventures, throughout the week these five participants will meet with business executives and take part in interviews to determine the winner of a $5,000 college scholarship. The four semifinalists will also be awarded a $1,000 scholarship.We are thrilled for Lizzy’s selection to Coca Cola America’s Future and look forward to cheering her on in September as she aims to bring home the $5,000 college scholarship. Here’s to a wonderful group of young people in the Sandhills!
Last week Kennedi Whitener-Mason, 15, and Alaina Malcolm, 17, joined 90 juniors from The First Tee chapters across the country in Blaine, Minnesota for the National Life Skills and Leadership Academy. Not only were they provided opportunities to develop and hone their golf skills, they were given tools to become leaders on and off the course. Upon returning home, we asked Kennedi and Alaina to provide us a behind the scenes look into their trip.Kennedi, a rising sophomore at Pine Forest High School, noted she was quickly put to the test, learning the ropes of airport travel on Day 1, spending her morning navigating flight delays and airport directional, alone for the first time. Upon arrival to Minnesota, Kennedi and Alaina were assigned roommates at the National Sports Center and color groups, as they would work in teams for the rest of the week. For a portion of each day, groups worked with The First Tee golf coaches to assess their skills, implement fun activities to aid in improvement and then enjoyed on course team challenges at the White Bear Yacht Club, a top five facility in Minnesota. Alaina, a rising senior at Robeson Early College High School, said she’s really excited to share the newly learned skills drills with fellow participants back here in the Sandhills! Eluding that they are already helping her improve. For Kennedi, the trip to the University of Minnesota was a memorable one – her color group made a wrong turn during their on campus scavenger hunt, sending them over a bridge, by foot – twice! While on campus they also had the opportunity to meet with Price Waterhouse Cooper and learn about the importance of budgeting, how to properly budget and implementation. All ninety teens also had the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the golf business. This included engaging in specialized on course tutorials with Toro Company where they learned about golf course irrigation, how to cut fairways and greens, and the different types of machinery necessary to maintain a golf course facility. Local turf grass specialist put participants to the test, teaching them how to tell the difference between various strands of grass and then asking them to identify grass types from a container garden. No word yet on how many they guessed right! Their last golf tutorial stop was with the marketing division of PGA TOUR Superstore where they learned the ins and outs of marketing in golf retail. Nightly, all participants, The First Tee instructors and staff were able to come together for fun activities including Ice Skating, pick up soccer, board games and other team building activities. Aiding in the foundation of forming new relationships around the country. Overall, Alaina felt the experience to Minnesota, representing The First Tee of the Sandhills, was both humbling and a special honor. It broadened her horizons, motivated her to become a better golfer, and excited her to share what she learned with her hometown in hopes of motivating other young kids to get involved. Our teens soaked in as much knowledge as possible, made tons of new friends from across the network, and positively represented our chapter and their communities on the national stage. We are looking forward to providing these young ladies the stage to share their experiences with fellow participants, encouraging others to apply for national opportunities in the future and inspiring new faces to get involved for the first time. Cheers to a successful 2016 National Life Skills and Leadership Academy!
On Monday, 120 golfers, 30 volunteers, 20 local youth, 18 hole sponsors, eight local businesses, three staff members and one title sponsor joined forces to celebrate and elevate.CLICK HERE TO VIEW A PHOTO RECAP FROM THE DAY
More than ever, local and world news reminds me why it’s so important to invest in the next generation.
Teaching young people the value of respect, how to manage emotions and embrace diversity. By being a positive influence on these individuals we are making deposits in the future of our communities.
On Monday, 120 golfers, 30 volunteers, 20 local youth, 18 hole sponsors, 8 local businesses, 3 staff members and 1 title sponsor joined forces to celebrate and elevate.
It was a coming together of community to embrace the mission of The First Tee and make deposits in its future in the Sandhills. Volunteers, Youth Participants, Board Members and Donors wore various hats as we successfully pulled off another Caddiemaster Open.
This year held at Forest Creek Golf Club.
