Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009 - (Page 56)

When faced with the choices life sometimes forces us to make, in most all situations we only see “yes” or “no.” Most of us – especially men – tend to see things as “go” or “no,” “on” or “off,” “black” or “white.” the community. He asked each one not for pity or charity, but for a job. Finally, one agreed. The young man then went to the coach and explained he must miss one day of practice. The coach listened, then responded, “If you miss practice, you will not play Friday night.” The boy accepted the coach’s decision and left. That’s where I came in. I went to see the coach. In bumbling and stumbling fashion, I tried to offer some reasons why this approach might not be in the best interest of the young player or the team. The coach was less than pleased. “If I don’t have discipline, I have nothing,” he said sharply. “But maybe this time, in this situation, there may be more important…” “I don’t need some parent telling me how to do my job!” he snapped. “I don’t mean to be doing that,” I said. “This is not about my son. This boy is trying to save his family…” “I don’t tell you how to do your job!” he repeated, his voice now loud. And the young man missed practice, and he didn’t play on Friday night. And the team didn’t win another game for the remainder of the season. Hold that thought. Years before the incident I just described happened, there was another coach faced with precisely the same events. This other coach was just beginning his career when a young player came into his ofﬁce and said, “Coach, I have to miss practice.” “Why?” asked the coach. “Because,” the young player said, “my daddy is a sharecropper. The cotton is ready. He can’t get the crop in by himself. He’s too old. He’s sacriﬁced everything for me to come to this school and for me to play football. When I got on the bus to come here, he said, ‘All our hopes are riding on you.’ My daddy can’t get that crop in without me. So, I’m sorry, but I have to miss practice.” The coach said nothing, and the young man left. The next day, as the old man and his son prepared to gather the crop, they noticed a cloud of dust on the horizon. Shortly, they realized the dust was being produced from a long line of cars, all of which made their way to the farm and then stopped. From those cars emerged the entire Grambling football team, complete with coach Eddie Robinson at the front of the line. The coach had suspended football practice and asked his players if they would help one of their own in his time of need. All the players agreed to go. Coach Eddie Robinson became a legend at Grambling, and it’s easy to see why. The other coach never won much, and eventually left the profession…and it’s easy to see why. GUNNERS METERS & PARTS ALL YOUR WATER METERING NEEDS METER COUPLINGS - SEALS - WIRE ACCESSORIES TOOLS - METER PARTS NEPTUNE - HERSEY - BADGER - SENSUS FACTORY REBUILT TURBINE & COMPOUND METERS GUARANTEED AND WARRANTEED IN SHOP METER REPAIR & TESTING We Purchase New & Used Surplus Meters & Parts PLEASE CALL OR FAX ANY REQUEST FOR PRICES AND AVAILABILITY CONTACT: TERRY TRAYNOR - JEFF KOVICH GUNNERS METERS & PARTS INC. 454 NORTH CASS AVE. TOLL FREE: 888-784-8663 • FAX: 248-332-4307 • E-MAIL: TJJ454@aol.com www.gunnersmeters.com 333643_gunners.indd 1 7/26/07 8:28:20 AM First to introduce Powder Coating To The Bolted Tank Industry! Over 40 Years of Experience Manufacturing & Erecting Bolted & Welded Steel Storage Tanks AWWA, NFPA & API Factory Powder Coated, Galvanized and Stainless Steel Available Turnkey Projects Available Sizes up to 2 million gallons 56 • First 375875_AllMax.indd 1 Quarter 2009 3/27/08 8:58:35 PM http://www.allmaxsoftware.com http://www.gunnersmeters.com http://www.superiortank.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009

Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009 Contents From the President Question & Answer: Water Conservation in the Home Avoiding the Humpty Dumpty Approach to Data Backup From the CEO What the Future Holds Asset Management for Small Communities Understanding Your Surface Water Source: The Rivers Hydraulic Models Expeditionary Water Packaging System Graces Delta The Rural Water Rally in April Training in Hawaii Regulatory Update Rural Water Releases Report on Water Infrastructure Projects and Economic Stimulus Legislation Throwing My Loop Advertisers.com Index to Advertisers

Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.