It All Begins With a Spark

It all begins with a, "What if?" or a "Why not?"

That's how #BFC530 began. Scott asked, "Why are there no Twitter chats at 5:30am?" You see, that's the time he wanted to engage with his PLN. The time he had available to connect, to be inspired. He wanted to start his day with positivity and enthusiasm, thinking about teaching and learning and all the things that keep us doing what we do. He wanted to share his "edu-passions" with others and be motivated by the things they were passionate about, too.

The thing Scott wanted and needed didn't exist, so he created it. He asked, "Why not create a chat at 5:30am?" Maybe people would come, maybe they wouldn't, but he wasn't concerned with that. Instead he was concerned with creating something that he knew to be valuable for himself, and focused on how to make it a really valuable thing for others. (One of the very first comments he made to me was, "better before bigger" and it is something I think about frequently.)

So in July 2014 #BFC530 was born, and people started showing up every morning for this 15 minute, 1 Question sparkchat*. The community began to grow, to contribute topic ideas and songs for the playlist using a Google Form, and to offer to step up and moderate their topic suggestions. The feedback was, and continues to be, absolutely amazing. People all over the world commenting on how it is the best part of their day. That they wake up early just to jump in. That they can't imagine their days without this new piece of their PLN.

Here enters my piece of the story, the BFC story. With the chat growing I started seeing some of the people in my PLN engaging during the EST chat. It quickly became routine to wake up and check back through the hashtag to see what had been shared 2 hours earlier. I came to love this part of my day, to feel more inspired and connected than I had in a while. (I was so inspired I even made my 2nd ever vlog post..that's saying something!) Several days in to this new morning routine I became a bit jealous of the fantastic chat that was happening at 3:30am MST. I would be lying if I said I didn't contemplate setting an alarm one day just to join in, but I had to draw the line somewhere.

I wanted to participate in a 5:30am chat, to share my edu-passions and start my day on a really positive note. So I asked, "What if...we had a #BFC530 West Coast Edition?" "Why not...try to start something up here in my own time zone?" See the thing you want or need and create it, right? So I sent Scott a message to ask "What if?" We started talking about the idea on Twitter and Voxer and discussing the possibilities. A week later, September 10th, 2014 in fact, #BFC530 MST made its debut.

I'm tempted to say the rest is history, but this isn't the end. Like most things that are worth pursuing there is no visible end. The BFC story includes many people, many contributions from an amazing community who has supported it and made it what it is today. The best part is that I know this really is just the beginning of the story. A day doesn't go by without Scott or I discussing a new idea about BFC, about how to make it better or more meaningful for people. About how to support each of its members and share the power of the chat with those who may be new to Twitter, reluctant to join or moderate a chat, or who just need something new to help spark their passions. 

We don't believe we are giving anyone anything they don't already have, we are just providing a platform to bring out their passions, their positivity, and their ideas. Sometimes all you need is a little spark from someone else. It is that spark that can ignite an idea, can motivate you to keep going or to try something new. I truly believe there's something life-changing, for us and our students, that lies within that 1 interaction or 1 new connection to someone we may have never met otherwise. It is that single spark, repeated exponentially, that is going to change education and create something different, something better, for every single teacher and student. 

It All Starts Here...

It All Starts Here

If you are reading this our paths have crossed. Most likely on Twitter. I am so pleased that this crossing occurs now because it coincides with me being at the happiest, most confident moment that I can recall.

This timing works out well for me. I have had many ups and downs over the last 8 years. It has been a roller coaster of personal and family issues but the one piece of my life that survived and even thrived during this tumultuous time - teaching.

I have always had the perspective of doing the best for my students. I tried, no matter how things were going to maintain focus that the kids at school didn't know about what I was going through and shouldn't know. I was their teacher. I was their bridge from elementary to middle school (I teach 6th grade, kids first year out of elementary). School was a safe haven where I could get 7 hours away from outside forces that were weighing me down. My time with these children is short so I need to make their experience the best I am able. My time with them is limited so the moments someone crosses my path I need to suck it up and do my best during that moment, every moment.

Though I feel like I always had this mindset inside of me, it wasn't until 2006 that it came to the forefront of my consciousness. My father was diagnosed with a glioblastoma mulforme. Typically patients of my dad’s age live 10 months, he lived 10 ½. I can’t go too deep into this here (I’m supposed to be finishing my ISTE proposals!!!) but this morning I came across an email that included the eulogy I gave at his funeral mass. Reflecting on the path that has led me here… to you… to #BFC530… to this, my first real blog post… I wanted you to know the beginning… I wanted you to know about the man that has taught me so much and still does each and every day.

I am Henry Capro’s son.