Participants enjoyed a friendly Shamble competition on both the North & South Course, where a Low Net and Low Gross Champion was crowned, followed by a closest to the pin contest behind the clubhouse on Forest Creek’s Hog Hole to determine the Overall Champion.
While the field was strong, participants were given a little assistance from youth of The First Tee, staged on Par 3s to play as the 5th Man (or woman) by hitting extra tee shots and stroking extra putts. Chatter around the scoring table told the story of their help!
Another twist on their round was two-fold, as participants approached the hardest Par 3 on their respective courses they would face the opportunity to be guaranteed a Hole in One for their team, before hitting a shot, simply by signing up to Sponsor a Child, ensuring a scholarship for a future curriculum program participant with The First Tee of the Sandhills.
The generosity of our supporters paid off as 41 Hole in One’s were recorded and 41 new youth scholarships opened up.
But, taking a closer look at the scorecards, there was a 42nd Hole in One, scored by Kathy Beddow, on the 16th Hole of the North Course. Beddow hit a high 9 wood from the ladies tee to the elevated green where the pin was tucked on the left hand side behind a bunker.
With her ball landing over the bunker and safely on the green, it rolled down toward the pin and dropped in for her natural one! A sweet celebration to cap off an amazing day!
While the overall winner of the day was The First Tee of the Sandhills, the hardware was ready for distribution and our 2016 winners included: North Course Low Net Team, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance, of Jason Burgin, James Sawyer, Jeremy Kuhn and Gene Roberts. North Course Low Gross Team of Pat McGowan, Gary Strickfaden, Ron Giles and Buck Kernan. South Course Low Net Team, sponsored by BB&T, of Gary VonCannon, Kirk Soxman, Bob Spicer and Jared Fryer. South Course Low Gross Team, sponsored by FirstBank, of Phil Fulghum, Marcus Larose, George Brown and Phillip Bradley.
The Hog Hole playoff crowned the BB&T team as overall Net Champion and Pat McGowan’s team as overall Gross Champion.
As we look back on another successful Caddiemaster Open, thank you to each and every individual that contributed to the success of the day.
Mark your calendar now for our next event, held at Pinehurst No. 2 on Monday, June 5, 2017.
Merriam Webster defines achievement as to reach a goal; a result of hard work; the state or condition of having achieved or accomplished something.
Today, we are able to toast to the latest achievement. One many years in the making.
We’ll look back on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, as a day in history when two local teens were selected to attend The First Tee National Life Skills and Leadership Academy.
While The First Tee of the Sandhills participants have been selected previously to attend the Life Skills and Leadership Academy, each special in their own way, this summer will have an asterisk in the record book.
This summer two young ladies are helping break down barriers, ignite new interest and expand opportunities in their perspective communities. These young ladies don’t have Moore County addresses. They live in Ft. Bragg and Pembroke, respectively.
Kennedi Whitener-Mason, 15, is a high school freshman at Pine Forest High School, resides in Ft. Bragg, NC. Kennedi joined The First Tee of the Sandhills in 2009 through exposure to the Life Skills Curriculum during a pilot program at Stryker Golf Course – then a partnership between The First Tee of the Sandhills and the Department of Defense – being offered exclusively to these families through a military grant.
While this exclusive program has since concluded, our offerings at Stryker Golf Course and in Fayetteville at Baywood Golf Club have continued and are offered to members of the community, of all backgrounds.
Kennedi is a very busy young lady, spending time as a 2nd Element Leader with the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps, Volunteering her time at Sea Turtle Camps, an active member of the Future Farmers of America, 4H Club and the NC Junior Fair Board – all while being the MVP on her High School Golf Team.
While she carries a quiet demeanor initially, Kennedi is a driven, light hearted and fun teenager that is ready to tackle her big dreams and goals for success in high school and beyond.
Kennedi was thrilled to receive the call of achievement from our office this week. When asked how it feels to not only be selected but to be the first to represent her community on the national level, Kennedi responded in saying, “I’m so excited to be selected to attend and equally excited to represent Ft. Bragg, NC while in Minnesota this summer. I’m looking forward to learning about how to be a more effective leader and to apply what I learn at the academy to my activities both on and off the golf course when I return. This will be one of the top 3 highlights of 2016 for me!”
