My First Year

by Casey Ehleiter

March 8, 2021 

 

 

This is my first year in Young Men's Service League and so far it has been a good experience for me. Everyone in Young Men’s Service League has a job to do and there are a lot of roles to choose from. My role that I got assigned was the historian. I enjoyed this role because I like taking photos. The roles play an important part in YMSL because it gives every person a part to play. For example the president will call meetings to order and explain the agenda. The historian takes photos of the meetings and of the events they take part of. Because of these roles, everyone is able to contribute and feels like they are important to the group. 

So far this year I have volunteered for five different charities. I made bead bags for Beads of Courage, I helped make a trial for Colorado Youth Outdoors, I volunteered with Catholic Charities to help make food for the community. One of the things I enjoyed the most was being able to drive a tractor and use a sewing machine. These are things I never thought that I would ever do. YMSL is a very good learning experience because of all the new opportunities you get to learn about and do. The meetings are also important because you get to learn life skills.

There is a lot you can be a part of in Young Men’s Service League. You get the opportunity to do this with your friends and work with your mom. There are a lot of opportunities that you can to take part of in Young Men’s Service League. I am excited to volunteer with more philanthropies and I am looking forward to next year.

 

 

 

 

 YMSL - Volunteering and Meetings

By Colton Miller

February 4, 2021

 

My name is Colton Miller and I've been in YMSL now for two years. When I started YMSL, I really did not want to do it. I was just thinking it would look good on my college applications. But now that I have done some volunteering and seen how YMSL helps people in our community, I think it is a great idea and am excited to do it for two more years.  

So far I have only participated in a few different volunteer groups, but I like that there are so many options and ways to volunteer.  The biggest project I worked on was with the Ultimate Gift at Homeward Alliance, which started with building some picnic tables and pergolas. We ended up clearing their garden, creating a path and helped clean and organize the entire place. It was actually fun doing the work, all the people are super supportive and kind. It felt great helping my community and to know that I had just improved the lives of the people who use that facility every day. I also enjoyed helping around the holidays by packing Christmas toys, distributing toys and helping CYO with their drive-thru light show. These are just some of the great experiences I have had at YMSL so far.

I always attend the meetings that YMSL has, they invite a guest speaker to come and give us more knowledge about certain topics that are helpful for teens. I prefer the guest speakers that have activities or interactive parts which get us to participate. My favorite guest speaker was Scott Kissel, he showed us how to be better at public speaking and how to always get the job that you want. Since I am starting to look for a summer job, this was perfect timing.  Another speaker I enjoyed talked about healthy eating to help you feel more energized, he also showed us how to make delicious smoothies!

When I get to my senior year and must leave YMSL, I will always remember the great experiences and how good it felt to help others. I feel like this is a rewarding experience that everyone should be able to have the opportunity to join. Whenever someone is looking to do some good for the community, YMSL is the correct place to go!

 

 

 

Reflecting on my Experiences with YMSL

by Will Muth

November 1, 2020

When I first joined YMSL, I was a little skeptical about what we would be doing in general with the volunteer work, meetings, etc. as volunteering was something new for me. Now a couple years later with more experience, I can say that it’s been an outstanding experience. It’s a great opportunity for young men and their moms to work together for a better cause, and have fun with it at the same time.  One opportunity that I’ve had that I will always remember is helping out with my mom at Respite Care, a non-profit organization here in Fort Collins. This was one of the most special experiences I’ve had in YSML as we got to volunteer for special needs kids. I really enjoyed getting to know these kids and spending time with them. After volunteering at Respite Care for the first time, I realized it was something I’d like to do again.

The other half of my YMSL experience is attending the meetings throughout the year. We are able to gain information from speakers on various topics as well as socialize with the other young men. Although the speakers give us a lot of important information, I especially enjoyed the speaker who taught us about driving responsibly. This applied to me in that I was just about to get my driver’s license, so I made sure to use what I learned from that and apply it to the real world skills of driving. This is an example of why I think having these meetings every so often is important.

With that being said, I genuinely believe being a part of YMSL has helped me develop a better understanding of giving back to the community and selflessness. It is a win-win situation because I am able to help out those in need, have fun, and feel a sense of accomplishment.  Because it has impacted my life so much, I  think all young men should be involved in a great program like YMSL.

