My husband and I attended The Muskogee Education Foundation 's Trivia Night last weekend. The foundation's purpose is to offer funding for hopes and dreams of educators with good ideas and innovative ways to teach Muskogee's students. Teachers present grant proposals and are chosen and announced in the spring. The grant applications are exciting to read and it is always difficult to choose the year's recipients. The best incorporate hands-on and interactive teaching that encourages critical thinking and problem solving.
Warren and I had both served on the Education Board and as with any non-profit, raising money to fund the program is a never ending task. In years past we had presented Peter Pan, complete with Foy and their patented fly system, The Beatles Tribute and 1964, and also funding with generous grants from businesses in the community.
This year's Trivia Night was a huge success. What made it so memorable to me was the participation of Muskogee Public Schools. Teachers worked the "Smart Board" and picked up answers from the tables. They sold "mulligans" and worked the floor. They helped with the silent auction and the dessert bidding. Administrators and teachers sponsored tables and competed in the trivia questions. Did they compete!!!! The original goal of the the Muskogee Education Foundation was a partnership between the community and the school. The strength of the program is not the individual grants awarded but the overall idea that Muskogee supports Education and Education supports Muskogee. Friday night, all the pieces fit.
The premise for the evening was a series of related questions, presented in 8 rounds, with each table combining together for the answers. My table was comprised of 2 physicians, 2 nurses, 1 dentist, 1 x teacher and 1 MBA. We did not totally humiliate ourselves but were sadly somewhere in the middle as far as correct answers. What my table lacked in knowledge, we made up with enthusiasm. It was so much fun. Here are a couple of questions that we missed.
(Space does not allow for all the missed questions)
1. Why did early sailors wear an earring? (It they were lost at sea, they would have something of value to pay their way to Paradise.)
2. Who said "Every time you close a school, you have to build another jail." (Mark Twain)
3. Where was the official 5 Civilized Tribes located? (Agency Hill)
4. What year was the City of Muskogee founded? (The answer can be found in front of the Civic Center)
5. Who sang "I'm Henry the Eighth I Am"? (Herman's Hermits or, Peter Blair Dennis Bernard Noone-We did get this one right- While at West Junior High, I was the proud president of Herman's fan club)
Congratulation to President, Kathy Coburn and the the Board of The Education Foundation of Muskogee. The night was a coming together of many with a single purpose. Supporting Education. A substantial amount of money was raised and a good time was had by all. Chrissie
I remember Peter Pan. My children were mesmerized. I wish they would do that again. Such a magical memory. And right here, in Muskogee.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Trivia Night was such fun and the Music Hall of Fame is such an asset to Muskogee. Wedding receptions, dances, meetings. restoring the old depot was a grand idea. Catch the British Invasion Exhibit while it's here. "Ferry Cross the Mersey.............."
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Chrissie, for the wonderful praise for Trivia Night. It did unite the school and the community in the common cause of providing additional educational experiences for our children, which is exactly what we want. Thanks for that insight and thanks for all the many, many times you have succeeded in doing the very same thing as a board member!
ReplyDeleteMelony