Alaina Malcolm, 17, is a junior at Robeson Early College High School and resides in Pembroke, NC. Alaina first joined The First Tee of the Sandhills in the summer of 2011, when programs kicked off at Pine Crest Country Club, in Lumberton. Alaina participated in The First Tee’s PLAYer and Par curriculum locally in Lumberton through 2014. In 2015 she passed assessments to move onto the Birdie Level program, a curriculum currently only offered in Pinehurst.
Her commitment to the commute has paid off. We’ve enjoyed getting to know Alaina, see her blossom as a confident young lady, up and coming golfer and future leader – allowing her the opportunity to become eligible for national opportunities provided by The First Tee home office.
Alaina stays busy as the treasurer of the Native American Student Association (NASA), a member of the Go Green Club, and volunteer with the Robeson County Teen Court – all while commuting to Purnell Swett High School where she competes on the varsity golf team, as her high school does not offer golf.
While Alaina’s dad couldn’t contain his excitement for his daughter’s selection, he wanted to ensure she heard it directly from us, as well. Putting her on the phone to officially hear the news! Alaina’s delight was evident through the phone as she expressed gratitude and enthusiasm for what was to come.
When asked to express her personal reaction to this achievement, Alaina reflected in saying, “I’m still struggling to express how grateful I am to join participants from all over the country to further develop my leadership skills while participating in a game that I have truly come to love since becoming a part of The First Tee of the Sandhills.”
She went on to say, “As the first national selectee from Robeson County, I want to express my genuine thanks to the volunteers and friends of The First Tee of the Sandhills that made this opportunity possible for me. I’m especially thankful that they have made a commitment to my home county to expose the youth in our community to the Nine Core Values that are transferable to life in general. I’m hopeful that I’m the first of many from Robeson County to benefit from this, and many other, experiences.”
Kennedi and Alaina’s experience at the Life Skills and Leadership Academy will take place in Blaine, Minnesota from July 6 to July 12. They will join more than 90 youth from across the country at this national event, providing participants valuable character education and leadership instruction, encouraging them to develop and hone skills to become leaders in our local chapter, school and community while experiencing championship golf, career exploration and dorm living.
This week’s news in encouraging to our continued efforts within the communities of our chapter service area where The First Tee curriculum is beginning to gain strength and grow new interest.
We look forward to seeing what Kennedi and Alaina bring back from Minnesota this summer and how we can collectively increase our achievements in their home town communities. Cheers to a new milestone at The First Tee of the Sandhills!
With my families first summer in the Sandhills under our belt and the second one quickly approaching, we feel more at ease for what opportunities it will bring and adventures our family of four can look to conquer.
The first summer was all about survival.
My husband and I both work full time so our needs don’t change just because the calendar says “look at me – its summer!” Our forecast instead revolves around answering these questions – what’s the best place for the kids to spend their day? Will they have fun, learn something new or be bored? Will they be safe? Will they be required to continue to follow rules? Is it cost effective?
Whether age 5 or 15, these questions remain the same.
At The First Tee of the Sandhills we ponder the same questions in advance of summer every year. Working to ensure that our summer offerings are meeting the needs of the various communities we support. Needs that look very different here at our office in Pinehurst, east of us in Fayetteville or southeast in Lumberton.
This summer we are excited to roll out two new opportunities in the Sandhills. One for our youngest participants, age 5 and 6, and the other for our oldest, teenagers!
In partnership with Aberdeen Parks & Rec we will host a TARGET 1 program on their baseball fields off Highway 5 on Thursday mornings at 9:00am and 10:15am. TARGET 1 is a program geared for those youngsters eager to try out golf while still being able to run around and express themselves away from the quieter confines of the golf course. It’s sure to be a fun mix of learning and structure along with challenges and games. This program will be every Thursday for five weeks beginning June 23.
One misconception in the world of The First Tee is you must join early. In actuality that’s not the case at all.
