Bay Farm Elementary PTA Auction Win = $100, Time & Material = $100, teaching an 8 yr old importance of city government = priceless

WOW! All I can say is WOW. Today my daughter turned 8 years old. That is so young in so many ways and yet it feels like time is ticking away. That's why today was more meaningful to me than most. My favorite saying is "A day is not wasted if a memory is made". Today, was certainly not wasted.

Today Maddie had a tremendous opportunity to become Alameda City Council Member for the day. We won this at the Bay Farm Elementary PTA Auction last winter. Mind you, this was a silent auction win in which I don't remember being a hot item or having that many bids. Frank Mataresse, current Council Member who recently ran for Alameda City Mayor was offering the chance for a child to become city Council Member for the day.

At the time, I remember thinking it was cool but deciding it couldn't be that special if it wasn't getting as many bids as the boating trip with the PE teacher. Was I in for a pleasant surprise! By far this auction item was worth more than any other auction item we could have combined to win. What a tremendous lesson for a school-aged child! I encourage anyone considering a PTA auction item to reach out to your fellow Alameda City Council people and petition for this amazing offering.

All of us take for granted the life lessons we could teach a child each day if we just let them into our world. It's no wonder most kids want to become "teachers". It's what they know! They don't know they may be interested in politics, or police work, or corporate world if they don't know what that's like.

So thank you Frank Mataresse, for inspiring a young child's mind today and for organizing such a wonderful experience. And thanks City Clerk Lara Weisiger and Detective Jill Ottaviano and to Alameda Police and Fire Department who made me proud to be an Alamedan today! This town has some of the nicest, most down to earth people we could hope for. Our daughter (who happened to celebrate her 8th birthday today) will not forget this. You have made a profound impact today. You have made a memory, THANK YOU!

Here's a video medley of the day's event:

You Tube Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgX04RAXXHQ