Operation Sweet Tooth – Gastonia Convergence

Prologue

It was an early fall Friday morning at the Pavilion that Bandit and I decided to Q up the Operation Sweet Tooth in support of our brother Olive.  I took the Q at the Gashouse in December and called for a Convergence workout.  Then Bandit asked Olive if we could support the Greater Gaston Boys and Girls Club on behalf of #OST.  Olive graciously offered his support.  That is the beauty of F3.  All you need is an idea and a little initiative and things get done!

We consulted with the GBC for their needs and we sent out a pre-blast and low and behold, 29 PAX and their goodies showed up on the cold morning of December 17th at the Schiele.  GUTS gave me gift cards and sporting goods because he had to work and would miss it.  My neighbor, (future name, “Mastodon”) who has read “Freed to Lead” and is in the throes of a solid EH gave me school supplies the day before.  It was a beautiful thing.

But before we talk about the positive, let’s get to the beat down.  Roscoe started with the warm up and was almost immediately heckled by Tool Time.  Who else?

Warm Up

• SSH x20 IC
• Imperial Walkers x20 IC
• Merkins x20 IC
• Squats x20 IC
• LBCs x20 IC
• 10 Burpees OYO

Mosey to flag for the Pledge.

Pain Station #1

Mosey to Grier parking lot for Speed Bump Merkins.  Start at first speed bump with 20 reps OYO, then sprint to next speed bump for 18 reps.  Continue back and forth decreasing reps (..16,14,12,10,8,6,4,2) for total of 110 merkins.  Dolph led some ab exercises while the PAX completed the exercise.  Some started out correctly but then got confused and did elevens.  It was all good.

Pain Station #2

Mosey to Grier track for Partnerama.  P1 planks on P2’s shoes while P2 does 15 old school sit-ups. Switch and repeado x3.

Pain Station #3

Continue Partnerama with P1 and P2 running track clockwise and counter clockwise respectively.  When they meet (hopefully near the middle), both perform the following:

• 1/2 lap #1 = 10 Seal Jacks
• 1/2 lap #2 = 10 Squat Jumps
• 1/2 lap #3 = 20 Seal Jacks
• 1/2 lap #4 – 20 Squat Jumps

Bandit takes over, continuing the Partnerama activities:

Pain Station #4

Given the choice to keep same partner or change it up, Bandit clarifies SIZE MATTERS for the next round.  After some adjustments, partners complete the following (10 seal jacks if partners need to switch early):

• Wheelbarrow – P1 wheelbarrows P2 from goal line to 50 yd line. Flip flop back. Plank for the 6.
• Partner Carries – P1 wheelbarrows P2 from goal line to 50 yd line. Flip flop back. Plank for the 6.
• Bear Crawls – P1 bear crawls/P2 lunge walks from goal line to 50 yd line. Flip flop back. Plank for the 6.

Editor’s Note:  This was bad.

Pain Station #5

After breaking up partners into two teams (all P1 are team 1, all P2 are team 2), each time lines up for 50 yard tunnel of love.  Starting at goal line, first in line crawls under rest of PAX who are maintaining high plank, shoulder to shoulder. After crawling through tunnel, PAX will continue the high plank.  This continues as each member goes through the tunnel -all the way to the 50 yard line.

Editor’s Note:  This was worse.

Handing the reigns back to Roscoe to wrap things up:

Pain Station #6

Circle up for 10 minutes of Burpees. Circle is divided into 4 groups. One’s do 1 burpee and count “ONE”, Two’s do 1 burpee and count “TWO”, Three’s do 1 burpee and count “THREE”, Four’s do 1 burpee and count the rep (1,2,3,4,5…, to ~30). The clock was ticking and we needed to get back to the Schiele so an audible was called after the 7 or 8 minute mark and 33 burpees.

With 5 minutes to go, PAX mosey back to parking lot at the Schiele for COT.  The toys were assembled and Hushpuppy was setting up for the photo when the Mayor arrived with more goodies.  We waited for him to hustle in to the picture.  He worked very late the night before but wanted to give away some gifts. #HIM

Roscoe had to get home to head to out of town so Bandit was in charge of the toy collection and he loaded up his car.

Epilogue

On Monday afternoon Roscoe and Bandit headed to the Boys and Girls Club to deliver the gifts.  Here is what went down.

As we were approaching the building, we saw the Director Chad and explained what we were doing and why.  He was well informed about OST and Christina and F3 after having done some online research.  He told us that he had to leave but that Miss Mary and others were waiting for us.  However, before he left, we gave him a solid EH.   (He is in the South Charlotte/Pineville region)

We were welcomed into the club and some of the wonderful employees told us where we could place the gifts.  We lined up all the gifts and suddenly a baker’s dozen of smiling faces welcomed us for a picture holding whatever they wanted to take from the boxes.  We took a photo and thought that would be the end of our visit until they asked if the children could take us on a tour of the facility.  This was getting better!

We started with a meeting room where the local Optimist club meets.  There were many picture frames on the wall of previous board members or Optimist Club presidents from years past.  Many prominent names from the community were on that wall. #HIM

We continued to the Art room, the study hall, the computer room, and the game room. At each stop different kids were telling us what they do there.  They were so proud of their club and happy to show it off.  Then it was time to see the gym where somewhere in the ballpark of 100 kids were sitting on the bleachers.  We were led into the gym with our escorts and suddenly the gym erupted like a high school pep rally.  It took a second and then we realized all that cheering was for us!  I instantly wished we had all the Gashouse PAX with us to feel this humbling gesture from the kids.  To cap it off, Miss Mary invited us to “center court” and told the kids about meeting “some of the people behind the scenes that make things happen”.  She gave us a card that the kids had made and signed.  It was overwhelming!

If you remember that Dr. Feelgood (#HIM) danced in the “Dancing for Future Star’s event in March and helped raise $326,000 for the Boys and Girls club.  You would have thought that the OST Convergence had raised at least that much!  2017 stretch goal???

The Gashouse PAX would like to thank Olive for Operation Sweet Tooth.  Out of heartbreaking loss, we remember Christina by honoring her through good deeds for children.  We would not have had this experience without them.  At least three members of the BGC read about Operation Sweet Tooth, learned about Christina, and about F3.  I believe the PAX honored her memory by “keeping her spirit alive by providing hope and joy to children who may be less fortunate to have a positive impact and experience on their lives.

Roscoe received the following note from Miss Mary this morning…

GM Roscoe, I want to reach out again and say, Thank You All so much for coming out and spending time with the kids and bringing all those supplies. You really don’t have any idea what that meant to those kids giving you guys a tour of the building. Roscoe after hearing what F3 means Faith , Fellowship & Fitness I hope I got that right!! I did look it up on the internet and read the story about Christina. What you all are doing is a Blessing, keep on keeping on. 

Did you read that?  Keep on keeping on.

The idea incubator is alive and well with future opportunities to serve the Boys and Girls Club and OST.

KEEP ON KEEPING ON…..

Well Done Gashouse.  Well done!

Roscoe & Bandit