 

 

 

 My YMSL Experience 

by Brayden Lake

September 11, 2020

 

When I first joined YMSL, there was a lot of concern over what we’d be doing for our volunteer hours. I was a bit scared that it would be manual labor every time, or working with massive crowds. At that time I wasn’t good at working in crowds. I liked personal work or working 1-on-1. This came to a head in February of my Freshman year with the Tim Tebow Foundation’s ‘Night to Shine’ event. The first time I volunteered, I did not know what to do with myself. I ended up sitting in a back-room working with some of the food prep workers and didn’t talk with the guests. While it worked for me, I felt guilty the whole time. I worried I wasn’t able to contribute as much as the rest of the volunteers. I felt like I was out of the loop.

 

During my Sophomore year, I went through a whole change in how I talked to people. I took classes and volunteered more and I slowly figured out how I could help those I was supporting. I figured out I actually enjoyed speaking in front of other people; even crowds! Therefore, I focused on finding roles at events that allowed me the opportunity to help support and interact with large groups. At the next ‘Night To Shine’ during my Junior year, I ended up in the food prep for the parents of the guests. We were situated upstairs, away from the crowds, with a large, but calm group to serve. In choosing this role, I was able to provide more 1-on-1 service for caregivers. This allowed them to take a break for the night and helped me find where I could do the most good.

 

If at first, you try one of these events and you feel uncomfortable and feel like you can’t find your place, try it again. Try some other way to engage with those you’re helping and attempt to see it from a different perspective. Strive to find your place. As for me, I really enjoyed helping behind the scenes; supporting others who volunteered, and taking care of the caregivers who give their all every day. There’s a multitude of different events and roles you are able to join in as part of YMSL, and even if you feel like you can’t help out effectively, there’s always something for you to do. You really get out of YMSL what you put into it. Good Luck!

 

 

YMSL’s Forever Impact

Dario Gonzales

February 1, 2020

The past two years as a participant of the Young Men’s Service League has provided me with many wonderful experiences.   I am so thankful that I chose to be a part of this group that helps better the people and community around me.  Though there have been many eye-opening experiences, one that I will always remember and that makes me smile to this day is the Night to Shine event.  During the Night to Shine event I had the privilege of helping crown, special needs participants ages 14 and older, king and queen.  I will forever cherish this moment in life because I was able to see how I was impacting someone’s life in a positive way, which is a goal in my life.



The meetings we attend throughout the year vary in topics.  Some meetings seem long while others are interesting and beneficial.  Right before I got my driver’s license, we had a couple of speakers that revealed important information about being a responsible driver.  Yes, there was the information that our parents talk to us about and that is learned in driver’s education, but there was other valuable information that even our mothers (those that stayed to listen) were not aware of.  I actually did not want to drive after that meeting!  I did get my license a week after that meeting and was able to apply and use the information I learned right away. 



Being a part of YMSL has helped me become a less selfish person.  I have learned how to work hard, enjoy each and every moment, and appreciate all that I have.  YMSL has had an absolutely rewarding impact on my life and I truly believe all boys should be involved in such an outstanding group.

Civic Responsibility and YMSL

Carter Smith

October 27, 2019

On Sunday October 27th we toured the Fort Collins Police Station.  We learned about Civic Responsibility.  Police officers and other law enforcement agents are required to take the civil service exam.  Their focus is to protect people and property.

The beginning of our tour stared in the area where they take emergency or 911 calls.  This is an example of when the police are helping to ensure people are safe.  We then toured the area where they hold kids that did something to break the law.  The police would hold them until their parents could arrive.  This is an example of where they are protecting anyone who may have been armed by the kid but it is also a way to ensure the child is safe as well.

After that, we toured the area where the police kept adults who perhaps didn't have to go to jail but they needed time to calm down.  Some examples were if they'd been causing a disturbance or had been drinking.    During the tour we also went outside and saw the SWAT cars and other vehicles.  All vehicles are designed to protect and serve the community but also keep our law enforcement officers safe.  One area we also saw was the police officers testing their tasers which illustrated preparation in being ready and able to protect the community.

Part of our civic responsibility as citizens is to respect the rights beliefs and opinions of others.  One thing I've learned already in my activities in YMSL is the focus on serving those in our community that need help, while respecting them; as this is all part of my civic responsibility.