A 13, 14 or 15 yr old can join The First Tee having played golf their whole life or having never picked up a club. For this nucleus of teenagers we’ve created our PLAYer for Teens program. A chance for Teens to get engaged in The First Tee, its curriculum and take advantage of the high school age benefits while not being paired up with their much younger sibling.
With the timing of school dismissal and lag to get to a golf course, during the year this program runs on Saturday afternoons at Country Club of Whispering Pines.
Having once been a teenager, we all know that most would rather be at the lake on a Saturday afternoon in the summer.
Well, this summer we are starting something new. A Teen Club – of sorts – thanks to the support of Knollwood Fairways and their Professional Staff. For six Tuesday evenings this summer, beginning June 21, teens will join us for a special series.
Here’s the game plan – they’ll get dropped off at 4:30pm and pair up with fellow participants and adult volunteers to head out for an on course experience. Around 6:00pm everyone will come together inside Knollwood Fairways clubhouse to cool off and enjoy dinner, on us. For the last 45 mins, or so, they’ll go back outside to work on what they learned on course while using The First Tee curriculum as their compass – all wrapping up around 7:00 – 7:15pm.
Whether you have a 5 yr old, teenager, or someone in between, we have over 20 programs lined up for summer fun. Make sure to visit our website now, www.firstteesandhills.org, to find the right fit for your youngster. Registration opens Monday, May 9 at 9:00am!
The role of Secretary for a Board of Directors can be described using a range of verbs from daunting, cumbersome and underappreciated to essential, critical and fundamental – all spilled over in one long breath of conversation.
It’s a need that makes one feel constantly in and out of the conversation during a board meeting as you’re trying to accurately account for the meetings happenings while also engaging in critical conversation. And, probably, one of the most difficult roles to fill and keep for a full term.
Jennifer Nguyen, full time proud parent of three The First Tee participants, Real Estate Broker with Berkshire Hathaway, Vacation Property Management Owner, Military Family Support Group leader and Wife added ‘The First Tee of the Sandhills Board Member and Secretary” to her list of roles in 2013.
At the time the chapter’s Board of Directors felt it was important to have a seat on the board for a parent of a participant. Someone that could provide an additional set of eyes and ears within our programs while also offer a different perspective to the rest of the board.
What they didn’t realize they were getting was a fiery and passionate, kindhearted and grounded, momma bear that was ready to put her stamp on the programs and make a difference in our communities in any way that was needed.
It was early last year when the phone rang at our office and our Board President, at the time, Dorson White, was on the other end. His business and personal schedules had crumbled and he needed to back out of attending The First Tee’s Network Meeting in Dallas, Texas.
After a brief moment of panic, as it was mandatory that a board member attend the annual meetings, Jennifer came to mind. Her daughter, Lizzy, a high school Sophomore at the time, was set to receive recognition at the meetings as well as speak to an audience of 800 key business leaders. So, in theory, it would be a perfect fit and ask.
I remember the conversation going something like this, “Hey Jennifer, it’s Courtney – at The First Tee”, “Hey, What’s Up!?!”, “I need your help”, “Of course, what is it?”, “I need you to come with us to Dallas for Network Meetings”, “Umm….. Ok…. Let me get back to you.” What felt like hours went by and then, finally, “Ok, I’m there”.
We barely knew each other but our passion for The First Tee’s mission, vision and opportunities aligned and that got us on a plane to Dallas. After a round of margaritas, a heart to heart about the future for The First Tee of the Sandhills, and a side of chips and salsa, a special bond had been formed.
One that meant she would support me when I was headed in the right direction and was ready to tell me when I needed to look at things from a different perspective.
What I learned about Jennifer that night was that she’s had a wide range of life experiences. Experiences that make her who she is and bring a special skill set to our board room.
From her family’s travels with husband Thong’s position in the military, her capability to find job opportunities in new cities, and her amazing outlook and ability to move past bumps in the road with her head held high.
Jennifer was, and still is, fully submerged in her role and responsibilities as a member of the Board of Directors.
She’s a self-proclaimed “lifer” to The First Tee and we couldn’t be more grateful.
