Issue 310, December 8, 2025
No alarm clock needed….
My PASSION wakes me!
Dear Members,
Passion.
How else can you explain getting up at 5 a.m. to meet in a Target parking lot at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning? It was passion that sparked the now-traditional Children’s Day shopping spree back in the 1980s, and it is passion that fuels it today—the passion our members have for helping those in need, and the drive and dedication to make each event better than the one before.
As President of this great organization, it doesn’t surprise me. I’ve had many opportunities to get to know our members—professionally and personally—and I can tell you this: none of them lack passion. In their relationships, in their families, and in their businesses, they carry a fire in their eyes. You can truly see that they love what they do.
You can see this passion at our meetings, when members stand up and talk about the businesses they have built or are working hard to build. Their passion motivates everyone they encounter. It inspires others to rise to the same level of commitment, pushing each of us to become better versions of ourselves.
I want to take a moment to recognize and thank Rene Zook and Kasandra Connatser for their outstanding efforts and passion in raising the most money ever in this event’s history. And I want to thank you—our members, friends, and families—who came out this past Saturday to make over 50 children’s holiday a truly special one.
We have just one meeting left this year, on December 10, where you’ll once again see firsthand the passion this club possesses through our spotlight speakers and our guest speaker, Captain Daniel Bean.
I also encourage you to sign up for our Holiday Party. Our volunteers have poured so much passion into creating an incredible event, and I know you won’t want to miss it. Bring friends, co-workers, and business associates. Let’s spread the word far and wide about how our “little club” makes a big impact right here in Jacksonville—touching the lives of those who live, work, and call this community home.
Ken Petsch
2025 President