A young man learns what’s most important in life from the guy next door…

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

“Jack, did you hear me?”

“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.

“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,” Mom told him.

“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.

“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said.

“He’s the one who taught me carpentry,” he said. “I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important… Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,” Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture… . Jack stopped suddenly.

“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.

“The box is gone,” he said.

“What box? ” Mom asked.

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most,’” Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

“Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said. “I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom.”

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. “Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days,” the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.

“Mr. Harold Belser” it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside.

“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.”

A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.

Inside he found these words engraved: “Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.”

“The thing he valued most…was…my time.”

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.

“Why?” Janet, his assistant asked.

“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.

“Oh, by the way, Janet…thanks for your time!”

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1.  2011 State Awards – Affiliate, Entrepreneur and Member of the Year with pictures, copy of introduction as well as the power point presentation

2.  2011 Local Chapter Awards – see below

3.  National Award winners – Chapter Excellence/Recruitment & Retention

4.  List of all Texas State Chapter Award Recipients

Congratulations to all of the 2011 Local Chapter Award Winners.  In June, we will recognize the Entrepreneurs.

-  Bruce Lee, martial arts legend, actor

One way to interpret and act on this quotation is that when you receive feedback, whether requested or not, you have these basic choices – absorb, discard, and add. Listen to the feedback or advice with these choices in mind and make your decision. Hopefully you will be able to accept the feedback/advice more successfully and improve your relationship and trust with the other person.

If you are open and consciously thinking about absorb, discard, and add, you will be able to take all feedback and advice as fodder for your personal growth and improvement.

1.    Knowledge –  I want to continue to learn, stretch and grow.

2.    A challenge - Something to strive for, something slightly beyond my reach, something that will make me sweat.

3.    Good health - Only I can give myself this gift.

4.    A little “down time” - If I wait for someone else to give me this, it will never happen.

5.    Forgiveness - I’ve made mistakes; I’m sure I’ll make more, and I’m going to forgive myself.

6.    Courage - For moving forward and pushing on even when I’m afraid.

7.    Confidence - It has to come from me.

8.    A break - I’m going to stop being my worst critic.

9.    A compliment - Every day I’m going to acknowledge something that I did well.

10. An optimistic outlook - My attitude, my perspective, my view of the world is up to me.

L to R: Anita Farrell, Chris Rodriguez, Amy Kobza, Dena Hinds, and John Schutze

Austin – Congratulations to Anita Farrell – President; Chris Rodriguez – President-elect; Amy Kobza – Vice President of Membership; Dena Hinds – Secretary ; and John Schutze – treasurer.  Sharon Morton, 2012 State Treasurer installed Anita and her leadership team. In attendance were Carolyn Wyckoff, 1993 State President, Sharon Eddings, 2011 State President and Dawn Lavka, 2012 Governor.

L to R: Lois Malone, Maggie Polo, Heidi Crenshaw, Alma Coronado, Florence Butler and Ethel O'dell

Bay Area:  Congratulations to Maggie Polo – President; Bea Flores – President-elect; Florence Butler – Vice President of Membership; Johnna Little – Secretary; and Will Cossaboom – Treasurer.  Lois Malone, 2012 Texas State Governor installed Maggie and her Leadership Team.  In attendance Ethel O’Dell, 2012 president of Montgomery Chapter.

L to R: Ruth Darling, Mary Nelson, Bobbi Bracco, Tanya Endicott and Stacey Buettner

Collin County – Congratulations to Bobbi Bracco – President; Tanya Endicott – President-elect; Stacey Buettner – Vice President of Membership; Mary Nelson – Secretary and Ruth Darling – Treasurer.  In attendance were State Officers:  VaLois Hounsel – President; Sylvia Seabolt – President-elect and Holly Kincaid – Governor

L to R – Rebecca Lightfoot, Nancy Garcia, Tina Townsend and Beth Fitzgerald

Dallas Chapter:  Congratulations to Nancy Garcia – President; Rebecca Lightfoot – President-elect; Beth Fitzgerald; Tina Townsend – Secretary and Brandon Griess.  VaLois Hounsel, 2012 Texas State President installed Nancy and her Leadership Team.  In attendance were State Officers:  Sylvia Seabolt – President-elect, and Holly Kincaid – Governor.

To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.

                                  To a friend, your heart.

                              To a customer, service.

                            To all, charity.

                         To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.

L to R: Velma De Los Santos, Rebecca Carlson- 1999 TX State President; Robby Valadez – 2012 TDVP, Carl Leatherman, Alma Coronado

The Brownsville Chapter held their Installation.  Congratulations to Velma De Los Santos – President; Carl Leatherman – President-elect; Ludy Fisher – Vice President of Membership; Linn Wilcott – Secretary and Nora Pompa – Treasurer.  Rebecca Carlson, 1999 Texas State President, installed Velma and her leadership team.  Robby Valadez, 2012 District Vice President was also in attendance.

VaLois Hounsel, 2012 State President, installing Rodney Rowan, 2012 Chapter President

The Dallas Metro East Chapter held their Installation.  Congratulations to Rodney Rowan – President; Linda Marthe – President-Elect; Melanie Roberts – VP of Membership; Nikki Green – Secretary; and Melinda Epps – Treasurer.  VaLois Hounsel, 2012 State President, installed Rodney and his leadership team.  Sylvia Seabolt,  2012 State President-elect, Holly Kincaid, 2012 State Governor and David Cox, 2012 District Vice President were also in attendance.

L to R: Rosanna Hudson, Bob Lumby, Kelly Martin, VaLois Hounsel, Holly Kincaid, Kristen Neff

The Northeast Tarrant County Chapter held their Installation.  Congratulations to Kelli Martin – President; Bob Lumby – President-elect; Rosanna Hudson – Vice President of Membership; Shana Bohnsack – Secretary and Kristen Neff – Treasurer.  VaLois Hounsel, 2012 State President installed Kelly and her leadership team.  Holly Kincaid, 2012 State Governor was in attendance.

L to Ri: Diane Lauer, Susie Sheffield, Sheila Moran-Stanush, Cindy Cox, Corie Boldt, Jackie Browning and Margo Willis

The San Antonio Chapter held their Installation.  Congratulations to Cindy Cox – President;  Sheila Moran-Stanush – President-elect; Corie Boldt – Vice President of Membership; Susie Sheffield – Secretary and Jackie Browning – Treasurer.  Margo Willis, 2011 WCR National President installed Cindy and her leadership team.  Also in attendance were Carolyn Wyckoff – 1993 TX State President; Sharon Eddings – 2011 State President; Sharon Morton-  2012 State Governor