Mr. Beckeman's Blog

The Rocket Scholars Committee staged our fifth “Ticket to the Future”last night at the Hilt building in downtown Muskegon and by all accounts, was a great success!

The evening saw many Rocket supporters enjoying the company of old friends while at the same time providing many networking opportunities with other invested Rocket supporters. 

The h’oeuvres provided by Mia & Graces’ were truly a treat to the palate.  If you’re considering a social gathering soon, I would suggest placing a call to Mia & Graces’.

The Rocket Scholars Foundation has generated over $85,000.00 through events such as the Ticket to the Future with the mission of promoting and providing financial assistance in the form of scholarships to Rocket students. 

The $10,000.00 cash prize was divided in cash pay-outs of $2,000.00 each to:  Pete Blackburn, Peter Buttery,  Jason Cox, Tad Evans, and the team of Gina Faino, Jackie Somerville and Rita Whitaker. 

The members of the Rocket Scholars Committee are:  Jackie Somerville, Gina Faino, Rita Whitaker, Matt Pallett, Marie Hoppa, Mike Lyons, Tim Arter, and Kim Kelly.  It’s due to their selfless giving of time and talents, that we all can enjoy being a part of events such as the Ticket to the Future.

Below are photos shared with me from the event.

You can bet that our Rocket Scholars Committee will be back at it next fall preparing for our 6th annual Ticket to the Future.  We sure hope to see you at next year’s event and get your shot at winning $10,000.00.

The Greater Muskegon Athletic Association presents the City Wrestling Tournament this Saturday at Mona Shores High School starting at 10:00 a.m. 

The Muskegon Chronicle has featured two outstanding Rocket wrestlers who also happen to be brothers!   Click on the link below to read a very nice article on the Stenbergs.

Rocket Wrestler Highlight

The cost of the City Wrestling Tournament is $5.00 which provides you access for the entire tournament.  Join me as I cheer our Rockets on to victory!

The best news?  You can still buy a ticket to this event!! 

The Rocket Scholars: Ticket To The Future is a fundraiser where the proceeds from the event go to build the Rocket Scholars Foundation.  The Rocket Foundation is guided by a committee of former Rocket graduates whose sole purpose is to ensure that Foundation dollars assist R-P students in their pursuit of post-secondary degrees.

The Ticket To The Futureevent will be held this week Thursday, January 19th at the Hilt Building in downtown Muskegon from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.   Tickets for the event are $100.00 each which admits two with a chance to win $10,000.00! 

There are two guarantees:

#1.  A great time with a huge group of Rocket supporters

#2. $10,000.00 will be won!

If you would still like to purchase a ticket, I can surely assist you.  You can call my office direct (719-3107) to make ticket purchase arrangements.  I would love to see you there!

The R-P Madrigals were honored with an invitation to share their talents at Muskegon’s Interfaith Understanding Event held at the Culinary Institute of Michigan in downtown Muskegon.   Click on the link for more information!

Madrigals Sing

On January 16th, our nation will recognize and celebrate the life and achievements of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  I was in grade-school when Dr. King was assassinated, yet remember watching his funeral on T.V. and having my teachers discuss the events and accomplishments of his life in the public eye.

With “MLK Day” approaching next week, I thought it fitting to post a few items of interest of this great American Icon.  The link below will take you to the official Dr. Martin Luther King website:

MLK

Dr. King’s most recognized and magical moments came on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial (quite a fitting stage!) as he gave his speech during the march on Washington on August 28, 1963.  You can listen to the speech by clicking on the video below

Dr. King’s Letter From A Birmingham Jail has become a required reading at many colleges and universities across America since it was first written in 1963.  If you would like to read this letter, click on the link below.

A Letter From A Birmingham Jail

I believe Dr. King would want us to celebrate the value and respect due each person, regardless of color or creed, in our great country.  Dr. King would want us to educate one another on the tenets he preached in both word and deed.  Consider taking the time to watch the video and/or read the letter as a means to this end.

Make Monday, January 16th a day that has meaning beyond work and rest.

The Michigan Tech jazz band came to campus last week to stage a performance for our music students.   R-P grads, Brittany Vanderwall and Nick Black are current members of Tech’s jazz ensemble that performed for our students.  I was able to say hello to both Brittany and Nick and hear from them that life is good and they’re enjoying their studies at Michigan Tech and continuing with their love of music as neither are music majors.

Michigan Tech Jazz Band

Brittany Vanderwall Playing her trombone

Nick Black jamming on his sax

Current R-P students enjoying the performance

A New Year’s Resolution!

Would you like to join me in a new year’s resolution that won’t cost you a buck?  Would you like a resolution that won’t ask you to lose weight or cease to enjoy a favorite treat or beverage?  Would you like to engage in a resolution that will have an impact on others as much as yourself?  How about a two-word resolution that’s easy to remember yet challenging on a day-to-day basis? 

If your answers to the four questions above are yes, consider joining me.  Are you ready?

 2012 Resolution:  Practice Altruism

What defines altruism?  Simply, it’s having concern for the welfare of others. It’s thinking of others before we think of ourselves.  It does go against the grain of our egotistically based society, one that has us consider one’s own self-interest before giving thought to our fellow man.

 Someone once told me that it’s the little things in life that make a big difference.  Opening a door for someone, carrying in the groceries, picking up after someone, reading a book to a child, listening without advising, shoveling your neighbors walk, are just some examples that come to mind,

Be resolute in providing something of value (like your time) to someone other than yourself.  Here’s the character growth piece…engage in something of benefit to others without expecting anything in return!  Now you’re practicing altruism and benevolence!  Can you imagine a world where everyone gave of themselves to the benefit of others without the thought of receiving anything in return?  I can!  I also believe it starts one person at a time. 

 Care to join?

MSU’s Spartan Dischords return to Reeths-Puffer High School with Ladies First!

For those who love contemporary a cappella, Reeths-Puffer High School’s Rocket Centre for the Performing Arts will be the place to be on Friday, January 6th at 7:00 p.m..

For the third year in a row, The Spartan Dischords of Michigan State University will be appearing on the Reeths-Puffer stage.  This all-male ensemble are known for their on-stage antics, using jokes, skits, and anecdotes to initiate and encourage audience participation.

New this year is the addition of Ladies First, Michigan State University’s only all-female a cappella group, which includes 2011 Reeths-Puffer graduate and former Madrigal: Morgan Kinstner.  Ladies First will be touring Reeths-Puffer middle school and elementary schools during the school day and share the stage with the Spartan Dischords for the evening show.

Reeths-Puffer’s Madrigals will perform an opening song to begin the concert.

Seating is general admission and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.  Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students and are available at the door only.

I hope you can join me this Friday night at this wonderful vocal event!  MSU after all, is such a GREAT institution of higher learning!