To Pickle is to Preserve!
Here is my problem with most volunteer folks, they are usually “idea guys” - big picture people that can tell you what to do but look at the floor when it comes time to do it. They would say things like, “Surely the businesses in town will donate money to our worthy cause. All we have to do is go door to door and ask them.” To which I say, “Okay, who will go door to door.” ………………. and crickets chirp ………….
I was blessed in my 25 years at Houston High School to have lots of booster support. The parents that served as booster officers were not the kind of people to look at the floor when asked to do real work. They were, invariably, the sort who roll up their sleeves and burn a few calories. I loved every one of them. Every once in a while, a parent would come along who did not want to be an officer or need a title. The sort of person who sees a need and does everything they can to ameliorate that need. In my 25 years at Houston, the very best of those was David Pickler.
I learned a lot of things from David (though some of them are not suitable for publication). The most important thing I learned was to dream bigger. He taught me to stop apologizing about the needs of the band program, stop finding ways to “just get by”, and to better envision the tools necessary to have an exemplary program. Without David Pickler, there would very probably be no new band room, no band truck, no storage building, no memorial sidewalk, etc… The first time we took the band to California, it was David who helped with the logistics and planning. David worked as a chaperone, pit-crew member, and general roadie for the band for several years. Though he was Chairman of the Shelby County School Board, he never seemed to mind taking orders from me. The sheer number of things he did for this program is not even approached by the short list above.
I was made aware just yesterday by some band alumni that David is throwing his hat in the ring to become a Germantown Municipal School Board member. I feel like his selection by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen should be an obvious one. You see, besides being a former local school board chairman, David Pickler has also been Chairman of the Tennessee State School Board and the National School Board. His support for Houston High School did not stop with the band program. I do not have a comprehensive list but I do know that he has been instrumental in funding for the new field and scoreboard. David is also involved in the planned renovation and refurbishment of the auditorium at HHS.
So, like I said above, it seems to me that from an experience in education standpoint as well as from an actual giving back to the local community standpoint, David Pickler would be an obvious choice to be a school board member. Still, in the Germantown Community, often decisions get made that boggle the mind. To that end, if you know any of the Aldermen or the Mayor of Germantown, show some appreciation for all David has done for us and let them know how good a choice he would be. And do this quickly as I think they are looking to get this done in a hurry. In case you do not know them, I have listed them below. I know I don’t usually get involved in politics but things have gotten a little squirrelly lately in the old GMSD. I think appointing David Pickler to the school board can go a long way toward calming the squirrel!
Copy and Paste Links (I am technically challenged)
Mike Palazzolo – Mayor Mayor@Germantown-TN.gov
John Barzizza – Alderman JBarzizza@Germantown-TN.gov
Mary Anne Gibson – Alderman MGibson@Germantown-TN.gov
Dean Massey – Alderman DMassey@Germantown-TN.gov
Forrest Owens – Alderman FOwens@Germantown-TN.gov
Rocky Janda – Alderman RJanda@Germantown-TN.gov