The YMSL Experience, By Bohdan Salcido, November 3, 2019

“The YMSL Experience”

Bohdan Salcido

November 3, 2019

There are many opportunities within YMSL that present themselves as both enlightening and unique, but in the beginning, I wasn’t so sure I understood the objective, nor was I sure I wanted to be a part of it.  When I went to one of the first YMSL meetings my freshman year at King Soopers, we learned all about a single mother and got insight into what her week looked like.  I was moved by her and how hard she had to work just to get food on the table every day for her and her kids. It was a very fun meeting, setting up a meal for her and her family for $10 or under, but it made me realize how stressful it must be to try to provide an inexpensive and healthy meal and how many people in our community are impacted by this situation every day.  After that meeting, I felt like YMSL was really something I liked and wanted to be a part of.  I feel privileged to have an extremely loving family and very supportive friends and I that have the ability to participate in sports, travel, etc., but not everyone has these opportunities, so this was enlightening and I knew this was a way I could contribute. 

My relationship with my Mom also has improved a lot as well because when do a service or volunteer at Respite Care (my favorite philanthropy) we work hard together to achieve a goal of making someone else's life better. Getting up early in the morning and helping kids with special needs have a fun day at the Lee Martinez Farm or at the museum makes me extremely happy because they are cheerful and loving and that makes my Mom and me feel that we are helping give back to this amazing community filled with really grateful and charitable people. Overall, I think that YMSL has opened my eyes and made me feel like a helpful member of this community and that is the least I can do since I was born and raised in Fort Collins.

A Senior's Thoughts on YMSL

by Aiden Baugh

Through my four years of being in YMSL, I have had numerous beneficial experiences. I am glad that I have been able to help my community so much with this group. I have had so much fun helping at places such as CYO. At CYO, I was able to meet and help the kids at the day camp. I will always value the connections and memories I made - over a fishing pole and a bag of Cheetos.

The monthly meetings were also very beneficial to me - sometimes long but beneficial. I was able to meet with all of the boys and learn about various life skills. One of the things that we learned was interview do’s and don'ts. It was obviously helpful because later that week I interviewed for a job and I got it - and I still have it! As you can see, YMSL has had a very rewarding impact on my life and I believe that every boy should be involved with YMSL.

Aiden and his mom, Kris, volunteering for Ultimate Gift at Homeward Alliance.

Philanthropy Update

 by Ryan Green

September 11, 2019

Meals on Wheels is a terrific philanthropy that is based on the desire to improve the health and quality of life of seniors, and help ensure no one is left hungry or isolated. At the beginning of this past summer I participated in an orientation for Meals on Wheels. At each stop we dropped off a hot and cold meal for each patron, and when they saw us at their door, their faces lit up. They loved having someone to talk to, and being entertained for a few minutes before their lunch. Each senior had a few stories to tell, and all were very kind and inspiring. One elderly woman we met was all alone in her home as her family had moved to Kansas. She was so excited to see us & show us her flowers; it was impossible to deny her request for hugs. Another man talked to us about his medical procedure that caused him to only be able to eat pureed food, and he then kindly offered us raspberries from his garden!

Meals on Wheels is an outstanding organization and I enjoyed volunteering for them throughout the summer. I can’t wait to deliver more meals and meet new people!

Banquet Speech: Parker Thurston

First off, I want to say congratulations to everyone sitting here right now. I know how hard it is to give up some weekend time for volunteering or meetings, but everyone here was dedicated enough to get out of bed or put down the Xbox controller to do something that is really special. This organization is one like no other and we all are blessed to be a part of it. The uniqueness of making lifelong friends and memories while doing something good for the community is incredible to say the least. I think more people should do volunteering as an experience. It is challenging, it takes hard work, dedication, and passion to do something like that. 

Volunteering is also a really good eye opener. Especially in Fort Collins, you don’t really see how bad people are forced to live and how much help they really need. In YMSL not only are you able to see, but help, the people that are less fortunate than us. Really, there are people out there whose conditions are way beyond our heads. We are so lucky to be this fortunate and live this well, but we help. We don’t stand by we go in and we help. This might sound cheesy, but it all pays off for me to see the smiles on their faces. 

I was volunteering at Project Self Sufficiency and we started helping the balloon guy do his thing and draw faces on the balloon animals and all that, but when we started handing those balloons out the children's faces just lit up. It made me so happy to think that something so simple could make someone’s day. That’s the real beauty of volunteering right there is that simple things can be just as powerful as the bigger things. 

I also did the Honor Flight For Veterans and we went there and held signs to tell them how much we appreciate them. That was it. The real heart comes from taking that time out of your day to make those people feel good. That’s what we accomplished. One last example, we did A Night to Shine. What an experience. We went to do paparazzi, but as the job became crowded, we went to cheer them on a karaoke and help them at the photo booth. We weren’t building stuff and grinding all day for a big product. We were just there kind of floating and cheering and generally being nice, but it was because we were all there that we made a night just for them and that they got to enjoy. 