I have been trying to figure out how to summarize a man in a 5-minute speech. Meeting

so many people over the past 10 ½ months who knew my father I quickly came to the

conclusion that my father’s impact on this world can not be explained in words. But that

is my impossible task here today and I will give it my best shot.

Did you know? My father:

Could inexplicably hit a one iron but not a driver

Was hairy

Saved someone from drowning

Worked toward the building of an ethanol plant in New Jersey

Taught someone how to whistle

Had a life-long disdain for landscape eating creatures that I am convinced began one

fateful Easter (check out photo collage)

Single handedly occupied more seats in Vernon than I think there are committees

Held someone over a flushing toilet

Saved us from the dreaded Y2K

Was always guiding us without judgement

Taught us over his answering machine when to fertilize our lawns (I believe it was twice

in the fall)

Unknowingly taught us all how to live life

Over the last 2 days I have had the pleasure of meeting many couples who stayed at the

Mill. I was astounded to find that many of them who came to dad’s wake had only

known him a very short time. I observed one couple; the man was in hospital scrubs. I

assumed the possibility that he was one of my father’s doctors at one of the many

facilities we had been to, but I didn't recognize him. The couple took great care looking at

each of the photo displays we created and I noticed the wife listening intently while I was

telling my friends about the memento I have been carrying around from my father for the

past two weeks.

Quick aside: My dad always carried around a small pocketknife, which not unlike

MacGyver he would seemingly use for everything. I have been carrying it around trying

to figure out what the man used it for. After 2 weeks, I have used it three times, once to

open chocolates, to open a toothbrush and to cut a tag off a shirt. I am hoping to become

more enlightened about its uses over time. But if a black bear comes charging in at any

point during this talk, don’t worry, it’s all me.

Later, Sue introduced me to the man in scrubs, Dr. Tom Steineke and his wife Colleen. I

found out that he was not one of my father’s doctor’s but in fact they were guests of the

Mill. After making sure Dr. Tom did not leave mid-surgery to attend, they told me their tay was one night only but my father had made such an impression that they came up 2

hours to pay their respects. The couple was one of the last to leave on Tuesday night. As

we were walking out to our cars, Kristin and I were retelling some of the amazing stories

we had heard about our father during that day. Dr. Tom had just helped his wife into

their car and must have heard my sister and I talking. I told him, “Yes, we were talking

about you.” We shook hands and I told him how much I appreciated him taking the time

to drive so far to honor a man that he knew for only one day. He told me quickly and

simply, “My wife and I talked about your dad after we left the Mill and were in

agreement that he was a very unique and special person that we wished we had in our life

always.” Those sentiments rang throughout every conversation I have had with family,

friends and guests.

Many of us are able to impact our families and friends, but what was truly special about

my father was his ability to effortlessly gain the respect and admiration of anyone who

was lucky enough to cross his path. I was fortunate enough to have him in my life, as a

father for 35 years. I know he was a great man and it makes me feel so proud and happy

to know that so many other know it too.

My father’s desire during his battle with cancer was to just get back his life. Funny

enough he wanted to get back to driving 3 hours to attend 8 hours of meetings only to

drive an hour to spend an hour visiting Grandma and Grandpa, only to drive another 20

minutes out of his way to chase my children around playing the part of the witch in

Hansel and Gretel, all while looking studly in the same suit he wore to the meetings

earlier in the day, only then to drive 2 ½ hours back to Sue, his Mill and his waterfall.

My father loved his life, and each and every one of us could not ever get enough of him,

but what is wonderful is my dad couldn’t get enough of each and every one of us either.

My father was and is my greatest teacher and whether he realized it or not he effortlessly

turned every action into a life lesson and I am going to treat this as no different. In death,

I believe that my father wants us to realize that time is a gift and what you do with it will

be your legacy.

For my father, plant a garden with flowers and tomato plants. For my father, use your

vacation days. For my father, establish a tradition of family dinners, barbeques and

picnics. For my father, live your life to leave a positive impression on everyone that is

fortunate enough to cross your path.

I love you dad.

My father surrounds me every day from the glass apple he gave me that sits on my desk... to my son’s tall, lanky build and blue eyes... to my desire to have a positive impact on everyone I meet... I know my father would be proud of the path that I am walking at this moment and it is an honor to share this moment with you.

Welcome!

Welcome to our collaborative blogging space! We are SO excited to have this space as a way to share the amazing stories, passions, and reflections of our fantastic #BFC530 community. Like our journey into #BFC530, like us, this space is a work in progress and will grow and change alongside our community. Stay tuned for more information on how we'll be using this space, and how you can get involved to share your stories, but for now please know that we are insanely grateful for this exciting adventure and all your contributions each day.

Hope to see you back here soon!

-Scott & Jessica
@ScottCapro & @TyrnaD