Appreciation for YCDC

Consider me a BIG fan of YCDC, otherwise known as the York County Development Corporation. I've seen firsthand what this important organization does over and over and over to make the City of York and all of York County a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

York Public Schools is lucky to be able to partner with YCDC on several projects. We help co-host an annual "Manufacturing Day for Educators" every October where education professionals and school board members tour various manufacturers in York County and learn what we can do to better support the manufacturing industry that is so important to us here in York, Nebraska. YCDC was the key reason we were able to secure a Youth Talent Initiative grant in 2017 to begin our wildly innovative Manufacturing & Entrepreneurship class at York Middle School. In fact, YCDC did most of the heavy lifting connecting YPS and Cyclonaire together on this worthwhile endeavor!

YCDC helps to put on an amazing career and job fair each spring. They are always looking for ways to better promote York.

With the Chamber of Commerce and YCDC, we are extremely fortunate to have two organizations that work so well together to help York look for ways to improve and prosper. I've lived in towns without active Chambers and organizations like YCDC and I can't stress enough how fortunate we are to have both right here in Y-Town.

YCDC has been a tremendous resource in helping YPS and the Chamber of Commerce enhance our ESI - Entrepreneurship Academy each summer that benefits students from our town's public and parochial schools. YCDC is constantly working to enhance connections with places like Southeast Community College to bring a stronger presence to York to benefit our businesses and citizens.

I've been lucky enough to sit in on several presentations that Lisa Hurley and other YCDC leaders have put on to try and persuade businesses to move to York. They do a tremendous job of representing our community in a very positive fashion.

YCDC and York Public Schools have some very exciting news to share later this fall. Unfortunately, we aren't allowed to let the cat out of the bag right now; but when we do, it will bring a lot of positive recognition to this wonderful community.

The York County Development Corporation works hard for York, Nebraska. They've been caught in some of the crossfire of what is going on with the City of York's budget issues right now, and that's unfortunate. YCDC is a tremendous asset in trying to help make York even better and more stable than it already is.

I tip my hat to Lisa Hurley and the other tireless leaders of YCDC, as well as Madonna Mogul and our Chamber of Commerce staff. YPS is fortunate to also work hand-in-hand with our local Chamber of Commerce on numerous projects and we appreciate all they do for our community as well.

We are lucky to have these hard-working organizations pushing and promoting York.

A Personal and Professional Challenge

I have a personal and professional challenge for whoever reads this blog. Tell the ones you love and admire how much they mean to you without taking it for granted there will be plenty of time for that later.

Make sure your family, friends, former friends, colleagues, and teammates know that you love them, miss them, appreciate them, or whatever the case may be.

I have a sister-in-law fighting for her life right now as brain tumors and cancer are ravaging her body and it's just unbelievably sad to see her and the family going through this. Molly is the kindest person you'd ever want to meet. She is sweet and always friendly to everyone. She's the kind of aunt, sister, and sister-in-law that will drive 5+ hours to watch her nieces in a dance recital....that would drive 2 hours to see her nephews play football and basketball. Molly always puts others first. She is selfless.

She's a wonderful mother of Katie, who just graduated from Omaha Skutt. She's a loving sister that works hard to be there for all five of her siblings. She's a caring daughter that will help her parents at a moment's notice. She makes the world a better place with her kindness.

I have had some great times with Molly and I want some more. When I've been lucky enough to have some one-on-one conversations with her or go shopping with her, it was always a lot of fun. Molly just makes you feel better. Her kindness resonates with you. Most of the times I've been around my sister-in-law, Molly, there were always lots of others around as well. The in-law's house fills up pretty good at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and special family celebrations. I always got to spend time with Molly but it was 4-minutes here and 12-minutes there. On many a trip back home over the years, I would often tell myself, "Gosh, I didn't get to spend a lot of time with Molly but I will make a point to visit more with her at Christmas, or Easter, or over the summer."

I should've done a better job of making sure Molly knows how much I love her, admire, and appreciate her. I will be sure to do that tomorrow in the hospital but I should have done it years ago when she welcomed me into the family with open arms. I should have done it each Christmas.

So, as we embark on another school year and our lives are super busy and the challenges pile up, don't lose sight of the people you love, admire, and respect. Don't get too busy to let them know. Don't be afraid to reach out to family or friends and re-connect in a way that fills your heart. Life can be cruel and short.

God bless Molly and you and your loved ones as well.