Ned Erickson: UPDATE Week of Sept 3

One week in and I'm barely hanging on...

Ha! Appearances can be deceiving!

A GREAT WEEK ONE WITH A BIG SURPRISE MIXED IN

First day of work was Monday for the Fellows.

Check out this line-up:

Big Brothers Big Sisters
FLOW Automotive
Forsyth County Government
Chik-fil-a
Boosterthon
Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Breakthrough Sports Physical Therapy
New Canaan Society
Love Out Loud
The Budd Group
Forsyth Country Day School
Novant Health

Thank you to our employers. The Winston-Salem Fellows is a professional and vocational development program - we wouldn't fulfill let alone exist without your partnership!

Here is Caleb, last year's New Canaan Society employee and Christian, this year's New Canaan Society employee!

At Round Table on Monday, it was fun to hear everyone's stories. You could tell that after orientation, a full weekend, hundreds of new faces, and a brand new job - these fellows were exhausted.

I shared this note that night...

Take a breath.

A lot of times at the beginning of a race when the gun goes off and all the people are around me, I’ll get swept up in the action and start faster than planned. It will feel good for awhile and the thought may even hit me that “Hey, today might be my day. If I keep going at this pace, I’ll set a PR.”

But sooner or later if I don’t slow down and pace myself, I’ll have that “O crap” moment when I go from setting a PR to do I even have what it takes to finish!

So take a breath.

Take another.

This is a marathon not a sprint. We will be together for eternity. And friends for the rest of our lives. If we do this right, we will have a lifetime of awesome moments. No need to have them all now.

So breathe.

Find your pace.

Don’t run alone.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

It's not easy to find your pace...but we're working on it.

Wednesday Leader Lunch with JOHN BOST

John and the Fellows

We spent a wonderful afternoon with John Bost in his "shed."

John was on his A game, providing words of wisdom, deep insights, and sharing some stories I had never heard before, and I'm not sure if I'm allowed to repeat! Ha!

John exemplifies the seamless life.

His story also represents pretty much every sector of work: education, government, nonprofit, commercial development, business, ministry, consulting, and investment.

What a gift. Thank you John!

But Wednesday wasn't over! After John, we traveled over to East Winston to spend a few hours with BILL MCCLAIN!

Bill McClain. My mentor

Bill began mentor training with these words: "Everything you have been taught about mentoring is wrong!"

He then set out to set us straight!

Boy did he.

Thanks BILL! I know it's been a tough week. We're praying for you. But even with a heavy heart, you hit a grand slam home run.

The words on Bill's wall

WHAT WAS THE BIG SURPRISE????

Well.

We have a new Fellow!!!

Meet Garrett Briggs

meet Garrett

It's a long story.

But we are thrilled to announce that Garrett has joined our cohort this year. Garrett is not a Winston native, but he did graduate from Reynolds high school. Afterward, he headed to Virginia to study science at VMI.

Earlier this summer, I had talked to Garrett about the Fellows, but at that point he was looking in another direction. Fortunate for us, the door closed and Garrett gave us a second look. We couldn't be more excited.

Garrett will be attending First Pres. living with the Warrens and we are finalizing his job at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Ever hear of the last becoming first? Ha!

HANGING OUT AT HANGING ROCK

It's not as sketchy as it looks

After a rip roaring first ten days, I gave the Fellows a well-earned rest day on Friday.

Actually, first we went to New Canaan Society to hear Lieutenant Governor Dan Forrest speak.

For those who were up for adventure, we traveled up to Hanging Rock State Park for a little fun in the sun.

not sure what Christian and Bryan were trying to spell

I showed them one of my secret spots where you can do some rock jumping...

Afterward, we ate lunch at Priddy's General Store (seriously, the best pimento cheese on the planet).

Priddy's General Store

Good times

OTHER NEWS!

The Winston-Salem Fellows 2017-18 class had their brick revealed at ABC Childhood Development

Abbey and Morgan wore their seatbelts together

Anna Rose played in her first two field hockey games

And played with wild ponies

as did her mother...

and her brother...

I was left searching....

then it was David and I both searching

I was nervous we were going to be taken this fella home! I'm not even kidding!!!

Saturday was a special time at the mountain with our dear old friends the Illingsworths

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Thank you for supporting the Fellows. If you are interested in joining the effort, send checks to

Winston-Salem Fellows
851 W. 5th St.
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

or give online to wsfellows.com/give

As always THANK YOU!

LOOKING AHEAD

Monday - ROUND TABLE - LABOR DAY ALUMNI SPECIAL! We are throwing a good old Labor Day Round Table with Fellows young and old...

Wedensday - LEADER LUNCH with LANIE EHLINGER! The Fellows have no idea what they are getting themselves into! Ha! Then, Mentor Training with BILL MCCLAIN.

THEN! FELLOWS MENTOR RECEPTION AND KICKOFF! This is the moment the Fellows get to officially meet their mentors! Woo Hoo! Another one of my favorite moments of the year!

Friday Morning - HISTORY OF MORAVIANS AND SALEM with KEVIN FRANK.

Friday Afternoon - FREEDOM RIDE with TERRANCE HAWKINS

This is a REALLY GOOD DAY - I almost wish I could sell tickets!

Saturday - Wake Football First Home Game

Sunday - Love Out Loud Vision Night AND Mission Emanuel Vision Night - we are double dipping!!!