What I want everyone to take out of YMSL is the teamwork and dedication that we use so we can make other people’s lives better while spending time with our amazing moms. Speaking of which I want to recognize all the moms on the Banquet Committee and the ones that help us with meetings and philanthropy. You guys work just as hard as we do and we all appreciate your work to help YMSL run as smoothly as it does. This organization is full of greatness and the fact that it is spreading across the nation and more people are helping others is amazing and I can’t wait to see you all next year so we can continue that greatness.

Banquet Speech: Luke Cunning

Welcome! The communications committee decided to dust off the YMSL Fort Collins blog, and for our first post of the 2018-2019 year, we're sharing Rocky Mountain High School senior Luke Cunning's speech from the banquet in May:

I would like to start by saying that when my mom first signed me up for YMSL I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had no idea how far it would take me or how much I would grow from it. After my first year I considered quitting because I kept telling myself “This is too much work” or “I don't have time to do this.” But despite this I decided to stay to make my mom proud. Needless to say I am grateful that I am still here standing in front of all of you today.

Since then I have realized that YMSL is more than just something I can do to make my mom proud, or even to have something to be proud about. It’s not about having something extra to put on a resume or college application. It’s not about spending time with friends, though I have enjoyed working with all of you these last three years. YMSL is about the people you help along the way and the connections you make with those people.

My fondest memory I have from YMSL is working on the ultimate gift project for the learning house. I was working on the stairs and the decks to the front and back of the house all day and not working on much else. By the end of the day I looked around and realized how much work had been done. In the span of only a few short hours of hard work we had managed to help the owners of the learning house with renovations that would last years to come. This also leaves an impact on all the kids who attend the learning house so they have a nicer place to learn and be kids. What I learned from this experience was that we can achieve great things when we work together.

YMSL has given me opportunities that I never would have thought possible without it. I would like to finish by thanking everyone here for working hard and making this year amazing. I would also like to thank all of the moms for supporting your sons and for always being someone to look up to.

Reflecting on our First Year at YMSL

By: Katy SayersYMSL Mom

Class of 2021

While I like to think that my son and I have always had a great relationship and connection, YMSL has served to strengthen that bond.  As we have learned about a variety of local charities and tried different types of service, I have realized some new qualities about Jackson.  Like any teen, Jackson loves to sleep in on a weekend. But not once has he complained about getting up early to help runners sign into a race, send veterans off on a honor flight, or shovel loads of rock for a landscaping project.  He's approached each opportunity as exactly that -- an opportunity for us to be together and give back to our community in some small, but meaningful way.  He's rallied many early mornings to volunteer, always with a positive attitude towards our time together in service to others.  I like that about him.  I've also come to appreciate how confident he is.  When there's a job to be done at one of the organizations we've served, he steps up and gets to work right away.  He looks around and figures out what needs to happen next.  It's cool to see that he can be proactive and helpful.  I've always been so proud of my son, but having the chance for the two of us to spend time together doing good in the world has been a great experience for both of us to be better together. 

My Favorite Volunteer Event . . . Night to Shine

By: Tyler Campbell

Class of 2019

On Friday, February 9, 2018, YMSL and many other Northern Colorado teams worked together to celebrate Night to Shine. Night to Shine is a prom night experience for people with special needs. Thanks to the Tim Tebow Foundation, 537 churches from all around the world hosted 90,000 guests. Here, in Northern Colorado, 450 guests experienced Night to Shine with the help of 1300 volunteers. This was my second year volunteering with my mom and our entire family joined us this year.

Night to Shine was full of laughter and joy. When guests arrive, they walk down the red carpet with paparazzi cheering and snapping photos. Inside, the guests take goofy pictures in the photo booth, sing their hearts out in the karaoke room, and dance the night away on the dance floor. With limousine rides, candlelight dining, and a live band, a full VIP treatment is given to each and every guest. The highlight of the night is when each Night to Shine guest gets crowned as king or queen of the prom.

I had the opportunity to volunteer in the photo booth alongside my mom and other YMSL members. We got to greet the guests, help pick out accessories to wear, and leave them with photos and memories to take home. The photo booth could have been the most popular activity with a line down the hall all night long!

The most rewarding part of volunteering at Night to Shine is seeing the smiles on the guests’ faces. It’s one night a year where they get to dance, sing, have fun, and ride limos. And according to Tim Tebow, “It's so much more than that, because maybe for the first time they realize that they’re worth it … they realize that they are special ... they realize that they are loved … there's nothing much more important than that.”